How was Lukas involved? He was always involved. He was always instigating and turning the wheel. If it was enjoyable for him, nothing would stop him.

The room stilled when the question was asked, especially after seeing the reactions from the two of them. They all remembered the words between Lukas and Hugh, so it was easy to catch on that there was something bigger happening. They just couldn't focus on it in the moment.

Jonas rubbed his neck. "Well, it's complicated."

Hugh snorted. "It's not that complicated. You just don't want to tell anyone about it."

Jonas shot him a glare. "Lukas offered proposition."

"Why are you sugar coating it. It wasn't a proposition, but a threat." Hugh huffed. "It's like you're still considering it."

Jonas sighed and rubbed his temples with his hands. "I'm trying to come up with plans, but I am running into walls. You know that, Hugh. You haven't thought of anything either."

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

Jonas shook his head. "I wish it was as easy as that. If I could say no in confidence, we would not be in this position. Eli would not be in the hospital. We cannot run from this unscathed."

"Jo, we talked about this." Hugh's voice almost turned to a pleading.

Jonas nodded. "We talked about it and agreed that I will not be go through this alone. I am hoping that offer still stands."

Hugh's eyes softened. "It will always stand."

Jonas gripped his hand and took a deep breath. "Lukas' offer was not a choice of accept or decline. It was a choice of when. He will have his way, and I can't think of anyway I can get out of this while keeping everyone safe."

Emilia was trembling in Sam's arms. "Mila, are you ok?" He asked, breaking the attention from Jonas and Hugh.

"He's right." She said quietly. "If it's Lukas, he doesn't have a choice. It's going to happen no matter what. Lukas... is a monster."

"But you stood up to him." Sam said, trying to encourage her.

Jonas gave her a sympathetic look. "But at what cost?"

She laughed a little while tears fell. "My parents are already enrolling me into another school for the next semester, a couple of marriage proposals have been rescinded, and I am looking at attending one of my backup colleges. But that's nothing compared to you, Joey. He is obsessed with you and was already irate when you disappeared on him."

"But why Jo?" Sam asked and Jonas shrugged his shoulders. He never figured out why Lukas turned on him.

Emilia's eyes widened when she saw Jonas perplexed. "You really don't know? Oh, Joey. I'm so sorry."

She wiped her tears and looked around the room to end safe. She spoke quietly, as if she was telling a secret. "What Hugh said about him liking you made sense. But his affection takes the form of obsessive possession. He has always tried to isolate you to keep you to himself. But there's more to it... At St. Vincent's we have Elites, but there will be one senior Elite who is above all others in social standings. He controls the school. He has major influence of the socialites and will always be a leader in his social circle. Call him the Alpha, if you want. The Alpha is basically selected and groomed from the moment they enter as a Freshman. They stand out, succeed, and are charismatic. They will have a natural following. Joey was selected for this role before he even entered St. Vincent's. All previous Alphas knew that Jonas was the one to be their successor. He was a natural and didn't even needed to be told of his future role because he was unconsciously already taking up the reins. But if you got this role, Lukas would lose all control over you."

Jonas shook his head in disbelief. "How could you know this? That's not possible. If it was my father wouldn't have..." His eyes landed on Eli with a sad look.

"Only previous Alphas knew and they never revealed it to outsiders. I only knew because my father was one and I accidentally overheard him talking about it one day. He was already scouting you so I knew who you were while in middle school. But, Lukas' father was one too... So Lukas must have known about your future role and influence. I think he was jealous or terrified of losing his monopoly over you, and when you got into the fight at the beginning of the year, he found an opportunity. Joey, you could have used that fight in order to enhanced your reputation, it shouldn't have impacted you like that. You were popular, smart, and strong. Someone who could even stand up to..." She nodded towards Hugh. "The Mad Dog King."

"All of that bullshit for control and a fucking role I knew nothing about? Something I would never want?" Jonas said darkly, his voice coming out like a growl. He went through hell and was betrayed for something as meaningless as influence in a world he was going to leave behind anyway. It was a punch to the gut.

