'Jae.' Kace's voice sounded in the prince's mind, instantly grabbing the true blood's attention.
'Stop.' Jae instructed the party. Yejin, Haikon, Xander, and Kace promptly stopped in their tracks and began to listen to their surroundings.
'Ten o'clock.' Yejin linked the party and informed them of the direction from which he picked up something. Jae honed his senses to his ten and focused on that area. His ears twitched as he picked up the sound of breathing.
'Rogues.' The prince released a low growl as he picked up the scent of a small party of foreign wolves.
'They're turning around. They must've caught our scent.' Haikon informed his prince.
'It is futile to run.' Jae snarled as he lunged into the trees. The prince of the Crimson Night pack hated two things most in the world. They were unjust treatment toward a person and rogues. Jae hated rogues sneaking onto his land without calling him and formally asking for permission to cross over his pack's territory. Jae had allowed several lost wolves to cross his land, but they had politely called him and asked for permission. These rogues had not, which meant they had foul intentions.
Yejin and Kace were hot on Jae's heels as the three stronger wolves pursued the party of rogues. Xander and Haikon followed a small distance away as they were the second wave designed to assist their leader if necessary and provide a fresh wave of offense. It was not long before the three wolves caught up to the small group of rogues and surrounded them. Per protocol, the prince and his two right hands began circling the foreign wolves.
Jae let out a snarl as he walked around the five wolves. Xander and Haikon immediately joined the three in circling the rogues. Kace fell back a few paces and let the delta and theta get in front of him, so the masked wolf brought up the rear.
'What are you doing on my land?' Jae opened a general link and interrogated the wolves.
'We were merely passing through.' One of the wolves stepped forward and answered. Being a true blood, Jae's senses were more advanced than any other wolf's, and he could smell the bitter scent radiating from the wolf indicating he was lying.
'I find that hard to believe, Rogue.' Jae responded coldly. The true blood observed the nervous flitting of the rogue alpha's ears and the twitching of his nose.
'Rogue? We are no rogues.' The alpha responded. A snarl left the true blood at being questioned.
'Then what are you and why are you on my land?!' A growl accompanied the prince's commanding question. He was tired of being led around in a dance that was going nowhere.
'We are a delegation party sent by the Black Moon pack to White Fang pack.' A second wolf stepped up. The beta was more confident in her answer, much more confident than the alpha. Jae turned his attention to the beta but continued to circle. He was not allowing any chance for escape or deceit.
'Why is a delegation party crossing a foreign pack's territory without calling for permission from it's alpha? Speak, Beta.'
'We were in a hurry. We are delegating an important matter for the Blood Moon pack.'
'What matter is so important that you completely disregard customs?' Jae's tail began to flit back and forth in low motions. His patience was wearing thin.
The beta remained silent, drawing a growl from the true blood.
'Jae, they are from the Black Moon pack.' Yejin voiced in the party's link.
'I am aware.'
Yejin paused when he heard the irritation in his prince's voice before continuing. 'We cannot afford any tension with Black Moon, especially while your father is gone. They are the second-largest pack in the eastern region.'
'I will not stand by and watch a party of foreign wolves stomp on Crimson Night's land!'
'I am not saying we let them go, Prince. But we cannot shed any of their blood...not yet.'
A huff left the true blood as he thought of a solution that would cause the least tension between the two packs. 'Has Estan left with Syri?' Jae inquired of the alpha just behind him.
'Yes. They left a couple of hours ago.'
Kace's ears pricked up at the mention of a name he did not know, but he remained silent and waited to see his prince's solution for the situation.
Once Jae confirmed that Syri was on his way to a safe location, the prince instructed the alpha. 'Link the luna and have her send Tharn and his men.'
'Yes, Prince.'
Once Yejin had left the pack link to contact the luna, Jae turned to the five Black Moon wolves and addressed them. 'You will shift to your human forms and remain that way. A party of alphas are on their way to collect you. They will bring you to the castle and keep you there until I decide what to do with you. I have important matters to tend to, so I cannot escort you to the castle myself. If you wish to live, you will follow my instructions perfectly. Now, shift.' The prince cut the general link after relaying his commands and linked his party. 'We will wait until Tharn arrives. The hunt will continue once he does.'
The alpha and beta of the Black Moon wolves looked at each other for a few moments, undoubtedly considering their course of action. Jae watched as the beta turned to him and bowed her head before shifting. The alpha and three remaining wolves followed her action and shifted. Soon, five humans stood before the prince. The true blood let out a growl, and the werewolves sank to their hands and knees with their heads bowed.
"We are grateful for your mercy, Alpha. We are willing to comply with your conditions and be taken to your castle," the beta addressed the true blood who remained silent.
The hunting party ceased their circling and took up guarding positions surrounding the five humans. 'If only that alpha would hurry his ass up.' Jae thought to himself as he was anxious to continue the hunt. However, this matter was imminent to the safety of his pack, and he must tend to this first. The fact that Syri was currently on his way to a secluded location eased the prince's mind as he thought about the small zeta.
Jae turned to see the first rays of sun poking through the thick trees and let out a breath. He longed to be back at his home with Syri eating breakfast in bed, but the thought of the rabid alpha roaming about his territory induced a subconscious growl from the true blood. 'I'm coming for you. Count your days.'