That Same Refrain Again

More than six hours have passed since Howie fell into this sleep filled with fragments of frightening, joyful, warm, and painful memories.

Marc, still stuck in his wolf's body, begins to get irritated by the paces that El takes in the room, it makes him anxious.

With a dark look, he follows her every move trying to control the wild urge that begins to take hold of him little by little.

He had climbed onto the sofa near his son laying his head on exactly the same spot as Howie, that way he could monitor his breathing and any change in his attitude even if he fell asleep.

But he hasn't been able to take a good nap since Bravael went into all his states making the air unbearable to breathe. He begins to question why he is still unable to return to his human form.

He should be already but he forgot the fatigue he had to face patrolling for hours and hours every day unable to sleep at night without Alfred's face resurfacing in his head like an alarm.

He gave Bravael a telling look before he jumped off the couch with menacing fangs. Bravael jumped with a cry of surprise.

Marc growls furiously, scratching the carpet with his front paws ready to attack like a mad dog.

Hey, stop with that furball, you're not the only one who's anxious here, and everyone is dealing with their setbacks as best they can. So put away his menacing fangs and go back to bed and above all forget that I'm here.

Marc continues to growl furiously, even more, this time, because the little toddler dared to speak to him in an authoritative tone as if they were of the same generation. Young people today have no respect, none.

Ok well, I'm done and you too, stop looking at me like I'm a piece of meat. He said to the other, waving a menacing finger at Marc's sharp fangs while respecting a certain limit of distance between them.

He knows that stress and a werewolf are not two compatible things, stress and depressive frustration drive them mad with rage and they can kill without control or regret until they feel appeased or kill themselves in the process.

He let out a second wave of sweet and tender pheromones from his body to bring some peace to his two friends, one completely lost in a surge of emotions that tortures him and the other anxious about his inability to help.

The wolf calmed down and the murderous look he had before dissipated to give way to a look heavy with fatigue and contained pain. he turned to Howie and tucked his head under his hand like a puppy looking for attention, aiming to find some comfort this time instead of giving it.

But at the same time, he wants his son to know that he is there and very close to him, he will not leave him alone no matter the circumstances.

The star on his forehead continues to glow faintly with a different shade of color that reflects the different types of emotion running through his soul.

The acceptance ritual was not performed properly, with the full moon, the blood sacrifice, and the incantation of welcome.

Bravael is afraid just like Marc because Normally this could cause irreversible damage to the receiver and fragments of the soul of the entity in question could be lost during the symbiosis which can lead to a slow death in great suffering at the receiver. there are those who end up in the asylum and some even end their lives because they can't control the fragments of voices that scream in their heads, the memories buzz like bees in their heads.

But Howie skipped all the steps altogether, although what just happened is completely different from what happens during

That's the reason they're so tense waiting for her to wake up. They are afraid that what has just happened will affect him in a negative way. While he fights against the powerful waves of memories that try to drown him. they were too many for him and too strong.

the memories were confused, happy, and sad at the same time. he doesn't know where to turn, there were so many of them.

It was with a cry filled with grief and pain that he finally woke up writhing, with his beautiful features distorted by the pain he felt in his chest.

A grimace of pain crossed his face as he kept screaming and muttering while holding something invisible in his arms.

No, no, no stay with me please don't leave me. It wasn't what you promised me, it wasn't what we agreed, please stay.

You need to wake up, he said. while Marc stood staring sadly at Howie unable to speak to him.

Then he rolled onto his side, tucking his long legs under his stomach and wrapping his arms around him as his whole body shook like a leaf. As her tears slowly fade away.

Frightened by Howie's sudden movement and cry, the wolf jumped with a quick leap away from H but when he understood the situation, it didn't take long to come back to him, shuddering.

As Bravael rushes over to Howie he bumps his foot against the coffee table. He knelt in front of him, hesitating to touch him, completely ignoring the pain that gripped him.

He sat down in front of the sofa as El does, he lifted a paw as a dog would with his master to console him and put him on H's arm.

Bravael follows his gesture and reproduces it without fear this time. He had learned from marc, the crises he had to face since his childhood, that's why he hesitated to touch him.

