Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Five

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“It was the only way, Five,” Logan sighs and runs his hand through his black hair. “Locking up Eric wasn’t something I wanted to do either, but he was going wild after your blood. You saw what he almost did! He attacked you out there and hissed like a goddamn cat!”

I pace on the ground, arms crossed over my chest. “He did, but I still don’t think it’s right. to lock him up in the pack dungeons. What are you going to tell your father once he finds. out your own brother is locked up?!”

“He won’t find out,” Logan argues and places his hands on my shoulders, grabbing me so that I’m forced to look into his pleading eyes. I want to break free from him, but the look he is giving me is one of guilt.

He didn’t really want to lock up Eric either. I get that now, and that realization makes me

calm down.

I take a deep breath. “Alright, okay… How do you know your father won’t find out about

this?”

“He is busy watching the football games, and since he still thinks Eric is dead, he is drinking away his sorrows. Eric was his favorite son and all.”

My eyebrows furrow deeply as I listen to Logan explain the situation. The words feel heavy in my mind as I try to make sense of them. But no matter what, I can’t. Logan’s family is

pretty messed up.

“First of all, your father shouldn’t play favorites with his own children. Second of all, why isn’t he with you?” I question, struggling to understand the depth of pain Logan must be feeling. “Your father lost his son, and you lost your twin. He should be by your side,” I say softly, trying to offer some semblance of comfort amidst the chaos.

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Logan doesn’t answer the question. The silence between us is thick as we both know that. Eric isn’t truly dead, but their father doesn’t know that.

“Anyway, we should probably check up on Eric,” Logan says, tapping me on the shoulder. “He needs blood, and I was thinking you could be the one to feed the newly awakened hybrid his first blood bag. Maybe his mind will clear after he has had it?”

I shudder at the thought of feeding Eric, but I know it has to be done. “Fine,” I say, and Logan smiles.

“I knew I could count on you.”

We both head towards the pack dungeons. As we make our way down the long, dimly lit hallway, I can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. The dungeons always make me uneasy, with their cold stone walls and the sound of dripping water echoing through the halls. It makes me think of the time when I was a lowly Omega locked up in my parent’s

house…

Logan leads the way to Eric’s cell, and as he opens the heavy metal door, I can feel Eric’s presence before I see him. He’s crouched in the corner, his eyes blazing red in the dim

light.

“Five,” he hisses as we step into the cell. “Why are you with him? You know he’s going to

betray you.”

“Betray you?” Logan questions. “You needed to be locked up for your own safety!”

“I’m your brother!” Eric snarls back. “I’m also the second Alpha of our pack–I shouldn’t

be in here!”

Logan takes a step back, startled by the venom in his twin brother’s voice. I realize I have to take over and take a hesitant step forward.

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“Eric, calm down,” I say, holding out the blood bag to him. “You need to drink this.”

Eric snatches the blood bag from my hand and tears it open with his teeth. As he drinks. the blood, I can see his eyes start to clear, and the red fades to a more human brown.

“Thank you,” he says, handing me back the empty bag. “I’m sorry for attacking you earlier. I don’t know what came over me. It was a moment of weakness,” he glares at Logan. “And only a moment! I’m perfectly in control of my own actions and don’t deserve to be treated

like an animal.”

Logan winces, and I roll my eyes. “Eric, Logan only did what he thought was best for you.”

Eric snorts. “Right…”

“You don’t sound so convinced,” I point out.

“That’s because I know the truth,” Eric growls. “My brother only locked me up in here because he cares more about you than he cares about me lately,” he holds up his hand and points an accusing finger at Logan. “He betrayed me! We are twins with an unbreakable bond, or at least we had a bond until he fell in love with you! Now I can’t hear him anymore, and it’s all because of a stupid girl!”

Logan’s eyes narrow, but before he can do anything stupid, I hold out my hand. “It’s okay,” I say, trying to sound reassuring. “I got this. Why don’t you leave me alone with Eric and take a walk or something?”

Logan hesitates, his eyes flickering between Eric and me. Finally, he nods and leaves the cell. As soon as he’s gone, Eric’s eyes flash with a dangerous light.

“You shouldn’t be with him,” he says, circling me like a predator. “He can’t be trusted.”

A heavy sigh leaves my lips. “Eric, will you please stop this madness? You and Logan are both my mates, and I just…why can’t we all be friends?”

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Eric’s lips curl into a sneer. “Oh, I see how it is. You’re all chummy with Logan but only want to be my friend. I see how it is now… I’m not good enough for you.”

“Eric… that’s not true… I’m just…confused-”

“Confused?!” He laughs. “And you don’t think I am? I am the one who was turned into a freaking hybrid!”

With a sudden burst of strength, Eric breaks free from his chains and lunges forward. He grabs me by the throat and pushes me against the wall.

“I hate this, Five!” he snarls, tightening his on my throat while tears shine in his eyes. “I hate this, and I don’t know what or who I am anymore!”

eraso

“Eric…” I reach up to at his hands, but I’m too weak. My vision is already becoming weak and blurry from a lack of oxygen.

“I hate it!” He snarls, choking me harder. “I hate it all!”

Suddenly, I hear Logan’s voice in my mind. “Let her go, Eric.”

Eric pauses and looks up. “Logan?” he whispers.

“It’s me,” Logan’s voice sounds in my mind. “Let her go.”

With a loud growl, Eric pushes me away from him as if disgusted by himself and hurls forward against the wall, his fists pounding against it as tears stream down his face. “I’m sorry, Five…” he whimpers. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, Eric,” I say as I stumble over to him. “Shhh… I’m fine.”

He turns his head to look at me and buries his face in my shoulder. I wrap my arms around his waist and hold him as he cries. “You have to kill me, Five…I mean it,” he whispers. “I think something is wrong with me, and I don’t think it can be fixed. This darkness… it’s

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Chapter 27

only growing.”

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I hold him tighter as a chill runs down my spine. “No,” I say firmly, even though my heart aches for him. “We’ll find another way.”

Eric just sobs, and I feel terrible because deep down, I’m not sure if that’s true. I don’t

know if he can be helped.