Page 35 of Monster. Me.

I let out a long sigh. Why is it that something keeps pulling me toward this man… or this monster? Who is he, really?

His appearance should be a turnoff, not something that attracts me. That face covered in red streaks, those strange double fangs, those eyes burning with that deep purple color, and those massive swollen muscles I'd been kneading with my paws earlier, hard and springy beneath my touch, packed with primal strength that's weirdly exciting.

But at the same time, there's something in his face. Some kind of despair. Total defeat. Complete surrender to Fate. I can tell he has absolutely no hope left that his future will ever be happy.

In a strange way, that makes us similar.

For years, I never believed I'd become an omega either. Even now, sitting in a facility dedicated to making that happen, all I have is a tiny shred of hope that's slowly fading too, especially with how disastrous things are between Rupert and me.

The feeling of being trapped between decisions is killing me.

I even glance at my closet, thinking about starting to pack and leave this place immediately, because the probability of this program's success in my case is shrinking brutally fast.

I came here truly believing this was my last chance.

Was I fooling myself?

I glance at my reflection in the mirror and notice again that strange similarity between my face and Drax's.

That same look of fading hope. The feeling that we're both sliding farther and farther down a slope that eventually ends somewhere there's no coming back from.

◆◆◆

At seven in the morning, loud knocking on the door drags me awake. I stretch groggily in bed because, for real, I'm not used to being conscious at such an inhuman hour.

I hear Rupert moving around in his bedroom too. Apparently the noise woke him up as well. My bed is densely filled with small pillows that are now burying me, so before I manage to dig myself out of it, I hear his footsteps. A moment later he steps out wearing… striped pajamas. I don't want to be mean, but sexy is definitely not the first word that comes to mind.

"Who's pounding on doors this early?" he mutters. "Come in!"

The door opens, revealing an unremarkable-looking man in white scrubs.

"Good morning. I'm Reed Gutin. Dr. Lomax asked me to request that Mr. Marlow Nolan accompany us to one of the procedure rooms."

"What for?" I ask, feeling a slight chill run down my spine.

Reed hesitates for a second. He tilts his head, narrows his eyes, then speaks while shooting Rupert a strange sideways glance.

"Mutant Fenn Drax seems to have taken a liking to you. He requested that you be present during an unpleasant medical procedure. According to him, having you there would be comforting."

He says it with complete sincerity, but there's a cruel smile stretching across his face.

My heart immediately speeds up. Fuck.

This is… nice. He needs me? It’s at the same time touching and kinda tragic. He has to be painfully alone if a stranger he’s seen once or twice is his safe person.

But Rupert's eyebrows practically shoot up into his hairline.

"Fenn Drax? You mean that mutant whose weird abilities they're trying to replicate here?"

"The very same one. Yesterday he spotted Mr. Nolan in the hallway and decided he enjoys looking at him. Apparently that will help him endure the procedure."

Rupert is still staring with his mouth hanging open.

"I'll do it," I say before I can think twice. Why not? If I can help ease his pain, I will. He has suffered enough.

"Seriously?" Rupert asks. To my surprise, he doesn't sound particularly upset about the idea. "You're sure about that?"

"Yeah. They're putting that poor guy through some pretty awful experiments. If I can offer him a little support, why wouldn't I?"