Sleep: Leo POV

My wolf was as giddy as ever, thinking about our mate and how he'd warmed up to us. I couldn't wait to see him after class so we could spend time together during free period. I wanted to know everything about him. His likes, his dislikes. I wanted to hold him again. The way he comfortably fit in my arms. It was a feeling I'd happily become addicted to. Even with all of these happy thoughts bouncing through my head, there were still a few things bothering me. Like that scar.

From the look of it...he shouldn't even be alive right now. Dread and relief flooded through me. Then there was the way he'd been looking during training. Most of the time, his face was neutral, but in the back of his eyes, he looked as if he were in pain. He didn't say anything, but it was clear to see that whatever was going on was messing with his mood. Especially when he snapped on Nico's Beta, Henry. It could just be the effects of not sleeping, but something told me there was more to it. I wanted to ask him about all of it, but I felt that now wasn't the time. The bell that signaled the end of class pulled me from my thoughts. I quickly grabbed my bag and exited the classroom, eager to see Cyrus.

When I reached his classroom, I leaned against the wall next to the doorway, watching as students filed out along with the teacher. None of them my mate. I waited a little longer, but after no one exited for a while, I took a peek. What I saw put my wolf into a state of slight panic. Cyrus stood in the back corner of the room, his eyes closed as he leaned heavily against the wall. He was holding his head, his face twisted in pain. His eyes opened to slits as he noticed me in the room. He reached toward me with his hand and tried to take a step forward, but staggered slightly, falling. My bag dropped as I rushed to him. Catching him in my arms, my mind raced. He didn't look this bad when I'd left,

"Baby, what's wrong?"

He mumbled the word 'migraine', gripping my arm for stability. I held him close and walked him over to a desk. After sitting him down, I kneeled in front of him holding his hands,

"Do you want me to take you to the nurse?"

His eyes widened, and he shook his head quickly before wincing in pain and closing his eyes again. Okay, the nurse was out of the question. His hands tightened slightly around mine as he whispered,

"Sleep..."

I nodded, standing. Picking up his books, I went over to my bag and shoved them in. Throwing it over my shoulder, I walked back and knelt again, speaking softly,

"If I help you, can you walk to the library with me? I can carry you if you can't."

"Walk..."

Boy, was he stubborn. I stood and wrapped my arm around his waist, helping him up. When he was standing fully, he leaned into my side, gripping my shirt. I repositioned my arm slightly so that it was more securely around his waist. We walked slowly through the crowded hallway. I growled at people who either didn't move or didn't mind their own business. We finally reached the library, and I guided us to the first table I saw. Sitting down first and dropping my bag to the floor, I guided him to my lap.

At first, he tensed up, but he quickly relaxed into me with his eyes closed. I pulled the chair next to us closer so he could stretch his legs out. Wrapping my arms around him, I held him close, rocking slightly after kissing his forehead. He fell asleep after about five minutes, his breathing evening out. I was relieved that he was finally unconscious to the pain, but I was still worried at how it became this serious in such a short period of time.

I looked at his face as he slept, his hand still gripping my shirt. He looked so content and peaceful. It differed from his usual blank expression. I couldn't help but smile at the fact that he could feel this way with me. The sound of a chair being pulled out caused me to look up. Josh was about to sit across from Cyrus and I. I told him to keep it quiet through the pack link before looking back at my sleeping mate. Josh spoke in a hushed tone,

"Dude, your mate is scary as fuck."

"I second that emotion."

The response had come from Jax, who was walking towards us with a nodding Fin. They took up the seat next to Josh, Jax sitting on Fin's lap. Fin wrapped his hand around Jax's waist as he spoke,

"First, he beats Nico, then he causes his Beta to submit. Now he's curled up in your lap. He's definitely not your normal sub. In fact, if I didn't see the way he acted around you, I don't think I'd consider him a sub at all. I'd rather not get on his bad side."

"You and me both."

That came from Josh, who glanced at his future luna with respect and slight fear. They weren't wrong. The way he acted and carried himself made it extremely clear that he was an Alpha through and through. And a strong one at that. I didn't mind, though. In fact, the way he dominated others while submitting to me was sexy, in my opinion. It gave me more to cherish, like the peaceful face he was making now. Like a secret between the two of us.

