Page 39 of The Alpha's Mates

“Precisely why I wanted to talk to you.” He placed his hand over the pledge application on the table. “I would like to join your merry band of misfits.”

“But you’re part of Kappa Pi.”

He frowned. “Not anymore.” Sadness filled his golden eyes as he looked away. Whatever happened hurt him and pissed Bell off.

“Why?”

“They found out I’m gay. Bi, actually.” He shrugged. “Some of the guys aren’t comfortable with the idea of a gay man being in close quarters with them. So, they stripped me of my home and of my fraternity.”

“They can’t do that!” Hayden slammed her fist on the table, jolting Victor from his thoughts. “They’re discriminating against you. Was the person your mate?”

“Yes, they are. But they also have photos. Kind of like what Laney has against your Christoph. Only mine are with a boy on the soccer team. He’s of age, but they are compromising.” She stared at him. A boy on the soccer team? She wondered if Tate knew who it was and if anyone had gone to the school about the incident.

“So, they have you boinking some guy, who cares!” Hayden raged.

“I’m a power bottom, so they have pictures of me being boinked.” He gave them a rueful smile. “I don’t care about being kicked out. It’s the fact of my privacy being invaded, so I had no issue about walking away. Then I heard about your house needing pledges, and the fact you are so open with your policies, I thought perhaps we could shake up the school together.”

“What did you have in mind?” Bell glanced at his application. She didn’t prod him for answers or anything as she read over the form. She had no issue allowing him to join. The school, on the other hand, might differ with her assessment or her judgement.

He pulled the Co-Ed application of out his jacket next and laid it on the table. “This is for a Co-Ed Greek house. It means men and women can live together and act like a fraternity or a sorority, only they’re not in the Greek life per se, yet are. It’s like they have all the benefits with none of the most stringent formal rules.”

She frowned. “We’d lose our charter.”

“Not necessarily. I want to challenge the Greek board. I’d like for us to have the first Greek Co-Ed House on this campus with your sororities name. It will be for those who feel like they have nowhere to go, or they don’t feel accepted.”

Bell glanced at the application. The filing fees alone would cost her more than she thought the sorority had, but she couldn’t think about that at the moment. “The fee is pretty steep.”

“We’ll raise the money.” He shrugged.

“How?” Hayden grabbed the packet and flipped through it. “We have a house to fix up, ten more pledges to find in thirty days, and you want us to raise two grand in thirty days too?”

“Fundraisers.” He didn’t even hesitate to answer. “Your house can be a spotlight for those who don’t feel like they fit in. You have a chance to change young shifters’ destinies everywhere.”

Bell looked at Hayden, who held her hands up. “This is your choice, Bell. You’re the president of this shindig. Whatever you want to do, I’m behind you. No matter what.”

She glanced down at the packet and bit her bottom lip. “Two-grand is a lot of money, but Victor has a point. Shifters like us needed a place to feel safe. Our aunts and uncles would be proud of us if we followed this route.” She grinned. “Welcome to Sigma Epsilon Xi, or whatever we’re going to be called when this goes through.” She held out her hand to him.

“Thank you, Bell. I promise we’ll make this work. You don’t even have to worry about the pledges, I have a plan.” He gave her a saucy wink before sliding out of the booth. “For what it’s worth, I’d talk to Christoph before believing a word coming out of Laney’s mouth. She’s a petty bitch who can’t keep a shifter to save her meager life.”

“The pictures are pretty damning, though.” Bell frowned.

He shrugged. “Sometimes. But unless you know the context in which they were taken, you’ll never fully know the truth.”

She nodded. “I’ll take your advice. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He walked away, leaving Bell to stare after him.

“Victor?”

He stopped mid-stride. “Yes?”

“You can move in today. Excuse the mess, though. We’re fixing up the place.” Bell smiled, feeling better about their situation after talking to Victor.

“How do you think I found you? I’ve already been by the house.” The wide grin he gave her in return made her laugh.

“Sneaky and pretty sure of yourself.”

He lifted his shoulder. “I had a good feeling about you. I’ll see you when you guys return.” With a wave, he disappeared into the crowd of college students, leaving Bell to stare after him.

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