6

oongonna

Liketranslationso glad that Josh is beside himI hope dane shows him who's the boss and

The question echoed in Chase's mind: Why? Why was Grayson here? How?

Grayson, as if reading his thoughts, offered a casual explanation. "I was lucky enough to run into Mark. If he hadn't opened the door, I'd have been waiting outside. Lucky me, right?"

"Grayson," Chase managed, his voice barely a whisper. Grayson tilted his head, a silent What?

"Why are you here? Out of the blue? Why?" Chase's words were fractured, his body trembling, a wave of self-disgust washing over him. He hated Grayson, feared him, despised him, yet he always felt bound to him, a puppet on his strings. Even now, alone, the illusion of Grayson's control was suffocating.

A wave of dizziness hit him, and Chase gasped, burying his face in his hands. Grayson, unfazed, spoke with his usual nonchalance. "You look better than I expected after the accident."

Chase glared at him through his fingers. "So?"

"You always misunderstand my sincerity," Grayson sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "Oh, the tragedy!" The theatrical display was designed to infuriate, and it succeeded. Chase lowered his hands, his face a mask of barely contained rage.

"I came to see how the movie was going," Grayson continued, his tone light. "You seem to be doing better than I thought."

"Ha," Chase scoffed, a dry, humorless sound.

Grayson's gaze swept over him, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "I never imagined you'd take on Doctor Flame."

Grayson's laughter, a harsh, echoing sound, grated on Chase's nerves. Chase's face hardened, the amusement in Grayson's eyes a blatant insult. "You are Chase Miller, not Doctor Flame," Grayson declared, his tone dismissive.

Stunned, Chase could only manage a broken, "Off." He grabbed Josh's discarded jeans, pulling them on over his bare skin, and fled the bedroom. Grayson, relentless, followed. "Don't follow me," Chase hissed, "Just get lost."

"It's been too long, little brother," Grayson purred. "Come give me a kiss."

"You're insane! Get out and die!" Chase retorted, his voice thick with loathing. "Do you think this is funny?"

Grayson's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Such exaggerated curses! You know I'm only trying to help."

"Help?" Chase scoffed. "By forcing me into bestiality during my rut?"

"What's wrong with dogs?" Grayson asked, genuinely puzzled.

Chase stopped, his mind reeling.

"Chase, all holes are the same," Grayson said, his voice a chilling whisper. Chase's breath caught in his throat.

"Or," Grayson continued, a cruel smile twisting his lips, "would you prefer a cat this time?"

The memory of that day, a suffocating wave of horror, crashed over Chase.

"Chase, I truly don't understand you," Grayson said, his voice laced with false concern. "Nathaniel and I, we're only trying to help you."

"Just leave me alone," Chase pleaded, his voice trembling.

"Chase—" Grayson reached out, but Chase violently slapped his hand away. "I told you to get out! I should have killed you back then, not Alex!"

"Chase." A new voice, cold and authoritative, cut through the air. Josh stood a few steps away, his expression a mask of controlled anger.

"It's inappropriate to enter uninvited," Josh stated, his voice sharp. "Even family requires permission."

"Mark let me in," Grayson replied, his tone smooth and unrepentant.

"That's irrelevant," Josh countered, his voice firm. "I spoke with Mark moments ago, and he made no mention of it. Even if you informed him, he would have reported it to Mr. Miller. Since Mr. Miller is clearly unaware, you acted independently."

Grayson blinked, then burst into laughter, an unexpected sound in the tense atmosphere. "You're sharp," he conceded.

"Thank you," Josh replied, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Grayson stroked his chin, his gaze lingering on Josh, unsettlingly intense. Josh wanted him gone, but Grayson remained rooted to the spot.

"What are you doing?" Chase interjected, his voice low and strained, his face pale. He'd seized Grayson's outstretched hand, halting it inches from Josh's face.

Josh looked from the hand to Chase, then back to Grayson. Grayson, his eyes fixed on Josh, froze.