The conversation moved to plans about the weekend and then the winter tournament. We were starting to talk about Josh's experience with the jaguar rogue when I felt Cyrus tense in my arms. I looked down and saw his eyebrows furrow as his breathing quickened. I pulled him closer to me, making sure my scent surrounded him in an attempt to calm him down. Luckily, it worked, his breathing slowing as his face evened out. I wonder what he was dreaming about. The bell rang before I had time to think about it further, causing Josh and company to look towards Cyrus and I,

"Did that wake him up?"

I shook my head, glancing down at his still sleeping face. His lips were parted slightly now. So cute. Readjusting my hold on him, I stood up, now carrying him bridal style. Josh grabbed my bag, seeing that my hands were full, and we headed to the cafeteria. I sat down at the table with Cyrus in my lap. Josh said he'd grab my food, and I nodded my thanks.

Slowly our table filled with the rest of our friend group, including a few warriors from both Josh and I's pack and Fin and Jax's shadow. They would glance towards Cyrus, but no one attempted to confront what was slowly becoming the elephant in the room. I started to open my mouth when a calm, but irritated voice spoke up from my arms,

"I'm his mate so stop staring."

Cyrus shifted in my arms 'til he was facing forward with his back against my chest, his hair brushing against my face lightly. His scent was much stronger in this position and I inhaled deeply. How long had he been awake? I leaned down next to his ear, speaking low so only he could hear,

"Are you feeling better? Does your head still hurt?"

He shook his head slightly, squeezing my knee reassuringly. I kissed the top of his head and placed my hand on his thigh. He suddenly tensed up, so I moved it to his waist instead. I felt him relax and then saw him look down slightly, rubbing the back of my hand,

"I'm sorry. I-"

I shushed him immediately, speaking quietly as I leaned by his ear again,

"You never have to apologize to me. I always want you to feel comfortable and safe. However far you're willing to go is where I'll set my limits. Your feelings come first to me, remember that."

He nodded silently, leaning deeper into me. I smiled and kissed the top of his head as Josh sat a tray of food in front of us. I grabbed a few fries from the tray, happy to eat. Conversation continued, though he remained silent in my lap, mostly observing or playing with my fingers. I was halfway through my food, and Cyrus had touched nothing. I rubbed his arm,

"Aren't you hungry?"

"Yeah."

"Then why aren't you eating?"

"Cause I don't know what that is."

"You've never had a burger and fries?"

He just shook his head. How? I picked up a french fry and held it in front of his face,

"This is a french fry. Try it, if you don't like it I can get you something else after school."

He leaned forward slightly, and I felt his lips brush across my finger as he took it between his teeth. After a few seconds, he reached for another, causing me to smile as I took a bite of the burger. I was about to ask if he would try it as well when a voice came from across the table,

"What a disgrace of an Alpha. Not only is your mate a rogue, but you accepted him. It's disgusting."

Low growls erupted from the table as I glared at Tyler. How dare he talk about my mate like that. My wolf was pissed, as was I, but before I could respond, Cyrus was gracefully perched on the end of the table directly in front of the fucker. By The Mother was he fast. And quiet. His voice cut through the noise of the crowded room like a blade, though he wasn't speaking loudly,

"I dare you...to say that again."

I couldn't see Cyrus' face, but however he looked had everyone on that end of the table giving him some wary distance. I saw Tyler swallow before he decided to stand by what he said,

"I said, your little boyfriend is a disgrace of an Alp-"

He didn't have a chance to finish as Cyrus pulled him by his hair, slamming his head into the table, before jumping gracefully over his crumbling form. Tyler held his profusely bleeding nose as Cyrus turned, revealing the wicked cold smile and furious eyes that made up his facial expression,

"To a degree, I don't give a fuck how you feel about me, but take this as your only warning. Never insult my mate."

His voice was like liquid nitrogen, freezing anyone who heard it. He leaned forward towards Tyler's still slightly hunched figure, the smile dropping from his face. His eyes became a pale blue, almost gray, as I sensed his wolf come to the forefront. Killing intent and bloodlust flowed off of him as he spoke in a sinisterly low register,

"Now leave before I kill you."

Tyler booked it without a single word, and Cyrus made his way back to me. By the time he sat on my lap, his eyes were back to normal and his face was back to its regular neutral expression. I pulled him to my chest, considering what I just saw. I might've been angry, but Cyrus had been murderous. And something told me he wouldn't hesitate to fulfill his threat either. Sleep deprivation, migraines, battle experience, fear of touch, and now a temper. And this seemed like the tip of the iceberg. My mate's back story was starting to worry me. He seemed to have been through quite a bit to only be a senior in high school. I don't think it's because he's been living as a rogue either.