Syri cooed as he was laid on the bed. A slight smile came to Jae's lips as he heard the small sound. The true blood eased the zeta under the covers before slowly getting onto the bed. Sensing the familiar dip in the mattress, Syri instinctively rolled into the true blood as the prince positioned himself under the covers. Feeling the touch of Syri's head on his arm, Jae turned behind to see the zeta asleep next to him.

Slightly startled by the zeta's unconscious movement, Jae unsurely lifted his arm. To the prince's surprise, the zeta nestled his head onto the true blood's shoulder and closed the distance between the two men until there was nearly none. Adding to Jae's surprise, Syri remained sound asleep the entire time. Using the greatest caution, Jae slowly lowered his arm until it was lying flat across the four down pillows. After making sure the zeta was still asleep, Jae closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him while hoping Syri would have a peaceful night.

The zeta slept soundly in the arms of the prince. The hours passed as Syri dreamed of a field filled with butterflies. The sun was high in the sky, and the wind was blowing a calm breeze through the zeta's pink hair. The sounds of footsteps caught the zeta's attention as he sat in the field and absorbed the warm sun. Syri looked up to see the silhouette of a man walking toward him. The sun shined behind the man's head, creating a halo. Syri felt warmth and excitement flood him as he watched the man approach him.

Sadness pained the sleeping zeta's heart as the dream continued. The man held out his hand, and Syri took it, being pulled into a comforting embrace. Syri knew this dream well. He had dreamt it often, his mate finding him and whisking him away from his life of constant labor and persecution. No! Don't take his hand. He's your mate! Run away! Syri called out in his mind. He knew what was coming next. The dream had changed after the zeta had been taken by Jisue. Just like how the morphed dream ended, Syri was dragged into the earth and chained in a dark room.

Syri gasped for air as dirt filled his mouth and suffocated him. The cold sting from the metal around his wrists shot through Syri's arms as he felt the familiar sensation of being shackled. The zeta struggled against the restraints but, just like the other hundred dreams, failed. An evil chuckle reverberated throughout the dark room, causing Syri to halt his fight against the chains.

This was new. There was no chuckle in the other dreams. A light switched on in the front right corner of the room, revealing a set of stairs leading up to a door. The zeta's heart raced as the creaking of the door indicated it was being opened. Syri watched in horror as the door opened and Jisue descended into the room.

"Hey there, Mutt," Jisue sneered as he walked down the steps and neared the chained zeta.

"No, no, no. I should have woken up by now," Syri whispered to himself as he watched the shadow of the man grow.

"There's no waking up from this one, Mutt," Jisue said as he knelt in front of the zeta and placed his thumb beneath Syri's chin. "You see, this isn't a dream anymore."

Syri's eyes widened, and a cry escaped his mouth as pain assaulted his mind.

"Thanks for letting me in again, Mutt. I couldn't go another day without seeing you." A laugh erupted from the alpha's throat as his eyes turned red. Syri froze as he felt Jisue's fingers curl around his neck. A whimper escaped Syri as the alpha leaned down and placed his lips next to the zeta's ear. "What are you going to make me do to make you mine?" Jisue's voice was quiet and low, sending shivers down the zeta's spine. Syri hated Jisue's voice. He would rather go deaf than listen to the alpha speak to him.

"What do you mean? You've already marked me," Syri managed. The zeta's entire body shook as a growl resonated from the alpha.

Jisue's grip around Syri's throat tightened as he snarled, "Marking wasn't enough. I need more. I need power! I don't care what I need to do to get that power. And believe me, I will get it. I don't care if I have to mate you both here and out there. I will find you and make you mine."

Syri's breathing grew haggard as Jisue opened his mouth and bared his fangs. Forcing the zeta's head to the side, Jisue lowered his head to Syri's exposed neck and licked the mark set by Jae. Immeasurable pain shot through the zeta as Jisue bit down into the mark. Syri let out a cry as Jisue dug down deeper before retracting. Blood covered the alpha's mouth as he left the mark unset once again.

Syri, wake up! Aska called in the zeta's mind as Jisue exposed his claws and slashed them across Syri's chest, ripping the zeta's shirt and slashing his skin.

I can't, Aska! I've tried, but I can't resist him! I can't let him mate me. I don't care if it's just in my mind, I don't want this man touching me. What do I do?! I can't move!

Syri released a shout of pain as Jisue forcedly turned the zeta over on his stomach. The zeta's chained wrists crossed each other as he felt Jisue tug on his pants. "Get your paws off me!" A wave of dominance rushed over Syri in response to his outcry, making the zeta nauseous.

Syri's head swam with vertigo and pain as Jisue leaned down and snarled, "Did you just try to give your alpha an order?"

