Jae, don't move. Kace said through the link as the alpha lunged into the dense vegetation.

Confused by Kace's words but trusting of the masked wolf, Jae stayed still as the alpha ran past, not even looking in his direction.

He can't smell us. We have moonflower. Haikon voiced. He is running rampant. His movements are unpredictable, and he isn't thinking straight.

We have to stop him before he crosses the border. Let's go. Jae commanded as he lunged into the trees and began chasing the unstable alpha. The four members of the hunting party were quick to run after their leader.

The party kept low to the ground and slowed their pace as the target came to a stop ten paces in front of them. Haikon studied the wolf's movements with keen eyes as the alpha sniffed the air. The alpha's snout crinkled before promptly releasing a sneeze. Haikon tilted his head as he watched the wolf raise his snout and sniff the air before sneezing again.

Haikon, he sneezed like this the night we found Jae and Syri. Xander linked his mate and reminded the theta of the two's hidden encounter with the alpha the night Syri was ruthlessly marked.

Haikon thought back to that night and recalled the alpha sniffing the air around him when he was near the delta and theta and sneezing just as he did moments ago. I think he's allergic to moonflower. Haikon informed the party. He reacted this way to Xander and me when we were near him and were wearing moonflower.

Is that why he ran when we found him earlier? Yejin asked.

It is likely.

Get into formation. Jae commanded. We are ending this.

>>>>>>

Syri took a deep breath as he sat up. The zeta panted as he clutched his chest. The last thing he remembered was the fire, the smoke, and the man picking him up...and Jisue. Jisue tormented the zeta when he was unconscious and unable to wake up causing great pain to the incapacitated zeta. Syri's breathing slowed to a steady pace as he looked around the room. There was no fire, no screaming victims, and no alphas. Everything was quiet and peaceful.

The window above the bed was open, the curtains billowing in the midday breeze. Syri had been changed into a loose, white shirt and tan pants and was lying on a soft bed. The zeta made sure the shirt covered the mark on his shoulder before slipping out from under the blanket and setting his feet on the floor.

Syri observed the room as he stood from the bed. The room was small and cozy. A wardrobe was stationed on the wall opposite the bed, and a nightstand was stationed next to the head of the bed while a desk and chair were pushed against the wall adjacent to the bed.

The zeta turned and looked out the window to see trees and flowers before crossing the room and exiting through the door. Laughter floated to the zeta's ears as he walked down the small hallway with two doors stationed on either side. Syri soon found himself walking into the common room where Estan and Rosie were sitting on the sofa and playing card games.

As soon as the soft padding of Syri's feet on the wooden floor reached Estan's ears, the gamma looked up to see the zeta entering the room. "Syri!" A smile spread across Estan's face as the gamma stood to his feet and walked over to the sleepy zeta. "How're you feeling?" Estan asked tenderly as he checked Syri's temperature.

"I'm okay," Syri answered quietly.

"That's good. Are you in any pain?" The gamma asked as he looked over Syri's body. The bruises on Syri's neck were healing nicely and were nearly gone. Estan released a breath of relief when the zeta shook his head. "How's Aska?" Estan inquired of the zeta's wolf.

Tears entered Syri's eyes as he took a breath before answering, "I-I don't know. I haven't been able to reach him."

Estan's heart dropped as he heard Syri cry.

"What do I do, Inso? I think I pushed him too hard." Tears were now streaming down the zeta's face as he cried for his wolf.

Estan took Syri into his arms and began petting the zeta's head while emitting a calming scent. "It's okay. If Aska could not have handled it, he would not have done it. I'm sure he's fine; he is probably just really tired," Estan soothed. The gamma felt Syri nod into his shoulder and continued to pet the small male's head.

Rosie had remained silent as she watched the zeta cry in the arms of his inso, but she soon found herself sliding off the couch and walking over to the two males. Being a female omega, Rosie stood roughly four inches shorter than Syri as she was near mating age. Her frame was slender as she stretched up and stood on her toes to wrap her arms around the two males.

A smile came to Estan's lips as he saw the girl comfort Syri. The gamma opened his arms and invited the omega to join the hug, which she accepted. Syri opened his eyes as he felt the presence of the female and looked to see a small, red head snuggled in-between him and the gamma. Syri looked down on the omega fondly and patted her head before stepping out of the gamma and omega's embrace. Estan brought his arms down to his side as he watched the zeta smile at the omega as she reached up and wiped a tear from Syri's cheek.

"Hi, Rosie," the zeta greeted with a smile.

"Hi, Syri. Thank you for saving me," Rosie responded. Her voice was stronger than it had been at their first greeting, but it was still quiet and gentle. Her face was still pale, but it was clear that the omega was recovering. The bruises and cuts on her neck, arms, and legs were healing and quickly fading due to Estan's efforts.

The door opening caught the zeta's attention. Syri looked toward the entrance to the cabin as a man with dirty blonde hair and light hazel eyes walked into the room. The man's breath hitched as his gaze was caught by those soft, brown eyes.

"Inso!" Rosie greeted the man as she ran up to him, interrupting the man's lingering gaze on the zeta. A smile came to the man's lips as he opened his arms and his sister ran into his embrace.

