"Inso!" Syri's voice rang out as he leaped from Ajax's back and ran to the gamma whose arms were wide open.

"Syri!" Estan greeted as the zeta ran into his embrace. "Thank goodness you're okay. I was so worried!"

"Are you okay, Inso?" The zeta asked as he stepped out of the gamma's arms to check on his friend.

Estan nodded as he replied, "I'm okay. Are you okay? Are you hurt?" It was now Estan's turn to look over the pink-haired.

"I'm okay."

The gamma lowered his voice as he quietly asked, "How's your heat?"

"Oh...uh, it's better...the prince h-helped me," Syri answered as his cheeks became flushed.

Estan released a short sigh as he knew the zeta was no longer in pain. "That's good. Why don't we get you inside and get you something to eat?"

Syri nodded happily as he realized he had not eaten in a good while. The zeta looked back as the gamma began leading him to the castle to see Ajax being led into the wide stables while Yejin turned around and began galloping past the vast fields. Estan also turned to watch his mate ride beneath the gate before returning to leading the zeta into the castle and to the kitchen.

Syri's stomach rumbled as he smelled a hot meal being cooked. The zeta gratefully accepted the bowl of porridge from the gamma as Estan came to sit beside Syri on a bench positioned at the edge of a breezeway that connected two wings of the palace. "I had them add some pieces of sausage and century egg to it," Estan told the zeta proudly as he watched the pink-haired mix the contents of the porridge.

"Thank you, Inso," Syri said with a smile before taking the first bite. "It's delicious." Estan smiled at the zeta's compliment before turning his head to gaze at the wind blowing through the trees. "How do I become a worker here?" Syri's inquiry caused the gamma to turn his head from the scenery to focus back on the zeta.

Estan gazed at the zeta for a few moments before answering, "Well, you would have to apply and then be interviewed to see if you are fit for the position you want. Why?"

Syri pursed his lips before saying, "I need to pay off my debt and would like to work somewhere in the castle."

"What debt-" The gamma grew silent as he realized the zeta's reasoning. "You know Jae would never let you work for him or his family."

"He doesn't have to know."

Estan stared at the zeta with surprise as he said, "Wow, you sure do have some guts."

Syri furrowed his brows as he looked at the gamma. "Are you going to tell him?"

"N-n-no," Estan answered quickly. "Not if you don't want me to."

"Then, how is he going to find out?"

"I guess he won't...?"

"Good," Syri voiced with a nod of his head. "Will they give me room and board if I get the position?" The zeta inquired further.

"Yes, they should if you do not have anywhere to stay."

"Okay, then, it's settled! I'm going to be a stable boy!" The zeta was excited as he decided which position he would apply for.

Estan let out a small chuckle at the adorable zeta before ruffling Syri's pink head. "You are something else."

Syri chuckled through a closed mouth as he scrunched his nose at the gamma cutely. The zeta's face turned serious, however, as he said, "I need to stop being a burden to the prince. I am eternally grateful for all he has done for me, but he and I are from different worlds. We don't belong together. He will eventually find a beautiful omega and will fall in love and become Alpha, and I will remain...well, just Syri, an outcast whose own family doesn't want."

Estan's heart broke at the zeta's words. Everything Syri said was true; Jae and Syri did not belong in the same world, and the prince would most likely be forced to mate an omega from another royal family to carry on the bloodline.

"I need your help, Inso," Syri's voice was grave as he pleaded with the gamma. "I need to disappear. I will only cause trouble for the prince if I remain by his side."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Estan inquired slowly and emphasized each word to make certain Syri knew what he was doing.

The zeta nodded his head as he answered, "I am sure. This is where I belong. I don't belong with the prince."

"Are you sure you aren't just running away from your feelings?" Estan asked as he could sense the zeta's slight hesitation.

"Mm," Syri sounded with a nod. "I know how I feel about him, and it will only cause trouble for him. I don't want to cause any more difficulties for the prince."

"You know you haven't said his name this whole time." Syri remained silent to Estan's observation. "Are you already trying to distance yourself?" Estan's eyes were soft as he gazed at the zeta.

Syri lowered his head as he said, "I am not in a position to call the prince by his name."

Estan remained quiet as he waited for the zeta to change his mind. But, when Syri did not waver, Estan declared, "Very well. If this is what you choose, I will help."

"Thank you, Inso."

"One one condition," the gamma added, drawing the zeta's attention to him. "You are not allowed to disappear on me, too."

A smile came to Syri's lips as he quickly nodded his head. "But you can't tell Yejin. Those two tell each other everything."

"I won't," the gamma assured the zeta. "This will be our secret. Now, how about we get you that job you so want?" The gamma exclaimed as he stood to his feet. Syri smiled as he, too, stood and began following the gamma down the breezeway.

