Jonas looked around the room at the people who stood by him without hesitation. He pulled Hugh onto his lap, nuzzling his neck with an exhausted sigh. His friends had questions, but they kept their curiosities to themselves out of respect.

Still, Jonas could sense the turmoil beneath their silence—how they were torn up every time another of his dark secrets was revealed. And he had no idea how to ease their pain.

He wished he could tell them it wasn't always that bad, but it would be a lie. The only difference now was that Clark had turned his attention and hatred toward Eli instead of him. Jonas had no comforting words, no lies to soften the truth.

"I'm sorry," Jonas rasped out, startling the group with the suddenness of his voice. "I never wanted to drag people into my mess, but I keep doing it. First with St. Vincent's, and now with my father."

A chorus of protests started to rise, but Hugh silenced them with a firm shake of his head. Jonas could feel the tension in the room—the worry and frustration of his friends, who were being confronted with his dark secrets piece by piece. He wanted to shield them from it all, but he couldn't.

"You don't have to be sorry," Hugh said softly, his voice cutting through the silence. "We're here because we care about you, sweetheart. We chose to be here, and that won't change."

Jonas sighed, his voice tinged with sorrow. "I don't know when things got this bad. I mean, they've always been bad, but why go after Eli like this? Why go to this extent?" He paused, the question more to himself than anyone else. "It should have been me."

"It shouldn't have been anyone," Hugh replied quietly, his voice steady. "You've been shielding and protecting Eli for a long time, but that shouldn't have been your responsibility."

Jonas laughed hollowly, the sound filled with bitterness. He buried his face against Hugh's shoulder. "When I was young, I watched an MMA fight on TV. I don't remember much about it, except the commentator said the fighter had good defense, which minimized damage. It's not just about how hard you can hit, but how well you can avoid getting hit."

Hugh nodded, listening intently as Jonas continued.

"So I decided to learn how to fight," Jonas whispered. "Back then, it was the only reason I needed—a survival instinct. I trained like mad just to take another hit and keep Eli safe. But seeing him like this... it feels like my ten years of training were all for nothing."

Hugh gently squeezed his hand. "Or maybe he avoided this hospital bed for ten years because of your efforts," he interjected. "But I'll repeat, this shouldn't have been your responsibility. Clark should have been a better father."

Jonas nodded numbly. "I just... wish he never had to see that place."

"And how long did you have to be locked there? How long have you seen that fucking basement?" Hugh demanded, his voice trembling with anger. He hated seeing the man he loved so terrified of a place. Hugh could punch someone or defend his friends if needed, but this was different. How could he fight the monsters in Jonas' memories?

"I don't know," Jonas answered, his voice heavy with regret. "It wasn't so bad at first. It was even manageable. But then things started falling apart at school, and I lost the balance I was desperately trying to hold onto. The attacks at school were like a constant reminder of what was going on at home. I could fight back at school, but at home..."

Hugh squeezed his hand, silently urging him to continue.

Jonas took a shaky breath. "Locking me away was my father's way of controlling me, breaking me down. And the attacks at school... they felt like a continuation of that. Like I couldn't escape it, no matter where I was."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the gravity of his words.

Emilia's eyes filled with tears. "Why didn't you tell anyone, Joey?"

Jonas shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips. "What was I supposed to say? I was too scared of what my dad would do to Eli if I reported him. So, I decided the beatings were easier to endure than the thought of him hurting my little brother. I didn't know how to stop it. I still don't."

Emilia's voice trembled as she spoke. "I'm so sorry, Joey. I should have done something. Anything. I shouldn't have been so scared. I should have listened. I'm so—" Her voice broke into a sob, and Sam tightened his arms around her.

Jonas looked at her, a pained expression on his face. "I scared you, Mila. Hell, I scared myself. I became someone else that year."

Emilia whispered, "I don't think anyone was really scared of you, Joey. Yes, you could hurt them, but the person who made everyone afraid was and still is Lukas."

"Fucking Lukas," Hugh hissed.

"Who the hell is this guy?" Rodgers asked. "I've seen him before, but now it just seems like he has a hand in every fucked-up event associated with St. Vincent's."

The room stilled when Travis' whisper cut through the tension. "But why would Lukas target Eli?"

Jonas' eyes, usually so full of resolve, flickered with a shadow of pain. The weight of the question seemed to press down on him physically, and his jaw tightened as he fought to keep his composure.

