"How is he?" Jae inquired of the true blood as Den approached the four in the corridor.

"He's awake," Den answered when he neared Crimson Night's prince. Hearing Eternal Dawn's prince's words, Estan immediately began running down the corridor. Yejin was quick to follow his mate, leaving the two true bloods and zeta alone in the hall. Den watched the gamma and alpha leave to tend to his mate before turning to face Jae. The true blood and zeta were silent when they saw Den's expression; it was broken. The crown prince's voice was hushed when he said, "I don't even know his name."

"Then don't stop trying until you do," Jae spoke, drawing Den's gaze. "Fate has not been kind to him; he has an untold amount of pain. But I thank fate for sending you to him. You are a good man, Den. Don't give up on him."

"Ae, I won't."

"Thank you," Jae nodded in approval of the true blood before gently pulling his hand that was intertwined with Syri's to bring the zeta to stand next to him.

"Is this the lovely wolf you were pining for?" Den inquired as his eyes fell to the pink-haired beside Jae. The prince of Crimson Night nodded his head and answered, "Ae, this is Syri. Syri, this is Den, Crown Prince of Eternal Dawn." The zeta bowed his head in greeting to the visiting true blood before voicing a small, "Hello."

Den also inclined his head in greeting before giving the zeta a kind smile. "It is nice to meet you, Syri."

The zeta returned the smile with, "You as well," and a small bow.

Den was on the verge of asking Jae to go check on Blue when groans sounded from the far end of the corridor. The three turned to see a pair of males rounding the corner; one had his arm swung over the other, and the second was supporting the apparently wounded male. Both true bloods stiffened when they recognized the two and stepped in front of the zeta. Syri was confused by Den and Jae's action, but he remained silent and waited to see what was going on as the two males approached them.

"Come for more?" Den questioned as the two neared. His voice was stern and domineering, causing Syri's curiosity to pique.

A scoff filtered from the man being supported before he voiced, "Could you handle the consequences?"

"If it means keeping you from touching my mate ever again, definitely." Den slanted his eyes as he glared at the two alphas.

"Hmm, speaking of your mate, he is quite intriguing," Ganz smirked. "I'm not sure if I've had enough of him."

A growl rippled from Den at the alpha's sneer. "You bastard." Den's eyes flashed golden, but a hand on the true blood's shoulder stopped the crown prince from tearing Ganz to pieces at that exact moment.

A smirk came to the alpha's thin lips when he saw Den fighting to restrain himself. "Now, where is the gamma? I need him to tend to me."

"What makes you think I will let you go anywhere near my mate?" Den questioned with a growl. He was not fond of the idea of Ganz being within even a hundred meters of his mate.

"Are you going to deny me medical aid, Prince?" Ganz sneered in return. He was waiting for the true blood to take the tiniest step in the wrong direction and was relishing in Den's struggle to not tear into him at that moment.

"As much as I would love to, Ganz, I don't kick a wolf when it's down." The true blood flit his eyes to the alpha's body and surveyed Ganz's condition before saying, "It doesn't look like you are in dire need of medical attention. You will wait here until the gamma is done tending to my mate."

Ganz slit his eyes and stared at the true blood, who stood with his arms folded across his strong chest, before releasing a short breath and nodding his head. "Very well, I will remain here beneath your...watchful gaze...prince." Ganz added a smirk to his last words to emphasize the sarcasm that was delivered beneath the sly words.

An uneasy silence filled the space around the four after Ganz's reply, causing Syri to shift uncomfortably behind the prince of Crimson Night. Jae had noticed the cause of the zeta's uneasiness and was glaring at the crown prince of Black Moon who was looking directly toward the zeta's hiding place. Seth had caught the sweet scent that wafted from behind the two true bloods and had instantly grown intrigued; he had never smelt such an intoxicating scent in his twenty-one years.

"Can I help you?" Jae addressed the prince of Black Moon, bringing the alpha's gaze up to his face and away from the precious treasure hidden behind him.

