When Eli first saw him, it was just by chance. A fleeting glimpse. But he couldn't help but to stare at the long blonde curls that framed his amazingly beautiful face like a halo. He was built like a dancer, slender and graceful. He had a pure smile and eyes like the ocean. How could someone be so perfect?

And how could he be in such a terrible situation?

When you're trying to come out of the closet one second, and then stuffed into a literal closet the next, you know something is wrong with your family.

Eli's big brother was everything to him and with his support he could tolerate the cold stares and neglect from his parents. He was happy, for the most part. He was just upset how tired Jonas looked everyday. He always seemed happy at school or playing sports, but when he got home, Eli would notice the utter exhaustion plastered on his face.

But the moment Jonas saw Eli, he would perk up and a smile would always appear. So he thought his coming out day would have been something more... celebratory. But a noise he made woke his father, resulting with him being shoved in a closet and watching the horrors Jonas had to face through a crack in the door. His coming out day was a day he fully stepped into a nightmare.

His parents were monsters.

He could never come out to them. So when he first saw the angelic boy months ago, he knew he could never talk to him.

It was tradition for his group of friends to go to the mall every Friday. He used to hate it, but now he would use these days to look into the crowd, in hopes for just a quick look. He wasn't lucky most days, but sometimes, he would see him across the way and he would suddenly feel like he was taking a breath of fresh air. All the horrible shit that the Spencer brothers endured was washed away during those lingering looks.

But he would never approach him. He would never speak to him. And he would never interact with him.

He was content to admire him from afar when fate decided to be kind to him. And when he was free from his parents, maybe then he would introduce himself.

He wanted to tell Jonas all about him, spill everything about his crush, but Jonas was gone now. As much as it hurt him to be alone in the large and silent house, he was glad. Jonas suffered too much and he couldn't do anything to help him.

Jonas tried to keep everything quiet. The abuse, the basement, and all the fights and bullying at school. But when Eli was called to the hospital every so often, he knew that something terrible was happening, more than what Jonas ever let on.

They did everything to keep each other safe, and now Jonas had a way out. He was going to Hawkings, living out his senior year, and surviving.

Eli stood in front of the mirror and examined his features. He looked a lot like Jonas. Black hair, grey eyes, just smaller. He didn't like fighting or working out so he had a slim frame and a rounder face.

He ran his hands gingerly over his chest, looking at the bruises that had already formed and turned purple. He thanked whatever god was out there that Jonas was not here to see it. He didn't need to know that their father came back.

But the fresh cut on his lip was going to be troublesome. He could play that off at school. When the Wolf is your big brother, no one really questions who hurts you. But it gutted him that they assumed that it was Jonas, especially when Jonas was the only one who gave a damn about him.

With an internal groan he dressed and left for school, leaving behind the house that haunted him. He hated home and he hated school. But escaping was nearly impossible. They were tethered by their family's status and money. Jonas was trying to get him out, but he knew it was a far fetched dream.

The school was buzzing this particular Friday. He was considered an Elite and should have been part of the excitement, but he never really bothered to participate. After what happened with Jonas the year prior, no one really cared to question it. He and the Elites lived separately, exchanging veiled smiles and false pleasantries.

His only reprieve was the hope that he could see the blonde boy from before.

He went to the mall like usual, his eyes sweeping the crowd hoping to catch that golden halo in the midst. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going and felt his shoulder hit someone, making that person yelp.

Eli flinched. "Shit! Sorry!"

He turned and reached out to help stabilize the person he bumped into. But he froze.

The person he was always looking for was right in front of him. Unfortunately instead of that sweet smile he normally held, he had a disgruntled look from being slammed into.

"Sorry." Eli said again in a gentle voice. "Did I hurt you?"

Another boy stepped between them. "Watch where you're going! Fucking St. Vincent's bastard!"

Eli looked down at his own burgundy jacket and sighed a little. Of course they would be defensive, especially when they were wearing a blue Hawkings jacket. What made him think he could actually talk to this boy?

Still, he felt irked when he saw the other boy so close to the one he liked. But then again, Eli was naive to think that he would be single.

"It's ok, Jaiden. I'm not hurt. Let's just go." The blonde boy said quietly, giving Eli a perplexed look.

Eli shivered a little hearing his voice for the first time. It was everything he hoped it was.

The boy, Jaiden, clicked his tongue and turned to walk away, but the blonde boy still was looking at Eli with his bright blue eyes.

"Travis! Let's go!" Jaiden called out.

Eli felt a rush of adrenaline. His name was Travis.

"Um... you look a lot like someone I know." Travis said quietly.

Eli ran his hand through his hair, a habit he picked up from Jonas. He was far too nervous to be holding a conversation with Travis, especially because this was not the way he expected his first conversation with him to go.

"I may just have one of those faces." Eli mumbled, he averted his eyes so he wouldn't be so mind numbingly entranced.

"Do you know a Jo? I mean, Jonas?" He asked.

That made Eli flinch. "Jo? You know him? Is he here?" He looked around, hopeful to see his tall figure, but then he felt his blood run cold.

"Get out of here." Eli said with a clenched jaw.

"What the hell?" Jaiden went to reach for Eli and confront him.

"They're coming and I don't think with good intentions. Get out of here now." Eli said again, nodding to a group with burgundy jackets like his own.

