Chapter 120 FRIENDS, ONCE

Chapter 120 FRIENDS, ONCE
Kael held Adam’s hand as they walked slowly under the mid-morning sun.
The light fell softly over the open field, warming the ground, touching their skin, making everything look calm, and peaceful… except it's not.

Kael’s fingers tightened slightly around Adam’s. His mind wasn’t here, it hadn’t been here for days, not since that moment Vance stood in front of him and proved something Kael had failed at again and again.

Reaching Adam’s wolf.

Kael’s jaw tightened faintly. He had tried. Again. And again. And again.
Every time Adam slept, every time Adam was quiet, every time Kael thought maybe, just maybe, he could reach deeper… still nothing but silence.

Like there was no wolf.

Like there was nothing inside Adam to respond to him.

For a long time, Kael had almost convinced himself of it. That Adam simply… didn’t have a wolf.

But then Vance came. And with a single command—

“Mate, come to me.”

Adam moved, not Adam, his wolf. Adam's wolf heard and obeyed Vance.

Kael swallowed slowly, his chest tightening. He had never felt more defeated in his life; not in battle, not in loss, not even when he lost his father.

But this… this was different. This was his mate. And someone else had reached something in him that Kael couldn’t even feel the mere presence of.

His grip tightened again unconsciously.

Adam glanced at him briefly but didn’t say anything.

Kael forced his expression to remain calm.

But inside, Ryn stirred restlessly, muttering “Mate…” over and over again.The voice echoed in Kael's head again. Always the same word. Always the same pull. Ryn was acting the way he did before Kael marked Adam, which means the wolf is urging Kael to mark their mate, which also devastatingly means Kael's mark has been completely replaced by Vance's and Adam was no longer bonded to Kael.

Vance had, yet again, taken something from Kael.

Kael exhaled slowly. And his mind drifted… back to a time when things were simpler.

When nothing felt broken. When Vance wasn’t standing on the opposite side of him.

When Vance was… his friend.

The world shifted quietly in his mind.

And suddenly, they were younger.

The air felt lighter, the trees taller. Branches stretched high above the ground, leaves whispering softly with the wind.

Two figures moved fast through them, jumping from one branch to another. Light, agile, and free in a way that only innocence can offer.

Kael landed on a thick branch, steady and confident, then looked across to the next tree.

“Hey, Vance, watch this.”

Vance stood on a higher branch across from him, one hand gripping the trunk, watching.

Kael reached for the knife at his side. Without hesitation, he threw it.

The blade cut clean through the air and struck the tree Vance was on with a sharp sound, embedding itself deep into the wood.

Kael grinned. “See? Perfect hit.”

Vance looked at the knife, then back at Kael.

“Yeah,” he said. “I see.”

He climbed higher, moving easily along the trunk until he reached the spot where the knife was lodged.

He pulled it out slowly, examining it in his hand.

“This knife looks so cool,” he said. “It’s… majestic.” His fingers traced the blade. “Where did you get it?”

Kael leaned back against his branch, relaxed. “My father gave it to me.”

Vance went quiet for a moment. Then he said softly, “I wish I had a father to give me things.”

Kael’s expression shifted slightly.

“You’re so lucky,” Vance added.

Kael sat up a little. “Well… you have a friend that would give you things.”

Vance looked up at him.

“Hey,” Kael said, smiling lightly, “if you like the knife, you can take it.”

Vance blinked. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Wouldn’t your father be mad at you?”

Kael shook his head. “No,” he said. “He always tells me to be kind to people.”

He paused, thinking.

“Because one day I’ll succeed him as the leader of our pack.” His voice carried a quiet certainty. “And if I’m going to be kind to people, I should be more kind to my friend.”

Vance stared at the knife for a second longer. Then he smiled. “Thank you.” He held it tighter. “I wish we could stay this young forever.”

Kael frowned slightly. “Why?”

Vance leaned back against the tree, looking up at the sky through the leaves.

“Well… when we grow up,” he said slowly, “you’ll become the Alpha leader of your pack.”

He glanced at Kael. “It’s like how my pack has a King. You’ll be a King.” He looked away again. “And I’ll remain a commoner with no home and no family.” His voice softened. “And we won’t be friends anymore.”

Kael’s expression changed immediately.

“What?”

He shifted forward on his branch.

“First of all, I’ve begged you to come live in my house but you keep refusing.” He pointed lightly at him. “And also, you’re my only friend, Vance.”

There was no hesitation in his voice. “Why are you imagining a time where we wouldn’t be friends?”

Vance didn’t answer.

Kael continued, more certain now. “We’ll always be friends.”

He leaned back again, confident. “And when I become the leader of my pack, I’ll make you my highest ranking chief.”

Vance looked at him again. There was something in his eyes… something unreadable at that time.

“I’m glad I have a friend like you,” Vance said.

Kael smiled.
“You should be,” he said lightly. “Because I am more than glad I have you.”

He paused.

“Even my father is happy I have you.”

Vance blinked. “What? Your father is happy about you having a rogue as a friend?”

Kael frowned slightly. “When I was younger, my father thought I wouldn’t be able to make any friends.” He shrugged. “He worried I was too quiet. Too antisocial.”

He looked back at Vance. “So he’s happy I ended up having a friend.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “And hey… you’re not a rogue.”

Vance didn’t respond to that. Instead, he tilted his head slightly.

“I always come to your pack territory to visit you,” he said. “When will you come to mine?”

Kael’s smile faded a little. “I don’t know,” he said honestly. “My father wouldn’t want me to go beyond our territory.”

Vance leaned forward slightly. “You’re an Alpha,” he said. “A true blood Alpha.” His voice carried quiet persuasion. “Your pheromones could knock lesser wolves out in seconds.”
He tilted his head. “What are you scared of?” He gestured lightly. “Besides, our packs are like sisters.”

Kael looked away for a moment.

“I know all that,” he said. “But I don’t like disobeying my father.” His voice softened. “I feel like he has his reasons.”

A small pause.

“And I wouldn’t want my future son to disobey me one day.”

Vance smiled faintly. “Oh… you’re already thinking about having a son.”

Kael huffed lightly.

“Do you have a potential mate yet?”

Kael shook his head. “No. Not yet.” Then his expression softened. “But I know I’ll find my mate.” He leaned back again, looking up. “She’ll be a beautiful noble Omega.”

His voice carried a quiet dream. “And she’ll give me an Alpha heir.”

Vance watched him… “A beautiful noble Omega,” he repeated. “The Alpha’s mate can’t be anything but perfect.”

Kael smiled, relaxed, and carefree.

Vance’s voice cut in again.

“Before you start daydreaming about your future perfect Omega mate…”

Kael looked at him.

“Promise me you’ll come to my pack.”

Kael hesitated… “I’ve told my fath—”

“Your father doesn’t have to know,” Vance cut in quickly. “It’s just a fun playtime with your friend.” His voice softened. “It’s nothing that should require royal protocol.”

Kael frowned slightly. Thinking… then sighed.

“Fine.”

Vance’s eyes lit up.

“I promise I’ll come one day.”

“One day?” Vance echoed. He leaned forward. “How about tomorrow?”

Kael hesitated again. “Uh… maybe.”

“Tomorrow then.” Vance persuaded.

Kael exhaled. “Alright. Tomorrow.”

Vance smiled. “Cool,” he said. “I’ll wait for you at the borders.”

Kael nodded. So trusting. And he should have never agreed.

The memory faded slowly.

And Kael was back in the present; walking under the sun, holding Adam’s hand. His grip tightened again, just slightly.

His eyes darkened.

Because now, he knew exactly where that promise had led him. And how badly it had cost him.