"W-What do you mean?" Jae inquired of the gamma as he looked at Estan with wide eyes."

"His cousin came for him and took him home," Estan informed the prince as he stood in front of the true blood and alpha.

"His family abandoned him, though. They don't love him. Why would he go back with them?"

Estan let out a breath before continuing, "Apparently Syri's cousin had been looking for him ever since Jisue had taken him and saw Syri when he was coming back to the capitol." Please, please, please. The gamma struggled to keep his breathing and heart rate under control. If either of those were off-beat or rhythm, Jae would immediately call his bluff.

The prince's eyes narrowed as he observed the gamma. "Are you certain?" Jae inquired through slanted eyes. Yejin remained silent as he looked back and forth from his mate to his prince.

Estan, what is going on? Yejin linked his mate as he heard the slight growl in the true blood's voice.

Shut up and let me talk. Estan kept his eyes on the prince as he focused on his answer. "Ae. I am certain. Syri even left you a note," the gamma revealed as he retrieved a folded piece of paper from the pocket in his thin, white medical coat.

Jae swallowed as he looked at the paper in Estan's hands. The true blood furrowed his brows as he accepted it from the gamma. Are you really gone? The prince held the note in his hand tightly as he looked past the gamma with hard eyes and walked off with heavy steps.

Estan released a breath as he put his hands on his hips and turned to watch the true blood leave. I never want to do that again. You better be grateful I love you, Syri.

Jae clenched his jaw as he walked down one of the flower-lined paths in the garden. The sun had set, and the stars were shining brightly. The prince had searched the palace endlessly upon his return just a few hours before the meeting with Estan in hopes of apologizing to Syri for leaving him at such a crucial time. But, to the prince's dismay, Syri was nowhere to be found.

The true blood's eyes glistened as he looked at the folded note in his hand. Jae slowly lifted his arm and unfolded the piece of paper to see the zeta's beautiful handwriting. The scent of vanilla and roses wafted from the paper as the prince opened the note. It was definitely from the zeta. Jae stood still as he read Syri's message.

Dear Prince,

I hope you are well and safe. I am eternally grateful for all you have done for me. I do not know if I am even able to repay you in this life alone; it would be no surprise if I spend my remaining lives repaying your kindness. Please do not doubt me when I say I will be alright. My cousin has always been good to me; I know he will care for me well.

And do not be harsh on Estan. This was my decision and mine alone. I appreciate your goodwill and kindness, but my time by your side has come to an end. I fear I have stayed by your side for too long already, my prince. The days spent with you will always remain in my mind as they were my happiest and when the sun shone the brightest.

Heaven has already been too kind to me by allowing me to meet you. However, I do not wish to strain their kindness or your goodwill. Please know I am safe and well and that I will always treasure the days I was by your side.

I pray you remain healthy and find happiness.

Yours Truly,

Syri

Tears soaked the paper as Jae concluded the zeta's message. The prince turned his face to the night sky as hot tears streamed down his neck. The true blood remained beneath the stars as he processed the fact that Syri was really gone. He had left, and there was nothing Jae could do about it. As much as Jae longed to chase after the zeta and capture him in his arms, he knew he could never do something Syri did not want him to do. Syri said he was safe and happy, and Jae could not bring himself to change that.

While the prince cried in the garden, Syri sat on the roof of the stables and stared up at the moon. A single tear escaped the zeta's eye as he could not stop himself from thinking about the prince. Stop it, Syri. You've got to get him out of your head. There is no way you can be with him. He is a prince! And you are...well, an outcast. The zeta berated himself for becoming lost in his thoughts of the prince and wiped the tear from his cheek.

I'm sorry, Prince, but this is the best way. It would be impossible for a lowly wolf like me to be by your side.

Sounds from the ladder that was propped against the edge of the roof brought the zeta's attention to the edge to see Kip climbing onto the roof. "Oh, Syri. What are you going up here?"

The zeta made sure his face was dry as he answered, "Just thinking. What about you?"

"Thinking," Kip responded as he came to sit beside the zeta. "What's on your mind?" The beta inquired as he leaned over and gently nudged the zeta with his shoulder.

"Oh, just someone I used to know," Syri responded as he brought his knees up to his chest.

"Ahh. First love?" Kip inquired as he looked down at the pink-haired who blushed. "Something like that," Syri admitted with a small nod of his head. "Oof. Those are always rough," Kip responded as he crossed his legs and leaned back on his hands.

"What about you? What are you thinking about?" The zeta inquired about the beta. Syri had decided to try his best to make friends and be as happy as he could, so he decided to start with Kip.

"Mmmm...present first love, you could say," The beta answered in response.

Syri raised his brows as he turned to face the beta. "Present?"

Kip nodded his head. "Mm-hmm. Present."

"So they work at the castle?"

"Mm-hmm."

"So, you get to see them often?"

Kip nodded.

"That's nice," Syri responded sweetly before saying, "I assume they are not aware of your feelings?"

"Correct," Kip replied with a nod of his head.

"So, it's secret love."

A small chuckle left the beta as he said, "I guess you could call it that."

"What else would I call it? Is it not love that is a secret?" Syri inquired matter-of-factly.

"No, it is. You're right. It's just, I've never heard someone call it that before."

