Conversation filled the apartment, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter from Lilly on the speakerphone. It offered no hint of the storm churning beneath Hawk's skin. He tried to focus on the weights he was lifting, but his attention was split. Across the room, Quill sat reclined on the couch, flipping through a sketchbook. Lilly's laugh came through the speakerphone he'd propped on the coffee table. He was describing a project idea with excitement as Lilly cleaned her office downstairs. Hawk adjusted his grip on the barbell. He pressed it upward, his muscles straining under the weight. He'd brought the equipment up from the gym days ago, unwilling to leave Quill alone for long. Each rep felt like a battle against his thoughts, which circled endlessly around the easy camaraderie he heard between Quill and Lilly."You've ruined your entire schedule now," Quill teased.Hawk set the barbell back onto its stand with a sharp clank. "I'll work it out. Sometimes you have to break
Quill quietly ended the call with Lilly as he realized his slip. Hawk stared at him in disbelief. "Herc was there? At Fluid? Watching us? Are you fucking kidding me?" Quill's head lowered. "I didn't know he'd be there. I swear I didn't see his name on the guest list."Hawk's growl reverberated around the sparse apartment as he stepped back, pacing a tight line across the room. "Wow. Fucking wow. You didn't think to tell me? Not once? All this time?""I didn't see him until that night, across the room." Quill wavered slightly, but he stood his ground. "You were riding such a high from the performance, and then..." He gestured vaguely toward his own injured body. "Things got complicated.""Complicated?" Hawk barked out, his footsteps halting abruptly. "You thought hiding this would somehow make that better?""I wasn't trying to hide it," Quill replied quickly, the words tumbling out as he realized that Hawk was insanely pissed about this. "It just never felt like the right time to bri
Hawk’s shoulders slammed against the damp, cracked concrete wall as a fist collided with his ribs. The dull ache of hours past was nothing compared to the fresh, sharp agony spreading through him now. Blood trickled from his lip, the copper tang mingling with the mildew and sweat clinging to the air. They’d kept him upright for nearly five hours, the chains digging deeper into his wrists each time his knees buckled. The Deltas worked in typical precise, brutal shifts, ensuring the punishment never stopped for more than a moment.The whip cracked again with a sound that seemed to echo off the walls. The leather struck his already raw back, and the skin tore under the relentless assault. Pain seared across his shoulders and spine. Still, he didn’t cry out. The defiance in his silence seemed to irritate them more than any words could have.“Stubborn bastard,” one of them sneered, his boots crunching over the dirt-caked floor as he circled Hawk. A steel baton slammed into Hawk’s side. Hi
Quill sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, his fingers intertwined with Lily’s. He didn’t look at her. His focus locked on the metal rails that seemed to mock him. They were his own cage.Hawk had been gone for eighteen hours, and the agony bleeding through their bond had intensified. The pain wasn’t his own, but it was close enough to feel like it. He squeezed Lily’s hand once as he felt a new type taking over his body."I don’t think this is random," he muttered. "He left upset. You saw it. There’s only one place he goes when he’s like that. He never learns that lesson."Lily frowned. "What are you saying?"Quill stood abruptly, letting go of her hand even as he swayed. "It’s his dad. It has to be. He runs to his family's land when he’s pissed. It's an instinct he cannot deny, and his dad knows it. If I’m feeling this kind of pain through the bond, there’s no way it’s anything good." Every fiber of him screamed to run, to find Hawk and tear apart whatever threat stood in the way, but
Hawk moved in silence, blood dripping from his fur in thick, wet streaks that mapped a path of everything he'd survived to get here. Every step across the landing sent pain cutting up through his legs, but he welcomed it. He wore it like proof. His body had taken more than it ever had before, had broken in places that would scar permanently, and yet it carried him up one more level. The stairs groaned beneath his weight, old wood creaking under his sheer size.He was bigger than before, heavier from weeks of pushing his body past its limit, built for this exact moment whether he'd known it or not. His claws curled hard against the steps, carving shallow lines into the wood without meaning to.He reached the top. Paused. Stared down the hall.No guards. Not even a whisper of breath on the air. No shifting shadows. No footsteps. Nothing.Just the door at the end. Cracked open. A glow from a desk lamp bleeding out through the gap. No commands being shouted. No smug Delta watching the ha
The door cracked before it gave, wood splintering with a groan that echoed through the apartment. Quill's wolf shoved through, claws gouging the floor as the last remnants of restraint vanished. The hinges snapped free. Wood slammed the wall, leaving Lily pressed back against the tub with her arms raised defensively. He took one step inside. Then froze. She put her hands down and exploded. "You said three knocks and a growl. That wasn't three knocks and a growl, Quill! That was a damn explosion." His ears flicked. His muscles twitched like he couldn't decide whether to lunge or curl up. For a second, they just stared at each other, both breathing hard. Lily wasn't scared of him, and she wasn't exactly backing down, even in the face of something that should have scared the shit out of her. He dropped to the tile. It was the only thing he could think to do. The shift slammed through him in a wave of cracking bones and torn skin. He didn't fight it. He didn't need to. He collapsed f
