Chapter 38

Makena's brown eyes were as hard as the bark of the trees that surrounded the institute.

Krey's brow eyes stared sharply. He observed her expression. Krey had been very stressed over the past few days; he didn't need another reason to yell, and another person to hate.

"Is this a joke?" Makena asked, not daring to blink.

"You think I would bring a human to the institute as a joke?" Krey scowled.

Makena's gaze circled his face. "You have a human-" she turned abruptly and stormed towards Krey's bedroom.

"Mother," Krey hissed through gritted teeth. "Can't this wait till morning?" Krey hurried after her. Pip was already overwhelmed. He didn't need a female version of grumpy Krey in his face.

Krey couldn't reach her before his mum stormed into his bedroom.

Pip was still standing by the window with his coat folded over his arms and tucked tightly against his chest. He jumped when Makena stormed in, frantically glancing around. Her eyes fell on Pip straight away because of his bright colours.

Krey was glad the wolves didn't train tonight. He didn't want to deal with a fainting Pip and a seething parent.

Makena froze in the doorway, staring at Pip like he had appeared before her very eyes. She pointed, and Pip nervously glanced to Krey who drifted behind his mother like a dark cloud.

"That's a boy!" Makena exclaimed.

Krey glared at the back of her head.

"And human!" Makena stepped closer to Pip, gazing at him with interest. She then spun and pointed a thin finger at Krey, pressing a long nail into his chest. "Is this some sort of distraction, so I'll lay off Francis?"

Krey rolled his eyes. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her from the room. Krey slammed the door and dragged her down the corridor, so Pip couldn't hear them. "For the hundredth time, Francis is not my mate!"

"Then why did you let me believe that she was?"

"I didn't."

"Then what was with the secrecy?"

"Francis was watching my back as I went to Crescent Town to be with my mate."

Makena's lips curled disapprovingly. She stared at Krey as though she was trying to read his mind or deciding if he was telling the truth. "How long has this been going on?"

"A few weeks," Krey mumbled.

Makena shook her head. "I assume you had the dream then?" Her tone was a little bitter.

Krey nodded, a little sheepish, knowing he should have told her from day one.

"How could you keep that a secret from me? I'm your mother!"

Krey tightened his jaw. "In my defence, you're fucking annoying."

Makena's glare matched her son. "So, you're telling me that you have a human soulmate and hid it from me for weeks? Right, well, I get the message. I'm officially shunned out of your life. Thank you very much."

Makena tried entering her bedroom but Krey grabbed her arm, almost ripping her dressing gown. "See, this is why I didn't tell you because you're so dramatic! I just needed time to figure it out on my own. Francis followed me even when I didn't ask her to. Nobody was supposed to know until Pip was used to me."

"Pip?"

"That's his name... short for Pippor."

Makena watched Krey's glare melt, and his eye soften at the thought of him. Krey's hard exterior was impossible to get through when he was so defensive. Makena knew that a mate would get in, no matter how much Krey tried to fight it. "He is your mate," she whispered, astounded.

Krey's scowl returned immediately. "Why do you never believe anything I say?" he snapped.

"Because you're always so bloody cryptic!" Makena slapped the back of his head. "I bet this is why your anger has been through the roof lately! Stupid boy. You should have told me. Then you wouldn't have been so stressed! You know what? I'm insulted that you tried to keep it a secret from me. Let me remind you that I'm your mother and we don't keep secrets in this family, especially now that your father-" Makena stopped herself and lowered her voice. "Especially now that it's only the two of us."

Krey's heart ached. "Maybe I would have told you if you hadn't been breathing down my neck every day." He crossed his arms. "It's been impossible to do anything because you're always there. I just wanted a few weeks of doing something by myself, so I could fucking breathe."

Makena, with her gaze pointed to the floor, asked, "Why bring him here now?"

"He's in too much danger, living in the town and not here."

"Ah, so you didn't bring him here unannounced just to annoy me?"

"I was going to tell you this afternoon about Pip, but Jordan interrupted."

"Which reminds me- why the hell did you kick him through a window? Your anger has been the main topic of conversation all day."

"He found out about Pip and threatened his safety, which is one of the reasons why Pip is here now."

"How did Jordan find out?"

"He said Francis told him."

Makena wasn't often shocked, but tonight, her eyebrows couldn't stop raising from all the surprises. "And did she?"

