Chapter 142: Watch Your Words
An uneasy silence filled the space around the four after Ganz's reply, causing Syri to shift uncomfortably behind the prince of Crimson Night. Jae had noticed the cause of the zeta's uneasiness and was glaring at the crown prince of Black Moon who was looking directly toward the zeta's hiding place. Seth had caught the sweet scent that wafted from behind the two true bloods and had instantly grown intrigued; he had never smelt such an intoxicating scent in his twenty-one years.
"Can I help you?" Jae addressed the prince of Black Moon, bringing the alpha's gaze up to his face and away from the precious treasure hidden behind him.
"What have you got there, Jae?" Seth inquired with a tilt of his chin toward the hiding zeta. "Why don't you share with the rest of us?"
A growl immediately rippled from Jae's throat. "Watch your words, Seth."
Seth's brows knit slightly at the true blood's defenses rising. "Since when did you get so sensitive, Jae. Loosen up a bit; I was just playing." A smile now curled from the corners of Seth's lips as he intentionally lightened the mood by retreating a bit. This was the danger of Black Moon's Crown Prince; Seth was known as a favorite of the elders of the eastern packs. He was highly skilled in feeling out the mood and manipulating it to shroud his true intentions. Contrasting to his alpha sister, Sina, Seth was no open book; he was a sly wolf and showed his true intentions only to his younger omega brother, San.
Because of Seth's shiftiness, Jae was always on-guard when Seth was anywhere near, and now that Syri had caught the crown prince's attention, Jae would have to be extra careful; Seth was notorious for getting what he wanted.
"Anyways," Seth continued with a nod toward the wolf hidden behind the true blood, "I'd love to meet your little friend someday."
Syri sucked in his breath at the crown prince's words; he did not appreciate the tone with which the alpha had spoken.
Jae remained silent and did not respond to Seth's comment, causing the prince of Black Moon to smirk and turn to the second true blood. "You're not going to make us stand here until the gamma comes, are you? Now, that would be just cruel."
Den scoffed. "What, you want me to get chairs for you? In your dreams. Lean against the wall if you're going to complain."
"Wow, no sympathy for the injured," Seth responded while leading Ganz to the wall across from the zeta and two true bloods. "Makes me wonder what kind of Alpha you will be."
"I don't think that is any of your concern," Den replied sternly while carefully watching the two wolves' every move.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Seth raised a brow while sliding his feet forward and leaning against the grey stone. "We will have to negotiate as Alphas eventually; I need to know how to negotiate with you as Alpha."
"You should be focusing on what kind of Alpha you will be," Jae interjected. "Leave such worries for later days."
Seth raised both brows at the true blood's words and released a small huff before saying. "I guess you have a point. What is the use of worrying about such things that are years away...oh, wait..." the alpha lifted his pointer finger to emphasize his next words, "but it's not years away. I had forgotten you challenged Alpha Fachan just now, Jae. I guess this is something I need to worry about after all." Seth tilted his head to the side and smiled at Jae before crossing his arms and leaning his head against the smooth surface of the stone.
Syri's eyes widened when he heard the prince's words, and he whipped his head up to look at Jae. Jae's challenge to the Alpha was news to the zeta, and worry entered the sweet zeta's heart. Challenges were dangerous even for true bloods. Each wolf would drink a goblet filled with a tonic infused with perliph to chain their wolves in their subconscious for the time of the duel. The challenge would also be held on the new moon, the time when the Moon Goddess does not interfere with the happenings of the wolf world.
Syri wanted to ask Jae so many questions, but he remained silent when the prince placed his arm behind his back and unfurled his hand. A sad smile came to the zeta's lips as he reached out and placed his hand in the prince's opened one. Tears formed in the zeta's eyes when Jae closed his hand and began rubbing his thumb over the back of Syri's hand. The prince's simple action showed the zeta he was aware of Syri's worry and was assuring Syri that all would be alright. But as much as Syri wanted to squash his worries, he could not.
The zeta found his throat tightening from the emotions swelling within him, and he brought the prince's hand up to his lips before pressing a gentle kiss to the back of Jae's hand. Syri's small show of affection warmed Jae's heart, and a small smile came to the true blood's face. But Jae quickly hid his joy when he felt Seth's eyes snap to him. Jae returned the alpha's cool gaze, and the two unintentionally entered a staring contest. Neither wanting to give in to the other, the two wolves continued to glare at each other until running footsteps sounded from the front end of the corridor.
The five wolves standing in the corridor quickly turned toward the mouth of the corridor to see Yehwa round the corner. The beta came to a stop at the corridor's mouth before urgently addressing Jae, "You're needed in the hall."
Jae's heart sank at the beta's announcement. 'What now?'
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone