So, you're the one who's been rolling around with my mate. Jisue snapped at the true blood standing before him who was concealed in the vegetation. You can stop hiding now; the moonflower has worn off. A laugh rippled through the alpha as he addressed the members of the hunting party. The sun had now set, and the stars were coming out. The alpha had led the five on an endless chase as the unstable wolf ran in random directions at an incredible speed.

Stay down. Jae linked Kace as he, Yejin, Haikon, and Xander revealed themselves. The moonflower had not worn off entirely, so Jae hoped that the appearance of four would appease the alpha while keeping a card up their sleeve.

Without wasting a second, Jisue charged the smaller wolf of the party only to be intercepted by Yejin the alpha. Jisue snapped and snarled as he instantly shifted directions and charged the delta. Xander bared his fangs and met the alpha head-on only to jump over him, revealing a fuming true blood standing behind him.

Jae let out a growl as he lunged at the charging alpha. Jisue sank his fangs into the true blood's shoulder as Jae bit down on the back of Jisue's neck and flung the alpha into the air. The alpha landed against a tree and fell to the ground without a sound. To the party's shock, Jisue stood back to his feet and let out a blood-curdling laugh before charging as if nothing happened.

What's wrong with this bastard?! Yejin voiced through the party's link. Can he not feel pain?

The other members had no time to respond as the alpha had gained speed and was instantly upon them. The four charged Jisue, but before they knew it, Xander was caught in his hold. Jisue emitted a warning growl as he slowly backed away with the captured delta. Haikon growled back as a whine left Xander as Jisue tightened his bite on the delta's back. A maniacal laugh gargled from the alpha's snout as he threw the delta clutched in his jaws into the air. Haikon was quick to break his mate's fall and get Xander back on his feet as Yejin and Jae charged.

Yejin jumped on the alpha's back and sank his teeth and claws into Jisue's flesh. Jisue curled his body and stood up on his back legs to claw at the alpha on his back giving Jae an opportunity to sink his teeth into the alpha's side. A dark silhouette whizzed out of the bushes and caught Jisue by the throat as the alpha shook Yejin off his back.

Jae tightened his grip on the alpha's side as Yejin brought him to the ground and Kace severed his lifeline. The forest grew silent as the alpha was neutralized. Whimpers caught the three warriors' attention, and they turned to see Haikon standing over his mate. Jae raced over to see Xander lying limply on the ground. The delta's breathing was faint, and blood seeped from the wounds on his sides.

Shift, Xander. Jae ordered the wounded delta. A whine left Haikon's snout as his mate shifted to his human form. Blood painted Xander's abdomen and he spat up a clot of blood. Put him on my back. The prince commanded as he crouched to the ground. Yejin and Haikon shifted and set Xander on Jae's back as the masked wolf came to stand beside his prince. Clear a path for me. Make sure nothing gets in my way. Jae ordered the masked wolf.

Kace bowed his head in response and darted into the woods.

Make sure Haikon gets back safely. Jae told Yejin. Kace and I are going ahead.

"Yes, my prince," Yejin bowed his head.

Hold on, Xander. Jae instructed the delta on his back before dashing after Kace.

A shaky breath left the theta as Haikon sank to his knees. The theta's face was white as he saw his injured mate disappear into the dark, dense forest.

"He'll be alright," Yejin assured the theta as he set a hand on Haikon's shoulder. "Jae will make sure of it."

The theta nodded his head at the alpha's words. "Yeah," Haikon agreed as he got back to his feet. "Let's bury the bastard and be done with it," the theta said as he walked over to the body on the ground. Yejin rolled up his sleeves as he followed the theta and helped dig a hole in the soft earth.

After making sure the hole was deep enough that no animal would dig it up, the two rolled the body of the wolf into the earth and covered it up. The theta and alpha packed down the dirt before standing to their feet.

"May you rot in hell," Haikon growled at the unmarked grave. The theta turned his head to the direction of the castle and took a breath. "We can't let them get too far ahead," the theta said before shifting.

You know we won't be able to catch up to them, though. It's Jae and Kace we're talking about. Kace is the only wolf who can keep up with Jae. Yejin linked the theta after shifting.

And Kace isn't even an alpha. Not fair. A whine left the theta as he thought about the difference in skill level.

Well...you know what he has to go through. It's not easy being what he is. Yejin said as he took a step forward. Let's go.

The theta and alpha raced into the trees and followed the scents of their comrades through the forest toward the castle.

>>>>>>

A groan left the wounded delta's lips as the true blood leaped over a fallen tree. Jae could feel the delta's grip on his back loosening, so he let out a small growl to wake the delta. It was not a threatening growl but rather a signal to warn the delta about the danger of falling asleep. Stay with me, Xander. Jae linked the delta. His voice was soft and stern.

Mm. Sorry, Jae. My head just feels so light. Xander's voice was quiet and weak as he responded.

I need you to hold, Xander. I'm going to speed up. Jae warned in an attempt to have the delta tighten his hold. The true blood kept his pace steady as he patiently waited for Xander to react to his words. After a few moments, the prince felt the delta's arms reach around his neck, locking his hands together in preparation for the heightened speed. Once Jae was pleased with Xander's hold, he sped his pace after linking the masked wolf in front of him.

>>>>>>

Smiles covered the gamma and zeta's faces as they exited the clothing store. Syri looked at the two bags in his hands and came to a conclusion: he liked shopping, no, he loved shopping. Estan held a triumphant expression on his face as he watched the zeta happily walk down the street with his loot. The two had each bought, with Estan's lorne of course, three pairs of clothes of which each item of clothing was interchangeable as to create multiple options for outfits.

