"He'll...die?" Jae's heart dropped as he heard Estan's words. He had always known wounds inflicted from one's mate were dangerous but never knew they were fatal.

Estan nodded slowly in confirmation. The prince turned to the zeta whose face had turned pale from blood loss.

"How long does he have?"

"A week at most."

"A week? We have to find him." The true blood's eyes turned hard as he picked up Syri's torn shirt from where it had fallen. The smell of the zeta's abuser was still strong on the piece of clothing. Jae clenched his jaw and walked out of the room, summoning Yejin through the link.

Yejin approached cautiously when he saw the determined glint in his prince's eyes. "You called for me?" He greeted in a bow.

"I need you to find someone."

The alpha remained silent as he nodded his head respectfully.

"Syri's mate. I need you to find that bastard and bring him to me alive before the end of the week."

"Shall I summon the delta?" The alpha asked as he accepted the shirt from the true blood.

"And the theta." The prince stopped the alpha as he turned to carry out the command. "Remember, I need him alive."

"Ae, Prince." Yejin bowed before hurrying off to find the delta and theta.

When the alpha had rounded the corner of the hallway and disappeared from view, Estan poked his head out of the door of the prince's room at the lingering smell of his mate. "Yejin was here?"

Jae nodded. "I sent him to find Syri's mate."

"Oh," the gamma nodded, disappointed that he missed his mate even though he had seen him before he came to answer Jae's summon. The gamma held the door open wider as the true blood approached him.

"How is he?" Jae asked as he and Estan returned to the room.

"I have him sedated. As long as he doesn't do anything drastic, the wound shouldn't bleed too much."

"Okay, that's good. Thank you for taking care of him."

"Of course." The gamma excused himself with a bow before exiting the prince's chambers.

Jae sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the sleeping zeta. His pink hair laid on his forehead, and his lashes fanned his cheeks. The zeta's chest rose and fell with a steady rhythm, his soft breath reaching the keen ears of the true blood. Once Jae had made certain Syri was as comfortable as he could be, the true blood drew the curtains over the window and exited his room to continue tending to his princely duties.

The mellow fall breeze sifted through the small home lazily. The house was situated just outside the town on a small hill, providing a splendid view of the castle and its surrounding village. The windows and doors were flung wide as the two males lazed around. They had just returned from a contract mission and were resting. The theta was napping lightly on the rug while the delta was sitting leisurely in a chair sharpening his blades.

The sound of footsteps approached the home as the two basked in the warm, setting sun shining through the door and windows. The scent of one of their commanding officers reached the theta's sensitive nose. The theta opened his eyes as the delta sensed the man approaching his home. The delta and theta stood to their feet at the sight of the chocolate-haired alpha entering the delta's home.

"You're both here. Good."

"Yejin," the grumpy cat version of a theta greeted the alpha. He brought his hand up and scratched his fingers on the side of his head in horizontal movements to fix his disheveled hair.

"Haikon, Xander," Yejin greeted the theta and delta.

"New mission?" Xander inquired coolly, twirling a throwing dagger between his fingers.

"Yes." The alpha answered. "It's from the prince and is to be kept secret. You are to find the wolf whose scent is on this shirt."

"I'm guessing it's not the sweet one?" Haikon assumed as he took the shirt and smelled the three different scents.

"And not the Prince's either," Xander added as he leaned over to smell the piece of clothing.

Haikon's eyes flashed yellow. "Got him. He's an alpha," the theta growled.

"What'd he do?" The delta inquired of the alpha.

"Kidnapped and abused his mate."

Both the delta and theta's eyes flashed their respected colors.

"Leave it to us," Xander growled, the young male's eyes still his wolf's vibrant blue.

"We need him alive," Yejin informed in a warning tone.

"Shame," the delta said, clearly disappointed as his eyes returned to their usual black.

"It's the prince's orders."

"Can he be barely alive?" Xander asked with hope.

"Just don't kill him," Yejin replied with a squint of his eyes.

"We won't. Don't worry," the theta assured the alpha.

