Jonas and Hugh were woken up by a persistent knock on the door. Hugh groaned. "Someone better be dead."

"Stop being a grump ass! Food's here, boys," Travis yelled from the other side of the door. Luckily, they had locked it, or Travis would have barged in and discovered Hugh and Jonas curled up together, completely naked.

Hugh kissed Jonas. "You hungry?"

Jonas grinned. "Famished."

They quickly pulled on joggers and tank tops before stepping out of the room. The other Kings were also stumbling out of Travis' room, groggy and clearly just waking up. The common area was buzzing with energy, packed with boys, and the door opened to a massive hallway party. All of Hawkings was alive with celebration, the dorms teeming with excitement and camaraderie.

Hugh asked Travis where they got the many boxes of pizza, chicken wings, and other dishes. Travis happily explained that many businesses had pitched in and donated food to thank them for their work last night. The city was pulling behind them.

When the others noticed the Kings emerge, a loud cheer echoed throughout the dorm. The boys started to chant for their Kings. Jonas waved lazily and went to the kitchen for some coffee with Hugh behind him. They both got a cup and let the other Kings handle the crowd so they could have their own conversation.

Hugh examined Jonas' cheek again, which had a darkening bruise, and cursed. "I should have fucking hit him back."

Jonas shook his head. "One day, I will. I just need to get Eli out of there. Honestly, your dad and I have already discussed asking Chuck for help, so we may see light at the end of the tunnel soon."

"Eli's a good kid. He's tough, too. I can't believe he plays the piano instead of fighting like you," Hugh said with a laugh.

"He's something else. I'm glad he's not like me. I just have no idea where he came up with these pick-up lines," Jonas grumbled as he looked at Travis, who was texting on his phone with a bright blush on his cheeks.

Hugh laughed, his eyes lit up with mirth. "I feel like I got cheated. You never used a pick-up line for me."

Jonas raised an eyebrow. "Didn't I offer to bite you the first day we met?"

"As enjoyable and sexy as that sounds, it's not much of a pick-up line. Come on, sweetheart, sweep me off my feet," Hugh said with a wink.

Jonas rested his weight on the counter as Hugh leaned closer to him, his hands pressing on either side of Jonas, effectively trapping him. The anticipation of Jonas' next words hung in the air.

Jonas smirked and ran his hand through Hugh's hair. "Did you really need a pick-up line?"

Hugh's eyes darkened, and he bit his lip. "Maybe."

Jonas pressed a tender kiss to Hugh's lips. "From the moment I saw you, I knew you were meant to be mine. I didn't need a line because this—us—was always just a matter of time."

Hugh smiled. "Well, damn, Jonas."

Jonas drew Hugh back for another kiss, his lips grazing Hugh's gently but spoke volumes. Hugh's arms encircled Jonas' waist, pulling him closer as their kiss deepened. However, they pulled apart when they realized something was amiss.

The once lively and noisy atmosphere had become eerily quiet. As Jonas and Hugh glanced around, they were met with a sea of wide eyes.

"Fuck. I forgot they were here," Hugh groaned, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"How the hell did you forget?" Sam asked, his exasperation apparent in his voice.

Millan chuckled. "I have a feeling this will be a common occurrence."

Hugh glanced at Jonas as if the answer were self-evident. He could almost forget the rest of the world existed when he was with Jonas. "Well, I guess everyone knows we're dating now."

At an all-boys school like Hawkings, same-sex couples were nothing new. However, seeing their two toughest Kings together was a revelation. The students were more thrilled than anything, viewing the pairing as a formidable power couple that commanded respect. Anyone who might have had an issue with it would think twice before speaking up, fully aware of the sheer force and authority the Kings wielded.

"Goddamn. The Mad Dog and the Wolf!" Someone yelled out, causing the room to cheer.

Jonas flinched momentarily when someone called him "Wolf," but instead of the fear and apprehension he was accustomed to, he saw admiration and respect in their eyes. At Hawkings, he wasn't a monster; he was a revered figure.

However, his gratitude wavered when someone called, "Who won the bet?"

Hugh raised an eyebrow. "Why the hell didn't anyone tell me about that?"

There were some quiet murmurings and halfhearted excuses.

Hugh groaned. "I would've placed a bet and won!"

Jonas shook his head with a broad smile and guided Hugh to the food. They grabbed plates and retreated to a quieter corner, where they ate and observed the lively interactions around them. The noise and camaraderie in the room were a source of amusement. However, they largely ignored the flood of notifications on their phones congratulating them for both their victory and their new relationship.

When they had finished eating, Hugh yawned and rubbed his face wearily. Jonas leaned in closer and murmured with a smile, "I'm beat, too. You took the last of my energy this morning."

Hugh chuckled. "Let's go take another nap. But a real nap."

Hugh pulled Jonas along, paying no mind to the wolf whistles and catcalls from the group. Once they were inside their room, they locked the door behind them, sealing themselves away from the chaos outside.

Instead of heading straight to bed, Jonas made his way to the bathroom to treat his wounds. He stood in front of the mirror, examining the cuts and bruises that marred his skin. The cool water and antiseptic stung as he cleaned each wound, but he hardly flinched, showing how accustomed he was to this. Hugh watched from the doorway, his concern evident.