"I don't know." Krey's eyes darkened. He wanted to believe that Francis wouldn't betray his trust. "She said she didn't, but I don't know if I believe her."

"Jordan is lying," Makena said, rather confidently. "He has always been a liar. I wouldn't believe anything he says, not when he knows his Beta position is compromised. He'll do anything he can to drive people away, so you're the only person he has left to trust."

"You seem very sure of that."

"Because I've seen him do it before."

Krey forgets that his mother played a big part in being Alpha when his father was on hunts. If Makena went too, then Jordan was in command. Makena only left Jordan in control if it were a last resort.

"Where's Jordan now?" Krey asked.

"Sid put him in the cellar for the night, concluding that he must have insulted you pretty badly for you to kick him out of the window."

"He was lucky he wasn't on the third floor," Krey grumbled. His mother, still refusing to look at him, shuffled back towards her bedroom. Krey sighed. "You're annoyed, aren't you?"

"I'm disappointed in you."

"Jordan deserved-"

"No, not that. I really thought you and Francis were mates. Your silence made me believe it. Why do you always push me out like that, or trick me into thinking other things? I feel like such an idiot because your mate is actually a human, which is worse than an Omega!"

Krey, grinding his jaw, saw an opportunity to tell her how he felt. After all, his mother wanted honesty. "You were so fixated on finally figuring me out that you became obsessed to hear what you wanted to hear and see what you wanted to see. I told you a few times that Francis wasn't my mate and you refused to believe it. You made it harder and harder to tell you about Pip because I knew you'd be angry at the truth, especially when you were so sure about Francis and so eager to be right. You think you know me, mum, but you only see the me you created, and not who I am on my own."

Makena shook her head, "No that's not true. You-"

"Stop," Krey interrupted, taking a step towards his bedroom. He had finally opened a conversation that could display their faults to overcome what annoyed them about each other. His mother denied her flaws, so Krey stopped listening. "I was actually nervous about bringing Pip here tonight because your opinion of him mattered to me. Dad would have at least pretended to like him, for the sake of my happiness." Krey stormed back to his room, not wanting to hear anything negative towards Pip. His heart wasn't strong enough.

Krey paused outside his door, breathed calmly until his anger stopped bubbling, then entered. The sight of Pip was enough to leave his bad thoughts in the corridor.

"Did that go well- with your mum?" Pip asked, pulling off his hat.

"Not really," Krey admitted.

"Does she not like me?"

"I think she's more bothered that I didn't tell her anything. She just needs a few days," Krey said to reassure his mate's anxious mind. I hope.

Pip looked around for somewhere to hang his coat. Krey took it and hung it on the back of the door. The yellow puffer jacket stood out against his black attire.

"Do you want to unpack tonight or tomorrow?"

Pip looked at his two rucksacks carrying everything he owned. His eyelids were heavy. He had spent the whole day at college, worked a four-hour shift, and moved out of his house all in one day. Pip was exhausted emotionally and physically. "Can we do it tomorrow?" he asked, rubbing his eyes until he remembered that tomorrow was Friday, not Saturday. "Oh wait, I have college tomorrow."

Krey, almost blending into his black door, said, "I'm sorry, but you can't go tomorrow, not until we figure out how to keep you safe."

Skipping wasn't the end of the world. Pip could email his tutors and ask for the work he would miss. He had seen how anxious Krey was on their walk to the institute. Krey's nerves had made Pip realise just how much danger he might face. "I understand."

Krey tapped the ends of his fingers together. Pip still looked a little awkward in such an unfamiliar room. "My bathroom's through there." He pointed to the other black door, slightly ajar. "There are fresh towels if you want a shower."

"Thanks." Pip rummaged through his bag for some pyjamas.

"Um," Krey looked to his couch. He barely even sat on it. "I'll sleep on the couch tonight."

Pip glanced to the large double bed, then to the small couch, then to Krey's large body and how he'd struggle to fit on the couch. Stretching his legs was out of the question. "I can sleep on the couch because I-I'll actually fit," Pip said with a chuckle. "A-And that's your bed."

"I've dragged you all the way here, the least I can do is let you have the bed until you've settled." Krey wanted nothing more than to fall asleep with Pip in his arms and his nose buried into his hair. Pip was overwhelmed. Krey didn't want to push for them to be close just because he wanted it.

The boys had plenty of time to grow closer, especially now that Pip would be living in the institute.