Chapter 73

There's an Instagram account made purely for incorrect quotes from The Golden Prodigies series! It's called: Incorrect Golden Prodigies. I hope you find it as amusing as I do! ;D

Account Made by: Exotic_Studios

- Sian

Krey refused to leave Pip's side, even when the sun set, and Monday crept upon them. Makena brought him food and drinks. Krey barely touched any of it. All he could do was hold Pip's hand and watch him while he rested.

"He's strong for a human. Strong willed I mean," Makena mumbled, breaking the silence. Other wolves slept in the room, so the Omega Medics could check on them through the night. Sid rested on the bed opposite Pip, and Francis slept on the chair next to him. "He has been through a lot. He can get through this."

Krey looked to his mother. Her brown eyes were as sunken and as tired as his felt. She had changed from the black velvet dress she wore to the annual meeting into black floral pyjamas and a black dressing gown. Her grey hair was plaited, but wonky. Makena had planned to visit Pip and Krey for a while, then go to bed, but her son was so beside himself with worry, Makena had to stay to calm him down.

Krey furiously rubbed his hands together. Sometimes, he had felt his wolf fading inside and freaked out, screaming for the Medic and waking everyone up. Nobody could blame his panic, especially not Makena.

She knew the utter horror of feeling her wolf withering away until there was no feeling left other than a void of immense loneliness. She wouldn't wish that on her worst enemy. Well, perhaps the Southern Alpha, but Krey had already seen to that.

Makena touched Pip's hand. "He's warming up." She looked at the red mark around Pip's wrists from the handcuffs. Krey had removed them while Pip was getting stitches on his forehead.

Krey pulled the blanket further up Pip's chest. He had changed Pip out of his damp jeans and Sid's blazer, and into comfortable green tartan pyjamas and one of Krey's black hoodies with an embroidered wolf knitted into the left chest. Krey made Makena fetch Pip's burgundy bobble hat, just to make sure he was extra warm.

After Pip passed out on the bed when Krey first carried him into the room, his lips slowly turned blue and everyone thought he was dying. Pip was just freezing, and his body struggled to heat itself up in the cold Packhouse. Pip now looked a little less ill with colour in his cheeks.

Makena watched as Krey's face blanked, and all emotion was sucked from him in an instant. "If Pip dies," he said lowly, "I'll throw myself off the roof. I'm not living without him. You'll be in charge." He glanced to his mother.

Makena's stomach churned. Her son was deadly serious. "He's not going to die," she insisted.

Krey's dark eyes flicked to Pip, and his hard exterior shattered. "What if he does?"

Makena's heart stopped when she saw the glint of tears in the corners of Krey's eyes.

"I've barely known him a month, mum." Krey's voice cracked and he moved uncomfortably on his chair. "It's not fair." He tried to fight the sudden wave of emotion, but he just wasn't strong enough. Not this time.

When a tear rolled down his cheek, Makena dragged her chair to his side of the bed. When she was close enough, Krey's head dropped onto her shoulder, and she felt him silently crying. Makena's arms coiled around him immediately, comforting him, and holding her son safely against her.

"Whatever happens, I will always be here for you," she whispered, feeling her own tears in her eyes at the sight of Krey's. "Always. Do you hear me?" she planted kisses into his hair. "You will never be alone in this world. Never."

When morning came, Krey had quietly cried himself to sleep. Makena didn't sleep, she remained in her chair next to Krey, and softly ran fingers through his hair as he slept. Makena watched Pip all night. He hadn't woken, but he hadn't worsened.

The Omega Medic did her rounds and said that Pip's pulse was stronger, and his breathing was less fragile. Makena's relief drained all the way to her toes. She knew Pip was strong enough to improve through the night. She almost woke Krey up to tell him that Pip was doing well, but the sun only just skimmed the horizon. Krey needed more sleep.

Makena looked to Sid who still slept. He was doing okay too, but now had two broken arms instead of one. Francis had barely stirred in the night, and still slept peaceful on the chair. A blue blanket was around her knees, and she still wore the same black jumper and black trousers from the annual meeting.

Makena had seen Francis's loyalty and her friendship with Krey. She just wished that Francis was Beta born, not an Omega with traces of Beta blood. Still, Makena was now prepared to put her snobbish thoughts of ranks aside if it would make her son happy. She just wanted the fighting and the tension to leave. Makena was sick of waking up with a sore head full of sadness. She wanted to mend, if it were possible. Living without a mate was like trying to live in a world where only extreme sorrow could be felt. Each day was a struggle. Each lonely bedtime was breaking her heart all over again.

She turned back towards Pip and froze when he was staring at her. Pip blinked tiredly. His blue eyes trailed the room with confusion. He couldn't move his head because of a neck brace. Pip panicked and slowly tried to pull on it.

"Krey!" Makena said, shaking him. "Wake up!" Krey sat up in and instant. "Pip's awake!"

