"Prince," Hesha greeted the true blood respectfully as Jae entered the infirmary.
"How are you?" Jae inquired as he came to stand next to the bed.
Hesha looked down as she answered. "I am alive. It is more than I could ask for."
Jae's eyes softened at the outcast as he replied, "Living is the least you deserve."
Hesha's eyes swelled with tears as she heard the prince's words. "I am forever in your debt."
"Don't worry about it. I have arranged for a house for you. It is not much, but it is yours if you would like," the prince offered the beta.
Hesha bowed her head many times in thanks to the true blood. "I am grateful for your mercy. I do not wish to be a burden."
"You may remain here for your recovery; however, the king is not aware of your presence in Crimson Night, so I arranged for you to stay in a village called Herth. It is a rather large town with many opportunities. It will offer you a peaceful life if you should accept it."
"I thank you for your kindness, Prince," Hesha replied in acceptance of the true blood's gracious offer.
"It was the least I could do," Jae replied as he turned to leave the infirmary.
"May I ask you something?" Hesha inquired of the true blood, stopping Jae from exiting the room.
Jae turned back to face the beta as she bowed her head. "I shall answer if I am able. Speak."
Hesha was silent for a moment before she asked, "The man who saved me, do you know where I can find him? I would like to thank him."
Jae let out a small breath as he replied, "You will not find him."
Hesha lifted her head as she looked at the prince. "W-what do you mean?"
"Even I do not know where he disappears to. If I knew where to find him, I would tell you, but I do not. I am sorry."
"I see," Hesha responded as she turned her gaze back to the ground. "Thank you, Prince."
"Of course. If there is anything else you need-" The slamming of the door interrupted the prince as Yejin rushed into the room.
"Jae, we gotta go," Yejin's voice was firm as he spoke and a look of desperation was in his eye.
The true blood did not question the alpha and immediately bid the beta farewell. The two did not wait for Hesha's response before hurrying out of the infirmary.
"Talk to me, Yej," Jae said as he followed the alpha down the corridor.
"Fires are spreading to Alia. Estan and Syri are in danger. If we leave now, we can get there an hour before midnight. It's a four-hour ride by *vorst," Yejin informed the prince as they made their way around a corner.
Jae's expression turned earnest as he quickened his pace in response to Yejin's words.
<<<<<>>>>>
"That was fun," Syri said with a smile as he and Estan cleaned up the dishes and wiped the table. Brenton had just left the cabin to go prepare for his night hunt, and Syri and Estan were reminiscing on the dinner they enjoyed with the rho.
"We should invite him over again," Estan proposed as he pushed the chairs back into the table.
"Mm," Syri sounded in agreement as he began drying the dishes and placing them in the cabinets. The zeta's brows furrowed as a tingling sensation engulfed his stomach. Weird. The zeta shrugged off the sensation and continued to clean.
The gamma and zeta made themselves a cup of hot tea and had moved to the sofa to wind down for the night where they stayed for a few hours until Estan stood to his feet and declared that he would be back in a moment. The zeta nodded in response as the gamma exited the living room and disappeared down the hallway. Syri let out a sigh as he settled into the sofa and entered a comfortable position. The pink-haired took a sip of his tea as his skin began to burn. The zeta set down the cup as he realized what was happening. Oh no.
"Syri, are you alright?" Estan inquired with concern as he heard quiet whimpers wafting through the air as he walked back into the living room. The gamma furrowed his brows as he approached the sofa to see the zeta curled up with his eyes shut tightly. The sun had been set for several hours, and the candles and lamps were burning brightly, so the gamma knew he did not see wrongly.
"Inso, I think my heat is coming," Syri answered through short gasps of pain.
Estan's heart dropped at Syri's words. "Your heat is here?"
The zeta thought for a moment before nodding his head. "It's been two months since my last one. I had it half a month before I escaped."
"Shit," Estan said under his breath as he saw the beads of sweat appearing on the nape of Syri's neck. Estan's own heat was nearing, and he had meant to stock up on heat herbs but had completely forgotten until that moment. "Ok. I am out of heat herbs and teas, so I am going to run to town quickly and grab a few things to help with the pain. The drug store is open 'til three hours after sunset. If I leave now, I'll make it in time."
"Okay," Syri responded before doubling over in pain. "Thank you, Inso."
"Of course, Little One." Estan gave Syri an affectionate pat on the head before grabbing his shoes and money purse before disappearing through the front door. As soon as the gamma left, Syri let out a whimper of pain as his body began to burn.
"I need to sleep. I'll feel better if I sleep," Syri said to himself as he lied down on the couch. The zeta was too distracted by his oncoming heat that he did not even think to blow out the lights in the living room.
Vorst - Wolf-like Stallion containing certain attributes from wolves. Are much stronger and faster than the average horse. Has the fur of a wolf, eyes that of differing ranks of wolves, and a tail and ears of a wolf.