Jae. We gotta go. The prince woke to his wolf's voice in his head.

What's wrong? Jae inquired of his wolf as he opened his dark eyes.

Our rut is early. I think Syri's heat triggered it. I've held it back for as long as I could, but it's nearly here. We need to leave.

Jae's heart spiked at his wolf's words. His rut was the last thing the prince needed at that moment. The prince looked down at the form in his arms to see Syri sleeping peacefully.

He seems to be better. He should be alright on his own. Jae swallowed dryly as he heard Hyuk's words.

Where should we go? There aren't any rutting facilities here that can hold us. Jae slowly moved away from the sleeping zeta and slipped on his pants as he waited for his wolf's reply.

We should just run. Run to a secluded place in the forest and wait it out there. Hyuk's voice was stern as he answered. You should hurry.

The prince took his wolf's warning seriously as he quickly slipped on his shirt and hurried to the door. A quiet moan from the bed stopped the true blood in his tracks. Jae's eyes turned golden as he turned to look at the zeta one last time before rushing out of the room. The true blood's mind was consumed with the thought of getting as far from the zeta as possible that he did not even think to link anyone to inform someone of the situation.

Jae shifted into his wolf form as he reached the edge of town and sprinted into the forest. A low growl left the true blood as he felt his rut begin. The prince's body burned with lust as his mind became foggy. Images of the sleeping zeta flashed across Jae's mind as the ghost of Syri's bare form filled the wolf's senses. Jae fought the urge to turn around and go to the heating zeta and focused on dashing madly through the trees in hope that he could lose himself in the woods and forget the trail of vanilla and roses that lingered behind him.

Hyuk, take over and bring us far away. I can't get him out of my head. Jae instructed his wolf as he prepared to take the back seat in an attempt to keep himself from returning to the sleeping zeta.

Ae. Hyuk did not waste a second in taking full control and raced through the dark forest, bringing the prince away to seclusion.

>>>>>>

Syri felt cold when he woke. The zeta opened his eyes to find himself alone on the bed. The sun had just begun to rise, but the room felt empty and cold even with the warm sunlight. Syri sat up and looked at the space where the true blood had lied before turning his head to look around the room to find it vacant. Syri observed the coin purse and room key resting on the small table that was stationed to the right of the door before reaching off the bed and grabbing his clothes from the ground.

Once Syri had dressed, the zeta slipped out of the bed and stood to his feet. "Jae?" The zeta voiced the prince's name as he looked around the vacant room once more. Silence answered the zeta as Syri walked to the table and picked up the pouch and key. Where did he go? The zeta wondered whether the prince would return, or if he had already returned to the castle. Something important must have come up.

I think he began his rut. Syri looked up as Aska's voice sounded in his mind. The zeta sniffed the air as he heard his wolf's words and detected the slightest trace of an alpha's rut.

I hope he's okay. Syri replied to his wolf as he held the key in his hand.

He probably left, so he wouldn't hurt us.

Syri nodded in agreement to Aska's statement just before he lifted his head, and his eyes widened. "Estan! I need to make sure he's okay!" The zeta spurred into action at the realization he had not heard from the gamma since Estan had left for Alia. Syri hastily exited the room and hurried down the stairs into the lobby of the inn.

"I'd like to check out of Room 204," the zeta told the female behind the counter as he handed her the key.

"Have a nice day," the female bade as the zeta rushed out of the inn. Syri turned his head from side to side as he scoured the street for anything that would aid him in achieving a sense of location. He knew he was in Gern, but his memories of the ride into town were vague as the zeta was filled with pain at that time.

Syri ran his fingers through his hair as he turned every which way in an attempt to orient himself. An aggravated snort caught the zeta's ears as the worker tending to the inn's stable struggled to drag a large steed out of the stall. Syri turned to see Ajax resisting the orders of the worker and immediately rushed down the street to the stable.

"Erm, excuse me," Syri voiced as he caught the attention of the worker.

"Eh? Oh, hello there," the worker greeted in a bow as he halted his vain attempts of dragging the steed out of the stall. "Can I help you?" The man inquired as he eyed the zeta curiously.

"That is my friend's steed. He left earlier this morning, so I can take him from you," Syri explained as he gestured to the massive steed behind the worker. The man turned to look at the vorst before trailing his gaze back to the small male in front of him.

"Do you even know what a vorst is?" The man asked as he looked at the zeta's plain clothes. Only royalty was able to master a vorst, and Syri certainly did not look like he belonged with the royal family.

Syri swallowed as he realized the man did not believe him. "His name is Ajax. I know his master."

