The zeta was alone when he woke. The faint musky smell informed the zeta that the prince had not yet returned to the room. The night sky could be seen through the closed window. The moon shone brightly; it was nearing its peak. Scanning the room and making sure he was alone, Syri's eyes flashed their vibrant shade of aqua, and the window swung open. It had been a while since Syri had used his abilities. The zeta closed his eyes and enjoyed the gentle caressing of the night breeze.

It felt nice to use his abilities. Syri had made sure to hide his true form, and so he did not have many opportunities to use his zeta abilities, much less explore them. From the rare lore regarding zetas and what little Syri had discovered, the zeta knew his abilities had to do with the power of the mind. Though, he had no idea of the vast expanse and range of his abilities as he rarely had opportunities to show his true self and using his abilities extensively consumed a massive amount of energy.

Syri brought his arm behind his neck and propped his head up from the soft pillow. The male closed his eyes and let out a breath as he furrowed his brows. The zeta's pain was not overwhelming, but a dull ache in the male's chest brought forth Syri's worry.

Aska, you okay? Syri asked his wolf. The zeta furrowed his brows deeper as no answer came.

Mmm. As long as you're alright, I'm okay. The wolf responded after a good while. His voice was weak and tired.

Syri let out a sigh as his wolf's lie. I know you're not. You took most of it. The zeta's eyes began to glisten as he recalled the torment he and his wolf went through at the hands of their mate.

Are you still hung up over that? We're safe now. Don't worry about it.

But-

I'm still recovering, Syri. It's hard to be awake right now. Can I go back to sleep? It hurts.

I'm so sorry, Aska. I should have taken more. By this time, tears were streaming down the zeta's face.

No! Don't ever think that again. If I catch you thinking that, I'll never talk to you again. Aska threatened Syri, but his voice was still filled with exhaustion. It was taking a huge amount of effort to be awake.

Okay. Syri tried his best to stifle the tears.

Promise?

Promise.

Okay, good....I think I need to go back to sleep, Syri.

Okay.

Thanks for checking in on me. Stay strong. Let the true blood protect you. I trust him. He's not like Jisue.

Okay. Shivers went down Syri's spine at the name of his captor and mate.

Bye, Syri.

Bye, Aska. The zeta continued to cry after his wolf went back into hibernation. The thought of Aska suffering pained Syri until he could not breathe. He knew the only way he could stand even being awake right now was because Aska was still taking the pain. The zeta clutched his chest as his pain lessened even more, signaling that Aska had taken a greater load than what he was already bearing.

Approaching footsteps startled the zeta. Syri whipped his head to the door but sighed when he saw Estan enter. The gamma immediately rushed over to the bed when he saw Syri's tear stained face.

"Syri, what's wrong?" Estan asked in concern.

"My wolf....he's hurting," the zeta cried truthfully.

"Oh, baby." The gamma cupped the zeta's face in his hand affectionately while releasing his calming scent. Since gammas were healers, the calming scent greatly relaxed Syri. Estan fought tears as he watched Syri cry. Even though Estan was a gamma, there was nothing he could do to heal a broken wolf. After the zeta had calmed down, Estan asked softly, "Is it alright if I check on your wound?"

Syri nodded, and the gamma began to unwrap the gauze. Estan stifled a gasp when he finished unwrapping the wound. The slashes from Syri's mate's claws were turning black as the wound refused to heal.

"How bad is it?" Syri asked as he leaned his head back against the pillow. The zeta's pain tolerance impressed the gamma.

Estan let out a breath. "No sugar-coating?"

"No. Tell me straight."

"Two days."

The zeta remained calm, much to the gamma's surprise. Not many people took this news calmly. There was a steel hiding deep inside the zeta, a strength that resided only in those who had endured great pain and torment. A steel made of courage, wariness, trauma, and hardiness. The zeta had been through much more than anyone knew.

Estan swallowed as he looked at the zeta. He was stronger that he looked, much stronger. A steel like this could only be forged through the fires of one's hell.

The zeta closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Two days. Okay," Syri sighed under his breath.

"The wound is getting worse faster than it should. I am not sure why it is doing that. I have never seen a wound do this," Estan said as he began redressing the wound.

"Don't tell Jae? Please?" Syri turned his head so he was looking Estan straight in the eyes. There was a pain and fear present in those warm, brown eyes that Estan did not know. He had never been in a situation such as the zeta's, but he speculated that Syri had his reasons.

Estan finished dressing the wound before answering, "I have to." It was his duty as both subject and friend to the prince to tell him everything he knew.

"Not unless he asks?" Syri begged. His eyes were glistening at this point.

Estan hung his head with a sigh. "Okay," the gamma hesitantly agreed as he looked back up at the zeta.

"Don't tell me what?" A voice sounded from the door. Neither of the two wolves noticed the true blood enter as their stressed scents were filling their senses. Estan jumped slightly at the sudden appearance of the prince. The gamma looked back and forth from the prince and the zeta before chuckling nervously. How did he get himself in this mess? The true blood was staring at the zeta with an intense gaze.

"Nothing," Syri was quick to respond as he pulled down his shirt, hiding the redressed wound. He turned his head to look out the window he had left open and began counting the stars in an attempt to ignore the intense interest radiating out of the true blood.

"Syri, what is it?" Jae asked as he approached the bed.

Syri could feel the true blood's determination to find out whatever he was hiding from him. "I like you," the zeta spit out suddenly. Syri pursed his lips together and closed his eyes as soon as the words left his mouth. What did I just do??

Jae stopped in his tracks at the zeta's confession. Estan's eyes widened, and he quietly began scooting away from the bed. The gamma was quick to exit the room, leaving the startled true blood with the fretting zeta.

Well, it's not like it's a lie...but what if he doesn't want me? Syri turned his head into the pillow as Jae walked over to the zeta's side of the bed. Syri could feel the mattress dip down as the true blood sat on the edge of the bed. His eyes opened as a hand held his chin and turned his face up. The zeta looked up to see the prince gazing down at him fondly. His heart fluttered as the true blood leaned down and kissed his forehead.

"I like you, too...but can you tell me what's really bothering you?" Jae asked softly. His tone was not pushy or demanding. He was patiently sitting beside the zeta waiting for him to open up.

Wow. How does he know me so well? Syri looked up at the man gazing down at him in awe.

"It's okay. You don't have to hide anything from me," the prince assured.

Syri swallowed dryly before answering, "Two days. I have two days left."

Jae's expression fell, and his eyes began to glisten. The true blood closed his eyes to keep his tears from falling on the zeta's beautiful face. He gently got onto the bed and gingerly pulled the zeta into his arms. Syri felt himself relax as he breathed in Jae's musky scent. He would have no regrets if he died then and there. Jae wanted him. He was not some freak mutt to him. The zeta could feel the true blood's chest rise and fall as the prince cried.

Syri slowly reached up and placed his hand on the prince's face. "It's okay."

"How? How is it okay? Why only two days?....Why didn't I find you sooner?"

Syri's lips parted slightly as his eyes moistened at Jae's words.

"I could have saved you," the prince said as he pressed the zeta against his chest and held him tenderly. The zeta closed his eyes and soaked in Jae's presence. His calming scent, his strong arms, his gentle touch. Syri loved everything about the true blood. He had been so good to him.

"You did save me," Syri smiled softly. He did not want the true blood to feel guilty or regretful in any way. He was grateful for everything Jae had done for him and was happy that his last days would be spent with the true blood.

Jae pulled his head away and gazed at the zeta intently before closing his eyes and pressing his forehead against Syri's. "Why couldn't we have been mates?"