The midday sun beat down on the alpha as Yejin ran for his life. Low snarls from the true blood hot on his tail sparked the alpha to run until it felt as if his heart would shatter from the strain. Yejin knew Jae was staying on his heels to tire him out, but he also knew that the moment he showed signs of slowing, Jae would immediately take him down, and it would not be elegant.

The prince was impressed with his prey's stamina. Yejin had hardly ever lasted this long during a chase. Jae could have easily overcome the alpha miles ago, but he decided to serve Yejin a good, long race since the alpha had tried so hard to get the prince to race him.

Yejin glanced over his shoulder to see the true blood but one pace behind him. The alpha's breathing was ragged, but he continued to run with all his might. Yejin wanted Jae to blow off as must steam as possible. The true blood let out a snarl as his prey quickened his pace. Yejin's chest felt as if it would explode, but he continued dashing between the dense trees hoping to reach his target before he was caught.

The alpha's hopes were crushed when he leaped over a fallen tree. His back left paw slipped on a patch of leaves causing Yejin to land at an unfortunate angle and twist his front leg. Jae, being but a few feet behind the alpha saw Yejin's landing and knew it was his time to pounce. Before Yejin knew it, Jae was standing over him triumphantly.

After submitting to the true blood in defeat, Yejin changed back to his human form and caught his breath. Jae also shifted and immediately checked the alpha's wrist. "It's not broken, just sprained," Jae informed Yejin as he picked up a thin, fallen branch and ripped off the lower portion of his shirt. The alpha winced slightly as the prince stinted his wrist before coming to sit beside him.

"So, are you going to tell me why you dragged me out here?" Jae inquired of the alpha. The prince was much more relaxed than he had been prior the chase. His chest rose and fell with deep breaths, and his expression was light.

Beads of sweat coated Yejin's brow as he gave a slight chuckle and smirked. "If I'm being completely honest, nothing in particular," the alpha revealed, causing the prince to raise his brow. "I just thought you could blow off some steam. You had been holed up in your office, and I figured you could use a good chase."

A light scoff sounded from the true blood as Jae stared at Yejin with a dumbfounded expression. "You sneaky bastard." The prince's lips could not stop from curling into a small smile when he saw Yejin purse his lips and shrug his shoulders. "What else did you want me to do? Wait 'til you explode and potentially cause trouble that could have been avoided?" Yejin inquired of the prince in defense of his reasoning for the chase.

"You've got a point," Jae answered with a lazy nod of his head.

Satisfied his plan had worked and that Jae was not as pent-up, Yejin suggested they return to the castle. The prince agreed with the alpha as he had more documents and proposals to review. The true blood helped the alpha to his feet, and the two started toward the palace.

>>>>>>

"Thank you for taking time to check up on me," Kip said to the gamma respectfully with a slight bow.

"It was my pleasure," Estan returned kindly. "Plus, I wanted to see how this little one was doing," the gamma added and ruffled the zeta's pink head who was happily standing beside the two older males. Syri released a happy hum as the gamma continued to pet him. Kip could not help but smile at the zeta's happy face. "How are you, Syri?" Estan asked of the zeta in gesture to Syri's healing wounds.

"I'm better," Syri replied truthfully. "They're almost gone." The zeta rolled up his sleeve to reveal the pink scars covering his arms.

"Do they still pain you?" The doctor inquired, his brows furrowing as he saw the healing wounds.

Syri shook his head and answered, "Not much."

"That's good," Estan responded with a sigh of relief. The gamma turned to the beta and bowed his head shortly. "Thank you for protecting him."

Kip was quick to return the bow to the royal physician. "It was the least I could do. Syri is my tyro. It is my duty to make sure he stays safe," the beta explained to the gamma.

"I appreciate your efforts. Syri has been able to acclimate well thanks to you," Estan thanked the gamma before turning to face the zeta. The gamma's eyes softened when he saw the zeta's sweet face. "I'd better get ba-" Estan halted his sentence and looked to his right, his eyes growing wide; he had sensed something, or rather, someone. The three were currently standing just outside the stables in the southern courtyard, so they were in plain sight of the true blood and alpha who were returning from their chase.

To the favor of the unaware zeta, Jae and Yejin were absorbed in a fascinating conversation shared between themselves, so they were not paying any heed to their surroundings. Estan saw the prince and his mate approaching the three's current location, so he immediately pushed the zeta toward the beta and hurriedly said, "I'm afraid something important has come up. Please take care of Syri for me, Kip, and have a great rest of your day. Good work!"

Kip looked at the gamma in confusion as he caught the zeta who was pushed his way. Syri also wondered as to the reason Estan was leaving so quickly, but he got his answer when he turned to look down the direction the gamma was rushing. "Ajax needs some tender, loving care. Let's hurry back!" Syri immediately exclaimed as he took the beta's hand and began dragging him to the stables.

Kip did not question the zeta's sudden urge to tend to the vorst and obediently followed the smaller male into the stables and down the corridor that housed the prince's steed. While Syri dragged the still-confused beta into the stables, Estan intercepted the two alpha males. The true blood and alpha paused their conversation as the gamma reached them.

"Babe, what are you doing out here?" Yejin inquired with a smile as he looked down at his mate lovingly.

"Oh, I was checking on a patient. He's still healing from some wounds and such," the gamma answered truthfully and returned the sweet smile his mate was beaming down on him.

"Oh? What patient is it that you have to come all the way out here?" Yejin inquired of his mate as he placed his hands on the gamma's hips and brought Estan close to him.

"He works in the stables and was busy, so I decided I could use some sun and came out here to check on him and make sure he was not doing anything too strenuous," Estan replied as he gazed up at the man before him.

"How thoughtful." A smile covered Yejin's face, and he bent down and pecked the gamma on the forehead. "My sweet mate," the alpha added before his brows furrowed, and he said, "Speaking of, I think I heard about that. Wasn't it a noblewoman who attacked the worker?"

Estan nodded his head and answered, "Ae. It was atrocious. She whipped him bloody."

"A few of my lieutenants were called by the Luna to restrain her," Yejin explained how he had been made aware of the incident. "Wasn't there another worker who was attacked? An omega, right?"

"Yes," Estan answered, his heart hurting as he recalled the traumatized zeta. "The beta protected the omega from most of the assault. He is the one I came to check on."

"I see," Yejin responded, his expression falling. "How is he? I heard it was pretty brutal."

"It was brutal," the gamma agreed with the alpha. "He is doing better and is back at work. He wanted to have free range to do whatever, but I told him to take it easy for a few more days."

"Sounds like a go-getter," the alpha commented on the worker's desire to get back to work even after being assaulted by a noble. "How is the omega faring?"

Estan drew in a breath before answering, "He is also healing nicely. His wounds were not as extensive because the beta took most of it, but he should also take it easy for at least another day." Tears touched the gamma's eyes as he added, "He was so traumatized; I'm pretty sure the attack was sudden. All he could think about was asking me to help his mentor. He didn't even think about himself."

"Poor thing." The alpha sympathized with the two workers, and his heart went out to them. "How could someone do something so cruel?"

It was more of a rhetorical question and an out-loud ponder, but Jae still responded with, "That's not the first time someone has done something cruel...Syri endured much worse." The prince's face was solemn as he recalled the gruesome wounds on the zeta that had been delivered by Syri's fated one. "Thankfully, he did not have to endure this, too," Jae added under his breath. It was an afterthought, but that one sentence sparked pain in the sweet gamma's heart.

Oh, Jae...if only you knew...