As Kyle walked Kai to his family home, he couldn’t stop the feeling of nostalgia that flooded his mind. The two of them had walked this same path hundreds of times as kids and teenagers, but this time was different. They had grown up and become such different people that the path itself had even seemed bleaker in the dying light as the sun fell and moon rose.

“Do you think I was too harsh on him?” Kai asked. “I know I want some retribution for what happened, but I know he has a lot going on.”

“Not really. Alex hasn’t really been tested as an Alpha in a long time, Kai. Everyone kind of does what he asks without question. Even the elders have seemed wrapped around his finger for the last couple of years. You are right, he has been through a lot, but I think he is starting to become complacent. He needs someone like you to test his leadership.”

“Yeah, I guess you are right.”

“I do have a question though. Back in the office, you made it seem like I asked you to come, but you were the one who reached out to me. What are your intentions here Kai? You never seemed interested in coming back to the pack before. What changed?”

There was a long silence before Kai stopped walking and looked up at the Beta, who stopped as well and looked back at him. A small smile formed on Kai’s face, but it was not the same devious smirk that he had put on for the Alpha. This smile was somber and did not reach the Omega’s eyes.

“This is my last job, Kyle. I am retiring from the Golden Arrows and I wanted to come home one last time to say goodbye.”

Kyle’s eyes widened as he realized what this meant. A person does not just simply retire from the Golden Arrows. Retirement meant death, a regulation that the organization put forward to help keep the integrity. They didn’t want to risk their assassin’s becoming freelance killers or to work outside of the organization in any manner. It was a relatively controversial rule, but one that new members fully knew about once being inducted.

“I told you not to join that stupid organization Kai.”

The Omega just laughed as he continued walking, reaching the gate of his childhood home. He stopped and just stared at the cabin that was nestled in the woods. He had not been here in ten years. Memories flooded back to him as his eyes started to water, tears threatening to break through before he sighed and wiped them away.

“I am not here to fight with you Kyle. I am here to say goodbye. You know I joined the Golden Arrows to look for my father because of their connection to the Great North. Well that and the protection that they offered at the time. That was a dead end. Now I must accept fate. He is gone.” Kai paused, thinking about his next words. “I want my journey to end where it began. You can understand that, right Kyle?”

Kyle just nodded, tears already streaming down his face. He was afraid that if he talked, the true extent of his despair would be revealed. He loved his cousin. He was his best friend and they had a relationship that wasn’t even broken by the distance that was caused by the events that happened ten years ago. Kyle reached out to grab Kai’s wrist, pulling the Omega into a tight embrace. Still holding his wrist, the Beta slowly ran his thumb over the scar that was still present, a scar that was the perfect indentations of the Beta’s own bite.

After a few minutes, Kai pulled away, looking up at Kyle before saying, “you have to promise me one thing though.”

The Beta nodded in response. 

“You have to keep this a secret. I only told you because I cannot lie to you. You are the only family I have left and I honor you enough to be completely honest with you.” 

Again, the only thing Kyle could do was nod, tears still streaming down his face.

“Good, now get yourself together you big doofus and go home! Mandy must be waiting and you know how she gets when you are out too late.”

And at that, Kyle embraced the Omega again before turning around and walking back towards the pack house.

Kai sighed before turning back to his family home. The cabin looked exactly like it did all those years ago. He walked towards the front door, reaching out for the knob, but the Omega couldn't muster the strength to open it. Resting his forehead on the door, he squeezed his eyes shut.

“I can do this,” he thought to himself and with that he twisted the knob and pushed the door open.

***

Back at the pack house, Alexander lay in his bed staring up at the ceiling. He had been trying to sleep for the past hour, but his thoughts kept him awake. He couldn’t believe that Kai had returned to the pack, even if it was to help protect it. He hadn’t really thought about the Omega since he rejected him, his mind preoccupied with other issues that surfaced during that time. Now that he had seen him again, the emotions that flooded his heart were almost too much to bear. 

He knew that he didn’t deserve to have these feelings. He has basically discarded the Omega as if he were trash but he couldn’t help the want of being close to him. He wanted to protect him. He wanted to love him. At the very least he wanted to make amends. He just didn’t know how he would apologize to Kai or if he would even be willing to accept the apology.

