Mag-log inDebbie He didn't answer. He seemed too weak to even nod. I reached down and pulled his pants away. When I looked at him, my heart sank further. He was soft. He was completely still. No hardness whatsoever. A total opposite of Rex, who would get hard just by me being close. "Rex," I whispered, tears starting to prick my eyes. "This is a bad idea. Your body isn't even responding. You’re too sick." He didn't respond. His breathing was so shallow I had to lean in to make sure he was still alive. Fuck. This feels wrong. This feels like I’m hurting him. But then I remembered the way he looked when he hit the floor earlier. I remembered the way he gagged blood. he convulsed. I didn't want that happen again. Then, amongst everything, something else snapped inside my brain. I remembered River saying something about him "exploding inside." what would I do if he exploded. Fuck no. I couldn't let that happen. I took the guilt that was lingering in my mind, and tossed it to the dark co
Debbie I sat in the dark room, my head resting on the edge of the mattress. I was exhausted. My brain felt like it was melting from all the things I had just heard downstairs. Suddenly, I felt a faint, shaky tap on my hand. I bolted upright. The fog of sleep vanished from my eyes in a second. "Rex?" I whispered, my heart jumping into my throat. "Rex, are you awake? Can you hear me?" He didn't move much, but his eyes were open. They were terrifying. There was no color in them, just a white, haunting white that seemed to stare right through me. I had seen it before, but now, like this, it looked… scary. "Are you okay? Do you know where you are?" I leaned over him, my hands hovering over his face. "I need to go call Rain. They need to know you’re awake." I started to stand up, ready to dash out the door, but a cold, weak hand shot out. He grabbed my wrist. It wasn't a strong grip—he was too far gone for that—but it was enough to make me stop. "Don't," he whispered. His voice soun
Debbie."Exactly," Rain said, jaw clenched. "If a doctor runs a deep scan, or if he needs a blood transfusion, the lie falls apart. Our blood is a mess of chemicals and altered genes. If the pack finds out our blood doesn't truly match the Grand Alpha’s core, we’re dead. Every single one of us. We can't.""We can't afford another test," River added. "We’ve spent two years living a lie, playing the part of the devoted sons. One mistake, one hospital visit, and it could all burn."I sat in silence for a long time. The ticking of the clock on the wall was the only sound in this large room.My life was a lie. The place I thought was home was, in fact, a nest of spies."And me?" I asked, my voice small and hollow. "How does this have to do with me? Why am I in the middle of this?"At that point, I watched Rain look at River. "I’ll leave this one to you, River," he said quietly. "You’re in a better place to say it."River cleared his throat, but he wouldn't look me in the eye. "The Boss wan
Debbie I stood in the center of the foyer, my feet planted firmly on the cold floor. My heart was a drum, beating in rhythm of undilutable rage. I watched them—Rain and River—as they stood on the stairs, looking down at me like two guilty children caught in a lie. But this wasn't a small lie. This was a grave lie."Start talking," I whispered again. My voice small but enough to just fill the room. "Now!"Rain looked at River. It was a long, heavy look. I saw the hesitation in his eyes, the way his jaw tightened. He looked like he wanted to run, but there was nowhere left to go. The house was a cage, and I was the one holding the key."Let her calm down, Rain," River whispered, his voice smooth but hollow. He looked at me, his eyes dark. "Debbie, please. Just… come and sit. We will explain. We will tell you everything.""Explain?" I let out a harsh, jagged laugh. "Yes. Please do. Start. Start explaining the blood on my hands? The dead men at the gate. I want to hear how this mess make
"Dose him again," River said, his voice cold with a hollow, dead desperation. "There’s no more in the vial!" Rain screamed, shaking the empty glass and throwing it against the wall where it shattered into a thousand diamonds. "There’s only the leftovers in the other syringes. The ones from before!" "Then use those! I don't care if it's dirty! Use anything!" River was hysterical now, grabbing Rain by the collar and shaking him. Rain grabbed another syringe, draining every last drop from the small bottles they had in the room, frantically sucking up the dregs. He didn't even clean the skin. He just stabbed. Two doses. Three. The couch was a mess of discarded plastic and blood. "What are you doing?" I asked, horrified, trying to pull Rain's hand back. "You’re going to overdose him!" "There is no other option, Debbie! None! I’d rather have a dead brother than let him suffer like this!" Rain was crying too, his jaw so tight his teeth might break. He grunted. "Rex! Wake up! Wake up, m
Debbie "What do you mean by no!” I asked, my hand pausing from retrieving my phone. “We have to take him to the hospital! Now!" I screamed, my voice cracking like a whip in the silent, bloody courtyard. I looked at the red pool expanding on the white stone, soaking into the grout, turning the luxury of the mansion into a butcher shop. "He’s dying! Look at him! Look at his eyes!" Rain didn't even look up. He was cradling Rex’s head against his chest, his own designer shirt ruined, his hands slick with his brother’s blood. "No. No hospitals, Debbie. We can’t. If we go to a hospital, we’re as good as dead." "What do you mean you can’t?" I knelt in the sticky blood, grabbing Rain’s shoulder and shaking him until his head lolled. "He is vomiting his own life out! His lungs are rattling, Rain! Whatever that man did to him is clearly killing him. Do you want him to die right here? Are you that afraid of your filthy secret that you'll let your brother rot on the floor?" "Debbie, it's too
RainThe fire was the only thing moving in the cave. The light was orange and flickered against the walls, making everything look like a dream. I was sitting there, trying to focus on the food. Thankfully, we had this dry stuff with us.But then I heard her."Rain? My hands are so cold. I can’t get
Debbie.The morning light was pale and grey as it crept into the cave. I woke up to a heavy, scraping sound coming from the entrance. It was the sound of metal hitting stone.My heart jumped. Fuck. Help was here.Just then, my phone buzzed on the rock next to me. It was a call from River. I answere
RainThe fire popped and hissed, throwing long shadows against the cave walls. I was still reeling from her words, my heart hammering against my ribs.But it didn't end with the whispers.A small smile formed on her face. Then I felt her hand reach down. Her eyes were locked on mine, dark and darin
Debbie“Rain… River is…” I panicked."I'm okay!" River yelled from the other side. "But the path is gone! I can't get across without climbing gear!"“Are you hurt!?” I asked, screaming.“No! I'm not! Wait!” he called back.I waited.In seconds, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I reached for it. It was