Hawk's shift came slower, more deliberate, each crack of bone echoing through the trees. His body moved like it was being reassembled piece by piece. Blood still covered him, and each tremble beneath the skin said he was running on sheer will alone. When it finished, he stood tall, barely steady, his chest rising hard with every breath. Quill didn't say anything. He couldn't. His chest tightened under the weight of it all. The sight of Hawk standing upright, blood-soaked and trembling, sparked relief so sharp it nearly took him down. But beneath it was something else, something that cracked him open in a way he didn't know how to brace against. It wasn't fear. It wasn't awe. It was the raw, staggering realization that the boy he loved had become something else entirely. He stepped forward. One foot, then the other. His knees quivered beneath the effort. The ache in his bones warned him to stop, but he couldn't. He had to see. Had to feel that Hawk was real. Heat radiated from Hawk,
The forest closed in. Every branch scraped open skin. Every root waited to catch an ankle. Quill kept one arm tight around Hawk's ribs, and Hawk leaned in harder with each step. Their legs didn't move so much as drag forward, shredded by gravel and stiff from the shift. Nothing in them worked right. Nothing had settled yet.They didn't speak. The path to the edge of Hawk's land tilted in and out of view, soft with fog, harsh with light, never still. Every breath hurt. Talking would've meant letting go.The sound came fast. Branches cracking. Leaves scattering. Footfalls too heavy, too reckless. Human.Quill tensed. Hawk lifted his head.Then Lily appeared, tearing down the slope with both arms out like she'd fight the trees if she had to. Dirt streaked her jeans. Her jacket flapped open. Hair tangled across her face, caught in the brush she didn't bother to avoid."I've been screaming your names for two hours!" Her voice cracked. "Two! I thought you were dead. I thought one of you ki
The room stayed dark. Sealed shut. Blacklights hummed low and steady above them, casting everything in bruised violet. No windows, no clocks. It could've been midnight. It could've been noon. Time didn't reach in here.Quill moved first. He tried to stretch his legs, but his muscles pulled tight. His joints ached from staying twisted up in the same position too long. His muscles protested. He blinked against the dark, vision still blurry, and forced in a deep breath. The soreness had changed. No longer jagged. Now it was just a steady throb, sunk deep into tendons and spine.Hawk shifted beside him. Bare skin dragged against his ribs. Warm. Solid. He didn't move far. Didn't pull away. Their legs stayed tangled. One arm rested across Quill's stomach.It should've felt peaceful.There was a sharp and sudden commotion near the door. Plastic or cardboard. Something scraping against metal.Quill flinched. Hawk shot upright.Lily stood in the doorway holding two paper bags and a cardboard t
The forest closed in. Every branch scraped open skin. Every root waited to catch an ankle. Quill kept one arm tight around Hawk's ribs, and Hawk leaned in harder with each step. Their legs didn't move so much as drag forward, shredded by gravel and stiff from the shift. Nothing in them worked right. Nothing had settled yet.They didn't speak. The path to the edge of Hawk's land tilted in and out of view, soft with fog, harsh with light, never still. Every breath hurt. Talking would've meant letting go.The sound came fast. Branches cracking. Leaves scattering. Footfalls too heavy, too reckless. Human.Quill tensed. Hawk lifted his head.Then Lily appeared, tearing down the slope with both arms out like she'd fight the trees if she had to. Dirt streaked her jeans. Her jacket flapped open. Hair tangled across her face, caught in the brush she didn't bother to avoid."I've been screaming your names for two hours!" Her voice cracked. "Two! I thought you were dead. I thought one of you ki
Hawk's shift came slower, more deliberate, each crack of bone echoing through the trees. His body moved like it was being reassembled piece by piece. Blood still covered him, and each tremble beneath the skin said he was running on sheer will alone. When it finished, he stood tall, barely steady, his chest rising hard with every breath. Quill didn't say anything. He couldn't. His chest tightened under the weight of it all. The sight of Hawk standing upright, blood-soaked and trembling, sparked relief so sharp it nearly took him down. But beneath it was something else, something that cracked him open in a way he didn't know how to brace against. It wasn't fear. It wasn't awe. It was the raw, staggering realization that the boy he loved had become something else entirely. He stepped forward. One foot, then the other. His knees quivered beneath the effort. The ache in his bones warned him to stop, but he couldn't. He had to see. Had to feel that Hawk was real. Heat radiated from Hawk,
