" Nong Kongpob , " A royal guard knocked at his door " Our majesty summons you. "

Eyes wide, Arthit gulped in fear, but held Kongpob's hand tightly " I will go with you."

Kong shook his head " He called only me."

" But, what if he punishes you ? "

" He can't. Even though Alpha Guss is crown heir, I was in challenge sphere, it was my right to defend my dignity and life, even if it meant attacking him..."

" But what if he still punishes you? For going in age restricted section and stealing healing related books to read? That part of library is unaccessible to us... he won't believe if you say those moves just come to you naturally  "

" That's the truth though. I dont have any other explanation. I nick books from healing section to learn about potions but i have never read about accupressure. "

" You are my best friend Kongpob,and I have hard time believing that those come naturally to you... do you think our King or any other person will believe you ? "

" He definitely won't. But, as far as I have seen our King, more than being angry,  I think he is more sad that he wasn't there to witness my awesome moves." Kong smirked.

Arthit made a face " Your humbleness knows no bounds."

" Skills doesn't need to hide behind humbleness. They roar and any talented person will definitely hear it, much less a person like our King." Patting Arthit's shoulder, Kong followed the guard.

Unable to sit still, Arthit followed them secretly just few minutes later.
...........

Kong bowed deeply to the King, making his most innocent face, he looked at the King in anticipation.

" I heard you won your first challenge today, Nong Kongpob and that too without any bloodshed. " King smiled

Kong stood solemnly, watching King's peculiar expressions " I had no other way than to accept the challenge sire. "

" Oh don't worry about that " King waved his concerns with wave of his hand. " I'm glad you took up that challenge and won it. Our young generation needed to see that wars and battles are won by both wits and strength and not by pure muscle mass or alpha stubbornness."

Kong smiled hearing this.

" Here..." The King handed a box to Kong which was so heavy, Kong almost dropped it. What did they fill it with? Stones?

King must have commanded by telepathy because a guard instantly entered the room and took the box from Kongpob's hand, leaving instantly, shrouding them again in privacy.

" Not stones" King chuckled " It has some tomes on ancient healing techniques, accupuncture and some unusual combat techniques.  You will return it to library after you have satisfactorily learnt them."

Kongpob's brain stopped hearing acupuncture.

Not only the King wasn't angry of him for using accupressure, he wants him to try accupunture too? How cool is that!  " 

Oh how he itched to use it on those stupid alphas !

King just winked at him as if he could read everything on Kongpob's face. " Just don't use them on crown heir or any other alpha, until they give you a good reason to do so. Not all young alphas are as level headed or as tolerant as Arthit "

Kong nodded. " There is a problem Alpha. "

" What ? "

" Por, won't buy me needles to practice. I will be lucky if he wouldn't give me an earful for not performing 'Sira' after that."

"You don't need to perform Sira. You didn't give Guss any fatal injury. Any injury for that matter. "

" Por is adamant on Duang traditions (Moon blessed tribe traditions) . In his opinion 'Sira' isn't just for repenting on actions but a tool to get control on emotions. It gives us an account of our failure and motivation to become better in future..."

" That's a great view to have. "

" Yeah. But the scars it give aren't great to have."

" I see you are not fan of Duang traditions. "

"Duang traditions are beautiful, but am not an admirer of Sira."

"You don't need to follow them when you grow up. "

"  Thank you sire, but I can follow them anyway. I am not allowed."

"No one but you have right to follow or stop following your own traditions. No one can prohibit you. "

" Moon blessed's Khun Arak has prohibited him from performing Sira unless a life is actually lost by his hands, so has mine. "

King was amused to see the resolution in Kongpob's eyes.

" Why should moon blessed listen to order of moon touched ? "

" The man whom moon goddess found worthy enough to grace with her divine touch and wisdom is worthy enough to be followed. " Kong declared, eyes briefly flashing blue. The King shivered as he felt the touch of authority and reverence behind those words.

" Fair. " The King nodded " But why do you follow Arthit? He is not moon touched. "

Arthit has sworn to be his Khun Arak. He tried his best to be the best for him. Least Kong can do is to not worry him. Besides, if he insist on performing Sira, he will do it too... Kong was not keen to see undeserved scars on Arthit's body nor was keen to invoke your of the pack's wrath over it.

He looked at the King and bowed a little " Forgive me sire, but I will not be able to explain the reason. It just is like that between us. I just Know Arthit..." Kong bit his lip " I mean Prince Arthit. And I know he wouldn't be happy to see the permanent scars or how long it takes to heal. "

The King nodded. " Even though you were unwilling to entertain Arthit about being your Khun Arak, I see you have come to care about him and are as fiercly protective of him as he is of you."

