It had been three weeks since Kyle had to mark Kai in order to stop the rogue transformation from happening. Kai’s wrist still stung from the bite which still hadn’t fully healed. Agatha, the witch who helped them, said that Kai’s shifter powers would be slower from now on since his wolf was deep in hibernation. The Omega felt different than he did before. He felt heavier and as the weeks went by he felt as though his skin was constantly crawling. He felt the rogue transformation slowly start to develop again as time passed and he was getting more and more restless everyday.

He also felt alone and isolated. Kyle had to return back to the pack inorder to fulfill his duties as the next pack Beta. Kai didn’t blame him for leaving, but the hole that was now present in the Omega’s heart was growing. Agatha was his only company now and while he enjoyed her presence, he missed his former pack. He missed the house that he grew up in. It felt like he didn’t belong anywhere anymore and that he was destined to a life of painful solitude.

Throughout the weeks spent at the cabin in the Death Swamp, Kai learned quite a bit about the witches' life. She was well over a hundred years old and had lived in the swamp for a few decades now. Although she was blind, she knew where everything was located around her as if she had perfect sight. Kai even tested this a few times by quietly moving some things around and every time the witch knew where the items were moved. Eventually the small woman ended up smacking the Omega upside the head with her cane and he immediately stopped his game of hide and seek.

Kai also quickly learned that the woman was too kind for this world. She had taken in the Omega without even a second thought and she didn’t ask for much from him. She would have food on the table everyday at seven, twelve, and five. Kai had no idea where the food came from though, seeing as they were in the middle of a swamp and when he asked about it, Agatha just mumbled something about space and time and the gifts of the universe. 

One day in the fourth week that Kai was there, they were sitting around the table enjoying a cup of tea. One second Agatha was passionately talking about the benefits of swamp mud on the skin and the next second she was gone. Not physically, but mentally it seemed as if she was seeing things that Kai was not aware of. Frightened, Kai tried to shake her awake but she wouldn’t come out of the state that she was now locked into. She remained this way for several days until eventually she woke up and acted like nothing had happened.

“Agatha, what was that?” Kai asked.

“Nothing to worry about right now child. It just happens from time to time.”

“But…”

“Child, do not freight. Be content with the present and don’t worry yourself with the future. Soon you will see.” The conversation ended there as Agatha went on about her day.

Two weeks later Kai woke up in the middle of the night from a horrible nightmare. In the dream he was back in the pack lands but all of the houses were on fires. His pack members were screaming in every direction. The worst part was that Kai couldn’t move as he stood watching the events unfold. Now awake, Kai realized that his body still felt like it was burning and he became disoriented before a voice spoke out to him.

“Kai! Drink this quickly,” Agatha said before shoving a cup in his face and helping the Omega drink the liquid inside. Once drained, Kai felt the heat from his body slowly disappear until a single flame in his heart was left.

“What is happening Agatha?”

“The rogue transformation hun, it’s quickening. You don’t have that much time left unfortunately,” She stated before getting up and walking over to her table. “That boy should have been here by now but he is always late. Kids these days never listen you know!”

“What? Who is supposed to be here?”

“Ah my son, hun. It’s almost time for you to uphold that other part of the deal,” Agatha said with a sigh. 

“What do you mean Agatha? Wha…” Kai tried to ask more questions but suddenly he felt lightheaded and dizzy. 

“Wha…” He tried again before slumping down and falling back asleep. 

The old woman got up from her seat and walked over to the sleeping Omega. When she got close enough, she softly patted his head.

“You know I am sorry. I wish you didn’t have to go through this to be honest but it is what fate has in store for both of you.” 

When Kai woke up he felt a different type of presence in the room. This one was dark and malicious. Its full attention was on the Omega. Slowly, he turned his head towards the presence and was shocked to find two glowing red eyes in a dark corner of the cabin. 

“Momma never let me have a dog before,” the presence stated before walking over to the omega, slowly exposing himself. The man before him was tall and slender with long platinum blond hair. He was dressed in a black suit which contrasted his white skin. His eyes were the color of rubies and his pale lips were upturned in a menacing smirk. 

Kai was still dizzy from whatever drugs Agatha had given him and he could barely move. Trying hard to concentrate on the situation, the Omega finally managed to speak. 

“Where is Agatha?”

“Oh mother dearest is hanging around somewhere, don’t you worry little puppy,” the man said, his smirk growing wider as if he found something amusing. His sharp teeth now poked out his mouth and Kai finally realized what he was talking to as a chill went down his back. A vampire.

“Who are you?”

“I am Nikolai,” was all the man said before closing the distance and picking the limp Omega up and throwing him over his shoulder. Kai still couldn’t really move as the man walked out through the cabin door and started walking into the swamp. “Thanks for the gift Mother!”

It was then that Kai realized that Nikolai’s words had meaning, as when he looked back towards the cabin he could see Agatha hanging upside down from a branch in the tree. All of the blood was drained from his tiny body.

***Back to the present story***

“So Nikolai took me to his kingdom in the south and we were married. This was the second part of the deal that I had made with Agatha that day. To marry her son.”

“But why? What does that have to do with you being rogue?” Alex asked. 

“Honestly, I am not sure of the exact details,” Kai answered with his eyes casted downward. “I am not sure if it's because we were officially married or because he would regularly feed off of me.”

“HE WOULD WHAT?” Alex screamed out, spooking the Omega.

“Dammit Alpha, calm down! He did what a vampire does, you idiot!”

“So what, are you some shifter vampire mutant now?” Alex asked, still upset about what he was hearing. This only made Kai laugh, which in return made the Alpha even angrier. “This isn’t a laughing matter Kai! You come back to “help” us but then I find out that you not only married to the enemy but you let that man feed off of you!”

As the words left the Alpha’s mouth, Kai stiffened in response and both men went quiet for a few minutes before a loud slap broke the silence. 

“I did not let that man do anything you asshole,” Kai said through gritted teeth. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“I- I’m Sorry,” Alex said, holding the cheek that Kai had slapped. 

“Whatever,” the Omega said before turning away from the Alpha. “We got married and he used me as his personal slave for a bit. Yes, he would feed off me. We did other things as well. I didn’t want to but I didn't really have a choice. I was trapped in a horde of vampires. To answer your question, no he never changed me or even tried to change me. I don’t even know if that is possible. I am not a vampire. I am just a broken shifter with some nifty skills.”

“Does Kyle know about all this?”

“No, not all of it. He knows I am married and to whom but he doesn’t know the details really. He just thinks it’s a marriage that didn’t end very well.”

“Why didn’t you tell him?” Alex asked softly.

“He doesn’t need to know. I know he would feel responsibly putting me in a situation that could possibly be considered worse than turning rogue. I don’t blame him. It wasn’t his fault, but I know he would feel guilty.” Kai responded.

“You know he will probably find out right? You are eventually going to have to tell the counsel the details to get final approval anyways.”

“That’s where you come in, Alpha. You owe me a favor anyway considering you're the cause of all this. If you vouch for me, then I won’t have to talk to the counsel.” Kai said, finally turning back towards the Alpha. “Vouch for me and after this is over I will do anything you want.”

“Anything?”

“Anything Alpha. If you want me to leave, I will. If you want me to rekindle the connection, I will. Anything you want, I will do.” Kai knew that he was lying through his teeth. He knew his fate after this was done was death. But by the time the Alpha realized this, Kai would already be gone from this world.

“Fine.” The Alpha said before getting up and walking towards the door. When you reached it he turned around and looked at the Omega and said, “I really hope you know what you are doing. Get ready Omega! We leave in a few days.”

QOTE: Who is your favorite character so far?