Chapter 44

Krey quickly informed his mother that they were not going to the annual meeting and left her room in a hurry.

Makena rushed after them as Krey dragged Pip down the corridor. "You can't not go!"

Krey opened his bedroom door and gently shoved Pip inside. "The meeting was postponed because my uncle didn't accept his daughter's human mate. I'm not taking Pip anywhere near him."

"Your uncle has accepted it, finally. And it's not like he's your parent. I accept pip. That should be enough."

For a moment, Krey's frown turned to raised brows. He looked down on his mother's face of innocence. That morning, she had been so set on making him believe she didn't like his mate. "You accept Pip?"

"Of course, I do." Makena looked to Pip who awkwardly stood by the doorway, guilty that she had behaved in a way that was rather childish. She was angry at Krey for not telling her as soon as he had the dream. Makena could never be angry at someone who radiated goodness with a simple glance. She didn't have to get to know Krey's mate to know that he was a kind soul. There was something about Pip, something pure. "I'm surprised that you're a boy and surprised that you're human, but you're very sweet. My son didn't need another grump. Imagine the arguments."

Krey's scowl returned. He stormed into his room and Pip jumped out of the way. He tried to slam the door, but Makena shoved a boot in the way. "You're coming to the annual meeting. You can't skip it, not when your allies are breaking away from this pack after what happened."

"And you think showing my face will make them want to support this pack again? I killed the mate of the southern pack. They got their revenge. The end." Krey kicked her shoe from the door and slammed it.

"Showing your face with Pip will show them that you're not the monster everyone says you are!" Makena yelled through the door.

"Piss off!" Krey listened to her stomp down the corridor.

He turned to Pip. The human's shy blue eyes darted away. "I-I thought you said you don't kill the mates you capture," Pip whispered.

"I don't. That was an accident."

"What happened?"

Krey gripped the front of his hair and flopped into his desk chair. "I had captured the mate and taken her back here. This was in July last year. I took her to the roof and held her by the edge. I was just trying to scare her into agreeing to give us one of their pack houses. Sid was filming everything because I made him. He was showing the southern Alpha their mate on the edge to make him desperate. There were rumours that I killed mates if I didn't get the deal I wanted, but that was false until Jordan came up to the roof. He snuck up, so we didn't hear him, and yelled that my father wanted me to get down. Both Sid and I jumped, and I let go of the mate. She fell and died."

Pip had sat on the side of the bed. He was quiet for a moment, with a little frown. Krey wasn't proud of what he used to do, but he couldn't change it by being ashamed, he could only learn from that horrid night.

"You said the southern wolves got revenge."

"They came back and killed my dad." Krey's world darkened. If he hadn't shown off by taking the mate to the roof, his father would still be Alpha. "In November, they sent a group of humans to trespass. They looked innocent enough and at first, made up some lie that they were lost and that one of them was hurt. We didn't know that they were properly trained and had studied our pack with the help of the southern wolves. They were after me, but I was in my dad's office at the time. He was yelling at me about something, I don't even remember what about, but when the humans came into his office, my dad threw himself in front of me, the fucking idiot." Krey pressed his fingers into his bruised knuckles. His leg bounced up and down. His cold eyes fixed on the floor. "So then, in January, when you trespassed, that's why we all freaked out."

Pip rubbed the back of his finger across his lip. "I'm sorry you lost your dad that way," he said quietly.

"It's my fault. They were after me." Krey got up, showing his frustration by pacing back and forth. His hands clenched to fists. "I need to go for a walk. I'll tell Francis to come and sit with you."

Pip watched him storm up and down the room. He doubted that Krey had talked much about what happened with his dad. The conversation had brought up raw emotions.

"C-Can I come with you?" Pip asked.

"No," Krey grumbled, facing away. "I'll be in my wolf form." He checked his phone when it pinged. "Francis is on her way." Krey then stormed from the room and slammed the door behind him.

Pip stared at the coats on the back of the door until they stopped moving. Fear crept in. Krey said he had a lock on his bathroom door because his mother had a bad habit of walking in when he didn't answer her. Pip wished he had asked if they could put the lock on the bedroom door instead.

He sat by the headboard of the bed and pulled his knees to his chest. Pip had a feeling that he got a glimpse of the Krey everyone else knew, the angry and grieving Krey who knew nothing other than how to be cruel.

Francis soon arrived and Pip covered his mouth to conceal a gasp from her loud knocks. "It's Francis," the omega yelled through the door. "Can I come in?"

Pip climbed off the bed and peeked through a small gap in the door.

"Hey, "Francis smiled.

Pip opened the door wide enough for her to enter, then quickly shut it behind her.

