The hall erupted into cheers and applause as the attendees celebrated the announcement of the prince of Crimson Night selecting his mate.

"So, who is it, son? Bring the lucky lady to stand by your side for I wish to know which princess has caught the eye of a true blood." A smile painted Fachan's face as he inquired about the sweet scent intertwined with the prince's strong musk.

Jae took a breath before answering, "I have not chosen a princess, Father." The prince's shoulders tensed slightly as he prepared for what was to come.

Confusion entered Fachan's expression, but it was only for a split second before the Alpha proclaimed, "Oh! Well then, bring the lucky prince here!"

The true blood shook his head slightly as he responded. "Nor did I choose a prince." Jae's statement caused silence to fill the hall until Fachan replied with, "A prince or princess would have been optimal, but I suppose I could settle for a future Beta...or...future Gamma." Fachan's smile completely faded when he was answered with silence. The Alpha's voice was grave when he addressed his son. "You mean to tell me the wolf you have chosen is not royalty?"

Jae did not waver, nor did he bow to the Alpha's looming presence as he answered, "Ae. He is not of royal blood."

Fachan's face twisted with anger when he heard his son's reply. "How dare you!" The Alpha lifted his hand out of fury and swung it down to strike his son, but a body blocked the prince from the Alpha's hit and took the force of Fachan's strike. Gasps sounded throughout the hall as Yejin stood in front of his prince with his head bowed. The alpha's blue eyes were turned to the floor; he dared not lift his head in front of the Alpha.

Jae was quick to step in front of the alpha as his father continued his scolding without blinking an eye. "You know what happens if we mate with wolves who do not have royal blood! After all I have done for you, this is how you repay me?! I should not have left you to choose your mate. I did not tell you to fall in love; I told you to find a mate who is applicable to become Luna. I will not let you mate some cheap omega and taint our blood!" Fachan's chest heaved as he swelled with rage. "Guards! Hunt down the wolf whose scent is on the prince and bring him to me!"

The guards stationed against the walls spurred into action upon their Alpha's order; however, a low growl from Jae halted them in their tracks. "Stay where you are." Jae laced his order with a slight dose of his alpha's voice before turning to address his father. "The moment you lay even one finger on my mate will be your last."

Gasps radiated from the bystanders at the prince's threat. "How dare you! I am your Alpha!" Fachan roared. "Obey me!"

The prince remained silent while the Alpha spewed his anger onto his son. The true blood took a small breath before addressing his father. "I challenge you to a dual." Jae was composed as he set forth his challenge while Fachan was frozen in shock. Never in his life did Fachan think his son would challenge him for position of Alpha. Following the procedures of setting forth a challenge, Jae properly restated, "I, Jae, Prince of Crimson Night, challenge Fachan, Alpha of Crimson Night, to a dual for the position of Crimson Night's leader and Alpha."

The hall was still, and Fachan's jaw hung in utter and complete disbelief. The father and son entered a silent exchange until Alpha Jiro spoke. "A challenge has been placed. Do you accept, Alpha Fachan?"

Fachan's gaze turned to daggers as he glared at the true blood standing before him. Blinded by pride and the need to portray dominance, Fachan responded with a growl, "I accept. It is high time I remind you who you are, Princeling."

"Very well. The challenge has been accepted. It will take place on the next new moon, so each party will be equal in strength." Whispers circulated through the bystanders when Jiro concluded the mediation of the challenge between father and son.

"This does not change the fact that I am still Alpha," Fachan growled when Jae turned to leave. "Guards, bring me the wolf who owns that cheap scent."

Fachan's order brought Jae whirling back to face his father. "I thought I made it clear you are not to touch him."

"Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?" Fachan snarled. "You may have challenged me, but I am still Alpha. I will do what I see fit. You have no right to stop me."

Jae grit his jaw, and flames entered his eyes. The prince had a mind to do whatever what was needed to keep Syri safe, but his father was right. Although Jae had challenged Fachan to become Alpha, he had not yet won. The prince's blood boiled when Fachan addressed his guards once more. "Bring me the wolf."

Den came to stand by Jae's side as the guards bowed to their Alpha and started toward the door. The prince of Crimson Night clenched his fists as he watched the guards near the door. A hand on his shoulder stopped Jae from taking action, but the prince was about to go against all reason nonetheless and order the guards to halt when a whiz of pink rushed through the doors.

"Jae!" The prince's eyes widened when he saw Syri racing toward him. The zeta's face was flushed, and his expression was filled with anxious concern.

