Confusion filled Jae as he followed the sweet scent toward the armory. The prince restrained the many questions that engulfed his mind as he entered the armory and began searching for the owner of the alluring scent. The warriors who were present in the armory bowed to the prince in respect as the true blood made his way through the weapon-filled rooms. Jae's brows scrunched as he came up empty and headed for the exit. The warriors looked after the prince with perplexed expressions when the true blood left as silently as he came.

Jae stopped in his tracks just outside the armory when he detected a strong, woody scent now tangled with the sweet scent of vanilla and roses. The true blood cocked his head to one side. He recognized the woody scent. Max?

Upon determining the owner of the masculine scent, Jae quickened his pace and continued to pursue the two, entangled scents. The true blood found himself following the two scents to the opposing side of the palace, his confusion only growing when he saw the owner of the woody scent approaching him. Jae's brows furrowed when he realized the alpha was alone.

"Lieutenant," the prince voiced as the alpha neared him.

"Prince," Max answered and came to a stop just before the prince and bowed.

"Where are you coming from?" Jae inquired before looking toward the direction from which the alpha had come.

"The sigma's hall, Prince," Max answered as he resumed his upright stance.

The sigma's hall? Why would he go there? More questions filled the true blood's mind as he heard the alpha's response. "Thank you. Continue on, Lieutenant," the prince addressed the alpha as he proceeded toward the sigma's hall. Max bowed once more as Jae walked past him before continuing on his way.

Jae's pace quickened as he neared the corridor that housed the sigma's hall. The scent grew stronger the closer Jae got, making the true blood's heart skip in his chest. Was it really Syri? Was he really in the palace? Would Jae get to see the one he so longed for?

The prince did not stop as he reached the oaken doors and opened them in great anticipation only to be met by a distraught and frantic beta. Jae immediately halted when he saw the male standing before him. His green eyes were swelled with tears that began to stream down his face. His face was red; he had been crying.

The true blood's eyes narrowed as he recognized the man to be the beta he had nearly run into at the stables when he had caught the sweet scent. Perplexity filled Jae, and he thought over the two events and realized the common factor was the beta. Why would a beta smell as sweet as a zeta? Surely it is not this beta I have been smelling.

The beta choked on his tears as he stopped himself from running into the prince. It was apparent that he was in a hurry. "I'm sorry," the beta apologized as he bowed before adding, "Please excuse me," and rushed past the prince. Jae stood in shock for a second before turning and watching the beta hurry down the corridor.

There's no way I was smelling Syri. The prince came to the conclusion that he must have been mixing up the beta's unusually sweet scent with the zeta's. I must be crazy. Jae shook his head as he turned back to the oaken door that had swung closed when the beta rushed past him. Or...maybe I'm not... Jae's eyes slanted as he peered into the dimly-lit hall. The scent of strong incense bombarded the true blood's senses when he stepped foot into the long room.

Jae's gaze trailed from the bed of pillows on the ground up to the chair before landing on the large stone altar. Jae stopped just before the pillows on the floor when he realized all he could smell was the overwhelmingly strong spice of the incense. The true blood turned his head, scanning the room carefully in search of even the tiniest trace of the one he longed to find.

Get ahold of yourself, Jae. The true blood berated himself. He realized he had been obsessed with finding the zeta when he knew all too well that Syri had left with his cousin. There is no way he is anywhere near the palace. You have got to stop looking for him when you turn every corner.

Giving up on his impossible search, the true blood ran his fingers through his dark hair and released a breath before turning to exit the flower-infested hall. The prince slowly made his way out of the hall as a certain werewolf kept his hands over his mouth to stifle his panting breaths. Syri had dashed behind the altar the moment the door opened before Jae even had time to register the beta standing in front of him and had kept his hand over his mouth all the while the prince scanned the hall.

Only after the door had been closed for several seconds did Syri release his pent-up breath and allow himself to breathe. The zeta was cautious in peering around the altar and let out a sigh when he confirmed the prince had indeed exited the hall. Syri leaned against the cool stone of the altar as he caught his breath and waited for his heart to slow to its normal pace.

That was wayyy too close. The zeta eased out from behind the altar once his breathing had calmed and descended the few steps that led up to the raised chair. Why did he even come here? I thought the sigma dealt mostly with the Alpha. Syri pondered the reasoning for the prince's quick trip to the sigma's hall as he slowly made his way to the heavy oaken doors.

After waiting a few more moments to ensure the prince had vacated the premises, Syri carefully opened the door and peered out into the corridor before slowly exiting and making his way toward the exit of the sigma's wing. The zeta slowly let out a long breath as he advanced down the corridor outside the hall and began making his way back toward the gamma's clinic.

Syri arrived at the clinic after losing and finding his way many, many times. It had taken the zeta a full hour to find the clinic in the maze of the multiple wings of the palace. Syri slowly opened the door to find the clinic void of its physician. The only persons present was the unconscious patient, and the green-eyed beta who had fallen asleep next to the patient's bed.