In his wolf form Marc acts more by instinct instead of thinking twice and weighing the pros and cons. he does what his instinct tells him to do, and the warmth of their bodies next to Howie brings him some comfort.

He feels that he is not alone and that he must fight otherwise he will remain immersed in this infernal nightmare for a long time which exhausts all his strength.

With a last superhuman effort, he opened his eyes and bathed in tears and sadness. he met two pairs of worried, frightened eyes looking at him as if silently praying for a miracle to happen.

Bravael breathed deeply and noisily when he met H's tear-soaked gaze on them in turn.

And damn it! Said the latter mentally, I must have cried in my sleep again. it's been a while since he's had this kind of scene.

Marc plunged his muzzle into his neck, he lapped up the tears that were still running down Howie's wet cheeks, wagging his tail frantically, he was happy that he was back among them.

While Howie stroked him gently, running his fingers through his soft, silky coat.

El joined the small group, wrapping her arms around them while giving them her sweet pheromonal scent to dispel the last traces of anxiety still in the air.

They remained silent for a moment when Marc pushed El out of his embrace without missing the opportunity to glare at him and show his fangs.

Fool, what did I do again? He said in a flirtatious and teasing tone while stroking her head.

El likes when in a complicated situation he is the only one capable of bringing help like an adult. he spent his whole life being the very youngest. so each time an opportunity presents itself in front of him he grabs it with open arms and he tends to treat others as he was treated.

That's the reason why Marc keeps sending him signals, it's so he doesn't try anything silly and stupid. Like stroking his head, talking to him like a child because he's the adult here and not the other way around.

This boy fills with energy, which sometimes makes him uncomfortable, he acts without thinking of the consequences by doing things that could lead to misunderstandings if someone else sees him.

He couldn't even call him Marc before, but now he's starting to take him for someone his own age.

He smiled mischievously leaning toward Marc, as quickly as lightning he leaned his head towards him and placed a kiss on his head before bursting out laughing.

Howie smiled seeing his father stiffen as he glared at the little brat who never knew when to be serious.

He turned to his son, he met the glint of joy in his reddened and swollen eyes and his heart began to beat more calmly when he felt a weight come out of his shoulders suddenly. He closed his eyes and his body began to change to its human form.

Bravael grabbed a blanket off the sofa and gallantly slung it over his shoulders with a grin as he helped him up.

Once up, Marc throws him a last look before walking away from him, muttering a thank you between clenched teeth.

I'm not your boyfriend but a father like I am to your friend here, so stop acting like we're the same age.

I look older than you, mate, El replies teasingly to Marc, who looks him up and down.

As he silently gazes at each other Howie gets up from the sofa and climbs the stairs four by four, the mark on his forehead has dissipated but he feels her presence under his skin just as he feels the mark on his back and Her chest.

Once in his room, he closed the door behind him, he leaned against the door for a moment, closing his eyes for a few seconds, the pain and sorrow he experienced are still present, and he does not know if he may one day no longer feel this excruciating pain that itches him.

He got rid of his clothes, leaving them trailing behind him as he went to stand directly in front of the mirror where he examined his slender and well-proportioned body. he had grown and his muscles have toned, they are firmer and even more defined than before and his eyes despite their redness are clearer than ever.

He let down his hair which fell down his back with flexibility while an exceptionally sweet and spicy smell invaded his nostrils which made him sneeze.

He was taken by surprise, he stopped dead in his tracks thinking he was being watched by someone who slipped into his room without anyone noticing until he realized that the smell comes from his hair, he has the impression of having taken a bath made essentially of the “rosa gallica officinalis”.

A flower we often used for Lyke when he took his baths and today they are one and the same, so this scent he will carry with him as his own from now on.

He touched his forehead where the mark shone and jumped when he felt the warmth still emanating from the location, he ran a tender hand almost dreamily over his chest, then he turned to take a look at his back which always itches a bit.

He jumped when he noticed the huge tattoo covering most of his back, a white wolf's head that looked like man and animal at the same time, staring at him with a light blue gaze, as if could read him like a book.

On a pentagram, the pentagram expresses the dominion of the spirit over the elements, and it is by this sign that one chains the demons of the air, the spirits of fire, the specters of water, and the ghosts of the earth... strewn with dark blue flowers which are none other than the napel, as pretty, attractive as they are deadly to its species.

