Jonas shifted restlessly, roughly laying his head back on the bed. He hadn't realized how tense he'd become while texting Lukas, and his arm felt like a vise around Hugh.

Hugh stirred, sensing Jonas' agitation. His eyes opened to find Jonas' face taut with worry. The atmosphere in the room was heavy with unspoken fears and the remnants of a troubled night.

Hugh gave him a gentle look. "Sweetheart? You okay?"

Jonas released a weary sigh, his frustration evident as he handed his phone to Hugh. The message from Lukas had been so loaded with manipulative threats that he felt a sense of relief in sharing it. Lukas had already assumed he'd seen it, so there was no harm in letting Hugh in on the details. It was more than just a gesture of transparency; it was a plea for understanding and support in the face of mounting pressure.

Hugh scanned the messages in tense silence, his expression darkening with each line he read. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice trembling with frustration. "This is absolutely not happening, Jo. You can't agree to this."

"I know. But Eli..."

Hugh propped himself up in bed and tenderly brushed his fingers along Jonas' jawline. "We'll find a way to protect him," he promised softly.

Jonas managed a strained smile, nodding as he drew Hugh closer to his chest. "I know."

Hugh's gaze lingered with concern, but the fatigue from their earlier activities quickly took its toll. His breaths grew steady, and he drifted into a deep sleep within moments.

Jonas held Hugh through the night, but sleep eluded him. He was accustomed to facing challenges alone, and part of him was tempted to accept the Hunt, believing it might safeguard his peers, Eli, and Hugh.

Yet, the potential fallout weighed heavily on him. What if Hugh discovered his decision? Could he bear the thought of losing the man he had only just begun to cherish?

Jonas wrestled with his turmoil throughout the night, and by morning, it was clear to Hugh just how deeply Lukas' words had affected him. Jonas' face was ashen, with dark shadows beneath his eyes, betraying the sleepless, troubled night he had endured.

As Hugh stirred awake, Jonas leaned in to kiss his forehead gently before slipping out of bed and heading to the bathroom. The gesture was tender but barely masked the storm brewing within him.

Hugh's sigh was heavy with disappointment. This wasn't how their morning was supposed to start, especially after the night they'd shared. It felt like Jonas was distancing himself, retreating behind a wall of silence that Hugh hadn't expected. It stung. Now, the man he deeply cared for seemed to be shutting him out, leaving Hugh feeling both hurt and helpless.

Hugh climbed out of bed, wincing at the soreness in his muscles. He muttered a curse under his breath and didn't bother to hold back as he slammed the bathroom door open. Inside, he found Jonas sitting on the sink, his head buried in his hands. Without a word, Hugh tossed Jonas his clothes and shoes, the urgency in his movements reflecting his frustration.

"Put these on now," Hugh demanded. Jonas was confused but complied.

Hugh grabbed Jonas' hand and pulled him out. "You're coming with me."

"Hugh, what the fuck?" Jonas protested, trying to pull back, but Hugh kept his grip.

"Don't argue with me on this," Hugh snapped, his voice edged with frustration as he flung open the door to the common room. The sudden intrusion startled the boys gathered for breakfast, including Travis, who watched in surprise as the two Kings made their way through the room.

The students observed in tense silence as Hugh, clearly intent on his mission, grabbed a workout bag from beside the punching bag and continued to drag Jonas out of the dorm. The unmistakable air of authority and anger surrounding Hugh left no room for dissent.

Travis ran after them. "Is everything okay?"

Hugh glared back at him. "Don't follow. Don't let anyone else follow either."

Travis hesitated, a joke dying on his lips as he took in Hugh's stern, icy demeanor. The oppressive aura surrounding Jonas made him even more formidable and unapproachable.

Several boys quickly stepped aside in the hallway, instinctively understanding the gravity of the situation and not daring to challenge the two Kings.

Hugh led Jonas through the corridors of the now-empty school, his grip unyielding. At the gym, Hugh picked the lock with practiced ease, pushed Jonas inside, and locked the door behind them, sealing them off from the outside world.

"Seriously, Hugh. What the hell are we doing here?" Jonas demanded, his voice tinged with frustration.

Hugh didn't answer immediately. Instead, he unzipped the bag and tossed Jonas' fighting gloves at him, then retrieved his own from the bag with a deliberate, measured calmness.

"I'm going to hit you, sweetheart. And I won't hold back," Hugh declared, his eyes flashing with a steely resolve.

Jonas snorted in disbelief and rolled his eyes, but Hugh remained focused. As Hugh donned his gloves and began stretching his arms, Jonas watched with incredulity and mounting tension.

"Put on the goddamn gloves, Jo."

"This is bullshit, Hugh."

Hugh sighed, his patience wearing thin. "Fine, sweetheart. Unlike Lukas, I gave you a fair warning. And I'm not going to strike you when your back is turned. So, clench your jaw."

"What the hell do you—" Jonas started, but his words were cut off as Hugh's fist connected sharply with his face.

"How about those gloves, sweetheart?" Hugh said, his smirk growing menacing.

Jonas' eyes narrowed, and a low growl rumbled from his throat as he pulled on his gloves and cracked his neck.

"I'm going to hit you again," Hugh warned, his tone steely as he swung.

Jonas raised his guard, deflecting the punch with the outside of his arms. He shifted his weight and delivered a jab that scraped Hugh's cheek. Hugh hissed, staggered slightly, and retaliated with a sharp kick to Jonas' ribs.

Jonas groaned. He'd sparred with Hugh before, but they had always held back. Now, Hugh was unleashing his full strength.

Jonas jabbed and crossed, momentarily throwing Hugh off balance. He followed up with a powerful hook that slammed into Hugh's cheek.

