"Bring the beta," Jae commanded as he stood to his feet. Yejin remained with the prince as the two guards bowed before exiting the interrogation room. A strained moan left the alpha who lied on the floor surrounded by a puddle of blood. Jae cocked his head to one side as he observed the alpha open his eyes and spit up a clot of blood. The prince crouched down beside the alpha and checked his pulse. To Jae's relief, it was growing stronger. He had hoped he had not done too much and was thankful he did not accidentally kill the alpha during their fight.
A scream rang out as the door to the room opened, and the beta was pushed inside. Jae turned around to look at the beta before rising back to his full height. The beta's eyes were wide as she looked at the bloodied alpha on the floor.
"What did you do to him?!" The beta yelled at Jae. Her face was filled with rage as she glared at the prince, however, it soon turned to fear as the true blood approached her. The beta gulped as she was dwarfed by the prince, whose eyes were still gold. Jae was covered with claw marks, but they were quickly healing. The blood on his face, however, remained.
Jae looked down at the beta and recognized the look in her eye. "Will you tell me what I need to know?" The prince's voice was low as he inquired of the beta.
The female darted her eyes to the man on the ground before responding with, "Will you let him live?"
A growl rippled from the alpha's throat as he used his voice on the beta. "Hesha, don't." The words were faint, but the alpha's voice had a great effect on the beta. The female's eyes widened as she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. A blood vessel popped from the beta's forehead as her face turned red. The alpha was forcing her to remain silent by choking her with his dominance.
Yejin hated seeing alpha torture the girl, so he slammed his foot into the man's abdomen to break his focus. Jae caught the beta as she stumbled once she was released from the alpha's dominance. Hesha choked as she gasped for air. Jae's hatred toward the alpha increased as he watched the beta's knees grow weak. The true blood was gentle with Hesha as he brought her to the floor. The beta clutched her throat as she gained control over her breathing.
Jae's eyes saddened when he saw the beta look at the alpha. They were not filled with fear or anger but rather confusion. 'Why do you have to love him? He is not deserving of you.' Jae shook his head slightly as he thought to himself.
"Well, I thought I could use you to get him to speak, but it seems he does not care for you," Jae told the beta truthfully.
Hesha turned her gaze to the prince as tears filled her eyes. The beta looked back at the alpha one more time whose eyes were filled with hatred. "I-I-I'm sorry. I don't know anything."
"Then, what do you know?" Jae's voice was soft as he continued to support the beta. Her frame felt so small in his hands.
The beta shook her head as a growl resonated from the alpha on the ground. "I-I can't."
With a motion of Jae's head, the two guards lifted the alpha from the ground and dragged him from the room. Once the beta was alone with Jae and Yejin, the prince offered Hesha a proposal. "Do you want to go back home?"
Hesha nodded her head as she answered, "I do."
"Then tell me what you know."
The beta was silent for several moments as she contemplated. "Will you let my team live?"
"Including the alpha?" Jae inquired. The true blood waited patiently as the beta thought.
After a moment, Hesha nodded her head. "Yes, including him. Please."
"Very well," Jae said in agreement.
"Thank you." Hesha was silent for a second before beginning, "All I know is that we were sent on a delegation mission to White Fang. I do not know what we were supposed to delegate, however, I overheard Ganz talking with my pack's alpha the night we set off."
"Ganz is your team's leader?" Jae inquired to make sure he was getting the facts right.
"Yes," Hesha confirmed before continuing. "The alpha told Ganz to not declare our presence when we crossed your pack's territory and that we were supposed to make sure your alpha was not aware of us crossing your border." Jae's brows knit as he processed Hesha's words. "I did not hear the beginning of the conversation, so I do not know what Ganz was ordered to do on your land. This is all I know, I promise."
Jae nodded as he scanned the beta's condition. Her heart was not abnormally fast, nor was she sweating profusely. "I believe you," Jae said after determining Hesha was not lying.
Hesha released a small breath of relief. "Will you let us live?" The beta inquired cautiously as she looked back to the pool of blood where Ganz once lied.
"Don't worry. I will keep to my word. You will leave here alive, all of you," Jae answered truthfully. The prince's eyes softened as he looked at Hesha. He felt sympathy for the beta as he knew Ganz would most likely attempt to kill her once he figures out Hesha told Jae all she knew in exchange for her team members' lives. Ganz would label Hesha a traitor and would not hesitate in exterminating her. Jae would offer her protection and let her stay in Crimson Night, but Hesha seemed to love her home and the abusive alpha too much to leave either of them.