"Need any help?" Hugh asked softly, stepping into the bathroom.

Jonas glanced at him and shook his head with a smile. "I've got it. Just need to make sure these don't get infected."

Hugh nodded, leaning against the doorframe, unable to tear his eyes away from Jonas. However, his phone rang, interrupting the quiet moment. Sighing, he gave Jonas one last look before stepping away to answer the FaceTime call.

"Hey, Mom," Hugh greeted, his voice warm but tired as he moved to the bed.

When Jonas came out of the bathroom, he recognized Hugh's mom and dad's voices. He leaned against the door frame, watching his boyfriend smile at the phone and occasionally run his hands through his hair.

"Yeah, Mom. We're fine. Just a bit tired. We woke up to grab some food, but we're going to get some more shut-eye now."

That woke Jonas from his ogling. Hugh's eyes noticed Jonas' movement, and he grinned eagerly, taking in the sight of Jonas' shirtless form.

"Hugh?" Lily called out when he seemed to have spaced out.

"Hugh!" She called again, a touch more insistently.

It took a few more attempts for Hugh to snap his eyes back to the screen, where he smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Mom. What did you say?"

Lily sighed, fondness and exasperation in her voice. "I asked when we will see you two next," she repeated with a huff, her concern for her son's well-being evident despite her impatience.

Hugh glanced at Jonas, who shrugged casually.

"Next weekend?" Jonas suggested.

"Is that Jonas? Put him on, too!" Lily asked with excitement.

Hugh gestured for Jonas to join him, and Jonas settled next to Hugh on the bed, leaning in so they were both visible on the screen.

"Hi, Lily and Alex," Jonas greeted with a smile.

Lily's eyes widened at the sight of Jonas' bruises. "Oh dear, those bruises! Are you okay?"

Jonas smiled, trying to ease her concern. "It looks worse than it really is. You should see me after a serious sparring session with Chuck. He makes sure my whole body looks like this."

Hugh laughed softly. "You still look pretty under all those bruises." He gave Jonas a playful wink, which made Jonas chuckle in response.

Alex, smiling warmly, added, "You both stood up for something important today. We're proud of you."

Lily nodded, but her concern was evident. "I still hate seeing you fight, though. Please be careful and try not to get hurt."

Hugh gave a reassuring grin. "Don't worry, we've got each other's backs." He leaned over and planted a kiss on Jonas' cheek. "Right?"

Jonas chuckled and nodded. "Absolutely."

Alex beamed with approval while Lily's eyes widened in surprise. Hugh laughed, breaking the moment. "Mom, Jonas and I are exhausted, so we're going to take a nap now. We'll catch up with you next weekend."

Hugh laughed happily and ended the call despite his parents' attempts to keep them on the line. Moments later, he received a text from his father: "Glad you two finally figured it out. Have a good nap, and call us later!"

Hugh's laughter turned into confusion as he read the message. He showed it to Jonas. "What do you think my dad meant by 'figured it out'?"

Jonas flushed, rubbing the back of his neck and avoiding eye contact. Hugh's eyes widened with curiosity. "You know, don't you," he asked with a playful frown.

Jonas sighed, looking sheepish. "Alex might have known about my feelings for you."

Hugh's expression shifted from surprise to delight. "Seriously? How long has he known?"

Jonas shrugged, a bit embarrassed. "Since the first time you introduced me to them. Our feelings were pretty obvious, don't you think? So when he asked me if I liked you, I answered honestly."

"What did you say?" Hugh asked, his voice filled with a mix of shock and curiosity. He realized that Alex had known about Jonas' feelings before he could even confirm them himself. While the signs were obvious, there had always been a lingering worry in the back of his mind that Jonas might not feel as deeply as he did.

Jonas leaned in and kissed Hugh's forehead softly. "More than anything."

Hugh's cheeks flushed, and a bright, genuine smile spread across his face. He pulled Jonas down onto the bed, settling against his chest. Though he wanted to do more, exhaustion overcame them both. Hugh murmured something about a 'rain check' before closing his eyes and drifting into sleep.

Jonas, equally tired, was overwhelmed with a whirlwind of emotions. As he lay there, he tried to calm the storm within his mind, reflecting on the day's events and their implications for their future.

The thought of his father returning was daunting. It took immense effort to let Eli walk out the door, but he had faith in Eli. He hoped for the best but resolved that if anything went wrong again, he wouldn't wait. He would act immediately, dragging Eli out of that place if necessary.

At the same time, he was coming to terms with being the Wolf once more. Yet, this time was different from his experience at St. Vincent's. At Hawkings, he wasn't feared for his past.

Today, he had stood up against St. Vincent's. He had spoken out against the Hunts and paid tribute to Brett's memory. He had stood tall, no longer shying away from his identity. And at day's end, he found himself surrounded by friends and allies, falling asleep next to someone who chose to stay with him even after witnessing his worst moments.

He tightened his embrace around Hugh, a content smile on his face. He had come to terms with being both the Wolf and a King, and he was content with that reality.