Jonas growled and laid his head roughly back on the bed. He didn't realize that he tensed significantly while texting Lukas, and his arm was tight around Hugh. The changes in Jonas woke Hugh up a while ago.

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

Jonas let out a small sigh and handed his phone to Hugh. Lukas already assumed he read it, so it didn't hurt showing him.

Hugh was eerily silent as he went through the messages. "This is not fucking happening, Jo. You cannot agree to this."

"I know. But Eli..."

Hugh sat up in the bed and ran his hand across Jonas' jaw. "We'll find a way to protect him."

Jonas gave him a tight smile and nodded, pulling Hugh back to his chest. "I know."

Hugh gave him a curious glance, but his body was exhausted from their earlier activities and found he could not keep his eyes open for long. His breaths evened and he was asleep almost immediately.

Jonas held Hugh through the night, but sleep didn't come easy for him. He normally took on these types of challenges by himself and a part of him wanted to just accept the Wolf Hunt. He thought it would be easier if he did it by himself. His peers, Eli, and Hugh would be safe.

But at the same time, he would have to deal with the fallout when Hugh finds out he accepted. Could he lose the man he just gained?

His mind was in turmoil and when Hugh woke up the next morning, he saw how Lukas' words had plagued Jonas all night. His face was pale and dark shadows framed his eyes.

Jonas saw Hugh stir and gave him a light kiss on the forehead before he got out of the bed and went to the bathroom to shower. Hugh sighed with disappointment because this was not the way they should have woken up after sleeping together. Hugh had treated his one night stands better than this, and now Jonas was shutting out.

He got out of the bed, wincing because of his soreness. He cursed out loud, but that didn't stop him from slamming the bathroom door open, revealing Jonas who was sitting on the sink with his head in his hands. He tossed Jonas his clothes and shoes.

"Put that on now." Hugh demanded. Jonas was confused but still put on the clothes.

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

"Hugh, what the fuck?" He protested and tried pulling back but Hugh kept his hold.

"Don't fight me." He snarled as he opened the door to the common room, surprising the boys already hanging out for breakfast with Travis.

Everyone watched the angry Kings stalk out of the room, one being pulled by the other. Hugh bent over and picked up a workout bag near the punching bag and continued dragging Jonas out of the dorm.

Travis ran after them. "Is everything ok?"

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

Travis wanted to make a joke but froze when he saw how serious Hugh was, his normal smile completely replaced with a cold look. There was also an extremely dark atmosphere around Jonas that made him more unapproachable than ever.

Several boys stood in the hallway but backed out of the way when the two Kings walked by, already hearing the warning and did not want to test them.

Hugh continued to pull Jonas all the way to the empty school and picked the lock to the gym. He shoved Jonas inside and locked it behind him.

"Seriously, Hugh. What the fuck are we doing here." Jonas said darkly.

Hugh opened the bag and threw Jonas' fighting gloves at him before pulling out his own.

"I'm going to hit you, sweetheart. And I'm not holding back." Hugh said with a glare.

Jonas snorted and rolled his eyes. But Hugh slipped on his gloves and stretched out his arms. Jonas just watched him incredulously.

"Put on the goddamn gloves, Jo."

"This is bullshit, Hugh."

Hugh sighed. "Fine, sweetheart. Unlike your buddy, Lukas, I warned you. And I'm not going to attack you while your back is turned. Clench your jaw."

"What the fuck do you-" but Jonas couldn't finish his statement because Hugh's fist cracked against his face.

"How about those gloves, sweetheart?" Hugh said with a menacing smirk.

Jonas' eyes narrowed and he growled like a beast wanting to escape. He pulled on his gloves and cracked his neck.

"I'm going to hit you again." Hugh said and swung.

Jonas put up his guard, catching the fist with the outside of his arms. He shift on his feet and released a jab, scraping Hugh's cheek. Hugh hissed while he turned a little, kicking out and landing his leg on Jonas' ribs.

Jonas groaned. He had fought Hugh before, but they had always held back. Now Hugh was releasing all of his strength.

Jonas punched out with a jab and a cross, throwing Hugh off balance, and then he followed with a hard hook that slammed into Hugh's cheek.

Hugh stumbled but caught himself easily and returned the punch, splitting Jonas' lip. He threw out another punch and landed on Jonas' eye.

Jonas lifted his hands and guarded against the next hit. He lowered one arm and gave Hugh a rough body shot. Hugh heaved, but kept standing and kicked Jonas' thigh. Jonas felt the sharp pain and slight numbing of his leg from the powerful kick.