"Listen, I don't want to get into any trouble. Why don't you bring your 'friend' here, so he can take the vorst himself?" the man suggested as he eyed the zeta.

Syri let out a small huff as he realized there was no way he would be able to get the man to let him leave with Ajax. I don't want to leave you here alone, though. Jae would be worried about you. As if in response to Syri's thought, Ajax lifted his head sharply and jerked the reins from the worker's hands. The zeta watched with wide eyes as the massive steed sauntered over to him and nuzzled the top of his head before turning to look at the stable worker quite judgingly.

Ajax snorted sharply as he glared at the worker. Thank you for not wanting to leave me alone, Zeta. Syri's eyes widened to the size of saucers as he looked up at the steed towering over him. For a split second, Syri had completely forgotten about his ability to talk to steeds. The zeta had not realized he could also talk to vorsts.

Y-you're welcome...Ajax. Syri was still stunned as he responded to the vorst.

"Okay, so he definitely knows you. You can have him, just don't blame me if his owner comes back and is furious. I am pointing him straight to you, Omega," the worker said as he shrugged his shoulders and turned around to tend to his other duties.

Syri shook his head at the worker before turning to look at Ajax. The vorst was much larger than Dyren; Syri doubted he could mount Ajax without a boost even though the beast was saddled and reined.

Shall we go? Ajax's voice was soft as he addressed the zeta after watching the man leave.

I have to find my friend. Is it alright if we go to Alia before heading back? Syri inquired of the vorst politely.

Of course. The prince will not return until after a few days.

Syri's brows crinkled at the vorst's response. What do you mean?

Ajax paused for a moment before he answered. He was in quite a hurry to leave; he had important matters to tend to. Don't worry, he shall be fine.

Ahh. Thank you for telling me. Syri smiled up at the steed with gratitude as he began to walk beside the massive beast. Do you happen to know the way to Alia? Syri inquired of the vorst as the two started down the street.

I do. Shall I lead the way?

Please. Syri inclined his head respectfully as he responded to the vorst.

Very well. Follow me, Zeta. Syri was grateful to the vorst as he trailed beside the large beast as the two made their way through the crowd milling about the town.

The vorst and zeta walked in silence as they continued through the village. A line of refugees entering the town from the direction of Alia began to trickle into Gern as the two reached the town's square. Syri furrowed his brows as he watched the trail of refugees enter the square. The zeta's sensitive hearing picked up numerous whispers as he and Ajax came to a stop.

"The whole town is gone." "Alia is lost." "Several were trapped." "What do we do now?" "We have nothing."

Despair and hopelessness covered the faces of those from Alia. Syri stopped a younger woman in the square and frantically inquired, "Is this everyone from Alia? What happened?"

The woman looked at the zeta with distant eyes as she answered, "Alia was taken by the fire. Nothing remains. Everyone who survived is here in Gern."

Syri felt his heart drop at the woman's words. The zeta's eyes glistened as he looked at the displaced families. We have to find Estan. Syri's voice was stern as he addressed the vorst. Will you help me find him? He is Jae's friend.

I know Estan. I will aid you. Ajax lifted his head as he scoured the crowd. The vorst stood nineteen hands from his *withers, so he easily surpassed even the taller alphas in the crowd. Estan is not here. Ajax lowered his head as he completed searching the many faces. Syri's heart ached at the vorst's words.

Estan, where are you?? The zeta's mind called for the gamma, but he was not able to link his friend no matter how hard he tried. He had only been able to link one person all his life: his fated mate, Jisue. Tears touched Syri's eyes as he searched the crowd once more in a vain attempt to find the gamma.

Estan may be with his mate. Ajax addressed the zeta as he saw Syri's determination to find the gamma.

What do you mean? Syri inquired as he continued to stand on the tips of his toes to try to look through the crowd.

The prince came with the captain.

So Yejin is here?

The prince and the captain split ways. Jae and I went to find you while Yejin went into town. I assume he found Estan and brought the gamma to the castle.

Syri released a breath of relief at the vorst's words. Thank goodness. I hope you are right.

There is no reason for me to be wrong. It is the most plausible explanation for the gamma's whereabouts.

Let's pray it is. Syri heaved a sigh as he relaxed his shoulders and got down from the tips of his toes.

Shall we return to the castle, then, Zeta?

Yes, let's. Syri shook his hair out of his eyes as he began following the vorst through the square and to the edge of the village.

Withers - The highest part of a steed's back is at the base of the steed's neck and above the shoulders.