Calix's head was resting on the bed while his hand was gently holding Kip's. Syri gazed at the two betas tenderly before quietly making his way to a chair positioned against the wall and silently taking a seat. The soft breaths of the sleeping betas filled the room as Syri let his eyes roll closed. He was exhausted from the very eventful day.

Aska had withdrawn from Syri's consciousness and had been focused on healing the zeta's wounds, so Syri's mind was quiet and still. The calming affects from the incense had lingered in the zeta's system and were hitting the small male at full volume. The incense had been intended to aid the hurting beta in alleviating some of the pain, but it had also helped ease the zeta's nerves that had been frazzled due to both of his mentors becoming injured within the span of merely ten minutes.

Hurried footsteps approaching the clinic sounded from the hall as Syri reached the verge of falling into a deep sleep. The zeta's eyes opened lazily as the door to the clinic was flung open and a panicked epsilon rushed inside. Syri stood to his feet when Lili entered the clinic and let out a gasp. "Kip!" Tears filled the epsilon's eyes as she called the beta's name.

The ruckus of the epsilon entering woke Calix from his slumber, and he immediately retracted his hand from around Kip's when he saw who the visitor was. "Lili," Calix voiced and stood to his feet.

"What happened?" The apprentice inquired of the green-eyed as she approached the bed and took Kip's hand in hers.

"He protected me from an angry noble," Syri spoke up as his eyes trailed to the unconscious beta. The zeta remained against the wall as he watched Calix slowly back up from the beta and epsilon. Lili set her dainty hand on Kip's forehead and gently pet the beta as a tear fell. "Oh, Kip," the epsilon sounded under her breath as she gazed down at the sleeping man. Another tear fell when Lili took a seat next to the bed and held Kip's hand in hers.

Syri remained still as Calix swallowed dryly before turning and exiting the clinic. The zeta released a small sigh as he saw the tears filling Calix's eyes when the beta passed him. Knowing Kip was in good hands, Syri stepped away from the wall and followed the teary beta out of the clinic.

The beta and zeta were silent as they made their way toward the stables. Syri only stopped when Calix suddenly halted and let out a shaky breath. The zeta saw a single tear escape the side of the beta's eyes as Calix turned to face him. "Thank you for being here for me, Syri, but I would like some time alone...please." Calix's voice was soft and quiet as he made his request to the zeta.

A sad smile came to Syri's lips as he replied, "I understand. I'll be here if you need anything." The beta closed his eyes and nodded in response to the zeta's kind offer. Syri remained still as Calix turned from the zeta and diverted from the path that led to the stables. After walking a few feet, the beta shifted into his wolf form and dashed toward the nearest gate.

The zeta watched the dark-brown wolf disappear around a corner before returning to the stables where he saw Bevy pacing back and forth beneath the awning. Hearing the zeta's approach, the alpha lifted her head and rushed to the pink-haired.

"Are they alright?" Bevy inquired of the zeta as the two met.

"Kip Inso is still sleeping, and Calix Inso is...taking a break. He'll be back after a bit," Syri answered the alpha before giving a wide yawn. The alpha looked down on the zeta kindly as she ruffled his hair and said, "Thank you for looking after them. You must be exhausted. Why don't you go and get some sleep? Ibbi and I will take care of things here."

"Are you sure? I can stay-"

"I am certain. Get some rest, Pinkie. You've had a long day." Bevy's eyes were soft as she smiled down at the small male and gestured for him to leave with her head.

"Thank you, Inna," Syri thanked in a small bow.

"Mm. Have a good rest," Bevy responded and waved the zeta on. Syri bid the alpha goodbye before turning and leaving the stables. The zeta entered autopilot as he let his body lead him back to his room. His eyes were droopy the entire way, so it was a miracle he did not run into anything or anyone and hurt himself.

Syri fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. The zeta did not fight the deep slumber that possessed his body as the exhaustion from the trauma, pain, shock, and sadness of the day engulfed his mind and left him unresponsive to the outside world.

.

.

.

.

"Syri. Syri, it's time to wake up," a young voice sounded quietly. The boy called the zeta's name in a sing-song style as he patted young Syri's plump cheeks. The young zeta let out a whine in resistance, drawing a soft chuckle from the boy. "I don't wanna, Inso." Syri jerked his head in side-to-side motions to display his displeasure at the wake-up call.

"But you gotta, sleepyhead," the voice replied. "There's warm bao with taro filling waiting for you if you get up."

A smile came to the young zeta's face in reaction to the boy's bribe. Syri opened his eyes to see the boy leaning over him. The morning sun entered the room through the opened window and shined behind the boy's head, hiding his face with a golden silhouette. The boy's lips curled into a bright smile when he saw the young zeta open his eyes. "Morning, Syri!"

.

.

.

.

Syri sat up in the bed, his heart pounding. The moon was high in the sky indicating the zeta had not slept for long. His chest ached; he longed to be back in the sun-filled room with the boy. But, who was the boy? And why was he in his dream? The zeta's brows furrowed when he recalled the boy's bright smile. It seemed so warm, so comforting, and so...familiar. Who are you?