"Four legs or two?"

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Mani awoke much earlier than he would have liked. He hadn't really slept, his mind swirling with thoughts about what he should do for the best. Not just for him, but for everyone. If Jojo somehow wanted to return here, then Mani would be worried about what Teddy may do. If he stayed in Mani's dorm, then what if what Teddy thought about Tyler being exposed to vampires in some way turned out to be true? Though Mani had doubted it. He would have been able to tell.

Then of course, what if Mani himself stayed here, with his mate. The most obvious choice and when he looks over to Teddy laying on his back, his body partially exposed as he seemed at peace, the easiest option. He hated to admit it, but physically speaking, Teddy was just his type, with his muscular frame, not too bulky, but enough to protect him… "What am I thinking? I don't need protection." He mumbles under his breath as he whips back the sheets, hating how stereotypical he sounded.

The sudden whoosh of air created by the blankets, dances over Teddy's naked chest, causing him to stir. He sees the omega supposedly being quiet as he looks for something to put on, to head back to his dorm. "Hey, where are you going? It's still early." He groans as he begins to stretch out his limbs as he lay on the bed.

"Back to my room. I stayed one night like you said, now I'm going." Mani grabs a bag lying on the floor by the bed and proceeds to pull some of Jojo's possessions into it.

Teddy sits up, swinging his legs around and out of the bed. "Stop." He says. His voice is strong, firm and as much as Mani hated the tone, he halts his actions at the dominating undertone. He turns to look at Teddy, who stands up tall. He takes a step forwards, towering over him. "I thought I told you last night that I need you, Mani. What is happening out there is bigger than us."

"Which is why I'm going!" Mani interrupts. I can keep an eye on things on my side of the campus. I won't be distracted by you."

"Because you want to be distracted by other men." Teddy is quick to reply. "Maybe you really are a slutty omega."

A hand is quick to respond as it gets slapped across Teddy's cheek. Mani instantly regrets acting in haste, his eyes widening at the sudden reaction. He had hit his alpha mate. "I'm I'm sorry, I shouldn't…" Mani lets his head drop, as he cowers before the other male. Disrespecting an alpha, any alpha was a certain death sentence by wolflaw.

The force of the hand turns Teddy's head to the side. He doesn't even take his own hand to the reddening cheek as he looks back at the whimpering omega. "Maybe it's best if you leave." He growls. Mani doesn't need to be told twice as he grabs the bag he had been packing and heads for the door.

****

As he sneaks back into his room, Mani is relieved to see both males still asleep, seemingly unaware of his eventful night. He quietly places the bag of Jojo's clothes by the foot of the bed before looking over at Tyler. He was sound asleep, not too different to when he saw him on that first morning. There was no way the guy was a vampire. Mani lets out a small sigh of relief.

Jojo begins to stir on the bed, before opening his eyes to see Mani peering over the guy on the bed next to him. "You're up already?" He groans through a stretch, making his shirt ride up his body. Mani sees the smooth fair skin decorated with freckles. Jojo's body wasn't like Teddy's, with his muscular form… Mani clears his throat. Why was he comparing that idiot to the guy in front of him? All Teddy had done to him was hurt him with his words and rage and yet, here he was, still fantasising about the guy.

"I went for a walk…I got you some of your stuff." Mani now heads for the bag, picking it up and handing it over to Jojo.

Jojo sits up, taking the bag and looking inside. "Thanks." He says. He looks back up at Mani. "So you went back. Are you ok? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine." Mani is quick to reply. He didn't want to talk about the complexity of his feelings on the gravitas of the situation he had found himself in. Jojo knew enough. Jojo was his escape from it all.

"You have my clothes on. Why?" Jojo points to the t shirt sweatpants and boots, Mani had hurriedly dressed himself with.

"Oh, yeah, I…" he begins, but is grateful for the distraction of Tyler slowly rising from his slumber. He sits up from the bed in a daze, eyes not even opening.

Jojo looks at Tyler, then back at Mani. "Is he awake?" He says, just short of a whisper as they both watch Tyler haul himself out of bed and head for the door.

"I guess he is?" Mani wonders as he watches Tyler amble through the door.

"He looks like a zombie." Jojo comments, with a light laugh before realising his words. He instantly straightens his face and looks at Mani. "Zombies are fake… right?"

Mani looks at Tyler a moment more as he sees him stumbling down the corridor through the opened door. "I think so." The unconvincing tone in Mani's voice did little to appease Jojo's wonder. Were Zombies actually real?

Mani's eyes eventually get drawn back to Jojo. The air between them felt rather awkward, after all that had happened. Jojo looks at his clothes once again on Mani's frame. He takes a sigh. "Are you going to tell me why you are wearing my clothes or is it best I don't ask."

"I can tell you if you'd like." Mani says, forcing an unconvincing smile as he gets to rest on Tyler's bed. Jojo looks at Mani intently, finding himself swallowing in anticipation. "I went out to stretch my legs…" Mani stops and looks at Jojo, wondering if he would get his meaning. He could see the cogs in Jojo's brain working it out.

"Four legs or two?" He asks, still a little unsure.

"Four." Mani says smiling. His smile soon fades though as he looks away in recollection. "I saw him… Teddy. He was there in the woods…"

"Let me guess. You gave in to fate." Jojo seems keen for Mani to spill the tea.

"Not quite." Mani says, regretting the option to keep hush.

"So what happened?" Jojo asks again, hating the fact that he was being left hanging.

"Mani can't bring himself to say it. To say that Teddy had been cruel, not only as the white wolf but as in human state. Maybe he had asked for it. Mani had denied his mate what he wanted. Played terrible mind games. Teased him with the threat of potions. Mani wasn't an ordinary compliant omega. But Teddy wasn't an average alpha. He was from the highly regarded Ashen pack. He was extreme, passionate, a warrior…and try as he might, Mani knew anything with Jojo would be doomed to failure because even after all of what had occured, Teddy had Mani's heart.