'Jae, don't move.' Kace said through the link as the alpha lunged into the dense vegetation.
Confused by Kace's words but trusting of the masked wolf, Jae stayed still as the alpha ran past, not even looking in his direction.
'He can't smell us. We have moonflower.' Haikon voiced. 'He is running rampant. His movements are unpredictable, and he isn't thinking straight.'
'We have to stop him before he crosses the border. Let's go.' Jae commanded as he lunged into the trees and began chasing the unstable alpha. The four members of the hunting party were quick to run after their leader.
The party kept low to the ground and slowed their pace as the target came to a stop ten paces in front of them. Haikon studied the wolf's movements with keen eyes as the alpha sniffed the air. The alpha's snout crinkled before promptly releasing a sneeze. Haikon tilted his head as he watched the wolf raise his snout and sniff the air before sneezing again.
'Haikon, he sneezed like this the night we found Jae and Syri.' Xander linked his mate and reminded the theta of the two's hidden encounter with the alpha the night Syri was ruthlessly marked.
Haikon thought back to that night and recalled the alpha sniffing the air around him when he was near the delta and theta and sneezing just as he did moments ago. 'I think he's allergic to moonflower.' Haikon informed the party. 'He reacted this way to Xander and me when we were near him and wearing moonflower.'
'Is that why he ran when he found him earlier?' Yejin asked.
'It is likely.'
'Get into formation.' Jae commanded. 'We are ending this.'
<<<<<>>>>>
Syri took a deep breath as he sat up. The zeta panted as he clutched his chest. The last thing he remembered was the fire, the smoke, and the man picking him up...and Jisue. Jisue had come and tormented the zeta when he was unconscious and unable to wake up. The zeta's breathing slowed to a steady pace as he looked around the room. There was no fire, no screaming victims, no alphas. Everything was quiet and peaceful.
The window above the bed was open, the curtains billowing in the midday breeze. Syri had been changed into a loose, white shirt and tan pants and was lying on a soft bed. The zeta made sure the shirt covered the mark on his shoulder before slipping out from under the blanket and setting his feet on the floor.
Syri observed the room as he stood from the bed. The room was small and cozy. A wardrobe was stationed on the wall opposite the bed, and a nightstand was stationed next to the head of the bed while a desk and chair were pushed against the wall adjacent to the bed.
The zeta turned and looked out the window to see trees and flowers before crossing the room and exiting through the door. Laughter floated to the zeta's ears as he walked down the small hallway with two doors on either side. Syri soon found himself walking into the common room where Estan and Rosie were sitting on the sofa and playing card games.
As soon as the soft padding of Syri's feet on the wooden floor reached Estan's ears, the gamma looked up to see the zeta entering the room. "Syri!" A smile spread across Estan's face as the gamma stood to his feet and walked over to the sleepy zeta. "How're you feeling?" Estan asked tenderly as he checked Syri's temperature.
"I'm okay," Syri answered quietly.
"That's good. Are you in any pain?" The gamma asked as he looked over Syri's body. The bruises on Syri's neck were healing nicely and were nearly gone. Estan released a breath of relief when the zeta shook his head. "How's Aska?" Estan inquired of the zeta's wolf.
Tears entered Syri's eyes as he took a breath before answering, "I-I don't know. I haven't been able to reach him."
Estan's heart dropped as he heard Syri cry.
"What do I do, Inso? I think I pushed him too hard." Tears were now streaming down the zeta's face as he cried for his wolf.
Estan took Syri into his arms and began petting the zeta's head while emitting a calming scent. "It's okay. If Aska could not have handled it, he would not have done it. I'm sure he's fine; he is probably just really tired," Estan soothed. The gamma felt Syri nod into his shoulder and continued to pet the small male's head.
Rosie had remained silent as she watched the zeta cry in the arms of his inso but she soon found herself sliding off the couch and walking over to the two males. Being an omega, Rosie stood roughly four inches shorter than Syri as she was near mating age. Her frame was slender as she stretched up and stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around the two males.
A smile came to Estan's lips as he saw the girl comfort Syri. The gamma opened his arms and invited the omega to join the hug, which she accepted. Syri opened his eyes as he felt the presence of the female and looked to see a small, red head snuggled in-between him and the gamma. Syri looked down on the omega fondly and patted her head before stepping out of the gamma and omega's embrace. Estan brought his arms down to his side as he watched the zeta smile at the omega as she reached up and wiped a tear from Syri's cheek.
"Hi, Rosie," the zeta greeted with a smile.
"Hi, Syri. Thank you for saving me," Rosie responded. Her voice was stronger than it had been at their first greeting, but it was still quiet and gentle. Her face was still pale, but it was clear that the omega was recovering. The bruises and cuts on her neck, arms, and legs were healing and quickly fading due to Estan's efforts.
The door opening caught the zeta's attention. Syri looked toward the entrance to the cabin as a man with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes walked into the room. The man's breath hitched as his gaze was caught by those soft, brown eyes.