Syri followed along happily as the gamma led him down the main street and to the market where Estan bought two burlap bags from a stand at the entrance to the market. After handing one of the bags to Syri, the two began walking down the main strip of the market. The zeta seemed used to markets, so Estan presumed the pink-haired knew how markets worked.

The two divvied up what produce to get, and Estan walked ahead to give the zeta some space. The gamma walked to the section of the market that sold fresh produce while the zeta meandered to the area that sold cheese and bread. The gamma proceeded to fill one of the burlap bags with fruits and vegetables while Syri filled the second bag with cheese, bread, eggs, and a selection of dried meats wrapped in cloth.

After paying for the produce, the gamma and zeta exited the market and began making their way back to the cabin. They were stopped, however, when a voice called, "Estan!!"

The gamma turned to see a middle-aged woman swiftly approaching him. Estan's knit brows loosened when he recognized the woman. "Garnelle!" The gamma greeted his friend happily.

"I didn't know you were visiting!" Garnelle exclaimed as she reached the two werewolves. "Why haven't you come to see me?" The woman inquired as a friendly complaint.

"I have only just arrived, Garnelle," Estan explained to the woman.

"Oh, very well. I'll let you off the hook this time. But you had better come see me soon!" The woman said as she pointed a finger at the gamma.

"Of course," Estan responded politely. "How is the clinic faring?" The gamma inquired about the small medical center where he learned his trade in medicine.

The woman nodded her head a few times before answering, "It's doing the same. Alia is very eventful, so there are no exceptional cases. You should stop by sometime. Everyone misses you."

"I will. Give me a few days, and I will visit," the gamma told the woman.

"Very well. Come whenever you have time. Speaking of the time! I must be on my way!" The woman exclaimed as she waved goodbye and rushed off. As soon as she had come, she was gone in a cloud of dust.

Syri watched the boisterous woman hurry away before inquiring on who she was.

"Garnelle is a fellow gamma who taught me everything I know about medicine. She is my mentor," Estan explained to the zeta before leading the way out of the charming village.

The sun was setting when the two reached the cabin and began sorting the produce.

"Are you hungry?" Estan inquired of the zeta as the two emptied the bags.

Syri nodded his head in response to the gamma's inquiry.

"Okay!" Estan let out a breath as he rolled his sleeves. "What should we have?" The gamma set his hands on his hips and pursed his lips as he pondered what he should make. "Ah!" Estan's eyes snapped open as he remembered a recipe he learned when he was young. It was not long before the gamma was gliding around the kitchen and extracting select ingredients to create his masterpiece.

>>>>>>

Syri lied awake on the bed and stared at the ceiling as he tried to reach his wolf for the nth time. The stars were out, and a subtle night breeze blew through the open window as the zeta released a breath and closed his eyes. The zeta tried to fall asleep, but a restlessness filled the werewolf's gut preventing Syri from catching any rest.

The zeta turned his head to the side before facing it toward the ceiling once more. Finally, after a few minutes, the zeta felt sleep taking over. The restless feeling in Syri's gut had diminished to the extent where he could eventually fall asleep. However, a pain in Syri's chest ripped the zeta from the opportunity to rest. Syri sat up in the bed and gasped for air as his chest tightened and his heart was wrought with pain.

What is going on? Sweat broke on the zeta's brow as he threw back the covers and stood to his knees. A need to scream and cry consumed the zeta, and he found himself exiting through the opened window and running into the grove. Syri captured the cry in his throat as he ran to the stream. I have to get away. I need space. I need to breathe. I need to cry, but I can't let anyone know. The zeta looked up at the trees surrounding the grove and felt suffocated. A bridge crossing the stream positioned toward the back of the grove caught the zeta's eye, and Syri found himself racing to the bridge.

A path that connected to the bridge led into the forest and brought the zeta through a clump of trees and onto the top of a rolling hill. The moon shone down on the vast landscape of a valley of soft hills and rivers as the zeta broke through the trees and ran to the peak of the hill. Syri fell to his knees and released the cry that had been building in his throat. A small flock of birds that was perched in the trees just behind the zeta took flight as the zeta's cry oscillated through the night.

Tears streamed down the zeta's cheeks as he cried into the night. Why am I crying? Why does my heart hurt? Syri brought his hands to his face and cried into his palms as his body racked with sobs. A burning sensation on the zeta's shoulder caught Syri's attention as the ache in his heart intensified. Fresh tears streamed from the zeta's eyes as he pulled the shirt off his shoulder to see the mark glowing and burning.

A choked gasp of pain left the zeta as Syri held the skin around the burning mark. The scar began to pulse with heat as the skin began to burn. Syri cried out in agony as his heart ached as he watched the mark burn. Soon, the skin turned to ash, and the pain ceased. Syri's hand shook as he reached to touch the ash on his shoulder only for a warm breeze to blow the dark particles away into the night. The breeze tousled the zeta's hair as he watched the ashes fly away.

A sigh rippled through the zeta as Syri leaned his head back and let the tears flow. I am free.

Syri realized in that moment why his heart ached and why he involuntarily cried. His mate had died. The person fate had given Syri to love and to love Syri was no longer. His mate was dead.

Sobs continued to pulse through the zeta as the bond between fated mates forced the pink-haired werewolf to feel the pain of losing a loved one. Hate consumed the zeta and filled every fiber of his being as tears wet his face. He hated his mate, and yet he was pained that he had died. He hated Jisue, and the zeta hated that he was crying for him. Syri hated the fate that forced him to mourn his abuser.

Why is fate so cruel? You even make me cry for the one who hurt me? Syri's cries intensified as he cried out his soul to the moon. He cried out his hate for his mate, his hate toward fate, and his hate for the pain in his heart. The zeta's brown eyes glistened beneath the moonlight as his sobs filled the night.