"Hurry!" Syri called to Estan as the two ran toward a set of stairs stationed at the end of the hallway. The zeta stepped to the side and let the gamma carrying the girl pass and run up the stairs. Cracks had appeared in the ceiling, and chunks of dirt had begun to fall and crash to the ground. Dust filled the air as Syri raced up the stairs.

The zeta nearly ran into the gamma who had stopped just outside the last step. Syri caught his breath as shouts and yells reached his ears. Flames had erupted everywhere. Alphas were running up and down the long room catching the numerous cages lining the floor on fire. Rage filled the zeta as he saw their captors killing the victims.

"Why are they killing them?" Syri pondered aloud as he watched in horror as the alphas continued to set fire to the cages.

"It means they are losing in whatever battle they are fighting. They would rather kill the victims than set them free because they plan to run and can't afford word of their actions to leak," Estan explained as he surveyed the situation.

"Help!" A girl yelled as an alpha neared her cage. The female werewolf reached her hand through the bars and extended it toward Syri and Estan in a plea for help. The zeta's heart ached as he heard the female's cry for help, so the zeta closed his eyes and called on his wolf.

Aska, I need you.

Syri...

I know...I know you're exhausted... Tears filled the zeta's eyes as he heard the weariness in his wolf's voice. But...these people, they don't deserve to die. Please...

A moment of silence passed before Aska replied. Close your eyes, Syri. You don't need to see any more death.

Aska's request startled the zeta. When had he ever seen death? But Syri did not question his wolf and closed his eyes. Soon, everything turned dark as Aska awoke.

Estan looked to see Aska's aqua eyes shining in the fire-lit room. The gamma watched as Aska closed his eyes, and his brows furrowed in concentration. A wave of chains unlocking pulsed from the zeta as the captives were set free and the cages were opened. Those who survived the flames fled from their cages and began running toward the door at the opposite end of the room.

Aska's eyes remained closed as he completed setting the captives free. "Take the girl and run," Aska ordered the gamma.

"What?!" Estan turned from watching the captives just in time to see Aska fall to the ground unconscious. Estan called the zeta's human name as Syri did not wake up.

"Syri!" Estan called once more. The gamma began to fret as he looked from the incapacitated girl in his arms to the spreading fire to the alphas chasing the fleeing captives to the unconscious zeta on the ground. What to do?!! I can't leave Syri, but I can't carry both of them. And I can't leave this girl to die. Estan took a breath as he thought about the best course of action. It would be faster to get the girl out and then come back for Syri as she is lighter and easier to carry. This is the best chance to save them both. "I'll be right back, Syri. I promise!" Estan voiced before wasting no time in sprinting past the cages and through the door at the opposite end of the room.

Chaos met the gamma as he ran through the door. Estan found himself in an open courtyard containing a scene from a battle. Wolves were running from barrels of fire. Arrows were being shot from rooftops, masked men were attacking the captors, and slaves were running every which way trying to get free.

Okay. First thing's first. Find a safe place to hide the girl. Estan began looking around for a safe place to store the girl only to jump out of the way as a masked man fighting the head alpha kicked the alpha through the door out of which Estan had just come. Syri is in there! The gamma watched as the masked fighter waltzed into the room and began fighting the alpha.

To Estan's horror, the masked man shut and locked the doors behind him, locking Estan out of the room where Syri was lying unconscious. Shit!

"P-p-please spare me!" The alpha pleaded with the masked man walking toward him with daggers in both hands.

"Where is she?" The man asked of the bumbling alpha.

"Wh-who?"

"A girl with red hair. You took her two weeks ago. Where is she?"

The man put up his arms in surrender as the masked man raised his blades. "I-I don't know which one you are talking about. We have l-lots of girls."

A growl rippled from the masked man. "Then I will find her myself." The man did not hesitate in slicing the alpha's neck, severing his life force. A thud sounded as the alpha's body crumpled to the floor. A sigh left the man as he relaxed his shoulders. He had finally accomplished his goal. He had hunted the traffickers endlessly for half a month and had finally caught up to them. Now, he had to find her.

The man swiveled his head and looked at the burning building. The beams in the ceiling were burning quickly and would soon lose their integrity. The cages were empty, so the man turned to walk out of the room but stopped when a form on the ground caught his attention. The werewolf turned back around to see an unconscious male lying twenty paces before him.

Syri's fingers twitched as he faded in and out of consciousness. The zeta opened his eyes slightly to see leather boots approaching him. Hands rolled the zeta onto his back, and arms went under his back and knees before lifting the small werewolf into the air. Syri's head rolled back to rest on a strong arm, and his eyes opened slightly as he was in a window of consciousness.

Oh, it's you. Syri fell back unconscious as he recognized the masked man from the square. The man looked down to see the zeta's eyes were closed before carrying Syri out of the burning building.

"Syri!" Estan called as he saw the masked man carry the zeta out of the building. The gamma was empty-handed as he ran up to the man. The man kept his hold on Syri as he knew Estan would be too tired to be able to carry the zeta.

"Is this your friend, Gamma?" The man inquired of Estan.

"Yes, he is. Thank you for saving him," Estan said to the man holding Syri.

"Do you have somewhere he can stay until he regains consciousness?" The man's voice was courteous and polite.

Estan nodded his head. "I do, but it is quite a ways away."

"Where is it located?"

"Just outside Alia. We are in Gern, so it will be about a half day's walk."

