Jae listened respectfully as the two leaders from the delegation teams informed the alpha and council of their progress. The delegation to White Fang had been granted permission to enter the pack's territory and was on its way to White Fang's capitol city. Black Moon, however, had yet to allow Team 2 to enter their territory. The king brought his hand to his chin in thought as he contemplated the next move.

For now, focus on obtaining an audience with White Fang's alpha and luna. Fachan addressed the leader of Team 1 through the enhanced link. The king set his hands on the long table before him as he came to a decision. Move forward with delegations with White Fang; we will not wait for Black Moon's response. We will continue with Black Moon once we have their answer.

The council members nodded their heads in approval of the alpha's decision. The sigma's eyes turned from silver to her usual brown in an indication that the link was no longer enhanced, leaving Teams 1 and 2 to their own devices.

"What are we to do if Black Moon does not respond?" One of the council members inquired of the alpha.

Fachan tilted his head as he pondered his response. The alpha folded his arms across his chest as he leaned back in his chair and answered, "Well...that means Black Moon does not value their delegates and that they are disposable. I do not see why we should house and feed wolves that were not valued by their pack."

The hall fell silent at the king's response. It was no secret that Fachan was a cut-throat alpha, but his answer only strengthened the fact.

"Alpha, what if there is something more to this, something more than what meets the eye?" Jae spoke up after the hall had remained silent for a few moments. The king turned to face his son and nodded as a signal for Jae to continue. Jae slightly inclined his head to the king before continuing, "What if the five were sent to our territory with a certain goal?"

"Explain," Fachan voiced as he knit his brows in concentration. He was all-ears.

Jae quickly made eye contact with the luna, who nodded in approval, before elaborating. "I suspect the wolves from Black Moon were on our territory intentionally. I do not believe they were merely passing through."

"You are insinuating the 'delegation' team was sent as spies?" Fachan inquired as he acknowledged the possibility. The alpha's eyes widened when he realized the weight of the prince's words. "Are you saying Black Moon intends to invade Crimson Night?!" The alpha let out a scoff at the correct assumption. "That is outrageous! The packs of the eastern region have only known truce for fifty years." Fachan shook his head at the prince before standing to his feet. "Black Moon dare invade my pack?! Ha!" With that, the king turned on his heel and stormed out of the hall.

The true blood cocked his jaw as he watched his father trump away from the table. The council members remained in a state of shock as they heard the doors slam open. The hall remained silent as Jae, too, stood to his feet and exited the hall. The luna was quick to follow her son out of the hall and down the corridor. The prince ran his fingers through his hair in frustration at his father's refusal to see the truth.

"Jae!" Armina called her son's name as she hurried to catch up to him.

The true blood halted in his tracks as he heard his mother's call. Jae turned to face the luna as she reached him; Yejin bowed to the queen in respect as Yehwa bowed to the prince. Jae clenched his jaw as he pointed to the direction down which his father disappeared. "He refuses to accept the possibility of someone preparing to invade our pack! He is ruthless as long as it brings him power, but whenever someone threatens his power, he does nothing! He cannot even bear the thought that we are not the strongest pack!" The prince exclaimed as he vented his frustration.

"I know, I know," Armina agreed softly. "That is why I need you to continue to investigate."

The luna's words calmed the fiery true blood as they reminded him he still had a sane parent.

"I don't know why he refuses to acknowledge the possibility. I knew those wolves were up to no good when I found them." A growl entered the prince's voice as he ended his statement.

"And I believe you. Now, calm down. It would not do well to outrightly go against your father at a time like this," Armina warned her son with a low voice. "He is still the alpha."

Jae nodded his head in agreement as his emotions leveled out.

"Do not forget that this could all turn out to be nothing. We are not certain of anything as of yet," the luna reminded her son softly.

"Yes, Luna." Jae bowed his head respectfully in response. "I apologize for my outburst."

The luna smiled softly at her passionate son. "It's alright. It is good that you care for the pack. You will make a good alpha, Jae."

Armina's compliment caused Jae's heart to swell. The prince smiled at his mother before lowering his head.

"Now, if you will excuse me, there are some matters I must tend to," the luna said to her son, who nodded in response. The luna's eyes turned cold as she started in the direction down which her mate had disappeared. Yehwa bowed to Jae in passing as she hurried to keep up with her luna's quick footsteps.

Jae watched his mother disappear around a corner before turning to Yejin. "We have work to do."

>>>>>>

"No...no...no...please..." Whimpers filled the night as Estan tossed and turned in his bed. Sweat coated the gamma's neck and chest as he moaned from the terror in his mind.

Babe...Babe...Wake up. Babe, wake up. Yejin's deep voice sounded in Estan's head softy as he coaxed his mate out of the nightmare. It's okay, Love. You're alright. You're safe.

