"Kip Inso!" The zeta stood dumbfounded as he stared at the beta smiling before him. "You should be resting! What are you doing here?" Syri's voice lifted an octave or two as he emphasized his want for his mentor to rest, making Kip chuckle softly and ruffle the zeta's pink hair.

"Thanks for the care, but I'm okay, Syri. Estan okayed me to do some light work today," Kip answered as he smiled down at the concerned zeta.

"Does 'light' work entail raking hay?" Syri inquired as he crossed his arms and glared at the cleaning tool in Kip's hands. The beta let out a light laugh when he realized he had been caught. "I'm fine, Syri. A few scratches aren't going to stop me from doing my job."

"A few scratches?!!" A high-pitched voice rang out at the entrance to Ajax's stall. The zeta and beta turned to find Ibbi standing at the doorway with wide eyes as he stared at the wounds that were still healing. "Inso! What in the moon goddess' beautiful butt are you doing here?!"

Kip let out a huff as he stood the rake upright with his left hand and pointed at his two fretting teammates. "Y'all are just overreacting. I. Am. Fine."

The zeta and omega opened their lips to disagree, but a stern voice stopped them. "Syri, Ibbi, go help Wyx shine the saddles." Bevy stood at the entryway to the stable with her arms crossed as she ordered the two younger males. Syri and Ibbi fell silent at the alpha's tone; it was firm and solemn. Knowing Bevy had something to discuss with Kip, the zeta and omega obediently lowered their heads and answered, "Ae," before exiting the stall and making their way down the corridor.

Having a mind of what the contents of the beta and alpha's talk would be, Syri made sure to hurry the omega up and herded Ibbi down the corridor as quickly as he could. What Bevy had to say to Kip was for Kip's ears and Kip's alone. It would only pain Ibbi if the omega knew what Bevy was going to say.

Kip shifted his weight and took the rake out of its up-right position as the alpha entered the stall. The beta remained silent as he waited for the alpha to begin. Bevy took a deep breath before slowly releasing it as Kip went back to raking the trodden hay.

"I had to take Calix to the sigma," Bevy began, her voice solemn. Kip stopped raking when he heard the alpha's words and turned to look at Bevy as he swallowed dryly. "Estan couldn't do anything for him, so he sent Calix to the sigma's hall." Bevy sucked in her breath before she added, "He lost his bond."

A shaky breath escaped Kip's lips, and he hung his head. Tears formed in the beta's eyes as he processed the news.

"He lost his fated one, Kip," Bevy repeated as a tear escaped the corner of her eye. The alpha's lower lip quivered as she said, "He'll be forever alone, mateless."

"Where is he?" Kip's eyes were closed when he inquired of the alpha, a silent tear falling as Bevy replied, "I don't know. Syri said he saw him run out the gate yesterday-"

"And no one has looked for him!?" Kip's eyes snapped open as he realized Calix had been missing the entire night. Kip had only woken an hour prior, so he had not been aware of the green-eyed beta's situation.

"I'm sorry, Kip-"

"Why didn't you tell me when I woke? That should have been the first thing you did." Kip let the rake fall to the floor as he rushed past the alpha and hurried out the stall. "Don't take them to the fields until I get back," Kip ordered the zeta and omega as he passed the two younger males on his way out of the stables. The beta's stern tone caused the two youngsters to freeze in their seats.

Wyx looked up from the saddle he was shining as the grey-eyed beta rushed out of the stables, his brows furrowing when he heard the beta's tone. Syri swallowed dryly as he watched Kip shift into his wolf form and disappear into the foggy dawn. "What happened?" Ibbi inquired quietly as he turned to Syri with an anxious expression.

"He's going to find Calix," Bevy answered the omega as she came to stand beside the three. The alpha folded her arms across her chest as she gazed into the direction down which Kip disappeared. "I thought he would need some time, but-" Bevy broke into tears and squatted to the ground as she berated herself for not making sure Calix was alright. "I should have looked for him. He was all alone in the dark after...after..."

Tears dripped onto the soft dirt as Syri went to the alpha and began to comfort her as best he could. He also felt guilty for not checking on the beta and instead sleeping away his exhaustion and pain. "He'll be alright; Kip will find him," Syri said in an attempt to soothe the crying alpha.

Bevy opened her glistening eyes and gazed out of the stables through tears. "Please, Kip, find Calix."