>>>>>>

The true blood moaned as he came to his senses after two long days of enduring his rut. Jae opened his dark eyes to see the sun rising between the trees. Hyuk, where are we? The prince let out a groan as he sat up and ruffled his disheveled hair.

Somewhere where no one will find us. The wolf's voice was exhausted as he answered his human partner.

Lovely. We gotta get back. Fachan will go into a rage if I don't show up to the weekly council.

Good luck with that. I am tapping out. My job here is done. Hyuk bid Jae goodbye as he retreated to the true blood's subconscious.

Thanks, Hyuk. Get some rest. Jae let out a breath as he stood to his feet and observed his surroundings. The trees were incredibly dense, and the true blood had been lying in a small clearing barely wide enough for his giant wolf form. The prince felt the residual effects of the rut wear off as he began trudging through the forest.

The sun was high in the sky by the time the prince stumbled upon a path that wound through the trees. The dirt appeared well-trodden, indicating it was a path frequently used and would lead to a cluster of society. The true blood wet his parched lips with a swipe of his tongue as he began following the path beneath the hot sun. Jae swallowed dryly and realized he had not had anything to drink for the past two and a half days; he was parched.

The true blood ignored his desert of a throat and continued following the path. Sweat soon covered the prince as he had been walking for several hours. The sound of wheels turning caught the true blood's attention as he rounded a bend in the road. Jae looked ahead of him to see a lone merchant walking alongside a donkey that was pulling his cart.

"Excuse me," Jae said as he politely stopped the merchant. "Can you tell me where this road leads to?" The true blood inquired as he motioned toward the portion of the path behind the man.

"Ah, that way goes to the capitol," the man replied as he turned to look behind him. "Are ya lost, son?" The merchant asked as he saw the prince's rugged appearance.

"I was until you helped. Thank you," the prince bowed in gratitude to the elderly man, much to the merchant's surprise.

"Ya seem parched. Here, have a drink." The man was quick to walk around to the front of the cart and retrieve a waterskin.

"Oh, I couldn't," Jae declined politely as he knew that was the man's only source of water for his trip.

"I insist," the man said as he handed the prince the waterskin. "I am nearly home, and if ya are headin' to the capitol, ya got quite a ways."

The man did not retract his outstretched hand, so the prince thanked the merchant once more before gratefully accepting the waterskin and taking a small drink. "Did ya get enough?" The man inquired as the prince returned the skin.

"Yes, thank you," Jae answered as he savored the small bit of water and let the liquid work its magic on his parched throat.

The man nodded and said, "Okay, well, have a safe journey. Don't die before ya get there."

"I will keep that in mind. I appreciate your help." The two bowed to each other in goodbye before continuing in their separate ways. The squeaking of the wheels slowly faded as the two grew apart in distance, leaving the prince alone once again.

The true blood walked along the dirt path for two more hours before the hurried padding of hooves on the dirt reached his ears as the sun began its descent in the sky. Jae looked to see a steed galloping toward him at a high speed and prepared to jump out of the way when he caught the rider's scent.

"Oi! Yejin! Slow down, would you?!" The true blood called out as the vorst neared him. "Do you want to kill someone?"

The alpha's eyes grew to the size of saucers as he saw the man he had been looking for the past two days. Yejin pulled on his steed's reins and drastically slowed the vorst to a slow trot as he rode up to the prince. "Where have you been?!" The alpha asked of his prince as he dismounted and walked up to the true blood.

Jae reached his hand up and scratched the back of his head as he said, "About that...erm...my rut came early."

"Jeezus," Yejin exclaimed as he shook his head. "So, you just took off without telling me?! Do you know how worried I have been?!"

Jae backed up a step as he saw the alpha's face reddening. "Why do you sound like my mother?" Shivers ran down the prince at the alpha's cheesy affection. "Heyyy, is that how you talk to your prince?" Jae said as he regained his composure and placed his hands on his hips.

"My apologies," Yejin said before returning right back to his rant. "But do you know how concerned everyone has been?! Estan and Syri have been worried sick!"

"S-Syri was worried?" Jae asked as he heard the alpha's words.

Yejin let out a huff as he deadpanned the prince. "Of course he was. What do you think he is, a stone?" The alpha let out a breath as he added, "You better hurry your ass up and go apologize to the zeta for suddenly disappearing on him."

Jae realized his action of leaving Syri while still in his heat seemed quite cold-hearted, so he agreed with the alpha. "You're right. I should go apologize."

"You can ride Tran. You seem exhausted. I'm sure sweating out a rut is rough," Yejin said as he handed the reins to the prince. "I'll run beside you."

Jae accepted the reins from the alpha as Yejin shifted into his wolf form and began racing down the road.