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

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

"I'm saying that it is not something he can easily run from." She said quietly, her arms wrapping around herself. "But believe me, I wish you could Joey. I truly wish you could.

Jonas smiled a little. "I know, Mila. But this time, it's a little complicated. It's not a some Wolf Challenge like before. This will be a Wolf Hunt, and if I go into this alone, I don't know if I will survive."

The boys leapt up and started to curse and yell at Jonas, telling him that there was no way in hell that they would allow him to that. They even brought up how Jonas was so against Hunts in the first place, and it would be hypocritical of him to jump into this one.

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

Jonas snorted. "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 protested.

They slugged each other's shoulders and laughed together, drowning out the previous protests.

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, this is something that I have been mulling over for a while, and for once I'm relieved."

He nodded towards Eli. "He was using Eli against me. If I told anyone else this Hunt or declined him outright, he would out Eli to Clark and Denise, being fully aware of the consequences if he did. He could have easily killed my brother with the hands of my parents. Any action or inaction put Eli at risk, and my time was running out. I think Eli found out and took himself out of the equation. Now he is out of that place, so we can start moving in a different direction. It's no longer 'How do I avoid this' or 'How can I survive a Hunt by myself'. Now, I can do the Hunt my way."

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

"The last Hunt, we announced how despicable they are, but it was drowned out by the many videos of Hawkings being... Hawkings. We lost that battle. But now we have a chance to truly expose them." Jonas explained.

Hugh shook his head. "But that means you're bait."

Jonas nodded. "It does, but would it matter when I know you have my back? All of you having my back? I won't play by his rules, but I will need all of you to accomplish this. I won't ask for an answer now. It's a big decision and we have until mid January to really come up to respond."

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

"But what can we do to make sure they won't be coming back and starting another Hunt or war?" Travis asked. "They may hurt more people or come after Eli again." His worried eyes never left Eli and tears naturally flowed down his face.

Emilia gasped. "We can shut them down. Pin the violence on the school, that they have no control over their students and are abusing their power as an institution for trying to cover up crimes. Shut down St. Vincent's."

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

Emilia smiled. "With the right resources. I have my family, and there are a few family friends who are not thrilled with the direction St. Vincent's is heading. Also, I think we have a pretty good lawyer on our side too."

Hugh grinned. "Shit, we might be able to do that. Imagine it. Lukas can't reign as Alpha if the school is shut down. If anything, everyone will remember that it was Lukas who drove the school to closure."

Their discussion turned lighter, making plans, but one by one, the people in the room started to fall asleep. Sam pulled Emilia in his lap in an armchair and they were both unaware of the world. Jaiden, Millan, and Rodgers stole blankets from the nurses and sprawled out on the floor. Hugh laid Lucy on the couch, while he sat on the floor, watching Jonas who was sitting on a small chair beside Eli's bed. Travis was on a matching chair on the other side, his head resting on the bed.

Jonas smiled and got up, gently picking up Travis and laying him next to Eli. He then pulled the chair around and motioned for Hugh to come sit down with him. Hugh moved and saw down, nodding towards Travis. "You finally approve?"

"I always approved of Travis for Eli, not that I really have a say in the matter. But after tonight, Travis truly put me at ease, so now I'll encourage their relationship. I think they are good for each other. Besides, it will be a nice wake up present for the both of them." Jonas said with a small smile as he tucked in both boys in the hospital bed.

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

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

"What will you go with?"

Jonas shrugged. "Who knows. I haven't really thought that far out."

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

"No can do. I was thinking of using that as my UFC fighter name." Jonas grinned.

"You decided? You're for sure going to go to the UFC?" Hugh's eye lit up with excitement.

Jonas nodded. "It wasn't the hardest choice. I knew I always wanted it, but now that Eli is free from that place, the decision just seemed easier than before. I just need to make it to the UFC first." He chuckled.

Hugh rolled his eyes. "With Chuck helping you, there is no way you wont make it. In a few years, I will be dating the welterweight champion of the world. That's sexy."

He stretched his waist and yawned. Jonas patted his shoulder. "Get some rest, babe. It's been a long day."