It took a moment for the boy's eyes to register the face in front of him. Once his eyes focused, a handsome face with sharp features and dark eyes appeared above him. Loose strands of raven hair hung in his face. The small male's eyes suddenly filled with fear as he remembered the events of the day before. The boy seemed to relax, however, when the musky scent of the man above him seeped into his senses. It was the same scent he was engulfed in when he fainted.

The true blood snapped out of his trance and leaned away from the small male who was looking around the room curiously. The male's nose twitched as he smelled the new scents which filled the room, and his eyes widened when he saw the expensive furniture and decorations. The room was simple but luxurious.

"Where am I?" The boy asked quietly as he sat up against the wooden bed frame.

"My room," the true blood replied.

"Your room?" The pink-haired boy raised an eyebrow as if to inquire 'and where is your room'?

"Ah...you're in the palace."

"The palace?" Surprise filled the little male's face. "How did I end up here?" The boy turned his head up and stared at the tall ceiling.

"I carried you."

"...Oh...thank you," the pink-haired pulled his knees close to his chest and looked at the true blood with gratitude.

"Why were you running?" The prince asked softly.

The pink-haired took in a breath before replying. "I escaped."

"Escaped? From where?"

"From the basement in his house. He found me and took me."

"Who? Who were you running from?" The true blood asked cautiously, unsure if it was too soon to bring up the boy's attacker.

The small male looked down and fidgeted uncomfortably before answering in a hushed voice, "My mate."

The prince's blood boiled, and a growl sounded from his throat. What wolf could to that to their mate? Keep them prisoner and abuse them?! The true blood let out an inner sigh of relief when he remembered the pink-haired had not yet been marked.

"He didn't mark you, but did he mate you?" The prince asked slowly, giving the boy time to respond.

"No. He didn't mate me. He said I didn't deserve to have pups." A sadness filled the small male who's scent was beginning to dampen.

"Why?"

"Because of what I am."

"Can you show me?" The prince had speculated the pink-haired was not an omega despite the sweet scent. The boy's answer confirmed his speculation.

"You won't think I'm a mutt?"

The true blood released calming pheromones as he soflty answered, "No."

The small male closed his eyes and let out a breath before looking back up at the true blood, revealing bright, aqua eyes. The true blood let out a gasp at the beauty before him. He had never seen someone so stunning. "You're so beautiful." The words somehow made their way out, making the zeta blush.

"You're the first person to tell me that," the small male smiled slightly.

"Really? What about your parents? Didn't they ever tell you you're beautiful?"

The zeta's eyes drooped and turned back to their soft brown as he thought about his parents. "They died when I was a pup. I was raised by my aunt and uncle, but they always told me to hide my true form."

"So you mask yourself as an omega?" The prince guessed, earning a nod in confirmation.

"You're the first person to see my true eyes outside my family...other than my mate." The zeta's smile faded as he spoke of his fated mate and captor. The true blood noticed the change and released more calming pheromones.

The visible relaxing of the zeta calmed the true blood to some extent, but his brows were still furrowed at the thought of someone's mate harming them.

"Don't let anyone here know you're a zeta, though." The true blood hated having the zeta continue to hide his true identity, but it was the only way to ensure his safety. Zetas were extremely rare and highly sought after once they were discovered. Like omegas, male zetas could carry pups which were often stronger than the average pup, regardless of its rank. Zetas also had supernatural abilities, the extent of which had not been found as zetas were usually either killed by those who thought of the wolves as 'mutts' or taken and abused for power.

The small zeta nodded his head, understanding the risk of exposing his true rank. The prince was keen to detect the zeta's disappointment. "But you can show it to me all you want," the true blood said in an attempt to cheer the small male, earning him a small smile. "What's your name?" Jae asked in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.

"Syri."

Wow. What a beautiful name. Everything about this wolf is beautiful. "I'm Jae." The true blood revealed. Not many wolves had the privilege of knowing the crown prince's first name.

