Jae released a small breath as he stood before the two large doors that led into the King's Hall. The prince gave a small nod to the guards standing on either side of the doors once he had gained his composure. Yejin stayed just behind Jae to his right as the alpha followed the true blood into the hall. The members of the council had already assembled and stood to their feet as the prince walked to the end of the hall.

Yejin remained standing as Jae took his seat which was situated to the left of his father. The luna occupied the seat to the Alpha's right. The king did not greet his son before commencing the meeting.

"Why have the intruders not been eliminated as of this moment?" The king inquired in a low growl. He had zero tolerance for unannounced rogues roaming about his property.

"They were a delegation team, Alpha," Jae responded when the hall remained silent.

"A delegation team that did not call for permission to pass, which makes them unannounced intruders! They should have been eliminated on the spot!" The king bellowed without turning to face his son.

"They are wolves of Black Moon," Armina intervened. The luna's voice seemed to calm the alpha to an extent. "Black Moon is the second largest pack in the eastern region," the luna added. "I am sure you understand my words."

The king pondered for a moment as his temper cooled. "What do you propose we do, Armina?" The alpha inquired of his mate as he turned to face the luna.

Armina's face remained cold and distant as she replied, "Send delegation parties to White Fang and Black Moon and inform them we are currently holding the intruders. If White Fang denies they were the party's destination, we will know whether or not Black Moon is lying and has other intentions." The luna's voice was curt and professional. She was merely performing her duties as Luna.

The king nodded in agreement as he processed the queen's advice. "Very well. We will send delegations to both White Fang and Black Moon and see if they are accepted. Let us hope White Fang verifies the intruders' story. If not, I shall be very put out."

The council members bowed their heads as they accepted the king's orders.

"Now, bring me to the prisoners. I want to see for myself the wolves who dared cross my territory without proper dues," the alpha said in a growl as he stood to his feet.

Jae also rose to his feet and followed his father and mother out of the hall with Yejin just behind him. The alpha and luna's right hands stuck close to their leaders as the group traveled down the corridor that led to the hall and made their way down to the dungeons.

Fire-lit torches lined the stone walls of the underground portion of the castle. A jumble of keys clinked and clacked on the waist of the jailor as he led the six down the dim corridors and several flights of steps until they came upon a hallway lined with cells. The jailor led the alpha to the larger cell stationed at the end where the intruders were kept.

The five werewolves lifted their heads to look at their visitors only to quickly lower them when they felt the dominating presence of Crimson Night's alpha.

"So these are the rogues who intruded onto my territory," the alpha growled as his eyes trailed over the five cowering prisoners and scrutinized each of them.

"W-w-we are n-not rogues," the leader of the delegation party spoke up quite pathetically.

A snarl left the alpha in response to the prisoner questioning his statement. "What are you if not disrespectful, conniving bastards?" The alpha's voice was saturated with disdain and contempt as he inquired of the werewolf who had spoken up. Silence followed the king's inquiry, extracting a scoff from the alpha. "You are nothing more than cowards with a powerful pack to back you. Let's see if they still want you now that you have been caught."

Jae's brows furrowed as he observed the five quivering supposed delegates. They were being too quiet and complacent for a delegation party. If they had done no wrong and were truly sent as a delegation to White Fang, they should have been fighting for their lives and pleading to be set free so they could complete their mission.

Past delegation teams that had been caught on a pack's land without going through the proper dues were often running against time to complete their delegation and simply could not afford to waste a second, so they crossed a pack's territory for the sake of their mission. When they were caught, they would apologize immensely and would promise to return to the pack with proper compensation for their disrespect before being released to continue their delegation.

These wolves, however, were remaining silent and were not apologizing for their disrespect. Neither were they begging to continue their delegation. These factors created great suspicion in Jae as he watched the wolves shudder in fear. They acted as if they had been caught doing something they were not supposed to be doing.

"You will remain here until an answer has been received from either White Fang or Black Moon," the king addressed the five before turning on his heel. "Don't even think of trying to escape. It is futile," the alpha added with a growl before leaving the cell and storming down the dimly-lit corridor.

Jae knit his brows as he looked at the five once more before following his mother away from the cell and out of the dungeon. Something is wrong. They are no normal delegation team. What are they really here for?

>>>>>>

Syri's eyes melded into the shape of a half-moon as he smiled at the small girl gazing up at him. The young werewolf stretched up her arms to the zeta and opened and closed her hands in grabbing motions. Syri let out a small laugh as he bent down and picked the girl up into his arms. The zeta set the girl on his hip as he placed a peck on her forehead.

"She's taken a liking to you," the grandmother of the girl said as she smiled at the zeta holding her grandchild.

Syri turned to face the elderly woman and bowed his head shortly in greeting. "What's her name?" The zeta inquired as he continued to hold the girl.

"Amie. Her name is Amie. She's two," the grandmother answered with a smile.

"Hiya, Amie," Syri smiled to the girl as his child-talk was activated. The zeta now spoke in a higher-pitched voice with a cute accent. "Is somebody not feeling well?" Syri asked with a sad expression as he noticed the girl's red face and hot forehead. "Awww, somebody has a fever. Don't worry, Estan inso will get you feeling all better," Syri said to the girl gently, extracting a small coo from the tired child.

It was not long before Amie was asleep in Syri's arms. The zeta was patient as the child slept on his chest. Syri sat in one of the chairs in the front room of the clinic and began patting the girl's back comfortingly. The opening of the door drew Syri's attention to the gamma walking into the room.

