The three friends.

Rael’s POV

I slipped down onto the cold grass. The atmosphere did nothing to stifle my heat or thoughts.

Kayden was already waiting there, drinks in hand. To my surprise, Adian zoomed in, waving right before he sat down.

“He decided to tag along,” Kayden shrugged, unsurprised.

Of course, he would. I scoffed, laying fully on the grass beside them in silence.

We were deep in the forest, in an area we were used to meeting when we needed to talk. I could barely remember the last time we had done this. A year? No, more than that. Far before the dankehs were ever a problem.

After this night though, I was tired of holding things back. Especially to the only ones who truly knew the extent of my secrets. The stakes which I had foolishly put myself under.

Once, we were just boys, sitting outside this forest to play. Long after my parent’s death, we had met up here, even after Kayden’s mating. Now, with the weights we had on our shoulders, we drank beer that couldn't affect us under the moonless