Syri let out a small smile before looking down in slight embarrassment as his stomach released a hungry growl.

"Are you hungry?" Jae chuckled lightly at the zeta's cuteness.

The pink-haired nodded, still embarrassed. Jae's lip curled into a slight smile at the cute zeta before standing to his feet and exiting the room. The prince stopped just outside the door as he rethought telling his father about the zeta. The king was a ruler who would use any method to gain power and dominance. After determining to keep Syri's true identity hidden from his father, Jae resumed his walk to the kitchen.

As soon as the door closed, Syri doubled over in pain, clutching his side. He let out a soft gasp as he lifted his shirt, revealing a claw mark left by his mate. A wound left on a wolf by its mate was the worst kind of wound as it could only be healed by the licking of the mate.

I need to get out of here. That true blood seems nice, but he could be here. Fear overtook the zeta as the thought of his mate finding him flooded him. The boy slowly slid off the bed and walked over to the door. He sighed in relief when he saw the empty hallway in front of him.

The pink-haired quietly made his way down the corridor before another round of pain throbbed in his side horribly. Syri involuntarily let out a gasp as he felt the wound begin to bleed again. Blood seeped through the shirt and dripped on the ground, leaving a trail as the zeta struggled down the hallway.

By this time, Jae had returned with a plate full of delicious food. He stopped in his tracks in the middle of the hallway as the smell of blood reached his nose. The true blood rushed to his room and flung the door open. Setting the plate on the table as he entered, Jae searched the empty room. His heart began pounding in fear as he realized the zeta was missing.

The true blood dashed back into the hallway and focused on the smell of blood, following the sweet trail. Quiet whimpers reached the prince's ears, alerting him of the zeta's presence. The true blood walked to an inlet in the stone wall to see the small zeta curled up tightly against the wall. The prince's heart broke as he saw the tears streaming down the young male's face.

Slowly and cautiously, the true blood knelt down and took the zeta in his arms, emitting calming pheromones all the while. Jae began petting the zeta's head and humming soothingly. "Shhh. It's okay."

Eventually, the zeta's crying lessened, and his tears dried as he leaned into the strong man's embrace and inhaled his calming, musky scent. Jae's attention quickly went to the wound on Syri's side. He gently lifted the blood-soaked shirt and looked at the gnarly wound.

"Did your mate do this?" Jae's blood boiled, and his eyes flashed golden as Syri nodded his head. "Did you run thinking he might be here?"

Syri nodded, his brown eyes moistening again.

"I'll keep you safe. I know you're scared, but can you trust me?" That was the first time the true blood had ever asked someone for their trust. As future alpha, trust and respect for the prince came naturally. But, for some reason, Jae wanted Syri's trust. He wanted the zeta to be able to rely on him. He wanted Syri to want him to protect him.

Syri looked up at the true blood with big, watery eyes and nodded. Jae's heart lightened as he gained the zeta's trust. Syri leaned into the true blood as Jae picked him up and cradled him in his arms. The zeta found himself burying his face in Jae's chest and breathing in the true blood's strong scent as the prince carried him to the room.

Jae contacted Estan through their link as he walked down the corridor. The gamma came running at the news of the zeta's wound reopening. Estan immediately began doctoring Syri's wound while Jae waited outside.

After administering a sedative, the gamma called the prince into the room. The true blood looked at the sleeping zeta before turning to the doctor.

"You said his mate did this to him?" Estan asked his prince who nodded in response, evoking a sigh from the doctor. "How could his mate do this?"

"They haven't marked or mated, yet."

"Yes, but, there would still be a bond of some sort."

"Is there a way to save him?"

The doctor slowly shook his head. "I can keep it at bay for a limited time, but it will continue to bleed. Sadly, I cannot heal him, and it won't get better. Not if his mate doesn't heal him."

"Then..."

"He'll die."