Twinned Flame

Aelis's Warning

Sylvie made it to Braxton's private area, slowly prying the curtain back hoping she wouldn't witness another scene. When it was just Braxton and Aelis she moved in, shutting the curtain behind her. Aelis looked at her, his expression full of annoyance. Braxton looked pissed as he stared down at the floor below.

"What took you so long?" Aelis asked, motioning for Sylvie to come and sit back down. Sylvie took a seat at the end of Aelis's couch, causing him to sigh with obvious frustration.

"Sylvie, we are going to be working together closely now, you understand that right?" Aelis said, and his strict demeanor took her off guard.

"You need to get used to being close to us. I know we have a rough history. I am not going to deny that, or even ignore it," he continued,

"But grow the f**k up Sylvie. Seriously. Stop sitting so far away like we're going to pick you up and toss you back in a trash can," Aelis said, rubbing his face with his hands. Sylvie wanted to comment, that she didn't know if they actually wouldn't or not. She had little to no trust in either one of Braxton's or Aelis's moods. Aelis reached out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her closer to him,

"We are adults now, with responsibilities. We don't have time to waste on the stupid pranks we did as kids," Aelis said, reaching for a drink on the table. Sylvie stopped herself from saying anything, letting Aelis and Braxton believe that her childhood trauma, that they were the main perpetrators in causing, were just childhood pranks. It was easier than unloading the hurt onto them. What would it solve?

"Anyway. Who was he?" Aelis said, causing Braxton to turn and face her way now.

"Who?" She asked, not sure what the answer was supposed to be.

"The guy you blew us off for," Braxton said, voice even and sharp.

"Oh.. I think James?" She said with a shrug,

"And I didn't blow you off," she said, remembering the actual she-wolf that was performing the act on him when they arrived.

"We saw you," Braxton growled, moving to lean on his knees and staring at her. Sylvie leaned back away from the intensity of his stare.

"He was just teaching me how to dance. I've never done it before," she confessed. Aelis let out a snicker.

"That wasn't dancing," Aelis said, leaning back against the couch and resting his arm on top of it. He sipped at his drink,

"He was all but grinding on you," Aelis said, and Sylvie looked at him confused.

"There was no grinding," she said, and Aelis laughed at her with a 'sure'. Braxton growled, getting both of their attentions back.

"Whatever it was, why didn't you come back immediately from the bathroom?" Braxton asked. Sylvie shrugged.

"I didn't know I had too. I've never been to a club, I kind of wanted to experience it," Sylvie said, and Braxton rolled his eyes.

"All you had to do was ask me," Braxton said, leaning back and staring back down towards the floor. Sylvie sighed, her own annoyance at Braxton's hot and cold act chipping away at her sanity.

"Sure," she said, crossing her arms as a silence fell between the three of them.

It lasted for a little while until Sylvie's phone buzzed. She pulls it out to see a message from James. She opens it:

"Had fun dancing Cinderella, maybe we can do it again?" It read and Sylvie didn't understand why he kept calling her the wrong name. She decided not to respond, closing the phone and sliding it back in her pocket.

"Alpha, are you present?" A voice on the other side of the curtain called, Braxton said, 'yes' and the curtain was pulled open by the security guard that was at the bottom of the stairs.

"Alpha, your mother has arrived," he says, bowing. Braxton lets out a heavy sigh before standing.

"Aelis take Sylvie home, I have to deal with this," he said, walking over to the guard and they both walked away. Sylvie turned to Aelis confused.

"His mother?" Sylvie asked, watching Aelis down the rest of his drink and sigh.

"Yea, she likes to come here to drink," Aelis said standing, motioning for Sylvie to do the same. She did, and he guided her away from Braxton's privet section.

"Braxton bought the bar after we got out of high school. Like a graduation gift to himself," Aelis said, continuing to lead her down the stairs and towards the exit.

"His mom likes to come and drink from time to time. The only issue is, she doesn't know how to stop when she starts," Aelis said. Sylvie nodded, looking around to try and catch a glimpse of her. She had only met her once, way back during her full moon ceremony. She was the one who helped dress her up and gushed about her to anyone who would listen. Aelis rushed her out before she was able to spot her.

When they got to the car, the sky was pitch black, barely any stars. The moon was a waning crescent, and offered barely any light.

"Let's go," Aelis said, opening the door for her. Sylvie nodded at him getting into the passenger seat. He suddenly grabbed her injured arm, causing her to hiss out.

"What happened here?" he asked. Sylvie gritted her teeth at the stabbing pain that reemerged with his rough handling.

