"Don't leave me behind! I have not been of much use yet, but I don't want to be laid aside, like baggage to be called for when all is over." (J.R.R Tolkien, The Return of the King)

"Why can't I be under Zephyr's command, instead of Akhenaton's?"

Fayez had been asking Ashur the same question a good thousand times in the last half hour. Of course, he already knew the answer - but that didn't discourage him from asking.

He had finally came to understand that the students in Akhenaton's section had one purpose. This purpose was to protect their classmates from other sections during their missions. They were supposed to have their backs if they happened to be attacked by other creatures.

It was a noble cause, of course, but it wasn't what Fayez had had in mind, when he had first joined the Institute for Supernatural Beings.

He had come here to protect the human race, and apparently, that was a mission exclusively reserved to Zephyr's students. Every section was given a specific task, and the Spirit of the Woods, who was supposed to read people's mind, had purposely sent him to the wrong section.

That was fucking unfair. He had spent his whole life letting his parents decide for him, and even now that he was far away from home, he was still treated like a helpless infant?

Of course, the rules were the same for all the students, and he wasn't the only one not to get what he wanted. Still, just because they applied to everyone didn't mean the rules weren't unfair.

He had first told Nassiba how he felt about it, using a lot of non too kind words against the mysterious Headmaster. Her friend had first tried to convince him that there wasn't anything they could do about it, and that they should focus on learning as many skills as possible, instead of going against the system.

She had made a good point, too, when she had told him that the students knew what they were getting themselves into, before they arrived at the Institute.

Problem was, at that time Fayez had been mostly clueless about the renewed institute. It had made him sad but then, as often these days, he had turned his sadness into anger.

Anger against his parents, for always keeping him in the dark.

Anger against the Headmaster, for acting like they were some sort of omnipotent Deity, who could never be seen by insignificant creatures.

Anger against his mates, for not letting him try to heal Zephyr with his bared hands. For not trusting that he would survive if he did it.

Who the fuck did they all think he was?

He was an adult.

He was a vampire.

He was one of the strongest recruit at the Institute.

He didn't need to be protected from anyone or anything.

"As I've told you over and over again, Fayez dear, you should ask the Headmaster about it, not me." Ashur eventually replied to his question in a non-too patient voice. "And please, don't address him in the same rude way you're talking to me right now."

He was starting to really piss off the prefect - that much was obvious. Pissing off the ever so collected man could seem like an impossible mission, but Fayez proved surprisingly gifted when it came to being an annoying little brat.

Maybe he did deserve the title that Akhenaton had given to him, after all.

Little brat.

Or the other one. The one he had only said once. The one that gave him butterflies in his stomach, although he would never admit it to the brunet.

Baby brat.

"As I've told you over and over again, Ashur dear, I don't want to meet that person." Fayez mimicked him in a quite insolent manner, making the taller man frown.

Oh dear, did Ashur look unhappy with him right now.

He was still sitting in his chair, but his left leg was shaking slightly, as if he was trying his hardest to keep himself under control.

The color of his eyes was constantly changing, and his nails were starting to get longer.

Those were telling signs that something wasn't quite right with the prefect, unfortunately, Fayez was too upset to pay attention to them.

"Why don't you want to meet them?" Ashur asked, in a voice that suggested that he didn't care much about the reason for Fayez to be wary of the Headmaster.

That infuriated Fayez some more.

"I told you why already. Bloody Hell, are you even listening to me, dude?"

Dude. He had learned this word a couple of weeks ago, and since then, he had used it a lot, along with bro, chap, fella, brother and - his favourite - hombre.

He thought he sounded so cool when he said them, especially the one in Spanish, and it didn't matter that his three mates strongly disagreed with him.

"Fayez-" Ashur said, the warning clear in his voice this time.

"I don't want to meet them. Last time I went into their office, I didn't even see their faces. All I got was a stupid, robotic voice coming from nowhere and spilling nonsenses" he complained, not caring that he sounded like a petulant child right now.

"Come on, Fayez, you know that the Headmaster just don't show their faces to anyone. You have to deserve the right to - "

"Ah! Deserve the right!" Fayez interrupted. "Who the hell do they think they are?"

"I don't even know why I'm arguing with you right now" Ashur sighed, before turning back to his notes and books.

That gesture clearly meant leave me alone.

This would have been the perfect moment for Fayez to back down, and leave Ashur's office as quietly as possible. His mate was obviously very annoyed with him right now, but the guy was a nerd and soon enough he would dive back into his own academic bubble.

Later in the evening, Fayez could have tried to make amend by being the sweet little mate he usually was. Surely, Ashur would have forgiven him, for Ashur was a forgiving man, especially when it came to his mates.

That would have been the wisest thing to do, only, wisdom was something Fayez cruely lacked, along with a sense of self-preservation.

"I hate them, so I don't want to see their ugly face anyway" Fayez added, making Ashur snort.

"Really? You think you'd hate the Headmaster, if you ever got the chance to meet them for real?" he asked, his obvious annoyance mixing with a hint of amusement.

"Why do you sound so cheeky about it?" Fayez snapped, for once not liking his mate's teasing tone one bit. "And what makes you think that you know me so well that you can predict who I'm going to like?"