"No! Don't touch him! Leave him alone. No!!"

Estan! Yejin's voice became desperate as he tried to wake his mate.

"Yejin?" Estan called out as his eyes snapped open. The gamma's chest heaved as he sat up in the bed.

"Inso?" Syri's soft voice sounded in the darkness as the zeta came to check on the gamma. "Inso, are you alright?" Syri asked as he poked his head into the gamma's room.

Estan let out a breath as he heard Syri's soft voice. "I'm alright, Syri. You can go back to sleep," the gamma told the zeta who had stepped into the room.

A moment of silence passed until Syri answered, "I haven't been able to fall asleep."

Estan's heart broke as he heard the zeta's words. "Come here," the gamma held his arms out as he motioned for the zeta to enter. Syri walked toward the gamma and climbed into the soft bed where Estan brought the smaller male into his arms. "Did you have a nightmare, too?" Estan inquired softly as he held the zeta in his arms.

Syri nodded in response. "I heard you calling out and came to wake you, but you were already awake," Syri explained his appearance.

"Ah. My mate woke me," Estan said in reply.

Syri's eyes widened as he fretted. "Did I interrupt you and Yejin?"

"No, no, not at all. Yejin is probably already back asleep," Estan assured the zeta kindly.

"Oh, okay. In that case, I don't feel too bad."

"You shouldn't feel bad at all. Thank you for coming to check on me," Estan smiled down at the male in his arms affectionately as the two settled down and tried to fall back asleep.

>>>>>>

"Is he better?" Jae inquired of the alpha who was sitting next to him.

"Mm," Jae voiced in response. "Syri came to him. They're sleeping now."

"That's good," Jae said as he released a sigh. "Was it about whatever he doesn't want to tell you?"

"Ae...it was." Yejin lowered his head and focused his gaze on his outstretched legs as he pondered whether to tell Jae about what Estan voiced during the nightmare. Deciding against it to keep the prince from worrying about Syri as well as the safety of the pack, Yejin kept his mouth shut as he and the prince continued to sit on the roof of the castle and wind down after a long day.

Jae let out a small breath as he repositioned himself from leaning on his elbows to lying flat on his back. The true blood folded his arms behind his head as he stared up at the stars dotting the dark sky. Yejin remained on his elbows as he silently worried for his mate who was so far from him. The alpha longed to hold Estan in his arms and tell him everything would be alright. Yejin's heart broke every night when he heard Estan crying out from the terror that engulfed his sleeping mind.

The prince and captain of the guard remained on the roof in silence for the next ten minutes before Yejin inquired, "What's the plan for tomorrow?"

Jae opened his dark eyes before answering, "That depends on Black Moon's response, or if they have one."

Yejin fell silent at the prince's response. The course of their day hinged on the actions of Black Moon. The alpha looked down at the true blood relaxing beside him and noticed a look in Jae's eye that had become quite common with the prince. Yejin first observed that special expression when he saw Jae gaze at the zeta. "You miss him, don't you?" Yejin asked after a moment.

"Hm?" Jae sounded as he raised a brow and turned his face to look at the alpha. "Miss who?"

"Syri."

Jae's brows relaxed when he heard the zeta's name. "It's weird, isn't it?" The prince asked with slight awkwardness as he turned his face back to the sky. "I barely even know him, but...I just can't seem to get him out of my mind."

"You know him more than most, though, from what I've gathered. It didn't seem like anyone was truly close to Syri until he met you," Yejin told the prince as he, too, turned to gaze at the stars.

"I just...whenever I look at him, I can't help from wanting to make him happy and keep him safe. And I don't know why. I've never felt this way for anyone."

"That's only natural."

Jae's brows knit at the alpha's comment. "What do you mean?"

Yejin let out a small breath before answering with, "That's how I feel with Estan."

"But you two are mates. Syri and I...are not mates."

"You don't have to be mates to care for someone. Take Haikon and Xander for example. They were not fated, and look what they are: mates."

"Yeah, but their situation is special. You know their pasts."

Yejin rocked his head from side to side slowly before nodding in agreement. "That is true, but you and Syri are special, too." The alpha released a sigh as the true blood remained silent. "What I am trying to say, Jae, is don't fight it. Not all mates in the world were fated. It may be looked down upon and considered wrong, but who is to say it's not real? You know what you feel. And if you think it is real and is something you are willing to fight for, I say go for it. Don't let even the world stop you."

The true blood let the alpha's words sink in for a few moments as he mulled over his feelings for the zeta. After coming to a conclusion about his emotions, the prince opened his lips to reply to Yejin's words, however, the king's voice in his mind stopped him. Come to the hall. Black Moon has given their response.