Nick's Guide to Surviving High School

Chapter 33

King's POV

Nick was mad at me.

I didn't know why, but he was.

He always seemed to be mad at me nowadays. It was getting frustrating. I didn't know what I was doing wrong.

I just wished he'd talk to me.

It was tiring, the constant arguing and shutting me out. I wanted to be there for him, to have him confide in me, but it was obvious he didn't feel the same.

I told him everything, and I never asked him to share more than he was willing to. I could tell that there were some things he was keeping to himself, but I didn't try to force them out of him. I thought maybe if I gave him space and waited, he would tell me eventually.

Maybe I was wrong.

I sighed, looking down at the sleeping baby in his crib. I traced his face softly with my finger, and AJ didn't even stir. I bit my lower lip, chewing on it in thought as I looked around the small room I was in. It was beige, with lime green around the baseboard and cartoon characters drawn on the walls.

It was our pack nursery. Newborn pups would stay here if they needed to, for whatever reason. AJ was staying here until we found a new home for him.

I walked toward the door and with one final glance at the sleeping baby, exited the room. Once I was outside of the room, I let out a frustrated sigh, dragging my hand down my face. I needed to shave. Nick had told me once that he liked my beard, but I honestly didn't like having one. It felt uncomfortable.

I looked down the hallway and spotted a pup, no older than five years old, sitting on the floor, quietly mumbling to herself. I frowned and made my way over to her. As I got closer, I recognized her as Chloe, the six-year-old daughter of one of the pack warriors and her mate.

"Hey, sweetheart," I said softly, crouching down to get closer to her. She looked at me and smiled before throwing her arms around my neck. I chuckled but reciprocated the embrace. "What are you doing out here? Where's your mom?" Chloe let go of me and situated herself back on the ground, shrugging dramatically.

"Dunno. Probably went to go see Daddy again. She's there a lot..."

My heart ached for that family. Chloe's dad died before she was born, and her mother, Stephanie, hadn't been the same since. She wasn't a bad mom, but she often left Chloe alone in the packhouse without a word to go visit her mate's grave.

I sighed and held my hand out for the little pup. Chloe took it without hesitation and I helped her off of the floor.

"How about," I said as I lifted her off of the ground and hoisted her on my hip, "we go find Jeremiah? I'm sure he's around here somewhere."

Chloe nodded excitedly, her eyes lighting up at her best friends name. I often caught the two pups playing together, and it was the most adorable thing.

I walked around the pack house with Chloe chatting animatedly in my ear about various things as we looked for her friend. I could easily have just picked out his scent or mind linked his moms, but this was more fun. I didn't always have to use my wolf abilities.

We eventually found Jeremiah and his moms, Linda and Max.

Linda was actually one of the pack teachers, and Max was our skilled head chef. Linda was a tall woman, her dark brown, wavy hair extending almost to her knees, and her grey eyes always warm and inviting. Max was equally as tall, but her hair was a deep shade of red, her eyes violet and usually pretty expressionless, unless she was in the kitchen or with her family.