Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Eric

My life sucks at the moment. Even though I’ve been a hybrid for a month already, I still don’t feel comfortable in my own skin. I have yet to learn how to control my thirst for

blood, but I’m not sure if I will ever be able to do that. It’s not easy to ignore the throbbing

feeling in my chest and the saliva which gathers in my mouth whenever I look at

someone’s veins.

Yet, despite this, Five and Logan trust me. Or at least I think they do since we are currently sitting in a limousine instead of spending time in my prison cell. Things are still rocky between me and Logan. I still consider him a traitor for forgetting me as soon as Five came into the picture. Like, I get it, she is our mate, and she is important, but the bastard hasn’t

even visited me on his own even once!

“This is perfect,” Logan says and nonchalantly lifts his champagne glass toward the open

window.

“Perfect?!” I growl and cross my arms over my chest. “It’s better than the prison cell, but I

wouldn’t call this perfect.”

Five gives me an uneasy smile. It’s the same one she has given me ever since I turned into a hybrid. It tells me she is afraid of me, but I’m choosing to ignore that.

“I know this isn’t the cafe like you wanted, but like you said, it’s much better than the prison cell.”

I pout. “I guess…”

She snorts and leans her head against my arm. I’m sitting on her left, while Logan is sitting on her right. She is tiny compared to us. Tiny and cute and oh–so–sandwiched. I want to hug her so badly, but the scent of her fear is in the air–another reminder of her not being

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Chapter 31

perfectly fine in my presence yet. It leaves me with a lump in my throat.

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“Oh, and I’m seeing your father tomorrow. Alone,” Five informs us and sighs. “I know he is probably trying to trick me, but I need to see him. He might know something about the

murder.‘

I wrinkle my nose. “Emily…right…” I notice that both Logan and Five are staring at me, and I roll my eyes. “No, it wasn’t me who did it. I was locked up in the basement, remember?

There was no way for me to kill that girl.”

Logan clears his throat. “We know it wasn’t you,” he says, his voice firm and reassuring. “We i

just need to find out who did it before they can frame you for it. The whole pack is convinced it’s the vampires, and if they learn that you were newly turned into a hybrid,

the blame will fall on you.”

I nod, knowing he’s right. The murder has been weighing heavily on my mind ever since we found out about it. Emily was brutally killed; only a sick person could have done it.

“So, what’s the plan?” I ask, looking between Logan and Five. “What can I do to help?”

Five takes a deep breath. “Well…we honestly just need you to stay locked up in the basement, Eric.”

Logan nods in agreement. “Yes, you stay there while we will be doing most of the investigation,” he adds. “It’s safer that way. For all of us.”

Frustration swells up inside of me. Logan won’t even look at me when is talking to me, and Five looks uneasy as if she is expecting me to attack her.

I grit my teeth and clench my fists, trying to fight back the anger that is boiling inside of me. “Fine. I can stay in the basement. I knew I was going back there anyway, but would you PLEASE stop looking at me like I’m a monster?!”

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Chapter 31

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Logan and Five exchange a look, and then Five places her small hand on my thigh. “Eric, we don’t think you’re a monster. We’re just trying to keep everyone safe. You’re still new

to being a hybrid, and we aren’t sure how you will react to certain situations. But you’re

not a monster.”

“Then why are you shaking?” I demand.

Guilt crosses Five’s face. “I…I don’t know…”

“You’re lying,” I meet her eyes and have to fight back my tears. What is the matter with

me? I used to be the tough and grumpy brother, not the emotional one. “I bet it’s taking

you all of your mental strength to even ride in the same limousine as me, huh?”

Logan puts a hand on my shoulder. “Eric, Five is doing her best. We are all trying to come

to terms with what you have turned into. It’s not easy for any of us.”

I take a deep breath and glare off to the side, feeling ashamed of myself for getting so

angry

“Right…” I mutter. “Can we go back home? I think I want to be alone again. This isn’t fun

anymore…”

Five gasps. “But we just got out of the mansion-

Logan lifts his hand to silence her and then fixes his eyes on mine. As my twin brother, he understands me better than anyone, but ever since I turned, we haven’t been able to talk.

to each other through telepathy.

“I will tell the driver to turn around the car,” he says in a low tone and attempts a smile. “And then I will give you some fresh blood bags. How does that sound?”

“Like I’m a pet,” I mutter. “But I guess I can’t complain…”

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Logan’s smile fades. “Eric, we are not treating you like a pet. We just want to make sure you’re comfortable.”

“I know, I know,” I sigh. “It’s just hard…being a hybrid. It’s like I’m not really a part of

anything anymore.”

Five scoot closer to me. “You’re a part of us, Eric. We are family.”

I smile weakly at her. “Thanks, Five.”

Logan clears his throat. “Alright, let’s head back home then.”

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As the limousine turns around, I lean my head against the window and stare outside. The world is passing by in a blur, but I can still make out the shapes of buildings and people.

It’s strange not being able to go out and experience the world like I used to, but at least I

have Logan and Five. They have always been there for me, even now.

I just wish I wasn’t a fucking hybrid. It doesn’t even feel like Five likes me anymore. She is just uncomfortable all the time, and that makes me sad. And that’s why I have a plan: tonight, I will escape to see if I can control myself on my own.