After a grueling night, Nyx, Alden, and Xander finally shook off the lingering effects of the poison. By mid-afternoon, they could move freely again. Eleanor insisted that Nyx call his father and explain his absence, using the excuse of an all-night study session at Aiden’s house. It was a flimsy cover, but it was enough to avoid suspicion—for now.


    The group gathered in the living room, the air heavy with tension. Nyx’s stomach churned as he prepared to speak. He glanced at Aiden, who sat cross-legged on the couch, arms folded, his expression unreadable.


    “Okay,” Nyx began, his voice hesitant. “I owe you an explanation.”


    Aiden raised an eyebrow. “You think?”


    Nyx winced but pressed on. “I… haven’t been honest with you. About a lot of things. It started with the Alpha bite.”


    Aiden’s eyes widened. “The what?”


    Nyx exhaled slowly. “It’s how I… turned. There’s more. I made a deal with Dante. He’s been helping me figure things out, and part of that included testing Amaya.”


    “Amaya?” Aiden leaned forward. “What do you mean, testing her?”


    “We thought she might be supernatural too,” Nyx admitted. “She drank a potion, but there was no reaction. She’s human.”


    Aiden stared at him, incredulous. “So let me get this straight. You’ve been bitten, you’ve been making deals with Dante, and you’re running experiments on people… and you decided to tell me all this now? After you almost got yourself killed last night?”


    Nyx looked away. “I thought I could handle it.”


    “Handle it?” Aiden’s voice rose. “You didn’t think I deserved to know? I’m your best friend, Nyx! How do you think it feels to find out all this at once? That you’ve been keeping secrets from me while I’m out here worrying about you every time something weird happens?”


    Xander raised his hands in a calming gesture. “Aiden, take it easy. Nyx’s been dealing with a lot. It’s not like he wanted to hide this from you.”


    “Yeah,” Alden chimed in, his tone gentler. “You have to admit, it’s not exactly easy to tell your best friend you’re turning into something your own family hunts.”


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    Aiden shot them both a glare. “That doesn’t make it okay. Do you know how useless I felt last night? Hearing that thing, knowing Nyx and you two were fighting for your lives, and I didn’t even know what was going on?” He turned back to Nyx, his voice tight with emotion. “I could have helped you. Or at least been there for you. But you didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth.”


    Nyx’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Aiden. I really am. I thought I was protecting you. I didn’t want to drag you into this mess.”


    Xander leaned forward, his tone soothing. “And maybe he made the wrong call. But he’s telling you now, isn’t he? Doesn’t that count for something?”


    Aiden let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. Maybe. It’s just a lot to take in.”


    Nyx glanced at Xander and Alden, who offered him small, encouraging nods. He turned back to Aiden. “I’m telling you everything now. No more secrets. I promise.”


    Aiden’s expression softened slightly, though the tension in his posture remained. “You’d better mean that, Nyx. Because I’m done being kept in the dark.”


    “You won’t be,” Nyx said firmly. “I swear.”


    The uneasy truce between them hung in the air as Nyx shifted the conversation. “Last night. That creature… What was it?”


    All eyes turned to Xander and Alden. The twins exchanged a glance before Xander spoke. “I don’t know. I’ve seen a lot of things, read about even more, but that… that thing wasn’t in any of the books or legends.”


    Eleanor leaned forward, her expression intent. “Can you describe it?”


    Aiden shuddered, rubbing his arms as if warding off a chill. “It was huge. Its body was mostly bones, like something had eaten all the flesh off it. Whatever skin was left was stretched so tight it looked ready to tear. And its eyes…” He trailed off, swallowing hard. “They were hollow. Just these glowing yellow lights where pupils should’ve been. And its mouth… twisted, with these sharp, yellow teeth.”


    Eleanor frowned, her brow furrowing. “I’ve never heard of anything like that,” she murmured. “It’s as if it came out of nowhere.”


    Alden’s frustration bubbled over. “Maybe Dad knows something. Oh wait, he’s too busy with his friend’s pack to care about what’s happening here.”


    “Alden,” Eleanor’s tone was sharp. “I understand you’re upset, but that’s enough.” She softened slightly, her voice steady. “I’ll try to contact him. If he knows anything, I’ll make sure he comes back.”


    Alden shook his head, muttering under his breath, but he said no more. The room fell into a tense silence until Nyx spoke up.


    “Do you think we can track it?” he asked Eleanor.


    She considered his question, her expression thoughtful. “Maybe. It’ll take time. We’ll need to gather more information, and possibly consult the archives. But first, all of you need rest. You’ve been through enough for one day.”


    The group nodded reluctantly, the weight of the night still heavy on their minds. As they dispersed, Nyx lingered for a moment, catching Aiden’s eye.


    “Hey,” he said softly. “Thanks for having my back. Even after… everything.”


    Aiden shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. “What are best friends for? Just don’t keep me in the dark again, okay?”


    Nyx nodded, his chest loosening ever so slightly. But as he turned away, the shadows of the unknown loomed larger than ever. They had survived the night, but the battle was far from over.