Francis wandered to the window and poked the plastic sheet stuck to the frame. "The window should get fixed tomorrow. If you think you'll be cold tonight, I bought a few hot water bottles last week because I knew you'd probably move in here when it's still winter." Francis turned with a smile, but Pip was awkwardly fidgeting with his hoody sleeve. His face was hard like he tried desperately to conceal any expression. Pip wasn't as good at keeping a blank face as Krey.

Pip didn't know how people held back tears when they wanted to cry. Holding them back gave him a headache and a tight throat. Pip concluded that nobody was meant to hold back tears if it hurt.

"Are you okay?" Francis asked as he quickly wiped away a tear.

"I-I think the- I think what happened earlier is s-sinking in."

"With Jordan?"

Pip nodded. "And moving in here, a-and seeing werewolves on the field."

Francis tilted her head with a soft smile. "And Krey?"

Pip nodded again. "I'm still trying to understand this mate thing."

Francis put her arm around Pip and sat with him on the bed. "I think you're very lucky. Humans are never guaranteed a loving relationship for the rest of their lives. A mate will love you forever."

"Love?"

"You'll feel it soon," Francis smiled, gently patting his arm. "If you hug his wolf, you'll feel it even sooner."

"F-Feel what Krey feels?" Pip asked and Francis nodded. "I mean, I already feel- I already really like Krey. L-Like really like him."

"And I can say with all the confidence in the world that he really likes you too."

They chuckled together.

"I'm guessing it's going well between you two?" Francis smiled.

"Yes, but I-I'm worried I'm moving too slow for him."

"Don't be worried. He has all the time in the world for you."

"He slept on the couch last night. I think he stared at me until he fell asleep."

Francis laughed and her golden earrings jingled. "What I've read about mates says that we may even love our mates more than our own wolves, and that shows just how much he adores you."

"His mum said that she was surprised I'm not a werewolf."

"Krey is big and dominant and well, he's a strong character to say the least. I guess everyone thought he would need someone as tough as him to handle him. Instead he got someone nobody expected, someone who could tame him, and bring his ego back to earth." Francis quickly covered her mouth. "Sorry, I spoke out of term there."

"I-It's okay, I'm just Pip. You can speak to me about anything." Pip smiled.

"You can speak to me about anything too," Francis matched his smile. "So yeah, I think you're perfect for each other. Well, if you weren't you wouldn't be mates."

With Pip feeling better, Francis put on another film and sat with Pip for hours until the moon was high, and Pip kept falling asleep.

"When will he be back?" Pip whispered, sinking further under the duvet, mildly aware of Francis sitting at Krey's desk, twiddling her thumbs. He had drifted to sleep more times than he could count, but he was a little anxious about Krey being alone. The cold didn't help. Every time Pip moved, he shivered.

"I'm not sure. He likes long walks when he's sad."

Pip, half asleep, mumbled, "I hope he comes back tonight. I could use his warmth right now." He pulled his hat further over his ears and drifted back to sleep.

Francis, smiling, sent Krey a text, telling him his mate's wishes.

* * * * *

Krey was storming around the perimeter of the institute, enjoying the bitterness of the winter air, and the light snowflakes on his face. He watched the moon as he walked, stretching his shoulders. He had run and run in his wolf form until he forgot why he was running.

Krey tired himself out until the only thought worth wasting energy on was Pip. Krey had left him abruptly because he was close to his feelings that controlled his actions. He didn't want to punch a hole in the wall in front of his mate. Krey was trying to work on not being so physical. Though he kicked a dent into the back door before he left.

He hoped he could fix some of his temper before Pip saw even a snippet of his pointless violence.

Krey stopped by a tree and inhaled the air, feeling the cold seeping into his lungs. He watched his breath slip away into the night sky like a white flame. He thought about taking another walk around the institute, until his phone buzzed in his back pocket.

Krey saw that Francis had sent him a text, and opened it immediately, thankful that he had someone reliable to look after Pip.

After what happened with Jordan, Krey knew he could depend on Sid and Francis, and his mother. Sid didn't have to tell anyone that Jordan escaped. When he couldn't find Krey, Sid found Francis who phoned and phoned, knowing Pip would eventually answer her call.

Francis and Sid and his mother went out of their way to keep Pip safe. Krey wanted to see that determination in everyone in the pack. He wanted everyone to treat Pip like family because Pip had lived so long without one.

He opened Francis's text and read aloud, "Pip said he's cold and wants to cuddle."

Krey turned to face the institute, searching the large building for his bedroom. The light was still on, and Krey doubted those were Pip's exact words. Still, he could never pass such an opportunity.

Just the thought of Pip wanting him close was enough to send Krey running back to the institute, almost cracking a daft smile on his unbreakable features.