CHAPTER 15

Krey punched Mark with his unnatural werewolf strength. The human flew back and into the brick wall with a heavy thud. Mark fell to the floor, and one of his friends got up to defend his status. He swung for Krey who ducked and tried hard to blink away his werewolf qualities.

Krey shoved the guy back into the booth, squishing him against someone else. Another one of Mark's friends got up and slapped Krey across the face. He grabbed her ponytail and dragged her from the booth, then shoved her away.

The older men at the bar had phoned the police. Crescent town was so small; the police station was just around the corner. Officers were in the café in minutes, separating Krey from the group who kept jumping on him to prove they were stronger.

Krey's human sat up with a hand on his chest. Pip wheezed and struggled to catch his breath. Debra was behind Pip, pulling him to his feet as the police managed to yank Krey back enough for him to stop throwing punches.

Krey's gums ached, and he turned away from the commotion to calm down.

"That guy, Mark, he started this," Debra said to the police.

"Pippor dropped those drinks on me on purpose!" Mark yelled, and Krey turned in time for Mark to lunge for his mate. Krey stormed back through the cafe. It took four officers to pull him away again.

"Calm down lad. Stop it!" an officer yelled. "Stop it!"

Krey must have looked like a crazed beast to Pip. Krey caught his eyes and Pip had a hand on his chest, glancing around nervously.

Krey had scared him.

"What's your name, lad?" asked an officer.

Pip looked their way to hear what the police would say.

Krey stood tall, fearing he had ruined everything. He didn't want Pip to be afraid of him.

"I asked your name," another officer said sternly.

Krey's eyes flicked to the man. "Krey Graymer," he said, and the officers shared stunned glances. They let go of Krey immediately.

Pip frowned as the officers whispered to each other about the institute. One officer led Krey further away and shook his hand.

"Obviously, we're not going to arrest you," the officer said in a hushed tone. "We know who you are, and we trust that you're not out here making trouble for yourself. We know Mark and his group of idiots."

"They're bullying my friend," Krey said lowly. Being a werewolf had its benefits with authority figures.

They worked in secret alliance with the special forces when humans had their issues. In return, the wolves could live in institutes peacefully and secretly, unbothered, and free to do what they wanted among their own kind.

Police offers didn't know exactly who people like Krey were, they just knew to stay out of their way under government orders.

"And your friend is..." the officer looked over his shoulder. "Pippor Monty?" He didn't hide his surprise.

"Problem?" Krey growled. The guy quickly shook his head and returned to the other officers. Krey's mere presence made them uncomfortable.

Pip had been watching him. Krey hoped he didn't start asking questions. He wasn't ready for Pip to see him as a monster.

The police decided Mark needed a night in a cell for his trouble. They kicked his friends out of the café.

The old men left too, so Debra locked up early. As she and Pip cleaned up, Krey sat outside in the cold, waiting for his human.

His breath wisped through the air and vanished into the night sky. The moon was bright, and Krey's wolf stirred. He watched the stars flickering and the tops of the trees rousing in the soft wind.

Stress bubbled within. Krey was Alpha of one of the most powerful packs in England, and he was failing them. Krey was absent from meetings, training, and even fun times together as a pack and a family.

Krey couldn't connect because the pack wasn't his.

He stood in his father's footsteps in shoes too large.

Krey was out of his depth but admitting that was out of his character.

The café door opened, and Pip walked out with his coat on and his bag in his hands. He anxiously shuffled towards Krey.

Krey half expected him to walk straight past. He had undoubtedly made things worse for Pip among his bullies, but he couldn't stop himself. Nobody laid a hand on his mate, especially those with ill intentions.

"T-Thank you," Pip said quietly, fidgeting with his fingers, "for sticking up for me."

Krey didn't expect a thank you. He didn't deserve one. "How long have they bullied you?"

Pip didn't want to answer, so he asked, "Why are the police scared of you?"

Krey cocked a brow. Avoiding difficult topics was another thing they had in common. Krey sighed and stood up, towering over Pip. "I'll walk you home now."

********

When Pip got home, there was a note on the table from his aunt, saying they had gone to the cinema.

A can of soup was left for him on the table. Pip's favourite, carrot and coriander.

Soup on a cold night reminded Pip of his parents because they would often camp and bring all kinds of soup with them. Carrot and coriander reminded him of his mother. When Pip missed her, eating it felt like she was with him.

He chuckled. Soup helps me cope with the death of my parents. Pip shook his head, still smiling as he took the hot bowl to his bedroom.

He sat at his desk and filtered through Netflix. Pip eventually stopped searching and let his mind entertain him.

Krey dominated his thoughts.

Pip could vividly see his brown eyes glaring as though they aimed to reach Pip's soul. Debra said that Krey liked him. Pip thought she was crazy.

Krey lived in the institute. Pip knew nothing about that place or the people who lived there. He didn't know why the police were scared of Krey or why his mind let him see Krey with red eyes.

The colour must have been the reflection of something, though red eyes were fitting for Krey when he punched Mark. They say people see red when they lose themselves to violence.

Pip sipped his soup, marvelling on the fact that someone stuck up for him. Most people looked right through him, or over him, or away from him.

Krey noticed Pip, and Pip didn't know why.