"How are you feeling? Any better?" Brenton inquired about his sister's health.

"Mm," Rosie responded with a nod of her head. "Estan has been taking care of me."

Brenton set the bucket filled with water on the floor before nodding to the gamma. "Thank you, Estan."

Estan nodded back in response before taking Syri's hand and leading the zeta to stand in front of the man. "Syri, this is Brenton. Brenton, Syri," Estan gestured to the rho and zeta as he introduced the two to each other. The rho and zeta politely inclined their heads in greeting as Estan continued, "Brenton got you out of the building and helped us escape."

"Thank you for your efforts," Syri thanked the rho quietly.

Brenton smiled at the zeta before bowing to the gamma and saying, "Rosie and I thank you for your hospitality. And I thank you for caring for my sister in my absence. We will be on our way."

"Oh, it was nothing. I was happy to help. It was nice meeting you, Brenton," Estan replied as the rho took his sister's hand and opened the door through which he had just entered.

Rosie bowed her head in farewell before following her brother out of the cabin. Estan and Syri watched the brother and sister walk down the path and disappear into the trees before retreating into the cabin and shutting the door.

"Well, we finally made it!" Estan said as he poured Syri a cup of water. The zeta nodded in agreement and accepted the cup from the gamma before heartedly taking a sip of the refreshing liquid. "I was thinking of going to town to get some food and supplies. Would you like to come with me?" The gamma asked as he sat down next to the zeta on the sofa.

Syri eagerly nodded his head. "I'd love to." Syri thought for a moment before inquiring of the zeta, "So, how did, erm...Brenton find us?"

"Rosie, his sister, had been taken by the ring two weeks ago. Brenton searched tirelessly for her and snuck into the complex disguised as a pann when he discovered the ring's base. He found you after killing the lead alpha and brought you out of the burning building which is where I saw you two."

Syri remained silent as he processed the information. "So it was him," the zeta said under his breath.

"Who was who?"

"Hm?" Syri brought his gaze up to the gamma when he realized he had voiced his thought aloud. "Oh, I thought I had seen the masked man, er Brenton, in the building with the fire."

"You had met Brenton before the ring's complex?" Estan tilted his head as he inquired of the zeta.

Syri nodded his head and said, "He tried to save me in Gern. It was right after you were taken. He found me and tried to save me, but I ran away and looked for you. That's when I was taken."

"So, that's why he seemed as if he knew you."

"What do you mean?" Syri scrunched his brows as he looked at the gamma.

"Oh, uh... Brenton seemed fond of you. It makes sense that he had met you before he saw you in the building," Estan explained.

Syri remained silent as he mulled over Estan's response. Estan let a few more moments pass before asking, "You ready to go to town?" to which Syri nodded. The two then stood to their feet and prepared for the walk to Alia.

>>>>>>

Syri looked around in awe at the grove surrounding the cabin. Estan stood in the path and watched the zeta meander around smelling the different kinds of flowers and looking up at the trees. The gamma waited for the zeta to join him before ruffling the smaller male's pink hair and leading the zeta out of the grove.

It was only twenty minutes before the gamma and zeta reached the town of Alia. Alia was a small, quaint village with an enchanting scene. Flowers decorated the signs, streetlights, and sides of the buildings while the sun shone brightly on the happy residents milling about. For its humble size, Alia housed a market, smithery, pub, bakery, clothing store, a small clinic and chapel, and an administrative office.

Syri walked around wide-eyed as he ingested every detail of the enchanting village. Estan took Syri by the hand to ensure the zeta did not accidentally wander off and promptly led the smaller werewolf down the main street to the clothing shop.

"The alphas took our bags with our clothes, so I thought we would have a little shopping spree," Estan told Syri as he led the zeta inside the shop.

"Hello, how can I help you today?" A female omega approached the two with a smile and friendly demeanor. The shop was empty except for the omega, a male at the counter, and a woman currently paying for her purchase.

Estan inclined his head politely to the omega who returned the expression before asking, "Would you mind if we looked around? We lost our luggage during our travels and are in need of some new clothes."

"Please, help yourselves," the omega replied. "The men's section is to the left." The female gestured to a set of tables and shelves behind her before walking away to assist a woman who had just entered the store. Syri followed Estan to the back left corner of the store and watched as the gamma began sifting through the folded shirts and blouses. The figure standing still behind him caught the gamma's eye, and Estan turned to see Syri standing frozen with a confused expression on his face.

"What are you doing?" Syri asked in bewilderment.

"Shopping," Estan answered matter-of-factly as he looked at the zeta in equal bewilderment. The gamma mentally slapped himself as he realized that Syri had probably never been shopping for clothes and softened his demeanor. "I'm so happy that I get to introduce you to my first love!"

Syri cocked his head. "First love?" The zeta's eyes grew wide, and his head swiveled as he looked around the shop. "Yejin is here?"

A snicker left the gamma's mouth as he laughed at the adorable zeta. "No, Yejin is not here. I was referring to shopping. I love shopping, and I bet you will too." A sly expression came to the gamma's face as he took Syri by the wrist and steered him to stand in front of a table with folded blouses.