A/N: These next couple of chapters are going to be a little different in the way that I write them. Some of the story is going to take place in the past and some of the story is going to be in the present. I chose to write this way to give you both a detailed version of the past while also capturing some of the current banter between Alex and Kai. I hope you enjoy these next few chapters.

*The day of the Alpha Ball*

Kai couldn’t even process the words that Alexander had said before his vision was completely taken over by a crimson red. He felt the butterflies in his stomach whither up and die and the connection he had once had with Alex was torn to pieces in an instance. He couldn’t help but release a horrified scream as it felt like his insides were being torn from his body. The last thing he remembered was running away from the Alpha before he completely blacked out. 

When Kai awoke he still couldn’t see anything besides red but he felt the cold air rush past him. It was then that he realized that he was laying down on something soft and furry. Beyond the softness was the strong and solid muscles of something running on all fours.

“Kyle?” Kai managed to whisper. His throat was hoarse and talking felt like a candle was being lit in his esophagus. Before he could receive an answer, he once again passed out.

The next thing Kai knew he was being shaken awake by his cousin. When he opened his eyes he could finally see his surroundings but it was as if everything he looked at was covered in a slightly red filter. By the looks of it they were in a forest but not the same forest that Kai was used to seeing. The trees in this forest were not as tall and the bark was an ash brown instead of a deep red. 

“Where are we?” Kai managed to get out, his throat still felt like fire.

“I am glad you are okay Kai! I was worried you wouldn’t make it this far if I am honest.” Kyle responded, ignoring the omega’s question. 

Rage startled to bubble up inside of Kai. He had never felt like this before and before he could stop himself he snapped at his cousin.

“Answer my fucking question.”

Kyle was taken aback for a second. Kai had never spoken to him with this much anger before. It was like he was taken to a completely different person than his cousin. It took him a second before he realized that it must be the effect of the rouge transformation.

“We are north-west of the pack lands heading towards the Death Swamp.” 

“Why?” Kai asked suspiciously. The Death Swamp was appropriately named given the fact that no one went there unless they wanted to meet a premature end. “You gonna drop me off and leave me there to rot?”

“No! I would never do that to you Kai!” Kyle said, shocked the omega would even consider that was what his plan was.

“Then why are we going to a place where people go to die?”

Kyle sighed before replying, “I think I might have found someone who could help you Kai… When you first mentioned that you were feeling the connection I did some research into rogues and there might be a way to stop you from fully going crazy.”

Kai went quiet before fully realizing what implications were present in what his cousin had said.

“You knew didn’t you? You knew that Alexander was my mate and that he would reject me! You knew this would happen and you didn’t tell me???” Kai’s voice increased in volume with every word; his anger sparking up into a fury.

“Kai, you need to calm down! I know this is confusing and I didn’t really prepare well for this but getting angry is only going to make the situation worse.”

“Answer my damn questions Kyle! You knew didn’t you?”

“Not for sure, but I had some suspicion. Since your connection was so strong right away, I knew it could only be a few members of the pack. Alex just happened to be one of those people. I also knew that he would most likely reject you considering his current situation. I just didn’t think he would do it like that.”

“What do you mean about his current situation?” Kai asked curiously, clearly confused.

“He is engaged, Kai… It was announced at the ball.”

“Oh…” the omega said before going quiet. He was late to the ball so he didn’t hear about the engagement. He was silent for a few more minutes before asking, “so where are we going?”

“We are going to see a witch.”

******

The trees in the swamp were almost all completely dead and the sky seemed to be permanently cloudy, casting a dark and ominous atmosphere. On the edge of the swamp was an old, worn down cottage built into the trunk of a giant dying tree. They could see lights flickering on the inside, making them aware that someone in the cottage was home.

Kai and Kyle approached the cottage with caution and as soon as they got to the door it creaked open and an old lady in a giant cloak peaked her head out. Her face was so wrinkly that it resembled the bark on the tree that made up part of her home. Her eyes were a milky white, clearly denoting that she was blind. 

“Ah there you two are! I’ve been waiting for you. Come in, come in!” She said with a friendly voice, moving back into the house to let the two boys in. 

Kai was used to being the shortest person around at only around five feet, but this witch was even a foot shorter than he was. She had a walking stick that she put her entire body weight on which made her seem even shorter. She hobbled over to a table, lighting a candle before climbing up into a chair.

“We don’t have too much time, children! You must listen to me and do everything I say. Kai, if you do not listen to me you will go rogue within the night. What you must do now is quite simple, but it does come with a cost. We will discuss that cost later, but for now we have to stop the rogue process. Do you understand me?”

Kai kept quiet for a few minutes thinking about what this witch had said. He didn’t want to become a rogue, but what was this cost that she was talking about? It was then that it finally dawned on him. It didn’t matter what the cost was going to be. His life as he knew it in the past was over. He most likely wouldn’t be returning to his pack.

“I understand,” he finally said.

“Perfect,” the witch said before turning to Kyle. “Young man, you must mark your cousin.”

*Back to the present*

“So… that is why I have this scar on my wrist. Kyle had to mark me in order to stop the rogue transformation temporarily.”

“So you are mated with your cousin?” Alexander accused, a hint of jealousy hung on every word. Kai couldn’t help but let out a laugh of amusement. “What? You think this is funny?”

“Kind of to be honest. I never thought you would get jealous, but then again even I can still feel the connection between us. It never fully dissolved.” Kai said getting even more amused when he saw the alpha’s eyes widen in shock. “No, Kyle and I are not mated in the traditional sense. What I have is a familial mark. It’s rare, but it symbolizes a connection between two family members. In marking me, Kyle was able to build a connection that allowed me just enough mental agency to stop the rogue transformation.”

“So basically you had to swap one connection out for another?”

“Exactly, but like I said it's only temporary. Since our bond was supposed to be a mating bond, which is much more powerful than a familial bond, the effects of your rejection were not fully canceled out.”

“So how come you haven’t gone fully rogue then?” Alexander thought before a sudden thought crossed his mind, “Wait, didn’t you say that you were married?”

“Wow Alpha! I didn’t think you would get there all on your own.” Kai said with a snarky smirk before letting out a big sigh. 

“So you are mated with someone?” 

Kai winced at the question. He absolutely hated talking about this part of his life. He tried to make the best of bad situations as much as he could, but his love life was something that he was never able to fully come to terms with.

“Technically yes. My husband and I are connected but in a different way than you might think. Our mating was not very conventional.” Kai said before looking straight at the alpha with a serious face and continuing, “Alex, what I am going to say next is not something that you are going to like for a multitude of reasons. Before I say anything further I need you to understand that I am here to take my job seriously and to do everything in my power to keep this pack safe.”

Alexander was shocked once again. Ever since the omega returned to the pack there was always an air of aloofness to him. It was as if Kai’s entire demeanor changed the instant his husband was brought up. All Alex could do was nod.

“Well I guess it’s time to tell you about Nikolai…”

A/N: WOW this chapter is an interesting one! Especially with that bombshell at the end! Yes, Kai is married to the vampire lord! What does this mean for the story? 

Also from now on I am going to include a question of the chapter (QOTC) so that we can have more discussion in the comments!

QOTC: What is your favorite BL (Boys Love) story/novel/show/movie?