'So, you're the one who's been rolling around with my mate.' Jisue snapped at the true blood standing before him 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.
'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 up 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 and 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.
"He'll be alright," Yejin assured the theta as he set a hand on Haikon's shoulder. "Jae will make sure of it."
"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.