The boys' eyes only had to connect for a surge of happiness to course through Krey's body. He leapt to his feet and was all over Pip in seconds. His chair fell in the excitement, waking Francis.

"Pip!" he said, cupping his mate's face, keeping his eyes connected with Pip's blue ones after a night of fearing that he would never see them again. Amidst his ecstatic emotions, Krey kissed his warm lips, and babbled about how he doubted Pip would wake up. "You really fucking scared me." Krey pushed his face into Pip's shoulder, trying to hug him. "I really thought you would die." When Pip didn't say anything, Krey lifted his head and inspected his face. A large plaster covered the left side of his forehead. "Are you okay? Can you hear me? Do you know where you are?"

Pip stared back, his eyes twinkling more and more each second. Then he smiled tiredly and lifted his hands to touch Krey's face.

His hands were warm against Krey's skin, and smooth. "I'm okay," Pip whispered. Now that he was looking into those deep oak eyes, Pip realised that he had missed Krey's face the moment he had looked away to climb out of the window at Sea Claw Packhouse. Pip pulled lightly on his face and they kissed again.

The kiss was what Pip's heart and head needed. The kiss was like pressing a reset button, and he no longer cared about where he was, or what had happened to him, or how close he was to losing his life.

They hugged for as long as Pip was able to keep his arms around Krey. His arms were weak and started trembling.

"Are you cold?" Krey asked.

"No." Pip couldn't lift his voice above a whisper. "I feel really nice."

They heard chuckling from the end of the bed. Krey turned to see his mother and Francis standing side by side.

"You could be on your last breath and the bond will make you feel like you're floating," Makena said with a sad knowing smile. "I'll get the Medic." She left, and Francis approached the bed, cautiously reaching out for Pip's hand.

Krey watched her with intense eyes but didn't slap her hand away.

"I'm so pleased you're back with us," Francis beamed.

Pip look up at her. The roots of her dreadlocks were wild and frizzy. Her face was covered in small scratches. She looked exhausted but her green eyes still managed to shine. Pip then suddenly remembered Sid and tried to sit up. His head pounded and Krey wouldn't let him get up.

"No, rest," Krey demanded.

"But Sid-"

"He's over there," Francis said, pointing across the room. "He's resting too, and a little more hurt than you, but he'll be okay."

"What happened?" Krey asked. "The car you were in crashed right in front of the gates."

Pip frowned, trying to remember. His memories were jumbled, and foggy. "I- I think we must have skidded on the ice or something... Were you there when we crashed, Krey? I was worried we would just miss each other."

"We would have just missed the car if Francis hadn't taken so long finding Omega's to take with us." Krey finally slapped Francis's hand away and held Pip's hands instead.

"I guess it's a good thing I took so long," Francis grinned, and stepped back when Krey glared.

Pip chuckled softly, barely making audible sounds. "What about the driver?"

"Her throat was slit. She was probably dead before the crash."

Pip frowned again, and Krey absorbed his cuteness.

"I remember now. Sid was holding his claws to her neck because she wouldn't have taken us home otherwise. Um, I think we skidded on ice and he accidentally cut her." Pip intertwined his fingers with Krey's, noticing the red marks on his wrists from where the handcuffs had cut him. "We crashed outside the gates? I don't remember that."

He said home, Krey thought. "Yes. Into a tree."

Soon, the Medic came to assess Pip. He drank water and was able to sit up but had to keep his neck brace on for a day or two, just to be safe. Krey ordered Francis about for the rest of the day. When Pip was cold, Krey ordered Francis to get another blanket and bring hot chocolate. When Pip was hungry, Francis got him food. When he was thirsty, she got him a drink, and when he felt a little agitated, she got him his toothbrush and toothpaste, and some wet wipes to wash his face.

When Francis returned late into Monday evening to Sit with Pip, Krey took one look at her wearing the same clothes from the annual meeting and told her to go and rest.

"But-"

"Don't you dare but at me," Krey growled. "Eat, wash, and sleep. Go."

Francis left with a smile. Krey was stern, but he cared, and was showing it more and more each day.

"As for you..." Krey moved his face closer to Pip's until their noses touched. "I'm carrying you upstairs." He slotted a hand under Pip's legs and a hand across his back, lifting him effortlessly. "It'll be nice for you to finally sleep in your own bed."

Pip had barely spent any time at the institute, and already, he was relieved to be back there. By itself, the institute was just a building. With the werewolves in it, the building was a home.

"Close your eyes," Krey said as they left the first aid room. The institute was still trashed. Krey didn't want Pip to see the blood all over the floor and walls.

Pip couldn't really bury his head into the crook of Krey's neck due to the neck brace, so he rested his forehead on Krey's temple and closed his eyes. Pip wanted more kisses. He felt Krey's muscles moving against him as he walked. Pip just wanted to feel Krey there every second and judging by how touchy Krey had been throughout the day, Krey didn't want to leave his side either.

So they stayed together, with the hope of better days sitting just on the horizon, instead of feeling worlds away.