CHAPTER 11

The next day, Krey promised himself to stay at the institute while Francis met his mate and bonded with him. Krey's jealousy soared through the roof every time he thought about their meet up. At least he knew someone was looking out for his mate.

Krey avoided his mother all day. He barricaded his door shut the night before, so he could wake up in peace. Krey had successfully eaten breakfast and lunch without talking to anyone, though he felt more eyes on him than usual.

When he left his room for something else to eat at 4:30 in the evening, Francis had just set off to meet Pip. She was almost denied exit, and had to find Krey to walk her to the gate because the guards didn't believe that the Alpha gave an Omega permission.

As Krey rummaged around the kitchen, an unwanted scent lingered among the cheese. "What is it Jordan," Krey grumbled with his face in the fridge.

"Oh, you know, I'm just checking up on you."

Krey frowned at the yoghurt and stood back to look at him. "Why?"

"I haven't seen you in a while."

"Am I supposed to find you now?"

Jordan's face reddened. "No. Of course not. I just mean that well, you've been more distant than usual." Jordan visibly cringed at his own words as Krey glared. "I guess..." He sighed. "I'm just a little hurt that you went running with an Omega yesterday and not me, your Beta wolf."

"Oh, you're my Beta? You don't act like it," Krey said, thinking of how Francis had been the one to help him and keep his secrets. Krey knew if Jordan had followed him, he would have started rumors' around the institute and blamed someone else.

"Sorry, Krey, but you don't act like Alpha either." Jordan crossed his arms, daring to stare Krey in the eyes with his adrenaline fueled confidence.

Krey's face sharpened. He slowly uncrossed his arms and Jordan's hard exterior wavered. "Speak to me like that again, and you'll have another scar to match the one you've already got."

"I don't believe you." Jordan uncrossed his arms too. "I thought your dad would have prepared you for this. It's obvious you have no idea what you're doing. It's embarrassing Krey. You just yell and do nothing with your words. We need authority, and with you as our leader, we're losing control."

A high-pitched ringing cracked through Krey's head. Whenever anyone mentioned his father, Krey wanted to sink into the ground with despair.

Though this time, he wanted to punch Jordan to establish dominance. Violence was the only way Krey knew how to gain respect. Someone challenging him was the one thing that angered Krey the most.

He tore through the kitchen like a crazed beast and Jordan barely reached the door before Krey rugby tackled him into the hallway. He pinned Jordan to the ground and punched him in the jaw. Those in the corridor stopped to watch. Krey's knuckles ached immediately, but he hit Jordan again, and again, and again until he heard a crack.

When Jordan was bloody and weak, Krey gripped his hair and cupped his throat. "All words and no play am I?" he growled in his face. "You want authority Jordan, do you?"

Krey stood up, breathing heavy. When he was taller than everyone around him, he saw his mother standing out of the way, watching him, judging him as she always did. Krey no longer cared about what she thought. "Jordan here thinks we're losing control. He thinks I'm not fit to be his Alpha." Krey looked around at the shocked faces. "If you think like Jordan, then challenge me and see who wins."

Nobody moved. Nobody made a sound.

Krey pointed to Jordan. "This is what will happen if you speak out of term. I am your Alpha. You will treat me with respect."

Krey, raging, stormed through the corridor. Wolves leapt out of his way. He glared at his mother as he marched closer, ready for her to comment on his behaviour.

Makena said nothing, she stared back with disappointment but kept her words to herself.

Krey could barely think he was so angry. He changed to his wolf before reaching the gate and snarled at the guards, digging his giant claws into the dirt. His red eyes gleamed in the darkness. As soon as the gate had moved enough for him to slip through, Krey ran and didn't look back.

He only had one destination in mind.

Crescent Town Library.

**************

Pip waited outside the library, both excited and fearful. He was excited to study with someone who seemed like they wanted to study, rather than hang around him until he did their homework then leave. And he was fearful that Francis would forget and not turn up. Though that fear was put to rest when he saw her dreadlocks bouncing as she ran down the street.