The alpha nodded before leaving the delta and theta to their preparations. The delta stretched and let out a yawn as he walked away from the door and began gathering his blades.

"Why do you suppose Jae wants to keep this under wraps?" Haikon pondered to the delta.

"Not sure. I'm sure there's a reason, and knowing Jae, it's probably a damn good one," Xander replied. Haikon nodded in agreement as he strapped a knife to his thigh. "Speaking of keeping things under wraps, when are you going to go back to your own house?" The delta inquired.

Haikon lifted his head and squinted his eyes at the delta. "How does that train of thought make any sense?"

"Just answer the question."

"I don't know. Your house is just so pretty. It has the perfect view and..." The theta trailed off as he watched the delta scurrying about getting ready.

"And what?" Xander continued the theta's sentence.

"...And......don't forget to bring your third dagger," Haikon side-stepped the question.

"Already got it," Xander lifted the dagger before sliding it back into its sheath.

The theta gave a small smile before bringing his attention back to his own preparations.

The zeta was alone when he woke...well, at least he thought he was. A musky scent caught the pink-haired male's attention, tempting him to turn his head towards the window. A stunning sight hit the zeta like a pound of bricks.

The true blood was perched on the window seat, leaning against the wall with one leg dangling while the other was bent on the wide sill. A soft breeze flowed through the open window, ruffling the man's raven hair aesthetically. The cool moonlight fell gently on the prince's face, softening his features while casting beautiful shadows in all the perfect places.

The small rustling of the zeta alerted the prince of Syri's waking. Quickly averting his eyes, the zeta began to sit up only to be met with the true blood rushing to him and gently pressing him back into the bed.

"It's best if you don't move."

Syri nodded and laid his head back on the pillow, gazing up at the masculine male standing over him.

"How do you feel?"

"Better. Thank you."

The true blood's eyes moved down to the wrapped wound on the zeta's side. Syri placed his hand over the wound when he noticed Jae looking at it. "I know...that I don't have much time left."

"I'll find him. I'll save you."

Syri's eyes widened in fear as he began shaking his head anxiously. "No! Please, I don't want to see him. I'd rather die! Please." Big, full tears began streaming down the small male's face.

Jae filled with sadness as he looked at the zeta. Even though Syri's mate never marked him, the mate bond would still be pretty strong. It must have been extremely painful for Syri to not want his mate in this moment. The prince slowly reached out and softly stroked his thumb under the zeta's eye, brushing away a tear. All Jae could think was: He hurt you this badly?

Syri closed his eyes and absorbed the true blood's touch, surprised at how gentle it was. No person had ever been this gentle and caring towards him. He let out a small, pent-up breath when Jae's touch lingered only to open his moist eyes when the true blood pulled his hand away. "How long do I have?"

"A week," Jae's voice was quiet and sad.

"Okay." The zeta was trying his best to not break down. He only had a week left to live, and he was just eighteen. "Can you do me a favor?" Syri asked Jae, tears threatening to flood his eyes again.

The true blood nodded.

"Can you hold me?" The tears broke past Syri's resolve as the zeta melted.

Jae immediately moved onto the bed beside Syri and brought the small male into his arms. It made sense; Syri was an omega in nature. It was natural for an omega to crave a strong, comforting hold in a stressful situation. It would be harder for Syri since he had met his mate but was not receiving the strength and stability he would need from his significant other.

"I promise I'm not a slut. I don't usually do this," Syri said through tears to the true blood who just tightened his hold.

"It's okay. You don't have to worry." Jae released comforting pheromones as he soothed the small zeta.

"Can you stay with me?"

"Mm-hmm. I'll be here for as long as you need."

Jae felt Syri relax as he heard the prince's response. Soon, the slow, steady breathing of the zeta filled the true blood. Jae looked down to find Syri fast asleep. Slowly and ever so carefully, Jae slid down the bed frame, Syri still on his chest, until they were lying down comfortably. Jae remained on his back while the small zeta nestled into him. It felt good to have someone next to him. The true blood closed his eyes, loving being consumed by Syri's sweet scent and soft breathing.