Alex sat in his office contemplating how he was going to explain to the counsel his sudden acceptance of Kai’s help with the vampire issue. The pack had a history with rogues and most of the council members were retired warriors that had survived the rogue attacks on the pack eight years ago. The same attacks that took his mother, father, and only child. The same attacks that left his pack in shambles. The council was not going to be able to easily accept Kai, even if he was the pack’s best chance at defeating the vampire lord. A knock at the door suddenly brought the Alpha out of his thoughts and back to reality.

“Come in,” the Alpha said and Kyle stepped through the door. “Ah, Kyle! I am glad you stopped by. I need your advice on something.”

“What is it now, Alpha?”  Kyle asked before closing the door and walking over to sit in a chair in front of Alex’s massive desk.

“I have decided to accept the assassin’s help and vouch for him in front of the council,” Alex said. Kyle immediately looked shocked. “Yes, I know! Shocking right? Kai convinced me last night that he is the best chance that this pack has to stop this madness.”

“Ah, so he told you about Nikolai.” Kyle said with a strained voice.

“He did. How much do you know about his past with the vampire?” Alex asked suspiciously. It seemed like Kyle knew more than what Kai thought he did.

“I don’t know much to be honest. Kai never really told me anything about his time with that scum, but I could see it. Everytime I asked him about it, Kai would always get this look about him as if he was remembering the worst memories. So, I knew it wasn’t good. I knew I shouldn’t have left Kai with that witch, but I didn’t really have a choice.”

“Okay, okay. I get it.” Alex said quickly. Wanting to change the subject he proceeded to say, “you know this is going to be a hard sell. The council is not going to like working with a rogue. I think it is best that we keep his past with the vampire a secret for now.”

“I mean he did exceptionally well at the trials. Even the council members were excited by his skills. I think you need to focus on selling his qualifications. He is a trained assassin and has a history dealing with other supernatural beings. He knows how to handle a situation like the one we are facing. It’s also not the first time he has helped the pack.” Kyle said with some trepidation.

“What do you mean Kyle?”

“Well.. He was kind of there Alex. He wasn’t the only one from the Golden Arrow but he was there eight years ago. He helped save this pack from the rogues.”

“WHAT?” Alex was surprised at this revelation but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. When he found the body of the Rogue King that day, he had a golden arrow sticking out of his head. At the time he didn’t really think about it, but now it all made sense. “So this wasn’t his first time back to the pack lands?”

“No, it isn’t. I am not really sure in what capacity he helped out though. Several members of the Golden Arrows were present at the time. You were a little preoccupied with umm… your personal situation, so the pack council handled the arrangement. All I know is that he came, I saw him briefly, and then he was gone. He didn’t even stay for the clean-up like the other assassins.”

“Hmmm… I guess I can try and use this to garner favor from the council. Do you think he is in any way a danger to the pack?”

“No Alex! I trust him with my life. I trust him with my kids' lives.” Kyle said immediately.

“I know but he is a rogue. I can’t just automatically trust him when he could possess dangerous tendencies.”

“Honestly Alex, I don’t even think he is rogue. Sure, he started the transformation and his eyes are red but I have never seen him act out once. Think about it. He has been a member of a high-class organization for eight years. The Golden Arrows don’t just accept anyone, Alex. The members have to go through intensive training and any signs of misbehavior is dealt with.”

“It seems like you know an awful lot about this,” Alex said.

“Yes, well when he first joined I did some research. Kai couldn’t tell me much but I met someone who made me confident that he was safe.”

“Oh? Who?” Alex asked. Kyle had a strange look on his face. It seemed like he was deep in thought and his face was full of pain. It took him a while to finally answer.

“I don’t want to get into it now, but he was the person who made it possible for Kai to escape Nikolai. He was a spy for the Golden Arrows that was placed inside Nikolai’s horde to gather intel.” 

“So he was a vampire? How did that work?”

“Not all vampires are bad Alex. He was one of the good ones.”

“Fine. I think we have enough to convince the council or at least pacify them on the matter. It’s not like we really have a choice anyways.”

The council meeting went just as Alex had thought it would. Most of the members were not happy that Alex was intrusting a rogue to help with the pack. The meeting lasted more than five hours and got pretty heated. Eventually, Alex just had to use his power as the Alpha to calm the members. He didn’t like to use his role to dictate, but this matter was just too important. The pack needed Kai. It was just that simple.

Alex let out a sigh… “I hope this doesn’t come to bite me in the ass.”

Alex eventually got up from his desk. It was already dark out but he needed to take a walk to clear his mind. Leaving the pack house, he wandered around the land absentminded until he heard a familiar voice.

“I swear Alpha, you seriously need to stop coming to my place unannounced.”

It was then that Alex realized he had walked to Kai’s cabin. It was like it was instinct at this point and Alex knew that the connection had something to do with it. Even when he wasn’t thinking, the pull brought him to his second half. Alex looked up and saw that Kai was sitting in a chair on his front porch. Once again, Alex was struck in awe with how normal Kai looked. He was wearing an oversized sweater and some sweatpants. His long black hair was done up in a messy bun.

“Well don’t just stand there with your mouth open. You look stupid. Come in and have some tea.”

“Okay,” was all the Alpha could say before following the Omega inside. Kai led them to the kitchen island and motioned for Alex to sit.

“So how was the meeting?” Kai asked while getting two cups out of a cabinet and filling them with hot water. He placed teabags in each, before walking over and sitting across from Alex. He slid one cup across the island and then took a sip of his own tea.

“Rough,” was all the Alpha could manage before drinking out of his cup. Kai could tell that Alex was stressed and overwhelmed. He could also feel it through their connection. Alex’s stress was making him stressed too. It was a new feeling for Kai. Feeling things that were not of his own body. It scared him a little, but it also felt good to feel such a deep connection to someone else.

“I understand their worries to be honest. I am not a member of the pack and furthermore I am technically considered a rogue. I know the history of the pack and I know most of them were warriors during the war. They are scared I might be an enemy. It makes sense.”

“Yeah, but you are the pack's best option. They need to understand that.”

“I think they do. They are just being cautious. They don’t really have an option anyways. It will be fine Alex.”

“I hope so. Anyways, tomorrow we start training. I want you to join in as much as possible to connect with the pack. You also need to train us on vampires considering none of the pack have experience with them.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Can we please just relax for a moment. All that can wait for tomorrow.” Kai said before getting up from his chair and walking out of the kitchen and into a room off to the side. After a few moments, he came out holding a shirt and some sweatpants. He walked over to Alex and handed him the clothes. 

“What..” but before Alex could finish he was interrupted by the Omega.

“The bathroom is over there. Get changed. I think it is best if you stay here tonight.” Alex was beyond shocked at the words that Kai had just said. He never thought the Omega would be offering him tea let alone a place to sleep for the night.

“But… wouldn’t that make you uncomfortable?”

“Stop overthinking. You can sleep in my father’s old room. My scent will help with the stress and honestly I would probably feel more uncomfortable with you not here. The connection is getting worse and I can feel your anxiety. I don’t like it, so the sooner you unwind and calm down the better. My fathers room is the one I just came from. I’m going to sleep, so help yourself.” Kai said before starting to walk to his own room. 

“Thank you Kai,” Alex managed to say before the Omega was gone. Kai stopped at his door and slightly looked back at the Alpha before nodding and disappearing into his room.