The door cracked before it gave, wood splintering with a groan that echoed through the apartment. Quill's wolf shoved through, claws gouging the floor as the last remnants of restraint vanished. The hinges snapped free. Wood slammed the wall, leaving Lily pressed back against the tub with her arms raised defensively. He took one step inside. Then froze. She put her hands down and exploded. "You said three knocks and a growl. That wasn't three knocks and a growl, Quill! That was a damn explosion." His ears flicked. His muscles twitched like he couldn't decide whether to lunge or curl up. For a second, they just stared at each other, both breathing hard. Lily wasn't scared of him, and she wasn't exactly backing down, even in the face of something that should have scared the shit out of her. He dropped to the tile. It was the only thing he could think to do. The shift slammed through him in a wave of cracking bones and torn skin. He didn't fight it. He didn't need to. He collapsed f
Hawk moved in silence, blood dripping from his fur in thick, wet streaks that mapped a path of everything he'd survived to get here. Every step across the landing sent pain cutting up through his legs, but he welcomed it. He wore it like proof. His body had taken more than it ever had before, had broken in places that would scar permanently, and yet it carried him up one more level. The stairs groaned beneath his weight, old wood creaking under his sheer size.He was bigger than before, heavier from weeks of pushing his body past its limit, built for this exact moment whether he'd known it or not. His claws curled hard against the steps, carving shallow lines into the wood without meaning to.He reached the top. Paused. Stared down the hall.No guards. Not even a whisper of breath on the air. No shifting shadows. No footsteps. Nothing.Just the door at the end. Cracked open. A glow from a desk lamp bleeding out through the gap. No commands being shouted. No smug Delta watching the ha
Quill sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, his fingers intertwined with Lily’s. He didn’t look at her. His focus locked on the metal rails that seemed to mock him. They were his own cage.Hawk had been gone for eighteen hours, and the agony bleeding through their bond had intensified. The pain wasn’t his own, but it was close enough to feel like it. He squeezed Lily’s hand once as he felt a new type taking over his body."I don’t think this is random," he muttered. "He left upset. You saw it. There’s only one place he goes when he’s like that. He never learns that lesson."Lily frowned. "What are you saying?"Quill stood abruptly, letting go of her hand even as he swayed. "It’s his dad. It has to be. He runs to his family's land when he’s pissed. It's an instinct he cannot deny, and his dad knows it. If I’m feeling this kind of pain through the bond, there’s no way it’s anything good." Every fiber of him screamed to run, to find Hawk and tear apart whatever threat stood in the way, but
Hawk’s shoulders slammed against the damp, cracked concrete wall as a fist collided with his ribs. The dull ache of hours past was nothing compared to the fresh, sharp agony spreading through him now. Blood trickled from his lip, the copper tang mingling with the mildew and sweat clinging to the air. They’d kept him upright for nearly five hours, the chains digging deeper into his wrists each time his knees buckled. The Deltas worked in typical precise, brutal shifts, ensuring the punishment never stopped for more than a moment.The whip cracked again with a sound that seemed to echo off the walls. The leather struck his already raw back, and the skin tore under the relentless assault. Pain seared across his shoulders and spine. Still, he didn’t cry out. The defiance in his silence seemed to irritate them more than any words could have.“Stubborn bastard,” one of them sneered, his boots crunching over the dirt-caked floor as he circled Hawk. A steel baton slammed into Hawk’s side. Hi
Quill quietly ended the call with Lilly as he realized his slip. Hawk stared at him in disbelief. "Herc was there? At Fluid? Watching us? Are you fucking kidding me?" Quill's head lowered. "I didn't know he'd be there. I swear I didn't see his name on the guest list."Hawk's growl reverberated around the sparse apartment as he stepped back, pacing a tight line across the room. "Wow. Fucking wow. You didn't think to tell me? Not once? All this time?""I didn't see him until that night, across the room." Quill wavered slightly, but he stood his ground. "You were riding such a high from the performance, and then..." He gestured vaguely toward his own injured body. "Things got complicated.""Complicated?" Hawk barked out, his footsteps halting abruptly. "You thought hiding this would somehow make that better?""I wasn't trying to hide it," Quill replied quickly, the words tumbling out as he realized that Hawk was insanely pissed about this. "It just never felt like the right time to bri
Conversation filled the apartment, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter from Lilly on the speakerphone. It offered no hint of the storm churning beneath Hawk's skin. He tried to focus on the weights he was lifting, but his attention was split. Across the room, Quill sat reclined on the couch, flipping through a sketchbook. Lilly's laugh came through the speakerphone he'd propped on the coffee table. He was describing a project idea with excitement as Lilly cleaned her office downstairs. Hawk adjusted his grip on the barbell. He pressed it upward, his muscles straining under the weight. He'd brought the equipment up from the gym days ago, unwilling to leave Quill alone for long. Each rep felt like a battle against his thoughts, which circled endlessly around the easy camaraderie he heard between Quill and Lilly."You've ruined your entire schedule now," Quill teased.Hawk set the barbell back onto its stand with a sharp clank. "I'll work it out. Sometimes you have to break