"I got into it with that she-wolf that knew Braxton," Sylvie said, pulling her arm away. Aelis nodded before closing the door and walking over to the driver's side. He started the car, and the ride was silent.

"So," Aelis said. Sylvie looked over at him.

"You're taking this pretty easy," he said. Sylvie tilted her head.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Aelis gestured between them.

"This," he said, "I mean, you win the assessment after nearly losing it," Aelis began.

"I mean that final match was brutal to watch," he said,

"Then you're swept up in Braxton's political speech about being part of the pack. Then it's us showing up at your house, meeting Alpha, and now you've danced in a club," Sylvie nodded along to his explanation.

"You haven't been given a chance to rest, and you haven't been given actual answers as to what this is," Aelis said. Sylvie looked towards the road, watching the illuminated trees in the car's light blur past.

"It is a lot to take in. I feel like I've lived a week already," Sylvie said softly,

"And you're right, I haven't been given a real explanation or even answers to why this is happening." Sylvie watched the asphalt road turn to dirt as they neared the arena that led them close to her home.

"I can only give you what I'm allowed to give you," Aelis said. Sylvie turned to look at him again, and he shot her a glance.

"Yes?" She pressed.

"Braxton gave you a small insight during the meeting with the Alpha. About how he wants to use your status and what you've accomplished to influence the Alpha heirs, Aelis began, "But there is something more to it than that."

"What is it, Aelis?" Sylvie pushed, "Please."

"I think Braxton wants to make you Luna," Aelis admitted. Sylvie was taken back,

"Why? We do not get along," Sylvie said. Aelis chuckled dryly.

"No. You don't get along with him. He doesn't see it like that," Aelis tried to explain. Sylvie rolled her eyes.

"You guys tormented me, every time you saw me. I never got a break. I was already an outcast, then my ceremony failed, and I was left wolf less and banned to the border," Sylvie said, crossing her arms, tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

"I know. Trust me I do. I felt guilty while it was happening, and even more guilty now," Aelis said. Sylvie rolled her eyes.

"Please, you guys would have been more upset if my attempts succeeded because you'd lose a toy, then me losing my life." Sylvie bit out. Aelis slowed the car to a near stop so he could look at Sylvie.

"You tried to kill yourself?" Aelis asked. Sylvie turned to look out the window, her own reflection staring back at her in the darkness. "Maybe," she whispered. Aelis stopped the car, putting it in park. He grabbed Sylvie's arm to get her to look at him. She shook it off.

"I'm really sorry, Sylvie," Aelis said. Sylvie laughed, swiping at her cheek before turning to look at him.

"You're not sorry," Sylvie said, "You and Braxton could never be sorry for what you did to me, and even if you were, I don't have to forgive you." She snapped, turning away from him again.

"You're right," Aelis said, starting the car again. Sylvie huffed out a shaky breath, trying to calm herself.

"I can't make up for the hurt we caused you, and I can't play it off like it never happened either," Aelis began as they turned onto the small strip of road leading to Sylvie's cabin.

"I snapped at you back in the club about growing up, but it was more trying to force the past to be forgotten, and I'm sorry for that," Sylvie watched as her little cabin came into view, Aelis parked the car right out front and Sylvie went to step out. Aelis grabbed her park again.

"If Braxton tries to use these trips to make you a Luna candidate, you have to refuse," Aelis said, and Sylvie searched his face. It looked almost panicked at the thought of her becoming Luna.

"Why? Don't you want to see a wolf less rogue become something?" Sylvie snapped, pulling her arm away and stepping out. She slammed the door shut and Aelis rolled down the window.

"No, I'm afraid of what Braxton will become." Aelis called to her. She turned to face him.

"What do you mean?" She asked, "The only thing he can become is Alpha." Aelis shook his head,

"I don't think so, there's something off with him. He's been that way ever since he came back from his Alpha training. Something happened to him there. When he came back, all he could think about was finding a way to make you apart of the pack. He only talked about you, not like someone he planned to bully again, but someone he planned on owning. Marking even," Aelis said, Sylvie went to respond, but a loud ringing interrupted her. Aelis clicked a button on his car's console, and Braxton's voice came from its speakers.

"Come to the main packhouse, we need to talk," came Braxton's voice. Aelis sighed.

"Got it, I'm on my way," Aelis shifted the car in reverse. "I'll see you later, Sylvie," Aelis called, pulling away from her.

"Wait Aelis!" She yelled as he drove away, leaving her alone.