"How is Amie?" Estan inquired of the grandmother as he came to stand in front of Syri.

"She is better than she was yesterday, but her fever has been consistent the past day and refuses to go down," the grandmother answered as the gamma knelt in front of the zeta.

Amie remained fast asleep as she was handed from the zeta to the gamma. Estan positioned the girl into one arm and felt her temperature with his free hand. The gamma's brows furrowed as he felt the child's persistent fever. "Let me take her to the back and examine her. Her fever should have broken by now," Estan told the grandmother.

"Please, help her, dear Estan," the grandmother pleaded with the gamma as Estan stood to his feet.

"Of course." The gamma offered the elderly woman a reassuring smile before turning toward the door that led into the examination rooms. "I'll be done shortly, Syri. Let me take care of Amie, and I will be right out," Estan told Syri as he patted sleeping Amie's back.

"Take your time, Inso. I'll go to the market and get some food. We're running low on some things," Syri responded sweetly, causing the gamma to smile and nod his head.

"I'll meet you at the market when I am done," Estan said as the grandmother stood to her feet and followed the gamma to the door.

Syri watched the three disappear into the hallway behind the door before exiting the clinic. Estan had stopped by the clinic the day before to visit Garnelle and was convinced by the woman and the other staff to begin working at the clinic since he had nothing to do. And Estan being the kind soul he is, could not refuse. Syri found himself joining Estan at the clinic and comforting the younger patients as they waited to be seen by a physician.

The zeta breathed in the fresh, summer air as he walked down the main street of Alia. The sun had just begun its decline and painted the sky in rich oranges mixed with gold. The sun felt good on the zeta's skin as Syri made his way past the cute shops and homes and to the market. Syri unrolled his sleeve to extract a folded burlap bag that he had brought from the cabin.

The zeta opened the bag to its full size as he entered the market and began buying select foods. Vendors at the market had grown accustomed to the sweet seemingly-omega who had shown up mysteriously. They always smiled at Syri in greeting as they thought the small male was too adorable for his own good. The zeta thanked the lady who sold cheeses as he slipped the wrapped triangle of brie cheese into the bag and continued on his way.

Hmm. What meat should I get? We had chicken yesterday and pork belly the day before... Syri's brows unintentionally knit together as he got lost in his thoughts contemplating what meat to buy for dinner. The zeta was so lost in his thoughts that he did not see the man walking toward him until he ran right into the stranger's chest.

The impact from walking straight into the man startled the zeta. How could you be so aloof, Syri?!! The zeta berated himself as he struggled to regain his balance. A hand reached out to steady the flustered zeta as a voice sounded, "Are you alright?"

Syri blinked twice as he recognized the voice. "Yes, thank you," the zeta thanked the stranger as he lifted his head.

"...Syri?" The man inquired as he saw the zeta's brown eyes.

"Oh?" The zeta blinked once more as he looked up at the man's hazel eyes. "Brenton?" A smile came to the zeta's face as he recognized the man who saved him from the traffickers.

"Fancy running into you here," Brenton let out a small chuckle as he looked down at the male standing in front of him, the rho's eyes shining as he gazed at the zeta softly.

"Yeah, literally," Syri responded to the rho's statement with a small cute and awkward laugh, causing the man to smile at the zeta's adorable reply.

"Are you looking for something in particular?" Brenton inquired as he saw the zeta look around the market.

"Well, I wish I knew what I wanted. I can't decide on what meat to get for dinner tonight," the zeta answered as he continued to look for the meat section.

"Mm, well, maybe I can help," Brenton offered the pondering zeta.

"What do you mean?" Syri inquired as he brought his eyes back to those hazel orbs.

"I sell game."

Syri's eyes widened at the rho's answer. "Here?"

Brenton let out a small chuckle as he answered, "Yes, my stand is over there." The rho pointed to a stand displaying a selection of meats stationed roughly twenty feet behind Syri.

"Ah," the zeta sounded as he looked at the stand. Syri followed the rho through the light crowd and over to the stand where Brenton set down the pair of coneys he had been carrying as Syri looked over the selection of meats. "Hmmmm," Syri brought his finger to his chin and tapped it with the tip of his index finger as he pondered which selection he should buy.

"The duck is extremely delicious," Brenton commented as he saw the zeta's eyes linger over the plucked duck.

Syri's eyes flit up to the rho for a split second before gluing themselves to the plump bird. "I'll take it," a smile covered the zeta as he pointed to the duck.

"Very good," Brenton smiled as he prepped the duck while Syri dug out his coin purse.

"Oooh, duck for dinner?" A familiar voice sounded behind the zeta. Syri turned his head to see Estan standing behind him drooling at the selected meat.

"Inso!" Syri smiled when he saw the gamma, who chuckled at the zeta's cuteness and ruffled Syri's pink hair in response. "How is Amie?" The zeta inquired about the little girl as Estan came to stand behind him.

"She has a cold. She should be better in a few days," Estan replied as he accepted the wrapped duck from the rho. "Oh, Brenton!" The gamma exclaimed as he recognized the man standing behind the stand.

"Hello, Estan," Brenton replied respectfully.

"So you sell game when you're not a pann, eh?" Estan observed with a sly smirk.

"Huh?" Brenton's eyes widened when the gamma mentioned his being a 'pann'. "Oh...uh, yes, well," the rho answered awkwardly as he brought his hand up to the back of his neck.

"Why don't you come over for dinner?" The gamma inquired, catching the rho off-guard.