"Hey Pip," she said with her kind smile. "Sorry I'm a little late. Thank you for waiting. It's so cold." She rubbed her hands together. "You should have waited inside."

"It's okay, I didn't mind," he said quietly with a smile that matched hers.

Inside, the warmth cuddled Pip. He had shivered outside enough to make his teeth chatter. He forgot his coat this morning and didn't want to go home and get it after college. His uncle would have made him do some sort of job that lasted hours.

They sat on the couch that Pip always sat at, and he pulled out his work. Francis said she didn't have any work yet, but was conveniently studying everything Pip was studying, though she would be starting the first year, and Pip was a year ahead.

"You can use my laptop to have a look at PowerPoints if you want?" Pip suggested.

"That would be great, thank you."

They settled into their studies, working in comfortable silence. Not many people were in the central part of the library, so they could whisper if they wanted to, but Francis seemed captivated already.

Pip struggled through his Geology work. He wasn't interested in the subject, but interested in getting a good grade, so he studied hard.

Almost fifteen minutes into their studying, Pip heard loud stomps approaching their table. His chest felt heavily as someone crashed into the armchair opposite with a thud.

Pip looked up, and his face paled. He knew those brown eyes and the way they stared so intensely.

He recognised the face immediately and the black hair with the grey streak at the front.

Pip scrambled over the back of the couch. He pointed at the man he recognised as the one in charge of the institute. "I've done something wrong. I-I knew it!"

Francis leapt up too, trying to silence Pip before others noticed them. "No, Pip, it's okay.

He's my friend. Um, I'm so sorry, I forgot to say he was studying with us."

Pip trembled. What happened at the institute flooded his thoughts. The memories troubled him at night, and the man's face made them even more vibrant.

"Sorry Pip,

," Francis said again. "I should have

made sure that it was okay with you."

Pip started to relax when the brown eyes pointed to the floor. He felt the panic brewing, so he excused himself to the toilets to calm down.

Francis sat on the couch again when Pip left.

"Alpha, why are you here? Have you decided to let everyone know about Pip?"

"No." Krey moved his injured knuckles back and forth. They were bruising and splurged with Jordan's blood.

Francis noticed and decided not to press his reasoning. Pip's presence would now be Krey's safe place. Something big must have happened for Krey to storm in the way he did. Francis knew she'd find out once they were back home.

Pip sat in the toilets until he could breathe normally, and the walls no longer felt like they were caving in on him. He splashed some water on his face and stared at his reflection in the mirror.

Blue flustered eyes stared back.

Calm down, he thought. If they wanted to hurt you, they would have taken you in your sleep, not asked to study. Pip ruffled his brown hair, counted to ten, then left the bathroom.

He walked back to the couch and slowly seated himself in front of those deep brown eyes. Pip avoided his face the best he could, but once he sneaked a peek, he fell hard into the man's stare.

"Sorry about t-that," he mumbled, pulling sleeves over his hands. "You startled me."

"Sorry for startling you."

The man's deep voice vibrated through Pip the way music did if he touched a speaker.

They gazed for a while, and Francis looked between them with a raised brow. "So... Pip."

Hearing his name brought the present crashing all around him. "I'm P-Pippor. Though please call me Pip," he said quietly, suddenly shying away. He dropped his gaze, but the man barely even blinked, and he certainly didn't look away. Pip felt his eyes on him as though he had felt them a million times before. Usually, he'd be uncomfortable under such a stare. Yet Pip loosened up the longer they sat together.

Pip reached for his pen and a big hand blocked his way. He stared back up and the man held out a hand, gesturing a handshake.

Pip stared back at the hand as though it was his own that had fallen off and grown twice the size.

"I'm Krey," the deep voice said, and Pip's heart thumped as he reached out too.