"Fayez, this is the last time I'm telling you to watch your tone." Ashur warned, in a deep voice that didn't really sound like his.

For the first time, since he had barged into the prefect's office without being invited, Fayez felt a bit uneasy. It was too late to back down, though, or to think of an apologize. All he could do was to pretend he wasn't scared at all by his mate's odd behaviour.

" Oh my God, you're so arrogant, just like the Headmaster! Do you think you're the boss of me or what? Do you really believe you can tell me to shut up, and that I will obey you like the little soldier you want me to be?" Fayez started yelling, as his frustration finally exploded.

The insult was as ridiculous as it was far from the truth, but Fayez knew it wasn't his poorly chosen insult that would bother the prefect.

It was the provocative and disrespectful manner he had talked to him.

There was a loud bang, and Fayez actually had to cover his eyes with his gloved hands, for the sudden ray of light was blinding.

A few minutes passed, then the light subsided, allowing the bratty vampire to carefully open his eyes.

He let out a strangled gasp, and closed them immediately at the surprising and quite frightening sight just in front of him.

"Fayez, open your eyes. Now."

This is Ashur, he told himself. This is still Ashur. He would never hurt me, but I should still obey him without any delay. Shit, what's gotten into me today? Since when do I act so carelessly?

He opened his eyes again, and this time kept them on Ashur.

It was still Ashur. A different version of the tall prefect, but the prefect nonetheless.

He was much bigger than his former self, his skin was darker, and his hair were now long enough that they were touching his feet.

Only, they weren't hair anymore. The extremity had turned into tiny snakes, which were twisting and hissing.

His eyes were a deep green, and his usually perfectly normal teeth had turned into impressive fangs.

He also had a tail now. A beautiful wolf-tail.

And - had he turned more muscular as well?

"What - what are you?" Fayez stuttered, as he took a step back.

"I belong to a special kind of shifters", Ashur started explaining, while keeping his eyes on Fayez with a predatory expression, which was both frightening and a bit of a turn-on. We don't just shift into a unique animal. We can, with the proper training, shift into any creature we want."

"That sounds awesome but - but right now?" Fayez asked, confusion lacing his voice. "What creature are you right now?"

"Right now." Ashur responded, in a voice that gave Fayez chills. "I'm very pissed-off. It doesn't happen often, but when I am angered, I turn into a mix of different creatures. That's why I usually reign my anger in"

"Well you're - a sight to behold." Fayez said truthfully.

"Thank you, but don't even think that flattering me will help you to save your ass" Ashur responded, with a devilish smirk that Fayez had never seen on his face.

"I'm only saying the truth!" Fayez protested, before closing his mouth shut when the other man - creature?- glared at him.

They remained silent for a while. Ashur was not getting any closer to Fayez, but he was looking at him with an intent expression, and Fayez instinctively understood the hidden meaning.

Don't move. Don't even think of running away.

He didn't think he could have run, even if he had wanted to. His feet seemed to be glued to the floor.

"Are you really mad at me?" he asked timidly.

So much for the fearless Fayez.

"Yes, Fayez, I am." the giant simply replied.

Breathing was starting to get difficult.

It was all his fault. If even Ashur couldn't bear him, there was no way his other two mates ever would.

It was a reminder that he didn't deserve them after all. He didn't deserve anyone. His looks were okay, he was an appalling mixture of bratty and bashful, he wasn't the sharpest pen in the box, he was useless when it came to sex and he was terrible at making small talk.

Plus, his sense of timing was always the worst.

"Please, I know I am a handful sometimes, but please don't leave me."

But they were leaving him. How could he have not seen it earlier? Last night, he should have paid attention to what they were saying to each other, instead of sleeping with his head on Zephyr's shoulder, like the ignorant fool that he was.

They were probably discussing about the easiest way to get rid of him.

"Fayez!"

He wanted to be better, but he didn't know how. He tried turning everything into a joke. People thought he was childish, but the truth was, everytime a single word left his mouth, he wished he could take it back. He sounded so silly, whatever he said, however he acted.

"Fayez, come here now."

This was definitely the Ashur he knew. Without thinking twice about it, he rushed into the familiar embrace, and let out a sigh of relief as he felt big, warm arms close around him.

"Fayez, sweet boy, take a deep breath for me, okay? Come on, inhale and exhale."

He did as instructed, letting Ashur's unique scent fill his nostrils.

It became easier to breath. His mates always had this effect on me.

"Feeling better?"

Fayez only nodded, before looking up at the man.

"I'm not leaving you, Faye, and neither are Zephyr and Akhenaton. No matter how bratty you can be - plus, you're not that bratty. We love all of your sides. Okay?"

"Okay."

He still couldn't be convinced they would indeed never leave him, but he believed it a bit more every day. Maybe one day, he wouldn't have to ask this kind of question anymore. Probably.

"I'm sorry I said those awful words to you."

"It's okay, sweet boy. I know you were angry, and that you didn't mean them."

"So - so we're good now?" Fayez asked in a hopeful voice.

Ashur smiled, and his hold around Fayez's waist slightly tightened.

"We're good but -"

"But?"

"But you still need to be punished for your behaviour."