"Now that you are Alpha, it is time you select a mate to become Luna of the pack."

Jae was silent as he stood in front of Crimson Night's council. They had requested to meet with the new Alpha the moment his final meeting with Eternal Dawn concluded. They had a matter of the utmost importance to discuss with him. Jae was very disappointed to discover the urgent matter was the topic of him finding a mate. Jae's brows furrowed as he flowed his gaze over the council.

"I have chosen a mate," Jae answered after a short moment. "I am sure you know this. I made no effort to conceal my love for Syri."

Murmurs wafted through the council at the true blood's response to the head of the council's inquiry. The man cleared his throat before awkwardly saying, "We have been made aware that you wish to mate with this...uh...omega. However, we greatly advise against making an unknown omega your mate...for numerous reasons."

"I do not only wish to be mates with Syri, I wholeheartedly intend to become Syri's mate." Jae paused to look each member in the eye before adding, "This is not negotiable."

"We are concerned the omega would not be a fit Luna. The pack will need a competent Luna to accompany a distinguished Alpha such as yourself."

Jae turned to look at the vice head of the council, who had spoken up, before replying, "Syri is just as fit to be Luna as I am to be Alpha. Syri has traveled all over the pack; he has personally met and worked with pack members from every rank and position. Nobody has had greater exposure to who truly makes up Crimson Night than Syri. He has seen and been through just about everything. And has every qualification necessary for a Luna. He is kind and compassionate, truly caring. He is not afraid to stand up to cruelty. He may not have been educated by the finest tutors of the land, but he has learned much more about the people of Crimson Night than either of you ever could from where you sit day in and day out."

Jae's words silenced the council. They could not argue with him. "I implore you to reconsider your views and preconceived conceptions about Syri. I would hate for Crimson Night's council to be prejudiced against their Luna." Gasps filtered through the council. Jae had chosen Syri, and he was not to be persuaded otherwise.

Seeing the council's reaction, Jae thought this meeting to be the appropriate setting to inform them of his plans. "I will be removing the law banning nonfated wolves from mating. This is set to be completed within the next week. Please prepare to accept the change." With that, Jae turned and strode out of the council's room, leaving the council members speechless.

They had asked to meet with him to persuade him to find a different mate, one with education and preferably a royal background, but instead, they were denied and their request rejected in a mere few minutes as well as informed that wolves who were not fated to each other would be able to legally mate fairly soon.

Jae let out a huff as he walked down the corridor outside the council's room. Jae was aware the council would have a hard time transitioning from being his father's council to now being his. Fachan had a very different method of ruling, and he had almost no discord with the council. Jae knew that if the council could not adjust to him as the new Alpha, they would bring him loads of stress in the future.

Jae sighed as he thought of ways to help the council adjust to the new order, his expression tensing. However, at the sound of his name, Jae's brows loosened, and his eyes lit up. A smile came to the Alpha's lips as he saw Syri waiting for him at the end of the corridor. With a skip in his step, Jae quickly made his way to the zeta who was standing with his hands behind his back in anticipation.

Slipping his hands beneath the zeta's arms and holding Syri's waist firmly, Jae lifted his love and spun the zeta in the air, extracting an excited laugh from Syri. Jae's heart sang at Syri's giggle, and he brought his love into his arms upon setting the zeta on the floor. Slightly confused as to why Syri was not returning the hug, Jae took a step back to see Syri still had his hands behind his back. The zeta pursed his lips, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he looked up at the Alpha.

Bringing his hands out from behind his back, Syri presented an unidentified bundle that had been wrapped in a thin white cloth. Jae happily accepted the gift from the zeta as Syri explained, "I was helping Heva and Aliza get ready for Eternal Dawn's dinner tonight, so I thought I'd ask your opinion on some pastries I had made." Syri's face was flushed with bashful excitement, and he watched carefully as Jae unwrapped the cloth to reveal a beautifully golden pastry with a pistachio cream folded into its many layers.

Jae did not waste any time in tasting the delicacy specially given by his love. The Alpha's eyes widened as the sweet and salty flavor of the pistachio cream filled his mouth and paired well with the soft and light flakiness of the pastry. "This is delicious!" Jae exclaimed, much to Syri's relief.

"Really?" Syri asked with excitement, a large smile filling his face.

"Mm!" Jae sounded in assurance before finishing the pastry and taking the zeta into his arms. "Very delicious."

"I'm glad you liked it," Syri said as Jae took his hand and began leading him down the corridor. The two's expressions were light as they walked hand in hand.

"Is that what you've been doing today? Baking?" Jae inquired about the zeta's day as they exited through a side door in the north wing of the palace and began strolling around the palace grounds.

Syri shook his head in response before explaining, "No, I spent most of the day with your mother and had only spent two or so hours in the kitchen before coming to find you."

"Sounds like we've both had busy days."

Syri nodded in agreement to Jae's comment. "Do you have any more meetings today?" The zeta inquired as they rounded a corner which revealed the setting sun stretching its rays over the palace.

The days were steadily growing colder, and soon it would be winter, so the palace workers were busy preparing for the harsh season that was about to arrive. The grounds were covered with workers chopping wood to keep the fires roaring throughout the cold while others were storing goods, drying meats, and gathering hay.

"No, I am all done for today," Jae answered Syri's question happily. "Other than the dinner for Eternal Dawn tonight, I am free for the rest of the day."

A smile came to Syri's face at Jae's words. "Well, we have a little over an hour until the dinner starts," Syri began as he thought of something he and Jae could do together until they needed to attend the dinner. "Would you like to help me finish baking the pastries?"

Syri was unsure how Jae would answer. He knew Jae was not used to doing work such as preparing for dinner and was more used to performing political and official work, but Syri thought it would be a good way to find out Jae's views on this type of work...the type of work Syri was used to.

Jae slowed to a stop and turned to face Syri before looking into the zeta's eyes and sweetly answering, "I'd love to."

Syri's heart smiled as he felt and heard the genuineness in Jae's response. Jae was excited to have the opportunity to do something that Syri liked. Syri had been enveloped in the workings of the world Jae had grown up in, so he understood why Syri had run to the kitchen to help whenever he could break away from the politics and lessons of the royal world. And Jae was thrilled that Syri had asked him to be a part of something his love enjoyed and was comfortable with.

Syri looked up at Jae lovingly for a moment before happily beginning to lead the way to the kitchen. The zeta was quite animated as he walked hand in hand with Jae through the palace grounds back toward the castle. However, the zeta slowed his pace when he saw Aki walking toward him. Curiosity filled Syri as he wondered why Aki was so adamant about speaking with him. It was not until he heard Aki's voice in his mind that Syri stopped in his tracks, and his heart began to race.

Syri, I need to talk with you...please.