"Rose, Rubi, it's good to see you," Armina greeted the Alpha and Luna of Red Claw warmly before embracing each woman. Armina looked at the young Alpha and Luna fondly before inquiring on their health. The couple had received pressure to employ a male alpha to impregnate the Luna to produce an heir. The Alpha and Luna were against it and decided to adopt an orphaned alpha. Their decision caused much dismay in the council of Red Claw. Armina had always been an advocate for the two females and had vocalized her support whenever Fachan would join in pressuring the Luna to be impregnated by a male.

Jae stood to the side and watched his mother converse with the two, strong women before greeting the Beta and his family.

"How are you, Prince?" Zorin greeted the younger male politely as his twin sons came to stand beside him.

"I am well, thank you, Zorin," Jae replied with a short nod before his eyes trailed over to the two teenage boys, his eyes widening. "Are you Zech and Zane?" The prince inquired of the two youngsters who smiled and nodded in response. "Ae, Prince, we are," Zech, the elder of the twins answered. "Wow!" Jae exclaimed. "The last time I saw you, you were wee things."

"Time sure does fly," Zorin commented as he looked at his sons proudly before turning back to the prince. "I remember when you were their age, Prince."

"Ae, ae," Jae nodded. "Before you know it, they will be grown men."

"Ae, most certainly," Red Claw's Beta replied before dismissing himself and his family. "I am afraid we must ready ourselves for dinner. We arrived rather late. Our apologies." The Beta ended his sentence with a bow.

"No worries. I must prepare for dinner as well. Allow some of my assistants to guide you," Jae responded before waving over two of his assistants. After relaying his command to the assistants, the prince turned and nodded to the twins. "Zech, Zane, it was good to see you again."

"Ae, you as well," Zech replied before he and Zane bowed.

Jae watched the Beta and his sons follow the assistants into the castle before making his way to his quarters to prepare for the banquet. The four remaining assistants were stationed outside the prince's chambers as Jae switched his silver-blue shirt for a charcoal grey silk top with faint but intricate golden designs and a lace-up front and changed his silver crownlet for a gold version with a crimson sapphire studded at its peak.

Once fully dressed, the prince switched his shin-high boots for a pair that reached the bottom of his knee. Jae stood up straight from sliding on his boots as a voice sounded in his mind desperately. Jae!! The prince sucked in his breath, and his heart rate spiked. Jae immediately returned the call. Kace! What's wrong? Where are you? The prince wasted no time in rushing to his window and opening it upon Kace's answer. I'm coming.

The true blood shifted into his wolf and leapt out of the opened window, immediately sprinting toward the cabin in the woods upon landing on the ground. The prince changed into his human form upon his arrival and dashed through the door what was opened wide. Jae's blood boiled at the sight before him. Kace was forced to his knees in front of the Gamma while his father prepared another strike.

"Hold your hand, Gamma!" Jae ordered sternly before quickly standing in front of the male on his knees. An array of guards had accompanied the Gamma and were spread out across the cabin. The two who were forcing Kace to remain on his knees released their hold and backed away when the true blood stormed over.

Kace's face was cold and distant, but tears formed in his eyes at the prince's arrival. Kace kept his eyes turned to the ground as Jae confronted the Gamma. "What are you doing, Gamma?"

"I came to make sure Kace would attend the banquet. It is high time for him to stop moping and take on his duties as future Gamma!" Kace's father was passionate in his answer; he did not see the wrong in his actions.

A scoff left Jae's lips, and flames roared in the true blood's eyes. "Moping?!"

"It was the Alpha's orders!" The Gamma declared in response. "Fachan ordered all royals to attend the banquet. I was only following your father's orders."

"To hell with my father's orders!" Jae bellowed. He could feel himself growing furious. "How dare you come here, beat Kace, and force him to take even one step in that god-forsaken palace!"

"You should watch your tongue, Prince," The Gamma warned. "Fachan may not like to hear those were your words."

Jae was dumbfounded. How could a father be so cruel to his son? The fire in Jae's heart grew as he became determined to protect Kace until the end since his very own father would not. "I don't give a-" A gentle tug on the prince's sleeve caught the true blood's attention. Jae turned and looked down to see Kace pinching his shirt carefully.

"I'll go." The words were quiet, but they were filled with weight. Kace did not wish to bring hardship to the prince. He would attend the banquet if it meant keeping Jae from being punished. Kace kept his face turned to the ground as Jae processed his request. Knowing Kace's words were rare, Jae understood the certainty with which the blue-eyed had spoken them.

Jae placed his hand on Kace's shoulder to give the kneeling male a sense of protection before turning to the Gamma. "Get out."

"Excuse me?"

A growl resonated from the true blood as he returned, "He said he would go. Now, get out."

"You better make sure he comes. If not, it's your back that will get shredded," the Gamma threatened before signaling for his men to withdraw. Jae remained in front of the blue-eyed protectively until every last soldier was out of sight.