The alpha sighed, coming to the conclusion that he would not be sleeping tonight. He threw the blankets off of himself, getting up from the bed and walking over to his dresser, picking out a pair of running shorts. Hopefully a walk would be enough to calm his thoughts.

Alexander had been mindlessly walking around the pack grounds and the woods that surrounded it when he realized that he had ended up behind a cabin in the woods. He had never been to Kai’s house before, but he knew right away that this was the cabin that the Omega had grown up in. The cabin smelled distinctively of Kai. The fresh dew met with lavender and honey.

He couldn’t help but walk closer to the structure, taking another deep breath. “Kai must be asleep with how late it is,” he thought to himself. He sighed deeply, looking at the cabin one last time before starting to turn around to go back through the woods where he came from. Before he could take a step though, he was met with glowing rubies and a sharp blade that was now parallel to his neck.

“You know Alpha, creeping on someone could get you killed one day.”

Alexander was in shock as Kai lowered his sword, the shiny metal catching the Alpha’s eyes. The blade was entirely gold and resembled a small katana.

“I-” but before Alexander continued, Kai let out a sigh.

“I cut you. Come in and I will bandage you up and I will make some tea.” Kai said before walking off towards his cabin, not waiting for a response. 

Alexander lifted his hand to his neck feeling a warm liquid. Pulling his hand back, he looked down to see that Kai had in fact cut him. 

“Are you coming or not?” Kai asked, turning around to look at Alexander standing there in a state of shock. “Hello? Earth to Alpha!”

Coming to, Alexander nodded, finally getting a good look at Kai. He wore a long sleeping shirt, shorts just barely peeking out from the bottom and was barefoot. He still gripped the sword tightly in one hand. Alexander couldn’t help but laugh at the strange sight and situation. This five foot Omega in his night clothes had just almost beheaded him without the Alpha even realizing that he was in danger.

Kai now looked at him with a look of concern mixed with annoyance, “Okay, I am going inside… just come in when you're done dealing with, well, whatever you are dealing with.”

Alexander laughed for a few more seconds before shaking his head and following the Omega into the house. He entered into a small kitchen that had all of the basic necessities including a fridge and a stove. A small island was the only thing that separated the kitchen from the larger room beyond, which was a living room. A couch and an armchair were laid out in front of a small brick fireplace. 

“Okay sit down at the island so I can clean and wrap that cut,” Kai said as he entered through a separate room to the right, holding a small metal box and a cloth.

Alexander nodded, sitting down on one of the chairs situated around the island. Kai walked forward and stood in front of the Alpha, setting the metal box down on the island. Leaning forward, the Omega inspected the cut on Alexander's neck , softly rubbing the blood away from the cut.

“Sorry.” Kai said softly, “Sometimes I get carried away when I am in combat mode.”

“It’s fine, I shouldn’t have been outside your house to begin with.”

Kai chuckled a little, “I guess not. Luckily the cut is not as deep as I thought. In fact, it's basically already healed. Sometimes I forget that wolves have higher healing abilities. You don’t even need bandages.”  

Alexander looked up at him questioningly.

“Nevermind, so do you want some tea?” Kai said, taking his hand from the other’s neck and starting to turn around to walk towards the stove. Before the Omega could walk a way though, Alexander grabbed his wrist and pulled him back towards him.

“What’s this?” He inspected the other’s wrist, noticing the clear scars of a bite mark. Kai quickly jerked his wrist away from the Alpha.

“None of your business Alpha, that's what that is.” Kai responded, clearly upset by the topic. He walked away and towards the stove. “Do you want tea or not?”

“Sure” was the only thing that the Alpha could say, knowing that he had crossed a boundary. An awkward silence now filled the cabin. “I am sorry Kai. I didn’t mean to upset you, I am just trying to-”

“Look, I know that you are trying to make amends or whatever but don’t. I am here strictly for business. I don’t want your apologies or whatever you are trying to do here. After this shit is done with Nikolai, I am leaving and I am not coming back.”

“Okay” was all that Alexander said, standing up and walking towards the door. Before leaving, the Alpha turned to look at Kia. “Be prepared for tomorrow. I am not going to go easy one you.” With that, Alexander left Kai fiddling with the stove.

Author’s Note: NO… Kai and Kyle’s relationship is strictly familial and platonic. There is no incest here! The bite will be explained in a later chapter.