"When the heart is forced into something, it goes blind."
~Imam Ali

Dom

Mom and dad allowed the twins to get some rest and have their clothes cleaned before their interrogation. I wasn't allowed to be in the office during that time, so I watched over Spencer, who remained passed out on the couch. The O'Connor kids sat with me. Natalie and James O'Connor- my parents' Betas- were in the office with their Alphas. I wondered what was being said, but thanks to the soundproof doors and walls, I had no chance of knowing.

"Why are you defending the Laroches?" Brian asked quietly, staring into the fire roaring in the fireplace. All heads looked up at me, except for my sister.

"Because I care more about my brother's health than I do about any feud. Who knows how long it would've taken us to find him if the twins hadn't come along," I replied. I tried not to sound too defensive or angry to avoid invoking an argument, but Callie only knew 'no or go.' She either fought, or she didn't. There was no in-between. Unsurprisingly, she chose to fight.

"Spencer would've survived without them!" she argued. "I don't trust the twins, especially Elsa. She cares way too much about us, and to be honest, I find it suspicious. What I find even more suspicious is how you and Spencer are both defending the Laroches. Since when did you put their opinions over your pack's?"

A growl involuntarily escaped from my throat. "What are you implying?"

"I'm implying you're sneaking around with them just as much as Spencer," she retorted.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I've smelled perfume on him. I couldn't figure out why or whose it was until she came in. It was faint but unmistakable." Callie's bravado was gone. "I saw the way he was looking at her when she was hit by that truck. I saw the way she looked back at him. You can't tell me they're just friends."

I noticed Rey hang her head, but she said nothing. She was still keeping Spencer's secret, even from her own sister. I wasn't going to oust hers or my brother's. That was theirs to tell.

"All I know is they found a lot of common ground when they had classes together. I know they're good friends. They care about each other. But if you want a full explanation, you'll need to ask him. I don't know much else."

"Rey? You know anything that Dom isn't telling?" Callie stared her sister down, challenging her to lie.

My brother's Beta refused to be intimidated, though, and said, "I know as much as Dom does."

Callie started to say something else when the doorbell rang. We all shared a look, wondering who could be calling this late at night.

My dad announced he had it, and for some reason, I knew Elsa and Anna were no longer the only Laroches here.

My suspicion was confirmed when I heard the voices of Arya and Ren. There were two other voices- male ones- that I could only rightly assume belonged to their Betas.

"Follow me," Dad said.

I caught a quick glimpse of them as they walked into the office. Ren's eyes met mine, and my heart froze. I wasn't intimidated by much, let alone other people, but the stone-cold fury in Ren Laroche's eyes made me want to fly to Mars just to get away from him.

God help Anna and Elsa...

My attention diverted to the windows where two shadows lurked. Rolling my eyes, I got up and opened the back door, asking, "Tommy, Fred, what are you doing?"

My pack mates appeared sheepishly before me. Tommy said, "We were trying to eavesdrop on your parents..."

"It's soundproof on the inside and the outside."

"Worth a shot..." Fred said. "How's Spencer?"

"Beaten up, but he'll live."

"What's happening to the Laroche twins?"

"Their parents just got here, so they should be leaving soon."

"We saw Ren and Arya arrive. Loren and Shiloh saw us, too, and we ran off. They're terrifying. Pretty sure Loren's eyes turned red for a second."

"You're imagining things, first of all, and second, you think Loren and Shiloh are scary, be glad you didn't make eye contact with their Alphas."

"Can we see Spencer?" Tommy requested.

"No. Maybe tomorrow. Go home and get some sleep." Dejectedly, the Jones boys trudged off. Returning to the living room, I saw everyone crowding around Spencer. I rushed over to find my brother groggily waking up.

"Give him some space," I ordered. My pack mates listened to me, if only by sitting on the piece of furniture closest to them.

"Spencer? Can you hear me?" Lily asked.

"What happened?" he mumbled, futilely attempting to sit up.

"Something or someone tried to kill you," I said.

"Was it the Laroche twins?" Callie inquired.

"Wh- no, it wasn't them. Why would they-"

"The twins are here," I interrupted. "They're in the office all our parents."

Something about my words jarred my brother to his senses. Deadly quiet, he said, "Elsa and Anna are here? In the house?"

"They found you and brought you here. You would be dead without them."

Spencer found some unknown strength, pushing himself up against the wishes and protests of the girls surrounding him. "Are they okay? What do you mean I would've died?"

"How you're up and talking right now is beyond me because you lost a shit ton of blood when I got to you. Elsa plugged up your wound with her jacket to stop the bleeding. When Anna reached me, she said you'd been in a pool of your own blood when they found you. If they hadn't come across you when they did, you most likely wouldn't be here."

Spencer stared at me, processing my words. His emerald eyes searched mine for answers about things I couldn't say in front of the present company.

"How are you feeling?" Lily asked.

"Terrible. Help me get to the office. I have to talk to mom and dad-"

"No, you need to stay put. None of us are allowed in there."

"I'll break down that door."

"That door would break you first." Spencer looked at me, insulted. "Would you just get some rest?"

"Not a chance." My brother struggled to stand, finding anything to prop himself up. We all watched, knowing it would be a futile endeavor. He collapsed in a huff back in place but was far from giving up.

"Someone hand me the phone," he said, grabbing the air in the phone's direction.

Lily shook her head. "You're not calling our parents while you're in the house. That's insane. Please rest so you can heal."

"No. I need to-" Spencer stopped short, staring at something in the doorway: Hunter and Caleb Laroche. Immediately I stood on my feet. My pack joined me. Spencer used the opportunity to use me as a standing prop, somehow pulling himself up beside me.

Although in no condition to fight, Spencer tensed himself for a fight, one I dreaded was about to come.