Kong nodded. " He is an alpha, thus naturally a protector. But, alphas needs a protector too. I am happy to be that for Arthit. "

" What can you do to protect Arthit ? "

Kong chuckled internally. How would the King react if he told him, he was ready to knock every single member of pack out just so Arthit can have a free run?
Or to the fact that right now he wasn't lowering his eyes just because the proper conduct demanded so. But also because he was trying to memorise the map of path decided for blue moon pack run.

" Anything. Everything. " Kong said. Meaning every letter of it.

The King smiled. " Can you promise me to be with Arthit all the times and especially prevent him from escaping to transform in wolf form, this blue moon."

Kong took a moment to think. " I do."

" Do you promise, Arthit's secret won't be discovered on Blue moon."

" I do."

" Will you take oath ? "

Kong nodded " Ceremonial dagger sire ?..."

" No need, you are too young for such oaths." Kong relaxed.

" Thank you for having Arthit's back." The King handed Kong a dagger. " Use it wisely in future."

Kong was amazed to see the silver blade dagger with royal seal, given only to royal bodyguards from Duang clan. Above them, were only the blood kin of the royals. Group of five bodyguards whose lives revolved around their chosen charge. Who would give their life or take one without hesitation to protect their royal.

" But, I haven't taken the oath Sire. "

King smiled " Haven't  you? Didn't you say you can do everything and anything to protect Arthit? Do we still need Ceremonial oath? "

Kong was speechless, he just looked at the dagger a little more. He was just 9. How could Arthit take his responsibility so naturally and not be overwhelmed?

Kong was feeling like King was asking him to shoulder whole world and Some more.

He kneeled on one knee as mandatory and accepted the dagger with both hands.

" Thank you for trusting me with this honor sire."

" You will be Arthit's personal guard from today onwards. " Kong nodded, slipping the dagger in to his boots.

" No one is to know of this. "

" No one will get the wind sire."

" You may leave."

Kong bowed once again and retreated, only to be stopped by the King.

" Those needles, I'm sure you can find Some at the bottom of your trunk."

Kong grinned " Thank you sire."

" Can I make a request sire? "

" You can.."
Kong smiled, he slowly walked to the desk, took the list of omegas participating in ' the chase'  and wrote his father's name at top. He deeply bowed at the King and went off his merry way, humming to himself.

King looked at the moon blessed, sprinting to moon touched with a spring in his steps.

He was happy that now he gave Kong a legitimate reason to be beside Arthit at all time. So moon touched could easily protect his moon blessed.
I hope , my actions could aid you a little Khun Arak. He said to himself.

............

" Kiet, Just on time...sit" The King smiled passing the cup of coffee to his best friend  " I made your favourite coffee...have a seat"

" Thank you sire" Kiet bowed, stubbornly standing beside the chair meant for him to sit on " I am honoured. "

The King narrowed his eyes " You are off duty. Call me by my name. "

" It isn't appropriate. And a butler is never off duty. I was in the middle of conversation with chef about blue moon party..."

" As you say—" King smiled sweetly " Have your coffee."

Kiet nodded, absent mindedly taking the cup, he raised it to his lips and sipped, just as the first sip graced his tongue, he spit the atrocious beverage right in to the cup
" You still make shit coffee... what did you even put in it, Aroon ? Two litres of sugar syrup and some bittergourd juice  ? And who the fuck puts orange peel in it along with chocolate syrup?"

King laughed, A full bellied, teeth showing, eyes watering, joyous laugh. " Your reactions are always fun ." "

Kiet glared at his friend " You called me here, literally sending your personal guards as if its emergency , just to prank me ? Do you even know how swamped I am with work.  We  have blue moon in five days and I haven't even chalked out —"

" Calm down , my friend" King stood up, walk around the table to pat Kiet's shoulder " Here, a proper cup of coffee and this is from kitchens... I promise I haven't touched it except to pass it to you..."

Kiet eyed the cup warily " You promise? "

" I do " King nodded in assurance.

" Thank you sire— "

" Cut that crap,  Kiet" Kong smirked " I know you are cursing me in atleast 5 different languages in your mind."

Kiet smirked back " Seven, my liege..."

King chuckled " Why haven't you used the other 3 known to you ? "

" Other 5 .. I learned three more but that's beside the point..."

" Whoa! When? "

" last four years."