"What have you got there, Jae?" Seth inquired with a tilt of his chin toward the hiding zeta. "Why don't you share with the rest of us?"

A growl immediately rippled from Jae's throat. "Watch your words, Seth."

Seth's brows knit slightly at the true blood's defenses rising. "Since when did you get so sensitive, Jae. Loosen up a bit; I was just playing." A smile now curled from the corners of Seth's lips as he intentionally lightened the mood by retreating a bit. This was the danger of Black Moon's Crown Prince; Seth was known as a favorite of the elders of the eastern packs. He was highly skilled in feeling out the mood and manipulating it to shroud his true intentions. Contrasting to his alpha sister, Sina, Seth was no open book; he was a sly wolf and showed his true intentions only to his younger omega brother, San.

Because of Seth's shiftiness, Jae was always on-guard when Seth was anywhere near, and now that Syri had caught the crown prince's attention, Jae would have to be extra careful; Seth was notorious for getting what he wanted.

"Anyways," Seth continued with a nod toward the wolf hidden behind the true blood, "I'd love to meet your little friend someday."

Syri sucked in his breath at the crown prince's words; he did not appreciate the tone with which the alpha had spoken.

Jae remained silent and did not respond to Seth's comment, causing the prince of Black Moon to smirk and turn to the second true blood. "You're not going to make us stand here until the gamma comes, are you? Now, that would be just cruel."

Den scoffed. "What, you want me to get chairs for you? In your dreams. Lean against the wall if you're going to complain."

"Wow, no sympathy for the injured," Seth responded while leading Ganz to the wall across from the zeta and two true bloods. "Makes me wonder what kind of Alpha you will be."

"I don't think that is any of your concern," Den replied sternly while carefully watching the two wolves' every move.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Seth raised a brow while sliding his feet forward and leaning against the grey stone. "We will have to negotiate as Alphas eventually; I need to know how to negotiate with you as Alpha."

"You should be focusing on what kind of Alpha you will be," Jae interjected. "Leave such worries for later days."

Seth raised both brows at the true blood's words and released a small huff before saying. "I guess you have a point. What is the use of worrying about such things that are years away...oh, wait..." the alpha lifted his pointer finger to emphasize his next words, "but it's not years away. I had forgotten you challenged Alpha Fachan just now, Jae. I guess this is something I need to worry about after all." Seth tilted his head to the side and smiled at Jae before crossing his arms and leaning his head against the smooth surface of the stone.

Syri's eyes widened when he heard the prince's words, and he whipped his head up to look at Jae. Jae's challenge to the Alpha was news to the zeta, and worry entered the sweet zeta's heart. Challenges were dangerous even for true bloods. Each wolf would drink a goblet filled with a tonic infused with perliph to chain their wolves in their subconscious for the time of the duel. The challenge would also be held on the new moon, the time when the Moon Goddess does not interfere with the happenings of the wolf world.

Syri wanted to ask Jae so many questions, but he remained silent when the prince placed his arm behind his back and unfurled his hand. A sad smile came to the zeta's lips as he reached out and placed his hand in the prince's opened one. Tears formed in the zeta's eyes when Jae closed his hand and began rubbing his thumb over the back of Syri's hand. The prince's simple action showed the zeta he was aware of Syri's worry and was assuring Syri that all would be alright. But as much as Syri wanted to squash his worries, he could not.

The zeta found his throat tightening from the emotions swelling within him, and he brought the prince's hand up to his lips before pressing a gentle kiss to the back of Jae's hand. Syri's small show of affection warmed Jae's heart, and a small smile came to the true blood's face. But Jae quickly hid his joy when he felt Seth's eyes snap to him. Jae returned the alpha's cool gaze, and the two unintentionally entered a staring contest. Neither wanting to give in to the other, the two wolves continued to glare at each other until running footsteps sounded from the front end of the corridor.

The five wolves standing in the corridor quickly turned toward the mouth of the corridor to see Yehwa round the corner. The beta came to a stop at the corridor's mouth before urgently addressing Jae, "You're needed in the hall."

Jae's heart sank at the beta's announcement. What now?