"Ah." Syri sounded in response. "Was it weird?" The zeta asked after a moment or two.

Kip shook his head. "No, not weird. Cute." Syri could not help but laugh a little as he turned to gaze over the fire-lit palace grounds. "So, I assume you haven't met your mate, yet?" The zeta inquired as he turned from the beta to face forward. Kip bobbed his head slowly as he responded, "Mm. Not yet." The beta let out a short breath and added, "But I don't know if I really want to. I already have a person I love. I don't know if I want this love to be washed away by fate."

The two grew solemn as Kip spoke. Syri lowered his head as he mulled over the beta's words. "I understand," the zeta began. "The one I fell for is not my fated mate."

Kip bit the inside of his lip as he looked down. "Those are the hardest..." Syri nodded in silent agreement as he lifted his head to the stars. Several moments passed as the two thought of the ones that held a special place in their hearts.

"So, are you ready for your first official day tomorrow?" Kip inquired after a few minutes. Syri nodded as he replied, "Yes. I think I am going to enjoy it."

"That's good," Kip said as he gazed up at the stars. "We have an early morning, so you should get going to bed. The horses go to the field at sunrise."

Syri nodded in acknowledgment of the beta's suggestion before rising to his feet. "You should get some sleep too," the zeta said softly when Kip did not move to leave the roof.

"Oh, uh, I have the night shift," the beta answered. "I'll see you in the morning."

The zeta bowed his head slightly in respect to the beta before saying, "I'll leave you to your thoughts, then," and walking to the ladder.

"Night, Syri," Kip bid the zeta with a small wave of his hand.

"Good night," Syri returned as he swung his leg on the top rung and began descending the ladder. The zeta ran his fingers through his soft, pink hair as he reached the ground and turned from the stables to make his way to the workers' wing. Quiet hums left the zeta's closed lips as Syri took his time meandering beneath the stars. The guards working the night shift paid the zeta no mind as they had seen the pink-haired walking around with Kip and Bevy just a half hour prior.

The worker's quarters were located on the southwestern side of the palace, so Syri turned to his right upon leaving the stables and made his way toward the gardens. The gardens were on the opposite side of the workers' quarters as they were on the western side of the palace, so the zeta had yet to see them as he had been led straight from the workers' wing to the stables, which were on the southern side of the palace. Ibbi had promised to show the zeta around the palace grounds once they had brought the horses back to the stables from the fields the next day, so Syri did not feel the need to wander too far away from the path to his room.

The zeta's feet padded on the ground softly as he walked with his hands in the pockets of his overalls and observed the palace at night. Syri was contently looking at the fire from the torches and barrels reflecting on the stone and metal of the surrounding structures until a strong, musky scent caught his attention. The zeta halted in his tracks as he inhaled the potent earthy musk. Syri knew that scent. It was the prince's.

Syri stiffened as he quickly swiveled his head to look around him. The prince was nowhere in sight, but Syri knew he had to be close. Hide. Hide. Hide. Gotta hide. It was only a split second until the zeta was scampering behind an old tree that happened to be stationed nearest him. The zeta held his breath as the prince's scent grew stronger.

Syri cupped his hand over his mouth as he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Hold your breath. Hold it. Hold it! The zeta quietly breathed in deeply before holding his breath as the true blood came into view. Syri leaned his head against the rough wood and pressed his back up to the tree as closely as he could.

The prince was quiet as he approached the tree behind which the zeta was standing. Syri was about to release his pent-up breath when the true blood stopped in his tracks and turned in the direction of the tree. He had caught the zeta's sweet scent.

"Syri?" The prince's voice was soft as he called out the zeta's name.

Shit. Syri remained silent as he tried to disguise his scent.

"Syri?" The true blood voiced again as he began walking toward the zeta's hiding place. Tears formed in Syri's eyes as he heard the prince call out his name. The true blood's voice was filled with hope and longing that caused the zeta's sensitive heart to pound in his chest. Oh, how Syri longed to run out from behind the tree and race into the prince's arms, but he knew it would only bring the prince hardship should he do so. So, Syri remained hidden and tried his best to calm his racing heart.

The entrance of a pair of guards tore the prince's attention from the tree as he came to stand but ten feet from the zeta.

"Prince, may we assist you?" One of the guards addressed the prince respectfully.

"Uhhh, no," the prince answered as he looked back at the tree. The two guards bowed before continuing on their way. "Have you, by chance, seen a pink-haired omega around here?" Jae inquired of the two, stopping them in their tracks. The two thought over their day as they turned to face their prince. They had seen the new pink-haired werewolf that had become a worker, but surely the prince would not be inquiring about a lowly servant. "No, Sire. We have not seen anyone of importance with pink hair."

"Continue on," the prince said with a wave of his hand as he heard the guard's response. Syri had continued to hold his breath as the two walked away and the prince let out a huff. "I thought for sure it was him." It was a mumble, but Syri heard it as the prince turned around and brought his hand to the base of his neck before running his fingers through his dark hair. "I must be imagining things."

The zeta waited until the prince's scent was faint before he gasped for air. Syri's face had grown red, and the little werewolf's chest heaved as he recovered from holding his breath for so long. That was close.

Syri was cautious as he quickly continued on his way to the servants' wing. I'll have to be more careful from now on.