Hugh's face hardened with a mixture of anger and sadness. He felt a surge of protectiveness over Jonas and Eli, knowing the reasons behind Lukas' actions but feeling powerless.

Jonas kept his gaze downcast, his voice heavy. "Well, it's complicated."

Hugh snorted, frustration evident in his tone. "It's not that complicated. You just don't want to tell anyone about it."

Jonas flinched. "Lukas offered a proposition."

Hugh's frustration boiled over. "It wasn't a proposition. It was a threat," he huffed. "And it sounds like you're still considering it."

Jonas sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "I'm trying to come up with plans, but I keep running into walls. You haven't thought of anything either."

"I fucking know that, Jo," Hugh snapped. "But the answer should always be a resounding no."

Jonas shook his head, his voice heavy. "I wish it were that simple. If I could say no with certainty, we wouldn't be in this mess. Eli wouldn't be in the hospital. We can't just run from this unscathed."

"Jo, we talked about this," Hugh said, his voice shifting to a pleading tone.

Jonas tightened his grip on Hugh's hand and took a deep breath. "Lukas' offer wasn't a choice of accept or decline. It was a choice of when. He will have his way, and I can't see a way out of this that keeps everyone safe."

Emilia was trembling in Sam's arms. "Mila, are you okay?" he asked, pulling the group's attention from Jonas and Hugh.

She nodded, but her voice was barely a whisper. "He's right. If it's Lukas, we don't have a choice. It's going to happen no matter what. Lukas... is a monster."

Jonas murmured, "He was never like this before."

"He was always like that," Emilia said quietly. "He just hid it better when he had you, Jonas. People he had disputes with suddenly changed schools. Rival families mysteriously went out of business. But after the whole Wolf thing, we started to see more of what was behind the mask... and somehow, he got worse after you left. Much worse."

"But what does my presence have to do with his games?" Jonas groaned. "This can't just be because he had a crush on me, right? That wouldn't make him so unhinged."

"I don't think it was merely a crush, sweetheart," Hugh said. "He's obsessed with you. He hid some of those dangerous tendencies when you were close, but you can't hide crazy forever."

"I have to agree with Hugh," Emilia added. "He hated that you dated anyone and made that very clear to all your partners, me included."

"What the fuck did he do to you?"

Emilia waved off his concern. "Passive-aggressive shit. He would snub me, exclude me, or make comments about how I was just a phase. But he really hated it when you had plans that didn't include him. He forced his way to be by your side and subtly belittled your friends."

"And no one said anything to me?" Jonas rasped.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Maybe we should have, but you seemed genuinely happy around Lukas. I guess we didn't want to hurt you... or we were worried about Lukas' reaction."

Jonas sighed. "But why turn everyone against me at school?"

"I can only assume it was because he was losing his monopoly over you. You were thriving," Emilia explained.

"That makes sense," Travis said. "People with certain personality disorders can get possessive and abusive when they feel their partner's attention is drifting. Lukas probably tried to isolate you as the Wolf to keep control and to feel superior."

"When you fought Michael earlier this year, Lukas saw his chance to do exactly what Travis mentioned," Emilia said. "That fight should have boosted your reputation. You were popular, smart, and strong—someone who could even stand up to..." She paused, nodding toward Hugh. "The Mad Dog King."

"All of that bullshit, just to control me?" Jonas growled, his voice dripping with bitterness. He had been dragged through hell, betrayed for nothing more than Lukas' twisted, selfish need to dominate.

"He couldn't have you, and he couldn't control you. But Joey, you know he won't let you go. Whatever he proposed, he'll have his way. Otherwise, the consequences will be dire," Emilia warned.

Sam loosened his hold on Emilia and stepped back. "Are you saying that he should do whatever that bastard proposes?"

Emilia wrapped her arms around herself, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm saying it's not something you can easily escape. Believe me, Joey, I wish you could. I truly do."

Jonas managed a faint smile, though it was tinged with sadness. "I know, Mila. But this situation is more complicated than it seems. Lukas wants a redo of the Hunt. He wants me to follow his rules: no friends, no fighting. He wants me completely isolated and on the run."

The boys sprang to their feet, cursing and shouting at Jonas. They were adamant that there was no way they'd let him go through with it. They even pointed out how Jonas had always been staunchly against Hunts, arguing it would be hypocritical for him to participate now.