A shaky breath escaped Kace's lips as he slumped to the ground. Jae bent down and carefully held the sides of Kace's head. "Are you alright?" The true blood's question was gentle, and he scoured Kace's body for any sign of opened wounds. Thankfully, there were none, only appearing bruises.

Kace nodded slowly in response as a single tear escaped the corner of his eye. Jae's heart broke when he saw the tear and pulled the older male into his arms. Kace held back the rest of his tears as he relaxed in the prince's embrace. The blue-eyed longed to wrap his arms around Jae and bury his face in the crook of the prince's neck, but he knew this was not that kind of hug. Jae had never hugged him like that. No matter how much Kace longed for Jae to embrace him like that, he knew the prince never would.

"You don't have to go, Kace," Jae said after a few moments had passed and Kace's breathing had calmed. "I can take it. I don't care what Fachan does, I will take it, so you don't have to go."

Kace declined the prince's offer with a shake of his head. He would go. He could not bring himself to be the cause of Jae's pain.

"Are you sure?" Jae inquired and brought Kace to arm's length, so he could look the blue-haired in the eye. Kace swallowed silently before nodding his head. "Okay," Jae breathed after a moment. "Let's get you dressed then, shall we?"

Jae remained in the common room of the cabin while Kace went to the back to prepare for the banquet. Quiet footsteps alerted the prince that Kace had finished getting ready. Jae looked to see Kace step into the common room, his gaze turned to the floor. The male was dressed in a light blue, long-sleeved shirt with a dark blue sash around his neck that served to cover the scars that were otherwise hidden by the hooded jacket the male consistently wore. The soft material of one of the pieces that ribboned off the sash draped onto his chest while the other fell onto his back. Dark blue pants were tucked into blue, leather boots that stopped just beneath his knee.

Jae had not seen this side of Kace for years; Kace had worn the same hooded jacket and stealth gear ever since the incident.

"Ready?" Jae inquired as he stood to his feet. The blue-eyed nodded and joined the true blood at the door. The two took a deep breath before stepping out into the evening and making their way to the palace.

>>>>>>

"Ahhhh, I'm exhausted!" Ibbi exclaimed and threw himself on a pile of hay that had been gathered in the main corridor as a quick source to either prep stalls in a hurry or please a cranky steed.

"Amen to that," Bevy agreed with a heave. The alpha wiped the sweat from her forehead before downing her cup of water.

"Is that all of them?" Rin inquired. His eyes were half-closed, and a wet rag was draped over his forehead. "I hope so," Valri replied before taking a drink from her mug. "The only other ones we would get is if someone was running late," Wyx informed the team as he took a seat on his stool. A round of sighs and breaths of relief came from the exhausted workers at the delta's words.

"In that case-" Kip was cut off when a group of castle guards entered the stable rather dominantly. The ten workers stood to their feet at the appearance of the guards, the higher ranking wolves instinctively stepping in front of the lower ranking members of the squad.

"Can I help you, gents?" Wyx inquired as he went to the front of the group and stopped the guards from going any further.

"We need your females and male gammas and omegas," one of the guards commanded.

"May I ask why?" Wyx questioned, his eyes narrowing at the guard's request. Kip, Calix, Rin, and Hern joined Wyx at the front and shielded the females and their three lower-ranking males.

"We need more workers for the banquet," the guard explained. "They will be paid double and will not be harmed."

"Paid double?" Kip inquired with a raised brow. The beta shifted his stance and placed his hands in his pockets as he peered at the guards. "Then why only the lower-ranks? Can't I join?" Kip's inquire brought a scoff out of the guard, but his question served it purpose.

"The Alpha requested for pretty ones to serve the guests. He thinks it will help the visiting packs loosen up and feel more at home."

"'Loosen up'?" The guard's answer did not set well with the beta. Kip grit his teeth and clenched his hands as he glared at the guard. "I know something that'll loosen 'em up-" The beta was stopped by Wyx saying his name sharply. "There is no need to not be civil. The man said they will not be harmed and will be paid double," the delta said to cool the riled beta.

"I take it this is non-negotiable?" Calix assumed.

"Ae," a second guard answered. "It was an order from the Alpha."

"Then, there's not much we can do about that," Wyx said before turning to the five standing behind him. "What do you say? Are you willing to go?"

"Don't see how there's much of a choice," Bevy answered as she walked forward.

"Whatever, let's just get it over with," Valri said before joining Bevy at the front. The three males looked at each other before joining the two females. "As long as we can come back," Danny, the silver-haired gamma of the evening team, said quietly. Syri and Ibbi remained silent as they walked forward, but Ibbi's gaze was those of daggers. This was not what he signed up to do. He had never wanted to be a castle worker.

"If we're not back by dawn, raise hell," Bevy said to the five who would remain behind as the two females and three lower ranking males were led out of the stables.

"Sure thing," Kip replied as he watched the requested five head to the castle.

Syri's chest felt as if it housed a race horse because of the speed at which his heart was pounding. One thought engulfed the zeta's mind as he was guided into the castle: Won't the prince be at the banquet?!!