He's Not Healing

"Jae!" The prince's eyes widened when he saw Syri racing toward him. The zeta's face was flushed, and his expression was filled with anxious concern.

Every gaze turned to the zeta as Syri ran up to Jae and nearly rammed into the prince as he came to a stop. "Syri, what are-what's wrong?" Worry painted Jae's voice as he caught the pink-haired and steadied the panting male. "It's your friend. Something's wrong," Syri said through breaths. "He's not healing."

Den's brows furrowed when he heard the zeta's words. "Den, we have to go," Jae said as he took Syri's hand. Without another word, Jae began leading Syri out of the hall with Den and Yejin close behind.

The attendees were once again left in shock when the doors to the hall closed. The events that had occurred in the past five minutes were nearly too much to comprehend, and most gave up attempting to figure out what had happened to cause both true bloods to rush out of the hall upon but a few words from a lowly worker.

Following the quiet lull that had been cast upon the hall, brows were raised and rumors regarding the pink-haired wolf's appearance began to spread. 'Is that the wolf the prince chose to be his mate?' 'Who is he?' 'What was he talking about?' 'Did you see the prince take his hand?!' 'What will happen to Crimson Night's bloodline?'

The guards looked to their Alpha for updated orders, but Fachan was still processing the appearance of the pink-haired werewolf, and the four had disappeared by the time Fachan's rage had built back up.

"Let them be, Fachan." The voice of the Luna caught Fachan's attention as Armina came to stand beside her mate. "Everything will be sorted after the dual. Separating them now would be unnecessary and cruel. Respect the challenge and let Jae and his mate be until the victor has been decided."

Jiro gave the Alpha of Crimson Night a side glance, indicating he heard every word Armina had said and that he was watching to see Fachan's response to his Luna. Aware he was being carefully watched by his four fellow Alphas, Fachan nodded his head slightly in agreement with his mate. "Very well, they can traipse around until the dual. We shall see if they will be able to continue to do so afterwards." Fachan's voice was nearing a growl toward the conclusion of his response, but he controlled his temper in front of the four visiting Alphas as he wished to remain in a good standing with Gen, Jiro, Greem, and Rose. He still needed negotiations to proceed according to plan.

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Jae never once let go of Syri's hand as the four made their way to the clinic. The halls of the castle were mostly vacant as the majority of those present in the palace had gathered at the hall upon the announcement of a fight between two males of visiting packs. The four took the empty halls to their advantage and began running toward the gamma's clinic.

Groans of pain filtered from the clinic when the four entered the physician's office. "Thank the moon you're here," Estan sighed in relief when he saw the two true bloods. "I've tried all I can to stabilize him, but I'm afraid it is not going to be enough," the gamma said as the four gathered around the bloodied form in the bed.

"What is happening to him?" Den inquired while taking the blue-haired male's hand.

"He is not healing," Estan answered while he gathered more gauze to place against Kace's wounds. "He is losing a lot of blood. I've tried to stimulate healing, but nothing has worked."

"There is one thing that will work," Jae said while turning to face Eternal Dawn's prince. Den's emerald eyes grew wide when he realized what Jae was implying. The true blood shook his head and replied, "I can't, Jae, not without his consent. He hasn't even spoken to me. I don't even know his name."

"He's dying, Den." Jae returned. Tears entered the corners of Jae's eyes when he thought about the possibility of losing Kace. "I can't lose him, and neither can you."

Jae's words struck Eternal Dawn's prince straight in the heart. Jae was right; neither of them could afford to lose Kace. Deep in thought, Den swallowed dryly before turning his gaze to the man in the bed.

"Why is he not healing?" Syri's soft voice caught the three males' attention as he left Jae's side and approached the man in the bed. Estan looked to Jae to gain his prince's permission to reveal Kace's situation before disclosing the reason behind Kace's dire circumstances. The gamma had refrained from discussing Kace's condition as it was clear he had not told his mate, and Estan did not wish to undermine Kace's intent to withhold his secret from his mate. But following the nod that came from Jae, Estan began, "His t-"

The gamma did not even say two words before Kace's face twisted with pain, and his head began to turn in great discomfort. Groans escaped the blue-haired male's parted lips before his breathing intensified and his hands clenched the bed beneath him. The racing of Kace's heart filled Jae's senses and caused the true blood's face to turn cold as stone. If Kace did not make it, Jae swore that Ganz would not live to see another moon.

If anything could be done to save Kace, it would have had to be in that moment. Jae turned toward his fellow true blood to see Den leaning over the man in the bed. 'Please, Den. Please save him.'

Den closed his eyes as he leaned down and hovered above the blue-haired's neck. 'I'm sorry.' The true blood bared his fangs and pressed them to Kace's soft flesh, but a low growl from the blue-haired stopped the true blood from sinking his teeth into Kace's neck. Hearing the warning to stay away, Den quickly withdrew to see red eyes glaring up at him.