*****

The next day, Pip edged around college carefully. If he saw anyone from Marks friend's group, he hopped into the nearest bathroom, classroom or turned and ran the opposite way.

When college ended, he waited an extra fifteen minutes then exploded from the exit, ready to run to the library. Rain fell hard, and Pip stared at the ground as he jumped down the stairs to stop water going in his eyes.

He only managed a few quick steps before colliding with someone. Hands grabbed Pip's arms before he toppled over. Pip looked up over his hood, and those intense brown eyes stared back.

"Going somewhere?" Krey asked in his deep voice. Rain dripped down his face.

"L-Library." Krey's hands still clutched his arms. "Sorry. Um, are you waiting for Francis?"

"No. I'm waiting for you."

"Me!" Pip squealed and pointed to himself.

Krey's eyes softened. "Yes."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

Pip wanted to say that surely someone like Krey didn't want to meet up with someone like him-nerdy and awkward. "D-Don't you have something better to do?"

"You don't want my company?"

"I do!" Pip said quickly. He cringed at his eagerness. Krey was one of the hottest people he had ever met and the most mysterious. "I-I mean, i-if you want to go to the library. Do you like reading? I do."

Krey seemed amused, though his emotions were hard for Pip to read. Krey's features barely moved.

"Let's go for a walk." Krey turned abruptly and stormed down the street.

Pip looked back towards the library, then back to Krey. I'm not dull, he thought and made his legs run after him. "Where are we going?"

"To the woods."

"I'm not really allowed at night." Pip wanted to slap himself. What a lame thing to say.

"Good." Krey didn't laugh at him like Pip thought he would. "It's dangerous in the dark."

Pip struggled to keep up with his long strides.

"Why are we going in the dark then?"

Krey glanced down. His brown eyes deepened. "With me, you're safe."

Krey seemed sure about that, and Pip felt inclined to believe him.

Crescent Town was surrounded by miles and miles of thick woods. If Pip walked West for ten miles, he'd reach hilly terrain. If he walked twenty miles East, he'd enter another town, just as small as Crescent town.

The further they ventured into the woods, the darker their surroundings became. The moon shone between the canopies in the trees, so they weren't submerged in complete darkness. They could still see the trees in front of them, where the floor dipped, and each other.

"Krey," Pip said. His voice was the only sound around them. "Can I ask about the institute?" Krey stopped walking and frowned. In the darkness, Pip couldn't tell if his brows curled from anger or something else. "S-Sorry," he quickly stuttered.

"What do you already know about the institute?" Krey guided Pip to a spot basking in the moonlight. They sat on a fallen trunk. Krey's brown eyes swirled beautifully in the silver light.

"Just rumors'."

"What rumors'?"

"O-Obviously, they're all fake." Pip chuckled nervously. Krey's face didn't change, and Pip panicked. He sat in the dark woods with a guy from the institute, a guy he barely knew. Pip gripped the bark and shuffled away.

Krey noticed he was scaring Pip because he stopped staring and looked out to the trees. "We know the rumors'. I just want to know which ones you've heard," he said in a calm tone.

"T-The most common one i-is that you're... um-"

Pip felt embarrassed. "That you're shifters or something. Like you're part animal."

"What animal?"

Pip thought Krey would find the rumour ridiculous. He didn't even blink. "Wolf," Pip said, looking up to the moon. If They really were werewolves, Krey would be on all fours by now. Or was that the full moon? Pip loved supernatural creatures because they were mythical.

"Part human, part wolf," Krey said. His tone was hard. “Do you believe it?”.

"No," Pip said like the question was absurd. "Of course not. T-That's the most far-fetched rumour."

Krey stood up, crunching dead leaves under his feet. He stuck hands on his pockets and started walking away. Pip didn't know if he should follow until Krey paused and asked, "Are you coming?"

Pip ran across the woodland floor to keep up.

"Do you have any more questions about the institute?"

"I-I would ask what it's there for, but I don't think you'd answer that." They made eye contact. Pip was right. They walked for a while longer, but Pip, being his curious self, asked, "Are you the one in charge, you know, o-of the institute?"

"What makes you think that?" Krey's tone was less sharp.

"Francis looks kind of scared of you, and I searched the word Alpha for other meanings. It a-actually has a strong link to wolves, s-so that's funny, I guess." Krey didn't find it funny. Pip worried he was being annoying.

"Do I scare you?" Krey asked.

The silence between them felt dense.

"A bit," Pip admitted.

"Just a bit?"

"A lot."

They stopped walking again.

"Please don't be scared." Krey stepped closer to Pip.

Pip looked down to his injured fingers. Krey had apologised for what happened, and Pip believed in second chances.

When he didn't reply, Krey's hand softly rested on Pip's shoulder. His fingers lightly touched his neck. Krey's skin was hot. "It's important that you know I would never hurt you."

Krey's voice was velvet whispers against Pip's ears. "Why are you here?" Pip asked. Krey could have a million cooler friends, yet he was alone with Pippor Monty on a dreary weekday evening.

"I like your company," Krey said, daring to rest his other hand on Pip's other shoulder. "You're calm. I'm not. You're refreshing. There's nobody like that in the institute."

"Nobody nerdy and awkward?"

"No. Nobody like you."