Every gaze turned to the zeta as Syri ran up to Jae and nearly rammed into the prince as he came to a stop. "Syri, what are-what's wrong?" Worry painted Jae's voice as he caught the pink-haired and steadied the panting male. "It's your friend. Something's wrong," Syri said through breaths. "He's not healing."

Den's brows furrowed when he heard the zeta's words. "Den, we have to go," Jae said as he took Syri's hand. Without another word, Jae began leading Syri out of the hall with Den and Yejin close behind.

The attendees were once again left in shock when the doors to the hall closed. The events that had occurred in the past five minutes were nearly too much to comprehend, and most gave up attempting to figure out what had happened to cause both true bloods to rush out of the hall upon but a few words from a lowly worker.

Following the quiet lull that had been cast upon the hall, brows were raised and rumors regarding the pink-haired wolf's appearance began to spread. Is that the wolf the prince chose to be his mate? Who is he? What was he talking about? Did you see the prince take his hand?! What will happen to Crimson Night's bloodline?

The guards looked to their Alpha for updated orders, but Fachan was still processing the appearance of the pink-haired werewolf, and the four had disappeared by the time Fachan's rage had built back up.

"Let them be, Fachan." The voice of the Luna caught Fachan's attention as Armina came to stand beside her mate. "Everything will be sorted after the dual. Separating them now would be unnecessary and cruel. Respect the challenge and let Jae and his mate be until the victor has been decided."

Jiro gave the Alpha of Crimson Night a side glance, indicating he heard every word Armina had said and that he was watching to see Fachan's response to his Luna. Aware he was being carefully watched by his four fellow Alphas, Fachan nodded his head slightly in agreement with his mate. "Very well, they can traipse around until the dual. We shall see if they will be able to continue to do so afterwards." Fachan's voice was nearing a growl toward the conclusion of his response, but he controlled his temper in front of the four visiting Alphas as he wished to remain in a good standing with Gen, Jiro, Greem, and Rose. He still needed negotiations to proceed according to plan.

>>>>>>

Jae never once let go of Syri's hand as the four made their way to the clinic. The halls of the castle were mostly vacant as the majority of those present in the palace had gathered at the hall upon the announcement of a fight between two males of visiting packs. The four took the empty halls to their advantage and began running toward the gamma's clinic.

Groans of pain filtered from the clinic when the four entered the physician's office. "Thank the moon you're here," Estan sighed in relief when he saw the two true bloods. "I've tried all I can to stabilize him, but I'm afraid it is not going to be enough," the gamma said as the four gathered around the bloodied form in the bed.

"What is happening to him?" Den inquired while taking the blue-haired male's hand.

"He is not healing," Estan answered while he gathered more gauze to place against Kace's wounds. "He is losing a lot of blood. I've tried to stimulate healing, but nothing has worked."

"There is one thing that will work," Jae said while turning to face Eternal Dawn's prince. Den's emerald eyes grew wide when he realized what Jae was implying. The true blood shook his head and replied, "I can't, Jae, not without his consent. He hasn't even spoken to me. I don't even know his name."

"He's dying, Den." Jae returned. Tears entered the corners of Jae's eyes when he thought about the possibility of losing Kace. "I can't lose him, and neither can you."

Jae's words struck Eternal Dawn's prince straight in the heart. Jae was right; neither of them could afford to lose Kace. Deep in thought, Den swallowed dryly before turning his gaze to the man in the bed.

"Why is he not healing?" Syri's soft voice caught the three males' attention as he left Jae's side and approached the man in the bed. Estan looked to Jae to gain his prince's permission to reveal Kace's situation before disclosing the reason behind Kace's dire circumstances. The gamma had refrained from discussing Kace's condition as it was clear he had not told his mate, and Estan did not wish to undermine Kace's intent to withhold his secret from his mate. But following the nod that came from Jae, Estan began, "His t-"

The gamma did not even say two words before Kace's face twisted with pain, and his head began to turn in great discomfort. Groans escaped the blue-haired male's parted lips before his breathing intensified and his hands clenched the bed beneath him. The racing of Kace's heart filled Jae's senses and caused the true blood's face to turn cold as stone. If Kace did not make it, Jae swore that Ganz would not live to see another moon.

If anything could be done to save Kace, it would have had to be in that moment. Jae turned toward his fellow true blood to see Den leaning over the man in the bed. Please, Den. Please save him.

Den closed his eyes as he leaned down and hovered above the blue-haired's neck. I'm sorry. The true blood bared his fangs and pressed them to Kace's soft flesh, but a low growl from the blue-haired stopped the true blood from sinking his teeth into Kace's neck. Hearing the warning to stay away, Den quickly withdrew to see red eyes glaring up at him.