Hugh staggered but quickly regained his footing, retaliating with a punch that split Jonas' lip. Another punch landed squarely on Jonas' eye.

Jonas raised his hands to block the next hit, then lowered one arm to deliver a forceful body shot. Hugh gasped but remained on his feet, countering with a brutal kick to Jonas' thigh. The pain shot through Jonas' leg, leaving it slightly numb.

Jonas pressed forward, delivering a series of jabs that sliced Hugh's eyebrow. He followed with a cross, pushing Hugh back.

Seizing the opportunity, Jonas landed another blow, sending Hugh sprawling to the ground. Hugh rolled backward and quickly stood up, swaying slightly but keeping his guard up. Jonas pursued him, closing the distance, but Hugh moved with agility, landing another punch to Jonas' eye. Blood trickled down Jonas' face from the fresh cut.

They continued to trade blows until their arms burned, their bodies were bruised, and their faces were smeared with blood.

Hugh began to stumble, his arms falling to his sides more frequently as he absorbed Jonas' punches. He let out a pained laugh, blood dribbling from his mouth. Jonas clicked his tongue in frustration and prepared to strike again, but Hugh's eyes grew glassy, and he swayed.

Jonas' breath caught in his throat as he watched Hugh start to collapse. His punch shifted into a desperate grab, but the movement was awkward. Jonas staggered as well, pulling Hugh tightly against his chest and twisting his body so that his back hit the ground first, cushioning Hugh from the impact. He held Hugh close, feeling the rapid thud of his heartbeat against his chest, his earlier anger now overshadowed by a deep, urgent concern.

Hugh weakly lifted a hand and tapped Jonas on the shoulder. "I'm not weak, Jo," he murmured into Jonas' chest, his voice barely audible.

Jonas let out a heavy sigh. "I know."

With a determined effort, Hugh pushed himself up and straddled Jonas, who remained sprawled on the ground. Gripping Jonas' collar with both hands, Hugh's eyes flashed with frustration. "Then why the hell are you treating me like I need fucking protection?"

Jonas turned his gaze away, his voice low. "You won't understand."

"You're right," Hugh snapped, his frustration evident. He gripped Jonas' chin and forced him to meet his eyes. "I won't understand a damn thing if you keep shutting me out."

Jonas' eyes softened, but he remained silent. Hugh's frustration boiled over as he roared, "I am not one of your weaknesses, Jo! I can stand my ground just as well as you. I'm not some fragile thing that needs to hide behind you!"

"That's not it. I shouldn't have shown you the messages," Jonas said through gritted teeth.

Hugh yanked Jonas up by his shirt, his grip fierce. As Jonas came close, he could see the moisture glistening in Hugh's eyes, a stark contrast to the anger in his voice.

"What do you think I will do if you open up to me, Jo? I'm not your brother, needing your protection. I'm not Brett, burdened by trauma. I'm not your father; you don't need to seek my approval. I'm not one of those sad fuckers at St. Vincent's who will cower from the Wolf. I will never be like Lukas—a bastard who betrays you. I will never turn my back on you. So why are you trying to fit me into one of those roles in your mind? Why can't I be something different? Why can't I stand by you?"

Jonas gently cupped Hugh's cheeks. "You're not just something different; you're everything to me. In this fucked-up world, you're the breath of fresh air that I desperately needed. You're the one good thing that negates all of the bad."

"Then let me in," Hugh pleaded, tears finally spilling over and landing on Jonas' hands.

Jonas took a deep breath and softly kissed Hugh's forehead. He tenderly wiped away the tears from Hugh's cheeks, his own eyes welling up with emotion.

"Lukas wasn't lying. I know what they're capable of, and it terrifies me... I've never had so much to lose before."

Hugh pressed his forehead against Jonas', his voice trembling. "I'm a violent man, but this situation scares me. It really scares me. They might actually kill you this time."

Jonas hesitated, his voice heavy. "I know."

Hugh looked at him with desperation in his eyes. "I can't lose you. Not to Lukas, not to St. Vincent's, and not to your pent-up emotions or the walls you've built around yourself. Please, don't try to face this alone. Trust me, even just a little."

Jonas wrapped his arms around Hugh's waist, pulling him close so they were flush against each other. Resting his head on Hugh's shoulder, Jonas let out a shaky breath. "I thought if I faced this alone, I wouldn't be as frightened."

"And did it work? Did it take away your fear?"

Jonas exhaled sharply, his voice thick with emotion. "No."

"They won't stop after this Hunt, you know that, right?"

"I do."

Hugh lifted his arm and began running his hand through Jonas' hair. "I'm yours, Jo. I'm your friend, your partner, and your lover. That will always be my truth. So I won't let you do this alone."

A shudder ran through Jonas' body, and his arms tightened around Hugh.

Hugh continued to stroke Jonas' hair. "That's right. No matter how much Lukas wants it, it will never be just you versus them. I will always be by your side if you let me."

Jonas lifted his head and looked into Hugh's eyes, the moment charged with unspoken emotions. He hesitated, then slowly leaned in, their lips meeting in a tentative kiss. When they finally pulled away, they were breathless, their faces flushed.

Hugh's smile was soft yet radiant. "We'll find a way to protect Eli, and we can count on Hawkings to stand up for themselves. We'll do this together."

Jonas ran his hands through Hugh's hair, his heart pounding with fear and hope. "Together then," he murmured. He pulled Hugh close, his voice trembling slightly as he whispered, "I... I love you."

Hugh's eyes widened, his relief and joy shining through. He laughed softly, his voice thick with emotion. "I love you too."