The Boy in the Woods (boyxboy)

Chapter 15

Galen's POV

What's happening?
That was the only thought running through my mind. And usually, I'm the quick twin. One moment, everything was fine, albeit a bit rocky from the presence of hunters. But this? This is too much. Naya is dead. Who knows who's next? Damian or Yuki or Dad or—

"Galen!" A hard shove pushes me and I stumble. I look around wildly and realize I've walked to the kitchens. My breaths are huffing in and out but oxygen seems foreign. My eyes swing to the one who called my name and Damian appears next to me. He grabs my shoulder while looking into my eyes.

"Breathe," he calmly states while keeping eye contact. Breathe? Breathe? Oh yeah, here I'll get right on that. A laugh escapes me, slightly hysterical as I look at the cavernous ceiling. Which is blurring. What?

I'm falling forward before I realize my knees have gone out, my face pushed into my brother's T-shirt. A sob escapes me, tears blurring my obscured vision and ruining Damian's shirt. A hand is rubbing up and down my back as I cry into his shirt.

"Shh, everything's going to be alright. We'll take off from school. Wait for Charlie to get ahold of his connections to help get the pack fit and ready to defend ourselves. Naya is dead and we can't change that, but we can honor her memory as best we can. Her sacrifice will not go to waste." Damian continues to reassure me, probably not even realizing he's still talking. It calms me down though, my sobs turn to sniffles. A smaller body draped itself over my back and I stiffen before recognizing the scent.

I turn my head to look at Yuki from the corner of my eye. His large green eyes are wider with concern, his brows furrowed as he gazes at me.

"Galy? It's okay. It's gonna turn out alright." He smile wavers with indecision, but he leans forward more and stretches his arms to encompass Damian and I. A choked laugh escapes all of us as Damian pulls our hug so we plop on the floor. Our doggy pile—heh—is silent for a few moments before the peace is interrupted.

"As sweet as this is, it's pandemonium out there," comes the voice of Charlie, who seems uncharacteristically serious. I look toward the door of of the kitchen and see him standing there, arms crossed and head tilted. I wipe my face as best as I can and untangle myself from my mates. I stand and hold out my hand to Damian and Yuki, who take them and stand. Footsteps echo as they tap against the floor toward us.

Charlie comes and stands by me, looking up at me with a blank expression. He stares for a second before his expression crumbles and a sad smile ghosts over his face. He reaches up and wipes at the wetness I missed.

"It's gonna be alright, honey. I'll contact the people who owe me a favor or two and we'll get back at those assholes," he murmurs as he brushes my hair from my forehead. I nod in acknowledgment. He drops his hand and sighs, looking toward the door he came through.

"I hate to say it, but we need to get back out there. Avana was taken back to her rooms while the funeral is arranged," he says as he grabs my hand to guide me. I turn to look behind me at Damian and Yuki, but they're already at my sides, standing tall.

It's funny, I've always been the admired twin. People always thought I'd take over the pack while Damian goes off to do what he wants. But at the first sign of trouble, here I am breaking down in the kitchen like a coward while Damian has deal with it.

A hand smacks my head. "Fuck! What the hell?" I shout and whip my head to stare at Charlie, who stares at me with a deadass expression.

"You can take that sorry ass attitude back to America where it belongs. Stand tall. Your mother would be proud of you both. Now get out there and take care of your people!" He brushes past us three and struts out, phone in hand.