"They should have been back by now!" The frantic gamma exclaimed to his mate as he paced in front of the prince's chambers. "What if something terrible happened?" Estan inquired of his mate as he turned to look at the alpha standing in front of him.
Yejin's brows were furrowed as he was deep in thought. The alpha lifted his head as he opened his mouth to speak. "I will ride to Gern and look for them."
"Are you certain you can't link Jae?" Estan asked as he resumed his pacing.
"Positive," Yejin answered. "I've tried multiple times, but I still can't get through."
Estan released a huff as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay. Let me go with you. It will be easier if we both go."
Yejin shook his head in disagreement. "It will be faster if I go alone."
"But-"
The alpha was quick to walk up to the gamma and gently take Estan's face in his hands. "Babe, I'll find them. Don't worry." The alpha's voice was soft as he added, "Plus, you nearly died last night. You should stay and rest." Estan released a breath as he looked up into those bright blue eyes and nodded his head in agreement. "Link me when you find them," the gamma told the alpha as Yejin brought his mate into his arms. "Of course," Yejin replied as he held his love tightly.
The gamma walked with his alpha to the stables and watched as Yejin mounted his vorst. 'Stay safe.' Estan bid his mate goodbye as Yejin began galloping down the path that led out of the gate.
'I will. Love you.'
'Love you, Yej.'
The alpha held the reins of his steed as he galloped across the wide fields and into the forest. 'Where are you, Prince?' Yejin kept his senses completely open as he made his way through the trees. After two and a half hours of riding at a full gallop, a soft humming reached the alpha's sensitive ears. Yejin pulled his vorst to a slow gallop as he neared the source of the humming. The alpha rounded a bend in the forest to see a pink-haired male riding atop a black vorst.
"Syri?" Yejin called the zeta's name as he brought his steed to a trot.
The zeta's ears perked up at his name. Syri turned his head from sightseeing to look straight ahead. "Oh? Yejin!" A smile came to the zeta's lips when he recognized the alpha approaching him. The rho trotting alongside Ajax came to stand in front of the steed as the alpha neared the three.
Yejin's eyes narrowed as he saw the foreign wolf. The alpha pulled his steed to a stop as the two parties met. "Syri, where's Jae? Why is he not with you?" The alpha inquired of the zeta when he could not sense the true blood anywhere near.
Syri swallowed before answering, "I do not know where Jae is. I was alone when I woke."
Yejin furrowed his brows as he heard the zeta's reply. 'So, Syri does not know where the prince is either. Something must have happened for Jae to suddenly disappear without contacting someone.' "Well, why don't you come back with me," the alpha suggested as he eyed the black wolf through slanted lids. "Estan is worried sick."
The zeta's eyes widened at the mention of the gamma's name. "Inso is alright? Thank goodness." A breath of relief escaped the zeta as a smile came to his lips.
"Ae. He was with me." Yejin did not take his eyes off the black wolf that remained in front of the zeta protectively. 'Well, Ajax does not seem to mind him, but I still need to get Syri to safety as soon as possible.' "Come with me, Syri. I'll bring you to Estan," the alpha said as he motioned for the zeta to follow him.
"Don't you need to find Jae, though?" Concern filled the zeta's voice as he grew worried for the true blood. 'If Yejin doesn't even know where the prince is, something must have happened.'
"I'll get you back, and then I'll come back to search for him," Yejin told the zeta. "You know Jae. He'll be fine on his own for a few more hours," the alpha added when the zeta hesitated.
The zeta looked from the alpha to the wide expanse of the forest before eventually nodding his head. "Okay," Syri agreed after a moment and turned back to face the alpha. "I will go with you." Yejin watched as the zeta turned to the black wolf and thanked him for his efforts. "I appreciate the help, Rho. My friend will take me the rest of the way." Syri was polite as he addressed the wolf who nodded its head and went to stand at the side of the road.
Yejin watched the wolf disappear into the forest before turning to the zeta and vorst. "Let's get you home, hm?"