"You don't strike me as a Beta," Grayson mused. "Are you?"

"Yes."

"How can you be so certain?"

Chase's voice was flat, devoid of emotion. "His scent. Or rather, the lack thereof."

Grayson let out a soft "Ah," a strange smile creeping onto his face.

"Get out!" Chase hissed.

"Mr. Miller," Josh interjected, stepping between them. He spoke coolly, "Your younger brother just woke up. He needs rest. Please leave and return another time, with an appointment."

Josh braced himself, prepared to physically remove Grayson if necessary. Protecting Chase was his priority.

Grayson remained silent, his gaze probing. Josh frowned, unable to decipher the expression. Was it amusement? Anger? Disappointment? He couldn't tell.

"Then," Grayson finally said, his tone deceptively light. Josh tensed, but Grayson turned to Chase, a bright, almost unsettling smile on his face. "I suppose I must go. How unfortunate."

Josh remained skeptical. Was he really leaving so easily? Grayson, noticing his suspicion, smirked. "Would you escort me to the door? My little brother seems unwilling, and I'd hate to walk alone."

His words were laced with insincerity, but Josh nodded silently.

"Then, Chase, do your best," Grayson said.

"Shut up," Chase retorted.

Grayson sighed dramatically, shaking his head as he turned away. Josh remained vigilant, anticipating a sudden attack, but nothing happened. Chase merely muttered under his breath, restraining himself. Josh quickly followed Grayson, eager to get him out of the trailer.

"Ah," Grayson said, stopping abruptly near the entrance. Josh's irritation flared. What now?

Grayson glanced back at Chase, then turned to Josh, a sly grin spreading across his face. "If you want to keep him, you could always turn him into an Omega, Chase. Isn't that right?"

Grayson's words hung in the air, a cruel taunt. Both Josh and Chase were taken aback. Chase lunged forward, but Grayson dodged easily, as if he'd anticipated the move.

"See you next time, Dr. Flame," he mocked, laughing as he fled.

"Mr. Miller, this way," Josh said, grabbing Grayson's arm and pulling him towards the door, preventing Chase from doing something he would regret.

"Whew," Josh breathed, finally outside. He exhaled deeply, meeting Grayson's gaze, his expression immediately hardening. Grayson offered a thin, bitter smile.

"Don't look so wary," Grayson said. "It's ridiculous. It's so hard to see my little brother."

"You know exactly why," Josh countered.

Grayson looked genuinely surprised, a reaction that only deepened Josh's unease. "I don't know at all. Do you? So, what's your name?"

Josh ignored the blatant attempt to change the subject. "People hate being forced," he stated.

He couldn't tell if Grayson was feigning ignorance or genuinely clueless. Grayson stroked his chin thoughtfully, tilting his head. "Are you talking about… that?" he asked, then began reciting a list of Chase's past traumas as if they were fond memories.

"Chase was always the easiest to tag in hide-and-seek, wasn't he? We put him in the closet to get him used to the dark. Dropped him down the chimney to prove Santa wasn't real. Pushed him in front of the school bus because he didn't want to go to school. Locked him in the audio room for three days to make him watch movies and study acting. Or—"

"Wait, wait!" Josh interrupted, his voice laced with horror. "God, what are you talking about? You did all that to Chase? There's more?"

Grayson blinked, genuinely puzzled. "Yeah. Why?"

Josh was speechless. Grayson frowned, sighing as if he were the one wronged. "No, I really don't understand," he said, his voice laced with disbelief. "We were trying to help. Chase was always the easiest to tag, saved us time. The chimney thing—Santa isn't real, right? I was just proving it. He broke his arm, sure, but his neck didn't snap. I waited for the perfect moment in the snow. And yet, he's never thanked me! Not once!"

Josh stared at him, the horrifying truth sinking in. Chase had never stood a chance. "That's not helping," Josh said, his voice flat. "That's abuse."

"No," Grayson insisted. "I was helping him."

