Chapter 23

“How did you get hurt?”

Avery’s voice cracked as he reached for me, concern etched across his face. His hand hovered near the bloodstain on my back, trembling slightly.

I recoiled. “Don’t play dumb. It’s disgusting.”

He froze, brows drawing together. “Was it Justin?”

He hadn’t seen the livestream—had no idea I was even part of the show. If he hadn’t caught an employee watching the broadcast in passing, he’d still be in the dark.

Before I could respond, Justin stepped out of my room. The painkillers had dulled his stomach cramps, but not his arrogance.

He blinked in surprise. “Avery? What are you doing here? Weren’t you working late?”

Avery didn’t answer. He marched up, grabbed Justin by the collar, and snarled, “Why did you hit our sister?”

Justin flinched. “What the hell? I didn’t touch her!”

Then he noticed me, watching silently from the hallway.

Realization dawned. “Wait... are you talking about her?” He pointed toward me like I was some roach in the corner. “She’s not our sister. Don’t let her fake innocence fool you.”

But Avery wasn’t hearing any of it. His mind was stuck on bloodstains and my biting words. In his eyes, Justin was guilty.

“You’ve had everything, Justin—fame, money, praise. Why do you still feel the need to crush Mia?”

“You couldn’t let her have one thing, not even a room on a damn reality show? So you beat her up like a coward?”

Justin shoved his hands up, indignant. “Are you serious right now?! She’s the one who forced this! She is mad. I don’t treat her like I treat Lilith. She got onto this show by—God knows what shady deal—”

“She stole my spot, Avery! She’s nothing but a manipulative—”

Crack.

Avery’s fist slammed into Justin’s jaw.

Justin hit the wall with a sickening thud. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

And just like that—both brothers shifted into their wolf forms.

A chaotic blur of fur, teeth, and snarling rage erupted in the hallway.

“I won’t let you talk about Mia like that!” Avery bellowed.

Justin lunged. “You think I’m wrong?! She grew up in some backwater village full of starving old men without mates. You know what happens to a pretty, abandoned girl in places like that! No orphanage, no parents—how do you think she survived?!”

“She probably let every creep in that town into her bed just for food!”

I froze. My blood ran cold.

“She calls herself your sister, but she probably slept her way to this show, too!”

That did it.

Avery snapped, letting out a guttural growl as he pummeled Justin to the ground. Fist after fist. Kick after kick. Justin’s face twisted beneath the blows.

But instead of hitting back, Justin shouted through swollen lips, “I’ll make Mia pay for this! Every punch you land—I’ll take it out on her!”

I stood still. Shocked. Wait—what?

You’re the one getting beat up… by Avery… and your response is to take it out on me?

What the actual hell?

Lilith arrived with a few security warriors, dispatched by the production crew to break up the chaos. The showrunners clearly wanted no part in managing these famous but ferial brothers.

“Avery! Justin! What are you doing?” she gasped, trying to look shocked.

Justin pointed dramatically. “He’s crazy! Restrain him!”

Avery scoffed. “You’re out of your mind, Justin.”

But Justin turned to the warriors. “Tie him up. Now.”

“You can’t do that! I’m your older brother!”

Justin stepped forward, blood on his lips and madness in his eyes. “Do you know who I am? If something happens to me here, this entire hotel will go down. Now tie him up!”

The warriors, nervous and unsure, obeyed.

Avery shouted, “This is insane! You don’t know who I—”

His words were cut off when Justin jammed a handkerchief into his mouth.

Then he pulled out his phone and calmly said, “Hi Dad? Yeah, Avery just attacked me on set. I totally lost it. I tied him up. Can you send someone to get him checked into a psych ward?”

I blinked.

Damn. Justin didn’t just go low—he buried Avery six feet under with a smile.

---

After the chaos, I slipped away and grabbed some food. When I came back, the hallway was quiet. For once, no one tried to stop me, insult me, or threaten me.

Still, I couldn’t sleep without Kane nearby. I ended up using an acupuncture point to knock myself out.

---

8 a.m. sharp. All contestants stood in line before the run-down building.

We were ordered to stand according to “status.” I should’ve been somewhere in the middle. Lilith, a last-minute add-on, should’ve been at the very back. But no.

Justin reached out, grabbed her hand, and pulled her beside him like royalty.

“Justin… I don’t think I should stand here,” Lilith whispered, playing coy.

He glared at me—daring me to react. “I’m not feeling well today. I needed Lilith get close to help me. Hope that’s alright?”

The director smiled nervously. “Of course!”

Popularity ruled everything. No one would challenge a top star—not even the producers.

“Next, someone read the Worker’s Survival Rules,” the director called. His eyes landed on me. “Mia, would you?”

I took one step forward—and Justin cut in.

“Actually, let Lilith do it. Her voice is…soothing. She used to do broadcast readings at school.”

The director hesitated, torn between me and Justin. I sighed, already stepping back.

Lilith beamed, stepped forward, and read aloud in her breathy, sugar-sweet voice:

"Once you open this letter, the production team will no longer offer you food, shelter, medicine, or support. Survive on your own, Worker."

"You’ve paid for one day. If you don’t make enough for tomorrow’s rent by 8 p.m., you’re out."

"You have fifty U.S. dollars. Use it wisely or starve."

"Your room is filthy. Clean it before sundown or expect insomnia."

"Your first job begins at 5 a.m. tomorrow. Be ready—mind and body."

It was supposed to sound grim. Urgent. But in Lilith’s mouth, it came out like a bedtime story.

Giselle squinted. “Wait—what did she say?”

Duke leaned in. “That we’ll starve to death if we mess up.”

They both groaned. “$50 a day? I thought we’d get paid—not go broke!”

“And now we have to clean our own rooms?”

Everyone turned to Justin—his room was notorious: insects, fake blood, mold, even a noose prop.

Lilith clung to his arm like a wounded dove. “Director… can Justin stay in my room?”

Ordinarily, that would break protocol. But the director saw Justin’s bruised, brooding face and didn’t dare say no.