Chapter 05

EVIE POV  

I sat under the shower for hours, I didn’t feel clean enough. I wished I could crawl out of my own skin and get into a new one. 

Atlas gave up on knocking several hours ago so it was safe to assume that he already left. What has happened to me in the span of twenty four hours—not even up to that, feels like a horrible nightmare I’ll never wake up from. 

Finally turning off the shower, I got up, stepping out of my wet clothes. Realizing I didn’t bring any clean clothes to the bathroom, I opened the door, only to immediately shut it at the sight of Atlas getting up from the floor. 

“Ethan, please, talk to me.” He pleaded, knocking at the door again. “I’m worried about you.” 

“Could you get me something from the kitchen please? I’m starving and would like to eat something.” I waited, hoping he would take the cue.

It wasn’t exactly a lie, I was starving and I desperately needed to get the taste of cum out of my mouth. Brushing four times didn’t help, at this point I don’t think anything can help. 

“Alright, I’ll be right back.” I hear a smile in his voice before the door shut. 

I still lingered in the bathroom for a minute to make sure he had left. I dressed quickly like someone on a timer. By the time he returned, I was arranging my stuff back into my suitcase for easy carriage. 

“Hey, you should be unpacking.” Atlas chuckled, placing the tray of food on the small coffee table he and my brother shared. 

Looking at him, he seems like a nice person, which makes me wonder why Ethan never mentions him. As bad as I feel keeping my identity a secret from him, I understood that it wasn’t my secret to tell since Ethan hasn’t made the decision yet. 

“Actually—” I took a deep breath, rising to zip up the back. “I’m leaving.” 

“What?” My declaration shocked him. “Leaving? But you just got back today, you can’t just leave and come back, the school will cancel your scholarship.” 

“Then what must I do? Continue to stay here and let them torment me?” Because he doesn’t possibly know the whole story, I didn’t expect him to understand. 

The Alphas know my identity now, they know I’m not Ethan, which is why what happened earlier happened. It isn’t just bullying anymore, I’d be damned if I stay here and let them use me as their toys. 

“I suppose I can’t stop you. But promise you will stay in contact. Once you find out the school you will be attending, let me know and I’ll transfer there.” 

Before I could formulate a response, Atlas kissed me, shocking the hell out of me. Fortunately, the kiss didn’t go on for long. He pulled back, a frown appearing on his face. 

For a split second, I wondered if he could tell the difference between kissing a boy and a girl. As if to answer my question, he drags his finger across my lower lip as if testing something. 

“I-I-have been through so much these past weeks so I’m sorry if the kiss wasn’t good for you. But once I recover, we will be back together like we used to.” Whatever that is… oh god! I really don’t want to know what my brother and his boyfriend are doing! 

Atlas smiles and inches forward to place a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll help carry your luggage to the car.” 

“My parents won’t be picking me up, I didn’t tell them I’ll be leaving.” I informed him before he carried the suitcase. 

“Then I’ll call you an Uber.” 

I sat back down, watching as he ordered the ride on his phone. Knowing my brother has someone like him back in this shitty place makes me feel a little better. This makes me wonder why Ethan hasn’t reached out to him. Judging by what I have witnessed from him, Atlas cares a great deal about him. 

“Ready?” He extends his arm toward him, shoving his phone into his pocket and carrying my suitcase. 

I nodded, unable to form words. Letting my head rest on his shoulder for a second, tears rolled down my face. Mistaking my reaction for something else, he set the luggage down and hugged me. 

Needing comfort after what happened earlier, I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably in his arms. The poor guy probably thought I was crying because we were being apart, that’s my brother’s problem and not mine. 

Several minutes later, I signed out of school and stood at the parking lot for my Uber. When it finally arrived, I jumped into the car before Atlas decided to kiss me again. 

As the car pulled away from the haunted academy, I thought about how Ethan was able to survive the place for months while I couldn’t last a day and mind you, I was known as the tough sibling. 

Hours later, I arrived at home. Words couldn’t possibly describe the expression on my parents face when they saw me. I dashed past them into the safety of my bedroom, wanting to be alone for as long as eternity. 

As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t stay in my room for that long and besides my parents were worried enough already, I didn’t want to add to it. 

So I joined them for dinner, immediately expecting lots of questions, but I got none. 

“Aren’t you going to ask me anything?” I asked them. 

Mom smiled, reaching for my hand. “We only want to express how happy we are. You did everything in one day, you have no idea how happy we are.” 

What the hell are they talking about? 

The doorbell rings before I could ask them. 

“They are here.” Dad announced, standing up to answer the door. “We got a call from the school while you were in your room. The bullies have decided to confess and the school has promised to step up and compensate your brother.” 

What? My brain couldn’t even begin to comprehend the words out of my Dad’s mind. I stood up, wanting to get to the bottom of what’s happening. 

The door opened and my three nightmares stepped into the house. My knees buckled at the sight of them, what game are they fucking playing?