Josh pointed out patiently, "When someone suffers, it's abuse. It affects them deeply, even when they're grown. Don't you know Mr. Miller is still struggling with dogs?"

"Why is it so bad to have a dog?" Grayson asked, his expression utterly innocent. "It's no different than having sex with your favorite… hole or penis."

Josh was left speechless, the full extent of Grayson's twisted logic becoming clear. He'd thought Chase was the crazy one, but it was Grayson's actions that had driven Chase to the edge.

Grayson looked at Josh, his expression still unconvinced. Josh realized the core of the problem: Grayson genuinely believed he was acting out of goodwill. He was incapable of understanding why his actions, no matter how well-intentioned, were deeply harmful.

"He's a really tricky guy, Chase," Grayson concluded, dismissing the entire situation.

As if it was Chase's fault, his "picky" personality, for not appreciating Grayson's "help."

Josh was beyond words. He turned away, the conversation pointless. As he headed back to the trailer, he glanced over his shoulder. Grayson was still standing there, his expression serious, lost in thought. Josh ignored him and went inside, heading straight for the bedroom, needing to check on Chase.

Josh knocked softly on the door before entering. There was no need to wait for a response. Chase was on the bed, shirtless, his face buried in his hands, his posture small and broken. Josh closed the door and approached, reaching out, but Chase flinched, recoiling from the touch. A pale face, eyes wide with fear, met his. Josh stood still, waiting, allowing Chase to regain his composure.

"Your brother is gone," Josh said, his voice gentle. He omitted the details, knowing Chase would understand. He could almost feel the weight of Chase's relief.

He imagined Chase, a child, forced into darkness, pushed to the edge, broken and terrified. Josh's heart ached.

"What can I do, Chase?" he asked, his voice soft. "Tell me. I'll listen."

Chase remained silent. Josh repeated the question, his voice a low, trembling sigh. "Shall I kill him?"

Chase's head snapped up, confusion clouding his fear. "You said you couldn't be a criminal," he whispered.

Josh offered a bitter smile. "I did. But… I'd adapt to prison better than you would."

He gently stroked Chase's cheek. "Tell me," he whispered. "Grayson? His dog? Anyone who hurts you. I'll make them stop."

Chase's eyes widened, his lips trembling. He finally managed to speak. "…Please. Kill me."

He couldn't bear to live like this, haunted by fear, waiting for the next violation. He was exhausted, broken. The thought of losing control again, of another encounter with the dog, sent a wave of nausea through him. He just wanted it to end.

"Have you ever thought about what I can't remember?" Chase whispered, his voice thick with tears. "How terrifying it is?"

"I know," Josh said softly. "I can't even imagine."

No one understood. No one believed him. Even when he begged them to stop, they ignored him. Grayson, after the last attack, had offered a twisted reassurance, a cruel mockery of comfort."You don't have to rush to find a partner. You're an Alpha. You don't have to do anything with someone you don't like." And he had smiled, sincerely, as if he had said something kind.

Chase remembered everything: the smile, the clothes, the open window, the wind, the scent of wood and fish, the looming Rottweiler. The memory was as vivid as yesterday, and the tears started again.

Josh pulled Chase into a silent embrace, offering comfort without words. Chase's tears flowed uncontrollably. He had been alone, adrift, waiting for a savior, someone to understand, to see his pain.

"You won't die," Josh whispered, his voice firm. "Not while I'm here. I'll protect you. No one will hurt you."

Chase looked up, his tear-filled eyes shimmering. "…Really?"

"I promise," Josh said, kissing his forehead. He chuckled softly, brushing Chase's hair away from his face. "You look better with blonde hair."

Chase hugged him tightly, burying his face in Josh's chest. He didn't want the filming to end, afraid Josh would disappear again.

"Don't listen to your brother," Josh whispered, tightening his embrace. He kissed Chase's skin, holding him close. Chase closed his eyes, inhaling Josh's scent, or rather, the lack of it, and held on, safe and protected.