"It's just your luck, Gamma. This place is located between Gern and Alia. It is only a two-hour walk to Alia. I am headed to Alia myself. I am willing to accompany you and your friend, but I must find someone first," the man offered.

"That is very kind, but I would like to leave this place as soon as possible," Estan responded.

The man inclined his head. "Very well. Then, do you have a place where I can set your friend down until he regains consciousness?"

"I do. Follow me, please," Estan said as he began leading the man to the nook where he had set the girl.

The man kept Syri in his arms as he followed the gamma out of the courtyard to a corner formed from two buildings interlocking. The rustling of the girl met the gamma and man. Estan let out a breath of relief as he saw the girl was awake and looking around with wide eyes. The man immediately set down the zeta and took off his mask as he called the girl's name, "Rosie!"

The girl looked up at the man, a smile coming on her face. "Inso!" Rosie called as she reached her arms out to the man. The man took Rosie into his arms, tears filling his eyes as he held his little sister.

Estan smiled at the happy reunion between siblings as he checked on his precious zeta.

"How are you? Are you okay?" The man asked softly as he inquired on his sister's health.

Rosie shook her head as big tears streamed down her face. "I want to go home."

"It's okay. We'll go home," the man said as he pulled his sister back into his arms. "We need to leave here now. I am certain reinforcements are on their way," the man voiced as he looked around at the compound.

Estan nodded in agreement. "I can carry Rosie if you would carry my friend."

"Very well," the man agreed. "Rosie, Inso has to help that man over there. Can you go with the gamma?" He asked his sister.

Rosie nodded. "Thank you for saving me, Estan," Rosie thanked as she stood to her feet.

Estan smiled at the girl before crouching and letting her climb onto his back. Estan watched as the man gently scooped Syri into his arms and made sure the zeta was in a comfortable position. He seems like a nice guy. Estan followed the man as they exited their nook of safety and made their way back into the chaos.

The man had put his mask back on before lifting Syri into his arms, covering his dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes. The other masked men continued in eliminating the captors and rescuing the victims as the four made their way out of the complex.

"Your friends won't mind you leaving?" Estan inquired as they exited the compound.

A slight chuckle left the man as he said, "I'm not actually one of them. I snuck in with them to find my sister." The man bent down as his sister took off his mask, revealing a soft face and hazel eyes.

"Ahh. I must say, that is quite intelligent," the gamma complimented.

"Thank you."

"Where did you acquire your skills, then? If you are not a pann?"

"My father was a pann. He trained me."

"I see."

The next few minutes were walked in silence until Estan inquired, "May I know your name?"

"Brenton. My name is Brenton, and my sister is Rosie."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Brenton. I am Estan, and the man in your arms is Syri."

Brenton looked down at the werewolf in his arms fondly and said his name, "So, your name is Syri."

Estan noticed the look in Brenton's eyes and cleared his throat as he thought of a potentially pissed-off true blood glaring at him and quickly changed the conversation. "So, what do you do, Brenton?"

"Hm?" Brenton reluctantly drew his gaze away from the male in his arms and focused on Estan's question. "I hunt and sell game."

"So, you're a rho?" Estan assumed based on Brenton's occupation.

"Correct. And you are?" Brenton's voice raised at the end of his question signifying that he was not sure if it was appropriate to ask about Estan and Syri's rank.

Estan smiled at the kind rho and answered, "I am a gamma, and Syri is an omega."

"Ah, I thought so. He smelled sweet," Brenton said as he glanced down at the "omega" in his arms.

"Yes, Syri is a sweet little thing," Estan agreed as he looked at the sleeping zeta.

"So, where were you coming from? Do you live outside this region?" Brenton inquired after a moment.

And so the lying begins. Estan took a breath and prepared to tell the story his had concocted. "Syri and I live in the village at the castle. I bought the cabin outside Alia with my mate when we first got together. He's busy right now, so I thought I'd take Syri, and we would have a little vacation together and get away from the worries of life. Little did I know that we would be kidnapped by a trafficking ring."

The rho was silent as he politely listened to Estan's story, only speaking when he knew Estan was finished. "Yeah, no one would have guessed such a thing could happen. They've been getting worse, especially in the west. But they have slowly expanded their reach to the eastern region. If only the king would do something about it. I doubt he even cares." Brenton's eyes turned hard as he talked about the disinterest of the king in the happenings of his people.

"I'm sure the king is busy. I don't think he is even here right now."

"But the prince is. Why isn't he doing anything?" Irritation could be heard in Brenton's voice as he continued, "His people are being captured, killed, and separated from their families, and he isn't doing anything about it!"

"I am sure the prince is doing his best," Estan defended his friend. He has to worry about more things and people than you could ever know. It is not easy being a prince.

"Yeah...I'm sure you are right, but it is frustrating being so disconnected from the people who are supposed to keep order. It's like they're in a whole other world. I could never even dream of seeing the castle."

Estan nodded even though he was one of those who was in a whole other world. "I get what you mean." There is no way I can tell him that Syri and I are from the castle, now.

The four walked in silence the rest of the journey to Alia. Rosie had fallen asleep on Estan's shoulder and was snoring softly, extracting quiet laughs from the gamma and rho. Syri remained in a deep sleep as he and his wolf recovered their energy.

Pann - League of trained werewolves which is loaned out to accomplish jobs. The league consists of betas, deltas, thetas, and rhos.