This time Travis and Jaiden listened. They gave Eli a confused look and took off, leaving him alone in the walkway.

Eli took a deep breath and put his fake smile on. He walked up to the group of Elites. "Jackson, Lukas, what are you guys doing here?"

Jackson glared at him and pushed him aside. But Lukas smiled happily and helped Eli from toppling over. "We're hunting tonight." Lukas said.

Eli paled. "But... wasn't it called off?"

His brother went through hell to stop this bullshit. How could they just start it up again? He tired to stop them again to get his answers, but Jackson pushed him again and this time, Lukas didn't stop his fall. He ran into the railing and winced because of the rough impact on his bruises. He sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Lukas." Eli called out but was greeted with an eerie grin. It frightened him. It showed him that Lukas would not let this go. Nothing would stop his hunt tonight.

He watched them rush towards one of the exits, but he was not comforted by their departure. They went through the doors Travis just exited.

He caught his breath, moving through the throbbing pain, and he ran after them. How did they move so fast? Where could they have gone?

He looked around frantically and then ran towards the shouting he heard in the parking lot. He felt like the world came to a standstill when he watched in horror as Jackson grabbed Travis by the jacket. There were already some cuts on his face and hands. Travis was not going down easily.

Eli was impressed that such a small and delicate looking angel would be so bold, but he hated that he was getting harmed in the process.

He finally remembered the other boy, Jaiden, and hoped that he would help him. But Eli realized he was being held back by some other St. Vincent's assholes. Jaiden was fighting back vehemently, but couldn't get out of their grasps.

Eli couldn't let it continue. Not this year. Jonas had mentioned how much the Hunt broke him. He would have tried to stop it last year, but he and his father got into another epic fight, and he was locked in the basement. He couldn't get out and never seemed to have forgiven himself because of it.

Eli didn't want that again, and he didn't want Travis to be the victim of such a brutal game. So he rushed over to the group, grabbing onto Jackson's arm. "Jackson. You can't do this. Don't you see what school they go to?"

"It's because I know what school they go to that I want this one as my prey." Jackson said with a snarl.

"Seriously Jackson! We dont fuck with Hawkings for a reason. Just let them go."

"Stop talking big, Eli. Do you think you're tough because of your big brother. If you haven't noticed, your big bro ain't here." Jackson roared back. Eli flinched a little but still didn't back down.

"Jackson, I'm trying to stop you because-"

But he was interrupted by someone yelling out. "Hey assholes!"

The atmosphere shifted and became tense.

The Kings had arrived.

The question was how many? All eyes fell on three figures standing by a black car. The thing about Kings was that they weren't just brawlers. There was something more about them. Their very presence was intimidating and sharp, like a blade. They had to be strong and strategic in order to become the best in the entire school. They held more power than St. Vincent's student council and Elites, and they controlled their school with an iron fist. No one disobeyed them and everyone followed their structure.

The fights at Hawkings were something the Elites were frightened of. Apparently, it was brutal, especially when they were determining who was going to be the next King. The Kings changed every year... except for one. The Mad Dog.

Mad Dog had a certain cocky arrogance that made everyone feel the need to bow their heads, even Elites. This was one of the main reasons why everyone hated him at St. Vincent's. The other was because he was absolutely ruthless and no one dared to stand up to him.

So when his tall figure stepped out of the car, there was a collective horrified gasp. Eli could feel the tension buzzing around him.

Four Kings.

And to make matters worse, Mad Dog looked more annoyed than ever, as if they interrupted something important.

But the Kings didn't move yet, like they were waiting for one more.

Then he stepped out and Eli suddenly forgot that he was still holding on to Jackson's arm.

Not many have the luxury to idolize their brothers, but he did. His brother was his friend, his supporter, his protector, and mentor. Hell, Jonas was more of a father than his actual father. So when he saw him step out of the car, he was torn between laughter and tears. He missed his Jonas.

Jonas used to be surrounded by people, but was a loner at heart. No one could break down his walls, even Lukas had tried for years.

His smiles were always empty, his eyes were filled with so much sorrow that they finally dulled to the point of looking lifeless. Eli only saw glimpses of him being vulnerable. Jonas would always hide it from him, so Eli could never get past the wall Jonas put up in order to protect him.

He also couldn't see the changes in Jonas when Jonas snuck into the cafe to watch Eli play earlier in the school year, but now he could understand that Jonas' demeanor was completely different. He stood taller and prouder than ever. His stance was confident, his eyes were alive.

But then Mad Dog wrapped an arm around him, and Jonas' lips curled into a small genuine smile. They whispered to each other with flashes of anger and humor. In just a moment, Jonas displayed more emotions than Eli had seen for a very long time. Eli knew that Jonas had found something worthwhile.

Eli couldn't hear the murmurs around him or feel the fear present in his schoolmates. He held back a smile when he made eye contact with Jonas but was baffled as to why his look turned venomous. That was until Jonas swiped his lip.

Eli shook. He forgot about his split lip.

He never could lie to his brother so with reluctance he rubbed the back of his head, letting him know the culprit through their secret code.

But he regretted it immediately because the moment he did, his heart felt like it dropped. A crazed madness flashed through Jonas' eyes as he understood the message.

Their father was back in town.