Where I Belong - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

A sharp scream tore through the house, waking every one of the brothers instantly. It wasn't just a sound; it was pure panic, raw and jarring, shaking them from their sleep like a warning siren.
Zane was the first out of his room, his movements quick and purposeful as he strode down the hall. He didn't say a word as he threw open Olivia's door, his sharp eyes scanning the room for immediate threats. He wasn't the type to panic outwardly, but the tension in his frame spoke volumes. Elijah wasn't far behind, his footsteps silent but urgent as he crossed the hall. The scream had come from Olivia's room, and his chest tightened with fear. Behind him, the other brothers were close on his heels – Theo pulling on a shirt as he hurried, Silas skidding into the wall as he rushed to keep up and Eros moving with his usual quiet intensity.
Zane pushed open Olivia's door to find her thrashing in her bed, tangled in her blankets. Her face was twisted in terror, her body trembling as soft whimpers escaped her lips.
"She's dreaming," Elijah murmured, moving quickly to her side. "A nightmare."
Theo's breath came heavy as he stopped just behind Elijah. His jaw tightened, his eyes darting over her small frame as she struggled. "She's terrified," he said under his breath, his voice full of worry.
Silas lingered by the door, his usual grin nowhere to be seen. His hands gripped the frame, knuckles white as he watched helplessly. "Shouldn't we wake her up?" he asked, his voice unusually serious.
Elijah nodded. "We have to."
He knelt beside her, his movements deliberate and gentle. "Olivia," he said softly, his voice steady and calm. "Wake up, sweetheart. You're safe."
When she didn't respond, Theo stepped closer, his protective nature overriding any hesitance. "Olive" he said, his voice firmer, but still careful. "You're home. It's just a dream."
At the sound of their voices, I jolted awake with a sharp gasp. My wide, tear-filled eyes darted around the room, my chest rising and falling rapidly as I tried to catch my breath.
"Hey, hey," Elijah soothed, reaching out to touch my shoulder. "It's alright. You're safe."
I sat up slowly, my breaths coming in shaky bursts. The room spun for a moment before everything clicked into place; the soft glow of the lamp, the familiar faces surrounding me, the warmth of the blanket tangled around me.
"Elijah?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
"I'm here," he said softly, his hand still steady on my shoulder. "It's okay now."
I glanced around at the others, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment as I realised they were all here, watching me. Silas gave me a small, hesitant smile, but his usual playfulness was gone. Eros stood by the wall, arms crossed, his face unreadable but his sharp eyes on me. Zane leaned against the doorframe, his expression calm but his jaw tight, and Theo was hovering closer than anyone, his protective energy almost overwhelming.
"I–I'm sorry," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't," Zane said firmly, his deep voice cutting through the air. "Don't apologize."
Theo crossed his arms, his eyes still scanning me like he was looking for signs of something he could fix. "What happened?" he asked. "Why were you screaming?"
I shook my head quickly, wrapping my arms around myself. "It was just a nightmare," I whispered. "I didn't mean to–"
"Stop," Elijah interrupted gently. "You don't need to explain. You're allowed to be scared, Olivia."
Silas dropped onto the edge of the bed, his serious expression lightening just a little as he said, "You gave us all a heart attack, though. You know, in case you were wondering."
Despite myself, I let out a weak laugh, though it was more of a shaky exhale.
Theo crouched down in front of me, his eyes level with mine. "You don't have to tell us what it was about," he said, his voice low but certain. "But if you want to, we'll listen."
I shook my head again, my throat too tight to speak.
"Do you want us to stay?" Elijah asked softly.
I hesitated, my instinct screaming to say no – I didn't want to bother them any more than I already had. But the thought of being alone after that nightmare made my chest tighten again. Finally, I nodded, looking down at my lap.
Elijah's voice was warm when he replied. "Of course."
Within minutes, they were back with pillows and blankets. Silas flopped onto the floor beside my bed, stretching out dramatically. "Alright, I've got the worst spot – officially the best brother," he announced, trying to lighten the mood.
Theo rolled his eyes but took the armchair by the window, sitting stiffly with his arms crossed. "We're not here to compete, Silas," he muttered, though his eyes stayed on me, sharp and protective.
Eros settled onto the small sofa without a word, leaning back as though he wasn't paying attention, though I knew he was. Zane took a spot against the wall, sitting with his back straight and his legs stretched out. He didn't say much, but his presence was solid, grounding. his gaze unyielding, scanning the room as if daring anything to come near me.