King made appreciative sound. " I keep offering you position of linguistic coach ...why do you not accept it ? "

" I like my current position better, your majesty. Besides, I have promised someone, I will have his back throughout his life so he can serve our country better."

" We were teens, Kiet. You can't throw away your life like that for a silly promise. "
Once upon a lifetime Kiet has promised that, it seemed so long ago. Aroon didn't think Kiet still held on to his tribal traditions and belief to serve royal family and heir.

" For me , it's not a silly promise." Kiet glared " And if we are talking about stupid ass promises, why do you save your first dual of bluemoon challenges for a stupid omega who treasures silly promises? Why the hell have you built a training program for omegas just because your stupid ass promised a silly wide eyed omega that he will be a reputed duelist ? Why did you allowed omegas in to challenges and fencing and didn't draw it back even after two decades of abysmal performance of omegas? Even after I have stopped even looking at the weapons, why the hell did you still keep the armory open for omegas? And this dagger" Kiet pulled the gleaming silver blade out and threw it straight at the King, it clanked  with the ink pot, spilling the ink the ground. " Why the hell do you keep gifting me gemstone hilted daggers because you promised me that even dukes and earls will envy my dagger collection? "

King's bodyguards instantly marched forward but he held them back, signing them away with his hand. 

Seeing the glare, the King raised both his palms up in sign of defeat.

" Sorry na. " King grinned " It was wrong of me to say that. "

Kiet slightly nodded his head in acknowledgement. Aroon was shocked to see Kiet kneeling on his knees in the very next monent " Sorry for throwing a dagger at you, sire. It could have stabbed you..." saying this Kiet raised his dagger to place a customary slash on his hand but King stopped him.

"You don't need to punish yourself, Kiet" He said, putting a little of alpha voice behind it so it will hold as command. " You must not perform 'sira' ( a customary practice of placing a cut with silver dagger on their hands, if they endanger someone's life intentionally or unintentionally) , because even if you meant me harm, there's nothing to worry, Your aim has dulled with age. "

The apologetic look in Kiet's eyes evaporated like a drop of water on hot stove. He pulled two another dagger from his boots and aimed straight at the King " Would you like to repeat your earlier statement, your majesty ? "
.............

The King was happy seeing Kiet sitting across him and having evening tea while chatting like old days. Despite his warning, Kiet had cut his finger with the silver dagger... Aroon knew Kiet would have generally placed the cut on underarms, the finger cut was definitely to appease him and to meander pass his orders.
" No offence your majesty, " he had said in explanation " Our rules have been made by the moon goddess herself. Her orders definitely surpass yours. "

Kiet had once explained this rule to him after he had accidently served Aroon mushrooms and caused him to see healer.
Aroon was in hospital for a week and Kiet had never been to visit him, when he was walking out of healer's chambers, Kiet was brought in for silver poisoning.
" Duang tribe (the moon tribe) is not allowed to harm anybody, no matter how provoked."  Kiet has explained to them.
Aroon's father further confirmed this. It was this deep sense of loyalty to royal blood, that they were chosen to be Royalty's personal bodyguards.

" That is why Nong Kongpob didn't weild weapon against Nong Guss" Aroon suddenly exclaimed.

" Do you think that little brat honors our tradition? " He said shocked. " He behaves as if he has personal enmity with moon goddess. He broke  rince's nose didnt he? And how many times he has caused swollen appendages to prince Arthit? If he would have believed in Sira, his hands would have no place to place cut upon "

" He may not believe in performing Sura, he must believe in the principle of non violence or how would he find such perfect alternative to combat at such young age ?"

" Sorry to disappoint you Aroon, the only reason Kongpob didn't try going all out, was only because Nong Arthit promised to build  treehouse on highest tree if he wins within two minutes. And even he knew, he was no match to Nong Guss in pure muscle strength..so he used what was he best at.
Did you forget that Only reason he accepted Nong Arthit as his Khun Arak was the unlimited supply of meatballs Arthit could supply him..."

" Isn't that smart of him to do that? " Aroon asked chuckling.

"Smart? " Kiet made a face " That's utter selfish."

Kiet had different sense of selfish and self less. He didn't know how to act in his interest. He was most ardent believer in moon blessed , moon goddess and Duang traditions.

Since the day late King, his father, after death of his most loyal commander,  had taken his nephew under his wing, Aroon had struggled to make Kiet call him by his name.

