Chapter 34

Hearing his mate's name from Jordan's mouth was like his words smacking him hard on the head. Krey was so stunned, the shock rippled through his face.

Jordan's lop-sided smirk widened. Krey was always emotionless. Nobody knew what was going on under his marble features. But now, Jordan had rattled him, and he was proud. "Yeah, that's right," Jordan said, taking a step closer to his Alpha. "I know about Pi-"

Jordan's words were squeezed from his throat by Krey's hand. Krey's fingers curled around his neck, and he stormed forward, slamming Jordan's back against the wall hard enough for Jordan to whine.

Krey's eyes turned red, and claws protruded from his fingers, cutting Jordan's neck as he spluttered for breath. Krey's gums ached, but he didn't let his sharp teeth show. "Speak his name again, and I'll rip your fucking throat out." Krey's deep voice was like a growl, low and steady. A warning call for Jordan. With his other hand, Krey shoved the back of Jordan's head against the wall. "How the fuck do you know about him?"

"F-Francis," Jordan breathed. Krey barely let him gasp for breath.

"Don't fucking lie to me." Krey pulled him off the wall and flung him through the room. Jordan fell hard against the wooden floor.

Jordan scurried on hands and knees to the window, rubbing his neck and breathing hard.

Krey slowly followed him, never blinking.

"I'm not lying, Alpha. She told me everything!"

Krey crouched, and Jordan shrank under his fiery glare. Krey's face, shocked only moments earlier, rumbled with the worst storm Jordan had ever seen. Krey could be heartless. Toying with his anger was a mistake.

"Did you beat it from her?"

"No! She's not who you think she is. She makes a crap woman and a jealous Omega. She'll throw you under the bus any chance she gets."

Krey couldn't believe what he was hearing. Francis was the first person he had called a friend because she was kind to him and Pip. She had been there for him, so far, when nobody else cared. "you're full of shit."

"I'm not, Alpha, she told me everything about your mate."

"Like what?"

"That he lives in crescent town, goes to the college, works at Crescent Café, and lives with his aunt and uncle."

Krey couldn't trust Jordan, but now he knew Krey's secret. "You followed me."

"If I followed you, you would have smelt my scent. Did you?"

Krey hadn't smelt Jordan, not once. He didn't want to believe that Francis would spill his secrets, even to the Beta. "When did she tell you?"

"This morning." Jordan sat up.

Krey's head was spinning. Had he carelessly put his trust in Francis?

"Alpha, you'll be wise to start including me and treating me like your Beta. Otherwise your secret might get out, and your Pippor isn't so safe in the town." Jordan spoke like he had the upper hand, like he could squish Krey under his thumb.

All Krey heard was a threat, and not just to him, but to his mate. That was all it took, the thought of Pip being in danger. His anger took over.

Krey's hand was back on Jordan's neck, crushing his airways. He would have gripped his hair if Jordan didn't shave it every month.

"A-Alpha, I-I-" Jordan clutched Krey's wrists, but nothing could budge his clamped hands from around his neck.

Krey's red eyes were wide with anger, boiling in his veins.

"K-Krey-" Jordan tried gasping for breath, knowing that Krey would squeeze the life out of him. Jordan had underestimated his Alpha's resentment towards him. Jordan had thought that Krey would be scared about Jordan knowing his secret.

Krey Graymer was a merciless wolf, and Jordan had provoked his wrath as if he poked a lion with a stick. Krey was ready to pounce.

He towered over Jordan, breathing heavy. The urge to hurt him pulsed through every limb. Jordan was a threat Krey had to eliminate.

He lifted his fist and punched Jordan hard enough in his cheek to hear a crack in his neck when his head spun to the side.

Nobody Threatened Pippor.

Krey pushed Jordan against the long window, letting go of his throat for just a few seconds to lift a boot and kick Jordan in the stomach.

The force of his heel in Jordan's abdomen sent Krey's Beta straight through the window, shattering the glass.

Krey watched as Jordan fell onto the stone yard below.

They were only on the ground floor, So Jordan didn't fall a length that would kill him. Still, Krey watched him cough and wheeze on the ground, satisfied. Other wolves who were outside stopped and watched, gasping and pointing to what Krey had done.

Krey stepped through the broken window and leaned over Jordan. The Beta wolf could barely look him in the eye, but Krey made him. "Threaten me again, and I'll push you off this fucking roof."

Krey then left Jordan on the floor and stormed through the yard. He walked higher then everyone around him, with long cool strides like he was out for a morning stroll, not walking away from someone he had just kicked through a window.

Krey walked around the back of the institute and soon spotted Francis sitting on one of the benches, basked in sunlight, reading a book about ancient history. She was hunched over the pages, frowning with interest.

She heard Krey's footsteps against the stones and looked up with a smile. "Hey." Francis's green eyes darted around, and she lowered her voice. "I'm just reading about a subject that Pip is learning at college. It's quite interesting how-"

Krey snatched the book from her lap and flung it across the yard.

Francis froze, now seeing his glare, shaping his red eyes. Krey was angry, and it seemed to be directed at her. "Are you okay? Has something happened?"

"How could you?" Krey growled.

"I don't understand-"

"You told Jordan about Pip."

Francis bounced from the bench with eyebrows almost at her hairline. "I would never-"

"Jordan said you did. How else would he know?" Krey's anger blinded him. He gripped the front of his hair. "I fucking trusted you."