That's a very nice irony, he said with a sigh.

On her milky and soft skin, the tattoo seems to have always been there, the colors go very well with her skin. and the dark blue color of the flowers that intrigue him seem to speak to him, but he's not quite sure why this seems like a warning.

Why do these three images seem to speak to him, why these three images which are so distinct are found on his body at the same time.

He knows he has no right to use the pentacle, but what is he doing there? the wolf is surely him and why the aconite among so many others? Why the one that is fatal to its species exactly?

It's strange! he thinks to himself mentally and he doesn't want to immerse himself in the fog of his memories right away, he's not ready to face the second wave of suffering.

Without asking any more questions because he feels a headache coming on that he's not sure he can handle now if he keeps thinking so much.

He took a last look at the drawing before heading to the bathroom where he ran a cold bath in his tub, which he slipped into and fell asleep.

It was Aike's voice that woke him up and his heartbeat in perfect harmony with his brother's. He slept without dreaming without really resting. He got out of the bath taking his time. He grabbed a bathrobe and wrapped himself in it, and the strongly spiced sweet smell of the rosa washed over him like a breeze.

He dragged his feet to the bedroom because he only wanted to sleep and never wake up again. He feels empty and bitter.

He noticed the time on his table clock and he jumped. Tell me it's wrong, I haven't slept all this time? If you can call it sleeping after all. Why aren't they going instead of being here? He grumbled between his teeth

Because they came to get you, replies Bravael, who since last night hasn't stopped watching the slightest noise coming from his room. He almost took the door down, when he didn't hear it last night if Marc didn't catch him in time.

You can leave, I'm not going, I'm not feeling well today, Howie replies, slipping into bed. You have no choice mate, you're playing tonight, plus I went to get them for you this morning but they didn't want to go without you. And why don't you open that fucking door or I'll go upstairs and kick it down. Do as you see fit. Said Howie to her, but above all, you replace her afterward.

El abruptly got up from his chair, Marc who was listening to the conversation grabbed his left arm on the fly, and El turned to him, he looked at Marc's hand on his arm before looking him straight in the eyes with a little defiance in the eyes.

What's going on, says Marc, why have you been acting so thoughtless since yesterday, what's the matter?

Nothing, El replies as sharply as the sound of a broken piece of wood. Don't lie to me, it's not your habit to be so angry and fiery. You've been acting weird since yesterday. I'm not weird and I'm not angry either and he wrenched his arm from Marc's grip before moving away from him. Luckily the boys were in the living room playing with the dogs who were happy to see them.

I don't think he wants to go, El told them, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his stomach.

Aike looked up at him and before El could even say anything to him he put down Ravi whom he caressed while talking to him and launched himself towards the stairs which he climbed four by four.

You're not going to reconsider your decision so soon, are you? He screamed with all his might as he pounded on the bedroom door of the latter, who jumped out of bed like a ball when he heard Aike's almost high-pitched voice. And her heart started galloping in her chest in a frantic race with her breathing.

He doesn't know which of the two will lead him straight to his grave just yet, but he knows that if this continues they will eventually get him. Painfully he put a hand to his chest to calm him down as the pattern on his forehead glowed and the tattoo on his back began to sting him.

He dragged his feet heavily to the door where he laid his head, in a deep and hoarse voice he ordered Aike to stop.

Stop banging on my door and please get away from here, I'm going downstairs give me a few minutes.

Aike, let out a sigh of relief as he leaned his head against the door in the same position as Howie on the other side.

Together they closed their eyes by placing the palm of their hand on the door exactly in the same position as the other and simultaneously.

As both hands touched the door, they received an electric shock that went through their body. Aike, let out a cry of surprise while Howie jerked away from the door.

He shakes his hand violently as he stares at the door in disbelief. What was that again he muttered as he walked away backward.

Aike on her side, holds her hand with the other, making a baby pout. he turned on his heels and went downstairs to wait for him with his brother and Bravael waiting for him. this one was a little happy that Aike managed to push him out of his room, but at the same time he would have liked him to do it.

he would have liked it to be him he was listening to instead of someone else.

The same damn story repeats itself. He mumbled, rolling his eyes in deathly boredom. What a jerk!