Mate Mysteries

Chapter 22

Sorry for the slow update! I didn't mean to take this long but you know how life can get! Thank you for being your lovely patient selves :D

- Sian

Pip stared glumly from the window. His room faced the front of the building and he could see the pebbled path and the thick metal gate with guards. He could see the woods beyond, but he had the view of the forest from the bedroom he shared with Krey too. The woods surrounded the institute for miles, and right now, the solitude captured Pip's heart as he scanned thousands of dark trees. Anyone could be hiding among them.

Pip shut the curtains and sat on the edge of the double bed. He hadn't slept the night before, yet his mind was spinning. Pip rubbed his chest. He had felt Krey's breakdown earlier and sat in the corner of the room to cry too. Krey's heartache hurt as though it clawed at Pip's heart.

Pip had almost gone to comfort him but stood his ground. Pip said he wanted space because he needed it, not to punish Krey.

He flopped back on the bed, wondering if he should try to sleep when he heard ruffling from outside his room. He sat immediately, unsure of whether he had locked the door or not. Pip shouldn't be worried in his own home, but he lived with a pack of werewolves and only half liked him enough to tolerate him.

Pip stood when something bumped his door, then he felt Krey's presence. He knew it was Krey because his breathing eased, and his shoulders relaxed. Whenever Krey was close, his stresses washed away, which was why Pip had felt so awful recently. Krey had caused his sorrow this time, and there was something very unnatural about it.

Pip hovered awkwardly, not ready to see him, but curious about what he was doing. Pip waited until he felt Krey's presence leaving, then attentively approached the door. He unlocked it and peeked into the corridor, looking left and right.

It was late and the surrounding Omega's had gone to bed. Pip stepped into the corridor, almost tripping on a stack of books by his feet. A blanket was folded on top with a handwritten note. Pip crouched, reading Krey's messy handwriting out loud. "I know you'd want to read these while you're upset, and I know you wouldn't want to see me to get them. I also know you'd want an extra blanket. Miss you, my Pippor."

Pip's eyes watered as he scooped the blanket and books up. Being his forgiving self, he wanted to run after Krey and thank him and hug him and tell him everything would be okay now. Instead, he hid in his room and cried again.

He couldn't forgive Krey easily, even if he really wanted to. He wouldn't if it were anyone else.

* * * * *

Krey barely slept. His room suddenly felt huge and empty without Pip by his side. He often turned over, half asleep, and tried to put an arm around his mate who wasn't there. Then Krey got all sad and stayed awake for a while, feeling sorry for himself.

He got up at the crack of dawn to walk around the field, but when he glanced through his curtains to check the weather, he saw Pip walking around the perimeter with his hands behind his back, staring at his feet with each step.

Krey sat on the windowsill and watched him instead. The bodies had been removed during the night. Krey shifted uncomfortably when Sid's face came to mind.

He focused from one sad face to another, though he couldn't really see Pip's expression because he was at the back of the field, but Krey could feel his unhappiness. That's all down to me. What can I do to make this better?

Krey watched him reach one corner, then follow the fence back towards the Packhouse. Now that he couldn't be with Pip, Krey realised just how much he missed him and his bright smile, his soft voice, his gentle hands, and his sky-blue eyes that always softened whenever they looked in Krey's direction. Recently, however, they had only watered whenever he looked at Krey.