'Is he okay??' Estan inquired through the link.
'He's asleep. Whatever happened triggered the trauma from the past year. I am not certain what exactly happened, but I think his mate was tormenting him through a link.'
'Hold up, Jae. Tell me exactly what happened when you get here. Right now, just focus on getting Syri here so I can check on him.'
'Okay. We'll be there as soon as possible.'
Estan let out a breath and leaned into the man holding him from behind as he sat in the chair in his office. "What's wrong? Is Syri okay?" Yejin inquired as he massaged his mate's shoulders. Estan rested his head against the alpha before shaking his head. "I am not exactly sure. From what Jae told me, Syri's mate is tormenting him through the link."
"What?? How is that even possible? I thought links between mates only happened when both mates marked each other. Syri's didn't mark his mate."
"I am not too sure. Maybe it's because Syri is an omega, and his mate is an alpha. Omegas don't have much power when it comes to resisting alphas," Estan pondered.
"But I haven't even heard of one-way links even in alpha-omega couples."
"That is true," Estan sighed.
"Are we even sure Syri is an omega?" Yejin wondered.
Estan looked back at his mate. "I have been wondering the same thing. His scent is sweet like an omega's, but he doesn't emit the same pheromones. If Syri is not an omega and is...something else...it could explain the abnormality of the one-way link." Estan stood from his chair and walked over to a shelf lining a wall in his office. After looking over several of the books' spines, the gamma pulled out a small, thin book with an aqua leather binding. "I have been researching a certain type of wolf that is all but extinct. If Syri is this wolf-"
"The question now would be: does Jae know?"
"Do I know what?" The prince's deep voice resounded suddenly from the entrance, making the gamma jump. Yejin and Estan turned to see Jae standing in the doorway with Syri asleep in his arms. The zeta's head was resting against the true blood's chest, and his face was turned into the prince.
Yejin took a breath before confronting his prince. "Are we sure Syri is an omega? That would be the only explanation for the one-way link." The alpha chose his words carefully as he knew Jae was extremely protective of the small male in his arms.
To the gamma and alpha's relief, Jae looked down at the male in his arms before replying, "You are correct. Syri is not an omega; he's a zeta."
Estan nodded his head. "That explains it, then. Why his mate is hell-bent on getting him, the one-way connection, and the secrecy from your parents."
"Yes," Jae nodded. "If my father knew..."
"He would use Syri ruthlessly," Yejin finished for the prince. "We will keep Syri's wolf secret. Don't worry, Jae."
The true blood nodded in thanks.
"Now, set him down, so I can take a look at him and make sure he's okay," Estan suggested.
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"Zetas can withstand any alpha or true blood's voice unless it is their mate's, which explains the one-way link. Zetas are powerful wolves, but their mates have unfair advantages over them. Not much is known about zetas; all the information I could find is in this book." Estan slid the thin book across the table toward the true blood. Jae picked up the book and studied the cover. "What is the most common knowledge of zetas is their ability to enhance the strength of their mate and the ability to withstand the voice of any wolf who is not their mate."
"They would make amazing lunas," Yejin commented.
"Yes, they would," Estan agreed before continuing, "There is a lot that we do not know about zetas. They remain a mystery to the wolf world."
"I am sure Syri has had to hide for so long that he has not had the chance to find out what he is capable of," Yejin observed. The gamma, alpha, and true blood turned their gaze to the figure lying in the bed momentarily before turning back to the table.
"Poor baby," Estan sighed under his breath. "Oh! Jae, there is another thing I need to discuss with you."
Jae remained silent, waiting for the gamma to continue.
"As you know, Syri's mate did not mark him on the scent gland, which means the mark was purely for control as it only gave Syri pain and no pleasure. Also, the mate does not have complete control as the link was not complete; he did not set the mark, the mark is not on the scent gland, and Syri did not mark him back. This will make the link weak. That is why he has not been able to reach Syri until now. He has probably tried many times to get in Syri's head and got lucky this time. However, now that the mate has made a breakthrough, it will be easier to reach Syri now. I suggest you do not leave Syri alone as he has no defense against his mate's dominance."
The room grew silent as the alpha and true blood mulled over the information Estan provided. Jae was the first to break the silence. "Link Kace. Get the group together for a brief at sundown. We leave at dawn," the prince instructed the alpha as he stood to his feet.
Yejin bowed his head shortly in recognition of the order and stepped outside to contact the last member of the hunting party. Estan's eyes widened at the prince preparing to hunt down the alpha and leaving Syri alone, but the gamma knew that was the only way to solve the situation indefinitely.
"Estan, take care of him for me?" Jae requested as he started toward the door.
"Jae..." The gamma stopped the prince. Jae turned and waited for Estan to continue. "You don't leave until dawn, right? I think he should be with you tonight...in case something happens. I don't want him to wake up in the clinic. Once you leave, I will take him to my house by the river. It is outside the eye of the royals. He'll be safe there."
"Thank you, Estan." The true blood gave the gamma a small smile before going to the bed and gently moving a strand of hair from the zeta's face. "I'll come back for him after the brief," Jae informed Estan as he exited the clinic.