Jonas lunged forward, and gave him a couple of jabs, cutting Hugh's eyebrow and then followed with another cross.

Hugh stumbled back, and Jonas took this moment to hit him again, making Hugh fall to the ground. Hugh rolled backwards the moment his back touched the ground and stood back up, his body swayed a little, but his hands were up to guard his face. Jonas chased him and stepped forward, but Hugh moved quickly, punching out and catching Jonas' eye again. Blood dripped down his face from the new cut.

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

Hugh was stumbling around, his arms falling to his side more frequently and catching Jonas' fists with his face. He laughed a little, blood dripping from his mouth. Jonas clicked his tongue in annoyance and went to hit him again, but Hugh's eyes dulled and he swayed.

Jonas' breath caught in his throat as he saw Hugh start to fall over. His punch turned into a grab, but the movement was clumsy and he started to fall as well. He pulled Hugh to his chest and twisted his body so it was his back that hit the ground, keeping Hugh from landing on the ground. His arm was still snaked around Hugh, holding him close, feeling his heartbeat race on his chest.

Hugh weakly lifted a hand and pounded it on Jonas' shoulder. "I'm not weak, Jo." Hugh whispered into his chest.

Jonas sighed. "I know."

Hugh pulled himself up and straddled Jonas who remained laying on the ground. Hugh gripped the Jonas' collar with both hands. "Then why the hell are you treating me like I need fucking protection."

Jonas looked to the side. "You won't understand."

"You're right." Hugh snarled. His hand grasped Jonas' chin and roughly turned his face back to look at him. "I won't understand a goddamn thing if you shut yourself off from me."

Jonas' eyes softened, but remained quiet. Hugh let out a frustrate roar. "I am not one of your weaknesses, Jo! I can go toe to toe with you in a fight! I can hold my own ground. I am not a weak pussy that needs to hide behind you."

"That's not it. I shouldn't have shown you the messages." Jonas said with a clenched jaw.

Hugh pulled Jonas up roughly by his shirt. Jonas was close enough to see the wetness in Hugh's eyes.

"What do you think I'm going to do if you open up to me, Jo? I am not your brother and need your protection. I'm not Brett who is suffering from a trauma. I am not your father so you don't have to needlessly impress me. I am not any of those sad fuckers at St. Vincent's who will cower from the Wolf inside of you. I will never be like that fucker Lukas. I will never betray you. So why do you have to fit me into one of those molds inside of your mind? Why can't I just be something different to you?"

Jonas gently cupped his cheeks. "You aren't just something different, you are everything. In this shitty life of mine, you are the breath of fresh air. You are the good that breaks through all of the bad."

"Then let me in." Hugh pleaded, his tears finally escaping from his eyes and landing on Jonas' hands.

Jonas took a deep breath and placed a light kiss on his forehead. He gently wiped the tears falling from Hugh's eyes, felt his own eyes moisten.

"Lukas wasn't lying. I do know what they are capable of and it's shakes me to the core... I have never had so much to lose before."

Hugh pulled his head forward and rested it on Jonas's forehead. "I'm a violent man, but this proposition frightens me. There is a possibility that they will kill you this time."

Jonas hesitated for a moment. "I know."

Hugh placed a light kiss on Jonas' cheek. "I can't lose you. I can't lose you to Lukas and St. Vincent's. I can't lose you to your own emotions and the walls you built around your heart. So please, don't try to face all of this alone. Trust me, even just a little."

Jonas wrapped his arms around Hugh's waist and pulled him closer so he was flushed against his chest. Jonas dropped his head on Hugh's shoulder and let out a shaky breath. "I thought if I could face this alone, I wouldn't be as scared."

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

Jonas exhaled sharply. "No."

"They won't stop after this Wolf Hunt, you do realize this, right?"

"I do."

Hugh lifted an arm and started to run his hand through Jonas' hair. "I am yours, Jo. I am your friend, your comrade, and your lover. That will always be my truth. So I will not let you do this alone."

A shudder ran through Jonas' body and his arms tightened around Hugh. "Mine." He whispered quietly, but his voice held a small amount of possessiveness.

Hugh kept rubbing his 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 leaned in for a kiss. Their lips danced across each others lips. When they pulled away, they were breathless and faces were flushed.

Hugh smiled. "We'll find a way to protect Eli and we can depend on Hawkings to stand up for themselves. We can do this together."

Jonas ran his hands through Hugh's hair. "Together then." He pulled him close and tasted his lips one last time. "I love you."

Hugh laughed lightly, looking relieved. "I love you too."