>>>>>>

The sun had just begun to peak above the horizon when the beta shifted into his human form. Kip's chest rose and fell as he frantically followed his fellow beta's trail. As faint as it was, Kip would never mistake Calix's scent for another's. Kip broke into a run as the trail became stronger; he was nearing the lost beta. Please be okay...

Kip's mouth hung open as he gasped for air. He had broken through the line of trees to find himself in a small, secluded meadow in the forest. The figure of a male sat in the center of the meadow as the morning rays began to pierce between the dense trees. The man turned his head at the appearance of the green-eyed and stood to his feet when he saw Kip standing at the edge of the meadow.

Calix's face was stained with tears, and his eyes were red, indicating he had been crying extensively. Kip's eyes swelled when he saw the sorrow and pain that filled Calix's expression. Calix remained still as he watched Kip walk to him. Kip found himself walking faster and faster the closer he got to the green-eyed until he finally broke into a run. Before he knew it, Kip had taken Calix into his arms and was crying into the beta's shoulder.

Calix blinked his big, cow eyes as he recovered from the beta's sudden embrace. Calix had never seen Kip cry like that much less feel the beta hug him so intently. "...Kip..." The beta's name was the only word that was able to leave Calix's mouth as he wondered at his friend's sudden show of affection. Does he know? Calix's heart began to race as he feared that the beta had become aware of his situation.

"I'm so sorry," Kip let out between sobs as he continued to hold the grey-eyed. Calix released a breath when he heard Kip's words, confirming his suspicion. "I'm okay, Kip," Calix assured the man who refused to let go. The green-eyed let out a sigh at Kip's insistence to hold on and brought his hand up to the back of the beta's head before petting the crying man's soft brown hair.

Once Kip's crying had slowed, Calix said, "I'm really okay, Kip." Kip nodded into the beta before pulling away and checking on the green-eyed. Calix's lips curled into a small smile as his friend made sure he was alright. "I'm not hurt anywhere," Calix assured the grey-eyed before he furrowed his brows and placed his hands on his hips as he sucked his breath through his teeth. "What are you even doing here, hm? Why in the moon goddess' good world did you run your ass all the way out here? You should be resting, Mr. Chivalry," Calix said as he glared at the beta affectionately.

Kip released a slight snicker at Calix's loving beratement. "I had to make sure you were okay," the beta answered, his expression growing serious. "The last time I saw you, you were doubled over in pain. How could I not worry?"

Calix's gaze dropped to the ground as he moved back a step. "Bev told you," the beta concluded in a low voice.

"How could she not? Don't take this out on her," Kip told the man in front of him who kept his eyes lowered. "Hey, look at me," Kip said softly as he placed his thumb under Calix's chin and gently tilted the beta's head up. "I don't think any less of you, Cal."

Calix's eyes filled with fresh tears when he heard Kip's words. "How could you not?" Calix asked as hot tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'm...I'm mateless, Kip. I'll forever be alone. I lost my bond before I could even meet my mate." The beta took a shaky breath before continuing, "Not only does the wolf I love love someone else, but my one shot at finding a mate is gone. There's no way someone would want me. Don't you get what I mean, Kip?" Calix turned his water-filled gaze back up to meet Kip's eyes as he completed his statement.

Kip closed his eyes and released his breath, a single tear escaping the corner of his eye as he squeezed his eyes shut. "Cal, I'm sure you'll find someone, just-"

"No, Kip, you don't understand," Calix spoke up, cutting off the grey-eyed. "I lost my bond. You have Lili; you are happy. You still have your bond, as well. If you and Lili don't work out, you still have your fated one. I don't have anything anymore."

"Calix, please-"

"Please, leave, Kip," Calix requested of the grey-eyed as he felt his throat swell with a fresh round of sorrow and heartache.

"Cal-"

"Please, Kip. I need some time."

Kip's heart ached at Calix's words. Not once had Calix asked Kip to leave him when he was in pain. The grey-eyed swallowed his tears and slowly nodded his head as he said, "Okay. I'm sorry. You know where to find me if you need anything." Kip's voice was low as he backed away from the green-eyed before turning from Calix and making his way toward the tree line.

Calix released shaky breath as he watched Kip approach the dense woods. I'm sorry, it's just so hard to think about you right now. Please understand. I'll come to you when I am ready.