Elijah stayed by my side, tucking the blanket around me like he had when I was little. "Try to sleep, sweetheart," he said gently. "We're not going anywhere."
I lay back down, my body still trembling slightly as I curled into the blanket. It felt strange, having all of them here, but it also felt...safe. Safer than I'd felt in a long time.
As I drifted off, the sound of their breathing surrounded me, steady and grounding. The shadows of my nightmare began to fade, replaced by the warmth of knowing I wasn't alone. Not anymore.
The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains when I stirred awake, the house unusually still. For a moment, I forgot where I was; the calmness so unlike the chaos of my nightmare the night before. But as I shifted under the blankets, the sight of my brothers scattered around the room brought everything back.
Silas was sprawled out on the floor near my bed, his arm draped over his face. Theo was in the armchair by the window, his head tipped back, mouth slightly open as he snored softly. Elijah was on the small couch, one foot hanging off the edge, his chest rising and falling evenly. Eros had managed to curl up near the bookshelf, arms crossed like he hadn't even bothered trying to get comfortable.
But Zane wasn't there.
I wasn't surprised. Zane was the kind of person who always seemed to be awake, always watching, like he couldn't fully relax. I slipped out of bed as quietly as I could, careful not to disturb the others, as I made my way into the bathroom. The house felt peaceful, but the memory of my nightmare still lingered, its claws sunk deep into my chest.
I found Zane in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in hand. His sharp eyes flicked to me the moment I walked in, and he gave a slight nod.
"You're up early," he said, his deep voice cutting through the quiet.
I shrugged, wrapping my arms around myself. "Couldn't sleep anymore."
He studied me for a moment, then gestured to the coffee pot. "You want some?"
I shook my head, managing a small smile.
Zane didn't push. He just nodded and sipped his coffee, his gaze never leaving me. I shifted awkwardly under his scrutiny, the silence stretching out between us. Finally, I spoke.
"Thank you for...staying last night," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "All of you."
Zane's expression didn't change, but his tone was softer when he replied. "You don't have to thank us, Olivia. We're your family."
The word still felt strange, but I nodded anyway. For a few minutes, we stood in silence, the quiet hum of the house filling the space between us.
Eventually, the others began to stir. Silas was the first, stumbling into the kitchen with his hair sticking up in every direction. "Morning," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes before making a beeline for the cereal.
Theo followed soon after, looking much more put-together but still bleary-eyed. Elijah and Eros came last, both moving with the slow efficiency of people who'd stayed up too late.
They all gave me quiet smiles or nods, no one commenting on the night before. I appreciated it – it felt easier, less overwhelming.
After breakfast, we settled into the living room, the atmosphere calm but expectant. It felt like they were waiting for me to say something, but they didn't push. Elijah sat beside me on the couch, while Theo and Silas sat on either side of us. Zane stood near the doorway, arms crossed, and Eros leaned against the wall, his sharp eyes watching without a word.
I hesitated, my fingers twisting in my lap. The memory of the nightmare was still raw, but I knew I needed to say something. They'd stayed with me, worried about me, and they deserved to know why.
"It was about...before," I said finally, my voice barely audible.
The room was silent as I stared at my hands, trying to summon the courage to speak. My chest felt tight, my heart racing as I fought to push past the hesitation clawing at my throat.
"It was..." My voice cracked, and I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the blanket draped over my knees. "It was about my stepdad."
Elijah's hand rested gently on my arm, his touch grounding me. He didn't speak, didn't rush me, just waited, his patience calming the storm inside me.
I took a shaky breath, still unable to meet their eyes. "He used to..." My hands twisted in my lap, the words stuck. "He wasn't kind. Not to me or my mum. He yelled a lot. And...it wasn't just yelling. He'd...he'd hurt us."
The room seemed to shift, the air thickening with tension. Theo, sitting stiffly in the armchair across from me, leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. His fingers interlocked tightly, and his jaw clenched as he stared at the floor.
"Last night," I continued, my voice barely above a whisper, "in the dream, he found me again. I couldn't get away. I–I kept trying to scream, but no one could hear me. He...he kept–" My voice broke, and I pressed my hand over my mouth, tears blurring my vision.
Silas, who'd been sitting cross-legged on the floor, reached up hesitantly, his usual playful expression replaced with something raw and heartbroken. "Liv," he said softly, his voice trembling. "I don't even know what to say." He swallowed hard, his fingers tugging at the hem of his sleeve. "I'm so sorry you went through that."