After a while, Aroon thought this new kid Kiet will never become his friend but he was so wrong. Kiet hadchis own way of doing things. Stubborn, loyal to death and hopeless romantic, this extra ordinary omega wormed his way in to everyone's heart to the extent that the King wanted Kiet to be the mate of their future heir aka him.
Coming from the warrior tribe of most fabled moon blessed, Kiet knew many things about weapon weilding and war tactics, but he didn't have interest in application.

He loved the lore of moon blessed and Khun Arak, love discovering more about them and telling stories about them. That is how young pups started adoring him.
Many of Aroon's nights had been spent in hearing the lores.

As soon as they reached teens, then came the assasiation attempts. Being the only direct crown heir, killing him was endgame. The country would fall in chaos and subjected to fragments.

It was said that Prince Gamon had a heir that didn't succeed to crown even after Khun Arak denounced the crown as soon as he ensured stability of nation ( few years after death of his beloved mate. ), because Khun Arak had made the position open to each and every eligible citizens.

All the aspirants were to take a series of tests designed especially to test skills required by a King as a leader of nation.
King's niece (sister's son) passed the tests and became the King. The current King's  aka they believed themselves to descendent of that King.

Since then, each generation of heir faced multiple assasination attempts from so called secret heirs of Gamon who thought themselves to be real amd legal rulers.  some attempts failed, some succeeded. And thus came the tradition of  Kings making sure they had multiple sons to pass on the crown.

Except Aroon's father. Despite his multiple tries he couldn't have another son.
The attempts at his life began as soon as he turned thirteen, close to his first shift.

Kiet had theory that Gamon's heir had worked his way in to earlier court and one of the noble families may be them.

Aroon didn't believe it. Sone nobles anyway were always against the person on the throne since they thought they could do better.
But the attempts did affect him.
Kiet was always the one to upholster him and boost his morale whenever his younger self felt conscious or underconfident in his potential as ruler.
In such an incident after a failed poisoning incident, Kiet had promised the young Aroon that he will be his ever present rock and the first to taste the food served for him. Kiet always was the one to taste food as he didn't trust the chef's tasting .

Aroon secretly believes that , his poisoning and repeated assasiation attempts were the driving force behind Kiet's sudden interest in hand to hand combat and weapon weilding. It was just a small compensation to let the omega demonstrate his skill and gain a bit of respect for it. And he had benefitted a great from the new perspective if Kiet and his traditional knowledge of war tactics.

If Aroon ignores the lores of moon blessed and moon touched (Kit and Singto/ perawat and prachaya) that Kiet so loves to read. Kiet was actually the first omega in centuries to wield a weapon and dual with a alpha,in their pack and perhaps the country.

" Why did you actually call me ? " kiet's enquiry pulled him out of thought.

"My wolf had started seeing Arthit as threat... i dont know how to deal with it. "

" What ? He is just a child! "

King sighed " His wolf doesn't feel so. It feels his wolf merely obeys my orders out of respect not obligation. If he could, he would throw me any instant. "

" That's ...." Kiet didn't know how to respond.

" strange... I know."

" It poses problems. More for Guss than you. Guss is a strong alpha, he wont be undermined by his younger brother. And if Arthit has wolf as strong as you say, he won't accept Guss's domination."

" I know."

" How will you deal with it? "

" I don't know ... i have thought over and over. In any scenario, I am not seeing peace."

Kiet nodded. " First think about blue moon. How will you prohibit him from shifting ? "

" I have a solid plan. Kongpob had promised me to look after Arthit — "

Kiet's mouth fell open from shock " You are entrusting Arthit in hand of Kongpob! "

"Yeah! He is a responsible kid."

" Kongpob and responsible doesn't go in one sentence, especially it also has Arthit or meatball in it."

........

Seeing Kong happily sprinting towards his room, Arthit came out if shadows.

" What did the King say?  Did he punish you ? "

" Weren't you listening on us? "

Arthit made a face " I tried, the room was sound proof. " he was very anxious. " What did the Kong say? "

Kong grinned. " I have found a way, be ready to transform and run in the woods to your heart's content."

" How ? Did he grant me permission?"

Kong gave him a duh look. " Ofcourse not, stupid. "

" Then ? "

Kong dragged Arthit in to his room, shut the door tightly, took a paper and drew a map.

" This is the path they will take. I saw the map on King's desk and memorised it. If we avoid that path, We will be fine. Leave everything to me. You just count the days, only three days to go..."

Arthit grinned " You are awesome."

Kong grinned back " I know right."

They hugged each other tightly.

" We found a way." Arthit mumbled.

" We will always find a way." Kong responded..

I will always find the way to you .
And me to you .
We will always find way to each other.

These words , lost in the weave of time echoed back.