>>Clio
The weight of their stories settled in my chest like a heavy stone. As I listened to the harrowing details of the pasts, a profound sorrow washed over me, creating ripples of anguish that echoed in the chambers of my own emotions.
The struggles they had faced stemmed from their own parents' blunders and I couldn't help but think how lucky and blessed I have been in that regard. How protective my family was.
"I see…" I sighed. The director sure went through a lot of shit as well. The underworld took Matthew as a kid and Azef soon followed him.
The storm of conflicting feelings settled into a deep well of compassion. Makes me understand why Matthew and Azef are so close as well and why they have a cold side to them.
I guess Azef held a deeper hatred for his mother, way deeper than Matthew, why else would he so easily ask for her murder?
Besides each other, did these two have other people as family?
…
Well, Matthew has me now, but what about the director?
"Has he found his mate yet?" I asked, "You said all werewolves have a soulmate." Well, all the ones that were able to shift do. So the director must have one too, right? He said his father's genes were strong, and so they were able to shift and become full fledged werewolves.
If a wolf doesn't manifest, that person and his bloodline only depletes more.
Matthew didn't reply to my question.
"Matthew?" I looked at him, we were sitting on the same three seater couch with a one seat gap between us.
He looked at me, "He did…"
"Did?" I found it suspicious, "And?" I looked at him, "I've never seen her."
"She's dead,"
My heart dropped, "OH,"
"So make sure you don't ever mention that in front of him…" He looked away, "This is a very sensitive topic for wolves."
"Alright…" My God… If anyone looks at the director, they wouldn't be able to tell just how much pain he's gone through. He's quick to smile, quick to laugh, and quick to understand the situation and act accordingly.
I wonder, how broken is he from the inside?
I understood it well and nodded. I would never want to remind him of something like that. It's good that Matthew told me about it.
The conversation was followed by silence which was broken by Matthew
"There's something I've been wanting to ask you for a while," He decided to change the vibe of the atmosphere. I guess it did get gloomy.
"Yes?" I looked at him
"You stopped using your fake voice," He smiled, "For a while now,"
!!
"Ah, yes," It happened without me paying much attention to it. I just stopped using it since there was no need for it now. Everyone knew my secret and using that voice actually took up a lot of effort.
I let out a sigh.
At least that part is over,
"But there's something else that you never did," He asked in a mischievous tone.
???
I looked at him with a question mark face
"Something I never did?" I was puzzled, "What?" I had no clue what he was talking about and it was never even going to cross my mind.
He came closer to me, "You never told me your real name,"
There was a pause as my body stilled and my eyes went wide
My real name?
My heart skipped a beat
"W-why my real name all of the sudden?" I looked at him nervously. I had almost forgotten I had an original name. A name I went by before all this mess.
"Why not?" He asked, "That's YOUR name," He took my hands in his, "And I want to call you by your name." He looked very curious and I could tell he really wanted to know.
I felt shy but at the same time a little awkward, "My real name is a little weird," My gaze dropped as I recalled the times I was called by my own name.
"I know it won't be," He seemed pretty confident for some reason
"How can you be so sure?" I pouted,
"Because you keep labeling the most prettiest things as weird." His sweet talking left me baffled.
!!!!
My heart did a flip and a blush swept across my face, "No… It really is a weird name…" I couldn't meet his gaze, "My parents wanted to name their kids on Greek mythology." I grimaced, "I don't know what their obsession was with that but…"
"Oh?" He seemed excited, "I'm sure it's good then, Greek Gods?"
I bit my lower lip and shook my head, "No, they chose muses,"
"I'm still sure it's a great name," He insisted and I knew I couldn't back down.
My real name… It hasn't been called in years.
I gulped and looked further down,"You really want to know?"
"Yes," He replied, "And I would like to call my mate by her name, not her brother's."
There was a pang in my heart but I knew he was right. I've been stealing my brother's name for far too long… I should give it back to him now.
"Calliope," I whispered. I said it so lightly I wasn't sure he'd even hear it.
The eldest of the nine Greek muses, Calliope was the goddess of music, song, and dance. Clio was Calliope's sibling. I don't know anything about Greek mythology but I searched our names up, just for the fun of it.
"Calliope," He smiled, "I love it," Making my heart beat faster. I looked at him and saw him staring at me. My heartbeat rose and I sensed the tension between us immediately. His hands came to my face and neck, "It's a beautiful name,"
His touch was like a whisper against my skin, fingers tracing a delicate path from my cheek to the nape of my neck. A spark of electricity lingered in his caress, and when his other thumb brushed my lower lip
Our eyes met, creating a silent dialogue. His gaze drew me closer. As if in response to an unspoken invitation, his lips hovered over mine, breath mingling in the small space between us.
I lowered my gaze to his lips and the distance shortened while my heart drummed.
Then the door flung open
!!!
Our lips had barely grazed when the violent bang of the door made me jump away from Matthew.
HOLY SHIT!!
Matthew's mood dropped as I pushed myself away from him and his expressions turned foul. He clenched his jaw, then turned his head to look at the person at the door, ready to mangle him.
"Look," It was Azef, "I know I didn't come at the best time but, it's best if we leave for the city."
Matthew stood up, he looked at his brother but they didn't share any conversation. They just kept looking at each other. I stared at them awkwardly, till the point I got it.
Ah…
I sighed.
They're talking alright, I stood up, they're just not including me. Fine then, I let out a deep breath and began to make my way away from them when Mathew caught my wrist.
"Wait," I looked back at him, "We should leave together. It's best if you stick with me."
"Hmm?" I raised my brows at him, "Leave?" I eyed him, "For the city?"
"Yes," He then paused, "Or you could stay here till the time I take care of things, there is no space safer than here." He nodded, "Actually, that's better."
"Matthew," I stepped closer to him as Azef quietly slipped away, "Why did you exclude me from the conversation?"
He was a little surprised I caught on
"I know you both talked about something. What is it?" I could tell something was off. Why else would they exclude me from their conversation?
Matthew stared back without a word. His gaze bore into mine, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of unease. There was an intensity in his eyes, a hesitancy that betrayed an internal struggle. I couldn't help but wonder what he was holding back.
But, I knew it was bad news.
Azef would never just barge in like that, if it wasn't urgent.
"Come on," I tugged my arm that he was holding, "Just say it."
As I met his uncertain gaze, his brows furrowed slightly, "I'm saying this to keep you safe."
"Okay," I replied, "But tell me what it is,"
"I will," His grip got firmer, "But promise me you'll agree to stay here,"
I frowned, "Stay here?" I narrowed my eyes at him in suspicion, "While you go back to the city alone?"
"Not alone," He replied, "But without you,"
I yanked my arm away, "Why?"
"Because this is the safest place for you."
"From what?" I folded my arms as the anxiety in my chest rose, "From What Matthew?" We both looked at each other's faces.
"From what's about to happen," He let out a soft breath.
"And that is?" I already had an idea what was coming for me but listening to it still made my heart drop and my stomach churn.
"Silas Soma is coming for you,"
It was finally here