My head dipped lower as my cheeks burned with shame. "It's okay," I whispered, though I didn't believe it. "I just–I don't know why I screamed. It's silly–"
"Stop that." Elijah's voice cut through gently, but firmly, his dark eyes full of warmth and certainty. "Don't downplay what you went through. You're allowed to feel scared, Olivia. You're allowed to have nightmares."
Theo let out a sharp breath, his hands tightening into fists. "If he were still alive..." He trailed off, his tone low and dangerous. "Forget it."
I glanced up at him, startled by the intensity in his voice. Theo wasn't one to show his anger, but the fury in his eyes now was unmistakable.
Eros, who'd been standing silently against the wall, finally pushed off and walked over. He crouched down in front of me, his dark eyes steady and full of quiet intensity. "Wake us next time," he said simply, his voice soft but firm. "No excuses."
I blinked at him, surprised by his directness, and he gave the tiniest tilt of his head, like he was daring me to argue.
I bit down hard on my lip to keep it from trembling.
Silas nodded fervently, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. "We've got you, okay? You're stuck with us now, whether you like it or not."
That managed to draw a weak, trembling smile from me, and Silas's face softened, his grin tentative but real.
Elijah's hand stayed on my arm, grounding me through the storm of emotions. "We're not going anywhere," he said quietly, his voice steady. "You're safe now."
Theo exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair, his eyes still locked on me. "Not just safe. Protected. Nothing's going to touch her again, not while we're here."
For a moment, the room fell silent again. My gaze flickered to Zane, who stood in his usual spot by the door. He hadn't moved, hadn't spoken, but I could feel the weight of his eyes on me.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low, deliberate. "What he did to you doesn't define you," he said, each word landing with quiet force. "You survived and you're still here. That's what matters now."
I blinked at him, my throat tightening. Somehow, those few simple words meant more than any reassurance I could have imagined.
The silence in the room was comforting in its own way, each of the brothers keeping their distance just enough to let me breathe but staying close enough to remind me I wasn't alone.
Elijah finally broke the quiet, his voice as soft as ever. "Olivia, have you ever thought about...talking to someone? Professionally, I mean?"
I froze, my gaze snapping to his. His tone wasn't pushy, just careful, like he knew how fragile the suggestion was. "You think I need therapy?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Elijah gave a small shake of his head. "I think you deserve it. Not because you're broken, but because you've been through things no one should ever have to face alone."
Theo leaned forward slightly, his arms resting on his knees. "It's not a bad idea, Olive," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "You've been through a lot. And as much as we want to help, we're not experts at this kind of thing."
My stomach tightened. "I don't know," I said, looking down at the blanket in my lap. "What if it makes things worse? What if...talking about it just brings everything back?"
"It'll come back either way," Eros said. His voice was calm but direct, his sharp gaze fixed on me. "The difference is, in therapy, you've got someone who knows how to help you handle it."
I swallowed hard. The idea of digging up everything I'd fought so hard to bury made my chest ache, but at the same time, I could feel the weight of all those buried things pressing down on me, heavier than ever.
Silas shifted on the floor, his usual energy subdued. "It's not about fixing you or anything like that," he said gently. "It's about giving you a place to let it out. Somewhere it's safe."
I looked at him, surprised by the seriousness in his tone. Silas rarely stayed still for this long, and it was unnerving to see him so focused.
"You don't have to decide right now," Elijah said. "It's just something to think about. And if you decide it's not for you, that's okay too."
Zane's tone was steady, his gaze unwavering. "I know a therapist. She's a friend of mine. When you're ready, I can reach out to her."
I bit my lip, looking between them. They weren't pressuring me, but their concern was clear. I couldn't help but feel the warmth of it, even through the overwhelming tangle of fear and doubt.
"I'll think about it," I said finally, my voice so soft I wasn't sure they'd hear me.
Elijah smiled. "That's all we're asking."
Silas let out a long exhale, flopping onto his back on the floor dramatically. "Good. Because if you don't go, one of us might need it after last night. I think my heart's still racing."
Despite myself, I let out a small, shaky laugh, and Silas grinned at me, his usual mischief creeping back into his expression.
Theo rolled his eyes but didn't argue. "We'll leave it at that for now," he said, though his sharp gaze stayed on me like he was still trying to gauge how I was holding up.
The tension in the room eased slightly, though the weight of the conversation lingered. Therapy. It wasn't something I'd ever seriously considered before, but maybe they were right. Maybe it was time to try.