The Beast's Possession

**Killian

pov**

After Jonathan and Aife left, I felt like a weight both fell from my shoulders and another one was instantly added to replace it.

The title I carried came with many responsibilities, but when I decided that I wanted to be the Alpha worthy of my pack, caring and supportive, I realized how much more work that was.

Technically, Aife wasn't a part of my pack, but that didn't mean I didn't care about her well being. Especially now that we knew she was carrying Bane's child.

As I returned home, I already knew that Kayson might have been around, still sitting around, perhaps waiting, but I brushed that off as a tiny possibility.

Imagine my surprise when I saw the fucker lazing on the sofa.

"You have no places to go, no stuff to do?" I asked as I approached him, my voice seemed to pull him out of the haze.

Kayson jumped to his feet, eyes wide, hair messed up and a look on his face that I couldn't exactly read. It was all sorts of off, I suppose.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked and took another step closer, this one more cautious than the previous one.

While Kayson had been my best friend and the closest person to me for years, I knew how unpredictable he could be. For all I knew, I was walking into the fire line, about to be knocked out or some shit.

Once he managed to take a few breaths and his eyes finally focused on me, Kayson looked like a brand new person. The same, old, smug grin spread across his lips as he wiggled his eyebrows at me.

Oh, shit, this wasn't good. Of all the personalities he had, if he chose the one who was an absolute dick, Kayson was too deep in whatever shit that worried him.

Asking was useless, he wouldn't tell me anything until he was truly ready to come clean, so I decided to focus on anything but that.

First, my eyes scanned the room. It seemed completely fine, except for.. A frown instantly crossed my features before I looked at my best friend again. "Where's the old man?" Aife's father usually sat around here like some piece of extra furniture. In the time he had spent here, every day the same, I had already somewhat gotten used to the old fuck.

"Hmm," Kayson looked around, as if he hadn't noticed the man's absence. "Nope, it seems he isn't around. Didn't he come back with the rest of the search party?"

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I let out an annoyed groan. "How the hell am I supposed to know? I told you I had to leave for something important and I came home just now. I did mind-link the entire pack and tell them to return home, but I wasn't here when they all came back."

Kayson looked at me as if I just grew another head. "And you're telling me I was responsible for making sure they all returned?"

I shot him a glare. "As my second in command, the goddamn Beta of this pack, that would be the least you could do if I'm away and you're lazing around. Seriously, what the fuck happened to you? Where is your goddamn mind stuck in?" Deep down, I knew I was being harsher than I intended to be, but then again, lately, I couldn't claim that Kayson was being the best at his job.

"You didn't warn me that I had to!" Kayson yelled, tossing his hands in the air to show how frustrated he was becoming.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him and snort. "Since when am I obligated to tell my Beta what he should or shouldn't do? There's a reason why you are second in command, Kayson, for fuck's sake, why can't you act like that?" A look of hurt crossed his features, but he was quick to hide it with one of anger as he started stalking towards me. "I don't know, why can't I?" He snarled.

Whatever was going on with him had to be big if he was acting this badly out of character. Honestly, this was the first time I saw Kayson like this. Almost like he was more beast than he was human.

When Kayson got close enough, I placed my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it, all anger fading away as if someone placed a blanket of calm over me. I closed my eyes and sucked in a breath before whispering, "why can't you tell me what's going on with you? The Goddess knows I will always be here for you, always have your back and fight your battles if needed. You are my best friend, but lately, we're both forgetting our friendship. What's going on, Kayson?" "I'm not the only one who has forgotten that we're supposed to be best friends, not only Alpha and his Beta," Kayson muttered and averted his gaze, all fighting spirit left his body.

I couldn't believe we found ourselves in a situation like this. Just two grown men, butting heads to show off dominance and power, no understanding in sight.

Come to think of it, earlier, Kayson was right. If only I had taken a moment to talk and I mean properly talk, not demand for answers on the spot, perhaps he would feel much more comfortable to tell me what was worrying him.

This time, I didn't act all high, mighty and busy. Instead, I threw my arm around Kayson's shoulders and pulled him to my side to guide him outside, away from anyone who might be listening to us argue.

As soon as we stepped outside the building, I led him as far from the house as possible and finally, we both sat down.

On instinct, I reached for his hand and grabbed it in mine, holding onto him as tightly as I could. This was how we always spoke about our worries - one sometimes cried their heart out while the other clung on him.

"I'm here for you, Kayson, please remember that. No more bullshit about me being busy or stressed, not now. Clearly, you need me. You came back different, did something happen while you were away?" I kept my voice low yet gentle, kind of hoping it would encourage my best friend to talk to me.

Kayson just shook his head and focused his gaze on the ground. "No, not while I was away. I understand you want to stand at my side and support me as you've always done, but trust me when I say I don't want to talk about it. It's too soon." Sighing, I took the risk and asked for the last question that still nagged me. "Whatever problem you have, how big is the chance it might backfire on the entire pack? I won't blame you, but I need to know."

"I understand," Kayson whispered and chuckled. "I suppose massive, the chance is massive. I don't understand why I didn't leave yet. It would be so much better if I left."