Chapter 55: There is no difference
The secluded clearing of Lewis Center was enveloped in an oppressive silence, as if the very air held its breath. The pines, black and twisted, formed a wall of shadows beneath a starless sky. The scent of damp earth mingled with the tang of dried blood, a harsh reminder of the battle against Jay and the Betas. Hugo leaned against a gnarled trunk, grimacing, his shredded t-shirt revealing hastily bandaged gashes.
His golden eyes, still haunted by his transformation, scanned his friends. Ben slumped against a rock, fiddling with his torn jacket, dried blood smeared across his forehead. Yuki sat on a stump, cleaning his blades, his face unreadable.
Hugo had just spilled his secrets: his father, Marcus, an Alpha who’d fled his pack for Nina, a paladin of the Order of Salvation; their cursed love; Marcus’s coma after facing his pack; Nina, disabled; and himself, an Alpha hybrid rejecting his nature. A heavy silence followed, broken by Yuki, his tone sharp. "You should’ve told us, Hugo. We’re your friends."
Kaiser snorted sarcastically. "Yeah, just like you did, right, Yuki? You didn’t hide that you came from a family that hunted wunders, did you? You didn’t call us crazy that night, saying we were hysterical."
Hugo burst into laughter, a rough but liberating sound. "Fuck, I freaked out when I found out you were a Zodiac, Yuki. A guy with poisoned blood? Honestly, I thought Zodiacs were scarier—the tales wunders tell about you aren’t far off from the devil."
Ben laughed, punching the rock. "Yeah, but admit it, you were cool with me. When I lost it after my transformation..." He lowered his gaze, his voice grave. "I did some crazy shit, man. Blood on my hands. You did everything to calm me down, even when I didn’t want to stop. Thanks."
Hugo shrugged, embarrassed. "You’re my brother, man. Someone had to stop you from eating the whole neighborhood."
The atmosphere lightened, laughter easing frayed nerves. But Kathy, motionless, glared at Kaiser, her eyes flashing. Kaiser, confused, muttered to Ben: "What’s her problem? Does she want to gut me or something? I’m just a human, damn it. She should want to kill you or Hugo, right?"
Ben snickered. "You’ve got a punchable face, man. Let it go."