The hurt in his voice didn't go unnoticed. "Alpha, I didn't tell him! If Jordan knows, that means he must have followed-"

"I'm sick of all these lies!" Krey roared, and Francis leapt back. He pointed a clawed finger at her. "I was stupid enough to think you understood what trust meant to me. Fuck you, Francis."

Krey turned to leave, but Francis hurried after him and grabbed his arm. Krey spun and shoved her back so hard, she fell against the stones. "touch me again, Omega, I dare you."

The only part of Francis that moved was the tear rolling down her cheek. Krey felt no remorse; he couldn't afford to have feelings.

Look what you've done? He thought as he stormed back around the building. I told you, nobody can hurt you if you're alone. Fucking idiot, thinking I could have friends.

Krey didn't enter the institute. He followed the path to the gate, eager to go to Crescent Town. Pip was the only person Krey needed in his life, nobody else. Not Francis, not Jordan, not even his mother.

* * * * *

Pip was excited as he skipped down the street. Having a good night's sleep was exactly what Pip's body needed.

College classes had dragged because Pip spent the day thinking of Krey, and how he was a werewolf, and how he really wanted to see him again.

Out of all the information Krey told him yesterday, them being mates was the topic Pip kept obsessing over. He had a lot of questions and hoped Krey would come back to his house after he finished work, so they could talk.

Pip saw Krey sitting in the café before he entered to start his shift. Krey was glaring at the table, harder than Pip had ever seen him glare before. Something weighted Krey's mind, Pip could tell.

The café was very quiet. A few old ladies had their book club at 5 pm every Thursday. They were usually the only ones in the café, but now Krey occupied a booth.

Pip's heart skipped a beat, knowing that Krey was only there to see him.

Debra was behind the counter as he entered, sitting by the till with her chin resting on her palm. She stared blankly at Krey. Pip knew Debra didn't like him. He wondered what she'd think of Krey if she knew he was a werewolf.

Pip, of course, wouldn't tell a soul. He doubted anyone would believe him even if he did.

"Hey," he said, standing in front of the table. Krey looked up when Pip was unravelling the scarf from around his neck. His eyes lingered on Krey's bruised knuckles before he hid them under the table.

"Hi Pip," Krey said. His voice was usually monotone, and his face was often hard, but something was off about the way he sounded, and the way his brown eyes only glanced to Pip, rather than stare intensely.

"Are you okay?" Pip asked, pulling off his hat. His wavy brown hair stuck up all over the place.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Krey crossed his arms and continued to glare at the table. Krey expected Pip to leave him to be grumpy by himself. Nobody had time for Krey when he was this irritated.

"Have you had a bad day?" Pip asked, pulling off his gloves and unzipping his yellow puffer jacket.

"The worst," Krey muttered, thinking about Jordan lying on the floor surrounded by broken glass, and Francis on the stone yard, trying hard to keep back her tears.

Krey felt pressure on his shoulder. Pip had rested a hand on him, and Krey's mind blanked immediately.

"I'll get you a black coffee with no sugar," Pip said with a warm smile.

Not even my glare can scare him off. As Pip turned to leave, Krey grabbed his wrist. "I didn't bring money."

"It's fine," Pip assured him. "It's on me."

Krey watched him go, feeling lighter already. Even the sight of his mate when he walked in, bundled up with cute pink cheeks and dazzling eyes, was enough to make Krey feel a little better.

Pip quickly made Krey's coffee, then put some ice in a plastic bag and wrapped it in a tea towel, for Krey's bruised knuckles.

All the while, Debra watched Krey, judging him.

"I-I don't think he likes you staring at him," Pip said.

"That boy has done nothing but scowl at everybody since he came in. I tried serving him, but he told me to go away."

Pip watched Krey slouching in the booth. He pointed his angry stare to the window. Pip wondered if Krey would tell him what had happened. Maybe he would explain later when they were alone and could speak in confidence.

Pip made his way back to the booth. He handed Krey the ice. "For your knuckles," he said.

Krey was touched by such a small act of kindness. Pip's compassion was a blessing in Krey's broken world.

Pip fidgeted and asked, "You had bruised knuckles last week too."

Krey had also punched Jordan last week. His violence was a reoccurring theme. "I told you," he grumbled. "I'm not a nice person."

Pip tapped the table. Maybe Krey wasn't nice sometimes, but he didn't show that side around him. There was more to Krey than just anger. "I-I don't believe that," Pip said quietly, followed with a smile so cute, Krey's hard eyes melted. "Anyway, um, I have to start my shift. Do you want to talk after I finish? I- um, I have lots of questions about- you know."

Krey nodded, pleased that Pip wanted to talk some more.

Pip left the table with a happy bounce to his step, and Krey now had plenty of time to think about what had happened at the institute.

Jordan knew his secret. After what Krey did to him, he didn't know if Jordan would now keep his mouth shut. Pushing him through the window might have motivated Jordan to tell everyone about Pip.

Either way, Krey's narrow window to tell his mum and the pack about his mate was closing. Krey had to tell Pip everything tonight, everything about him being a secret, and about Jordan and Francis.

Most importantly, Krey would tell Pip about how much danger he would soon be in.

Krey Graymer was best known for hunting the mates of other wolves. As soon as Pip's name was mingled with his, Krey's sweet little human would have a huge target on his back, potentially starting England's biggest wolf hunt.