Hugh let out a weary laugh. "I handled this news much better."

Jonas snorted. "Oh yeah? You took me to the gym, and we beat the shit out of each other."

"I did that because you shut me out, you asshole," Hugh retorted. His words, though simple, sparked a moment of shared laughter between the two of them.

Travis was pale. "How can you laugh during a time like this?"

Jonas rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm an emotional mess right now. But honestly, I've been thinking about this for a while, and for once, I feel a bit relieved."

He gestured toward Eli. "Lukas was using Eli as leverage against me. If I had told anyone about the Hunt or refused outright, Lukas would've exposed Eli to Clark and Denise, knowing the consequences. Every decision or inaction put Eli at risk, and my time was running out. I think Eli realized that and removed himself from the equation. Now that he's out of that place, we can start moving in a new direction. It's no longer about 'How do I avoid this?' or 'How can I survive a Hunt alone?' Now, I can approach the Hunt on my own terms."

Hugh grinned. "My god. You're planning a brilliant date night, aren't you?"

"Of course," Jonas replied with a chuckle. "I won't play by his rules, but I'll need all of you to make this work. I won't ask for an answer now—it's a big decision, and we have time to think about it."

Hugh tightened his grip on Jonas' hand. "You know I'm with you. I'll take on the whole fucking world with you, sweetheart."

"But what can we do to prevent them from starting another Hunt?" Travis asked, his eyes never leaving Eli. "They might hurt more people or come after Eli again."

Emilia gasped. "We can shut them down. We'll need to gather strong evidence showing that the school has lost control over its students and is abusing its power by trying to cover up crimes. If we expose that, we might have a chance to shut down St. Vincent's."

Jonas raised an eyebrow. "Can we really do that?"

Emilia smiled, though her expression was serious. "It'll be tricky, but with the right resources, it's possible. I can't say much on the legalities, but I would assume we would need substantial evidence. We'd also need whistleblowers from inside the school to back our claims."

Hugh nodded. "And if we expose this publicly, we might get media attention and community support, which could put pressure on the authorities to act."

Emilia continued, "Exactly. My parents have already expressed dissatisfaction with Lukas and the school. Their involvement could help, especially with your dad's influence, Hugh. But we must also be prepared for the risks involved, like personal safety and the long-term impact on everyone involved."

Jonas looked thoughtful. "It's a big challenge, but if it helps stop them and protects others, it's worth a try."

Hugh grinned. "Shit, we might be able to do it."

Their discussion grew lighter as they made plans, but everyone in the room soon began to drift off. Sam pulled Emilia into his lap in an armchair, and they both fell asleep. Jaiden, Millan, and Rodgers grabbed blankets from the nurses and spread out on the floor. Hugh gently placed Lucy on the couch, then settled on the floor beside Jonas, who was seated in a small chair next to Eli's bed. Travis was in a matching chair on the other side, his head resting on the bed.

Jonas smiled as he got up, carefully lifting Travis and laying him next to Eli. He then moved his chair and gestured for Hugh to join him. Hugh took his seat and nodded toward Travis. "You finally approve?"

"I always approved of Travis for Eli—not that I really have a say in the matter. I think they're good for each other. Besides, it'll be a nice wake-up present for both of them," Jonas said with a small smile as he tucked both boys into the hospital bed.

"You're surprisingly soft, Jonas Spencer," Hugh said with a grin. Then his expression turned serious. "Are you going to keep your last name?"

Jonas shook his head. "No. I want to cut off that part of me completely. We'll leave Clark with no one to inherit his name."

"What will you go with?"

Jonas shrugged. "Who knows? I haven't thought that far ahead."

"How about Wolf?" Hugh suggested with a laugh.

"Can't do that," Jonas grinned. "I was thinking of using it as my UFC fighter name."

"You've officially decided? You're definitely going to the UFC?" Hugh's eyes lit up with excitement.

Jonas nodded. "It wasn't a tough choice. I always wanted it, and now that Eli's free, the decision feels easier. I just need to make it to the UFC first," he chuckled.

Hugh rolled his eyes playfully. "With Chuck helping you, there's no way you won't make it. In a few years, I'll be dating the welterweight champion of the world. That's pretty sexy."

Jonas chuckled as he felt his eyes growing heavy. "Get some rest, babe. It's been a long day."