"You're not...my...alpha," Syri struggled as his stomach churned from the forced submission.

"I'd like to hear you say that once I'm done with you. I'll show you who your alpha is, Mutt!" Jisue growled as he placed the palm of his hand on the upper portion of Syri's back and pinned the zeta to the cold ground before forcing Syri to bend his knees and lift his waist in the air. The rough concrete dug into Syri's face as a weight was placed on him, forcing him to submit yet again.

Syri began to hyperventilate as he felt Jisue roam his hands over his exposed body. "Stop, please!!" The laugh of a maniac was the only reply to the zeta's plea.

"Syri!" A voice called from above the earth. The zeta tried to lift his head to find the source of the voice, but he could not move, and his body began to shake as terror consumed him. "Syri, wake up!" The voice called Syri's name again. It was filled with frantic concern.

The zeta closed his eyes and focused on the voice. He drowned everything out until all he heard was his name being called by the prince. The room melted around the zeta, and he felt himself falling, but his body was still trembling with fear.

"Syri!" The true blood's call brought the zeta out of his hell. Jae's voice was drenched with worry as he called the zeta's name once more.

Syri opened his eyes to find himself in Jae's arms. His face was wet, and his eyes were puffy, but fresh tears flowed down the zeta's face as a huge wave of relief rushed through his body. He was no longer in that dark room with Jisue. However, just as the zeta thought he was free, Jisue's voice sounded in his mind. Did you honestly think you could escape?

Pain seared Syri's head as the alpha's laugh echoed throughout his mind. Jae's heart broke as Syri let out a tormented cry, and shut his eyes. To the prince's relief, the zeta's cry lessened until it was quiet whimpers, but when his eyes opened, they were aqua. Tears swelled in Aska's eyes as he looked up at the prince.

Jae looked at the zeta in silence. He had yet to meet Syri's wolf. Hyuk had met Aska when Jisue marked the zeta, but Jae had yet to see the wolf of the zeta.

"Thank you for getting Syri out of there," Aska thanked the prince quietly.

"Is he still trying to get in?" Jae inquired.

Aska nodded his head before another round of pain came. The zeta closed his eyes and grit his teeth as he fought to keep Jisue out of his mind.

Estan, how far are you? Jae inquired of the gamma whom he had linked when he woke to find Syri in a sweat.

I'm nearly there.

Syri's wolf came out to take the pain.

Oh no...

Is there anything I can do?

I'm not sure if it will work, but try steadying Syri's wolf with your voice. I know zetas aren't affected by any wolf who isn't their mate, but since you set his mark, you may have an effect.

I do. We tested it the other day when I called Ajax.

Ok, good. Your dominance may override the alpha's voice so do that right now. I'm shifting and letting Kiri take control, so I can get there faster. I'll see you there.

After disconnecting the link with the gamma, Jae brought Aska into a sitting position and maneuvered himself to sit in front of the zeta. The prince then brought the two's foreheads together and closed his eyes. A low rumble resonated throughout the room as the prince released his voice.

Jae focused on the voice being steady and softly dominating so that the zeta would not be negatively affected by it. The zeta relaxed as the prince's voice reverberated through his body and mind. The pain in Aska's mind lessened as Jisue's dominance was drowned out by Jae's voice. The true blood continued to release his voice until the zeta was completely relaxed. Jae also released calming pheromones once he was sure Jisue had left.

Jae opened his eyes just in time to see the zeta slump over. The prince caught the zeta as the male fell against his chest. Positioning the zeta into a comfortable position, Jae placed a hand on the side of the male's face and made sure he was alright.

A small moan escaped the zeta's lips as he came back to consciousness. The male opened his eyes to reveal brown orbs, which quickly looked around. A sigh was released as the male found himself in the arms of the prince and not in the basement. The zeta's eyes moistened as he looked up to see the prince leaning over him with a concerned expression.

"Jae," Syri voiced the name of his savior and clung to the true blood.

"Hey," Jae greeted with a worried smile. "How are you?"

"Better," Syri said before closing his eyes and releasing a breath.

The running of footsteps and the opening of the door preluded a panting Estan rushing into the room. "How is he?" The gamma inquired as he chased his breath. Jae made eye contact with the gamma before nodding and signifying that Syri was okay. "Good." *breath* "That's good." *deep inhale* "Let me take a look at him," Estan suggested once he had caught his breath.

Jae looked down to see the zeta had already fallen fast asleep. Jae smiled down on the zeta softly and moved a strand of hair from the pink-haired male's face. Setting the zeta on the bed, Jae stood to his feet as the doctor approached the bed and went to prepare for the hunt. It was going to be a long, bloody pursuit.