Axel looked up at Inaaya, grey eyes meeting chestnut brown ones with a certain fierceness. He set his emptied plate aside, steepling his fingers between his parted knees. "Before I begin, please understand that we hold our beliefs in the highest regard. It might sound like folklore to you but for me, it is who I am. These are my roots. The entire trajectory of my species. I'm steadfast in my beliefs."

Inaaya cracked a quick smile, eyes bright with the ironic comedy of the situation. "Axel, till yesterday, I believed werewolves were folklore too." 

The corner of Axel's mouth lifted, then he let out a short laugh. He gazed at Inaaya for a moment but even those few seconds were enough to cause a light blush to creep up on her skin. His eyes were just so intense; it felt as if he was seeing her entire past and future just by looking at her.

"So... the story?" Inaaya asked softly, raising her eyebrows at him as she willed her pinkened cheeks to return to their usual brown.

Axel cleared his throat and nodded. His eyes never left hers but drifted to a faraway place as he began speaking, "King Lycaon was the first of our kind, the reason behind our creation. In order to test the claims of omniscience made by Zeus, the Greek God of the sky and the ruler of the Olympian gods, Lycaon invited the God into his home."

Inaaya leaned forward slightly. Her brows furrowed as Axel paused, realising a big revelation was coming along.

"Lycaon served Zeus the cooked flesh of his own grandson Arcas, the child of his daughter Callisto and Zeus." A shocked gasp escaped Inaaya's lips and Axel nodded grimly, his expression conveying how little he thought of Lycaon's action. 

"Zeus, of course, found out that he had been served his own son as a meal. Angered, he cursed Lycaon and all of his sons to become werewolves. It is believed Zeus' curse extended not only to Lycaon and his sons but to all of Arcadia, the place Lycaon ruled. Though, after this curse—"

"What of Arcas? Couldn't Zeus do something for his own son? He was a god after all," Inaaya asked, outraged that Arcas had to suffer such horrifying death. It just wasn't right!

Axel looked momentarily surprised by the interruption before waving his hand and glancing sideways. "Oh, Arcas. Well, Zeus revived him and made him the king but when he was about to kill his mother in the bear form, Zeus intervened and turned them both into constellations," Axel finished casually, standing up and walking towards his bedside table. He glanced back at Inaaya and she raised her eyebrows in question. Axel looked sheepish as he gave her a smile. "Well, that's a long story and completely unrelated. I'll tell you some other time."

Inaaya returned an amused smile. "Alright. Continue."

Axel's smile widened as he stared at her a moment longer before resuming his storytelling. "As I was saying, after the curse, Lycaon became a cultural hero. Founded the city of Lycosura, established a cult who worshipped Zeus and were called Zeus Lycaeus and also started the tradition of Lycaean Games, an outrageous ritual that ruined many lives if you ask me," he said, taking something out from the drawer of his bedside table.

He walked back towards Inaaya, kneeling down in front of her. "During one of these games—"

"What are you doing?" Inaaya interrupted him, eyeing the first aid box in his hand. "Thanks, but I don't need it."

"Yes, you do," Axel responded, pointing towards a gash on her knee that was filling up with fresh blood. "Let me," he requested, eyes imploring hers to agree. And so, she did. "Also, stop interrupting. You are the worst person to tell a story to," he accused, grinning.

"Am not!" Inaaya rebutted, pushing at his shoulder gently but a smile graced her lips nonetheless. She watched as Axel carefully pressed a cotton ball dipped in a colourless liquid to her wound, soaking the blood. He looked up into her eyes. The severity within his grey eyes caused her heart to beat a little faster. "Go on," she whispered.

Still staring into her eyes, Axel resumed once more. "During one of the Lycaean Games, the man who happened upon the—"

"What were these Lycaean Games?" Inaaya asked, averting her gaze from his to look at the bloodied cotton ball instead.

"What did I say about interruptions?" Axel asked, amused. He stuck a band-aid on her knee before beginning to clean up a few small scratches on her shins.

"It's not my fault if you're an incompetent storyteller," she quipped, trying not to let it show on her face how much his touches were affecting her. "So, the games?"

Axel sighed, shaking his head at her. Though the smile never left his face. "A man of appropriate age and commendable strength from every family in Arcadia took part in the Lycaean Games, either willingly or forcibly. It was held every nine years on the night of the full moon, on the highest peak of Arcadia, Mount Lykaion," Axel explained, grasping Inaaya's wrist gently to tend to the cuts on her arm. Both Inaaya and Axel's eyes were set on how deftly he nursed her wounds. Inaaya briefly wondered if Axel too felt the tingles she felt.

"This peak was believed to be sacred on the night of the full moon as no object cast a shadow on it. An altar was built in honour of Zeus. Here, the priests assigned by Lycaon conducted a sacrifice in remembrance of Lycaon's curse. Several dishes were prepared with animal flesh, however, amongst these dishes, one contained human flesh." 

Axel looked up at Inaaya and she met his gaze. "The participating men were supposed to choose a dish each. Whoever tasted the dish with human flesh in it was turned into a wolf for nine years. However, if that man tasted human flesh again during those nine years, he would remain a wolf his entire life."

Inaaya's eyes widened and she leaned away from Axel, gulping down the bile rising in her throat. He watched her with surprise, loosening his hold on her wrist. "Have y-you... e-eaten it too? Human f-flesh?"

Realisation flickered in Axel's eyes and a small laugh escaped his lips. He shook his head, pulling Inaaya closer again. "No, Inaaya, I am not a cannibal," he told her, amused. "I was a born werewolf. Also, werewolves have evolved now. We aren't turned by eating human flesh anymore."

Inaaya released a relieved breath and Axel laughed before continuing his story. "So, during one of these games, a man who was forced to participate and then was turned into a wolf, was loved by a Menae Goddess. Menae Goddesses were fifty goddesses of the lunar months and the daughters of the great Greek Goddess of Moon, Selene and her lover, Endymion. Upon finding out what had been done to her lover, the Menae Goddess took it upon herself to ensure he doesn't consume human flesh during his nine years as a wolf."

Axel leaned up, his face inches from Inaaya's, as he cleaned a wound on her forehead. His grey eyes holding her chestnut brown ones captive. 

"She spent her blood, sweat and tears in the protection of her lover. Since the full moon causes lunacy amongst wolves, all the other victims of this curse relinquished control and tasted human flesh on the night of the full moon, consequently turning them into a wolf their entire life. In order to prevent the same fate for her lover, the Menae Goddess, with help from her sisters, eclipsed the full moon every month."

Axel blew warm breath over the cut on Inaaya's forehead before dabbing it with rubbing alcohol, causing Inaaya's eyes to flutter shut. She could feel his breath intermingling with hers. Her heart was thudding. She curled her fingers into a tight fist to keep herself steady.

"Her lover's nine years were close to being completed and Zeus didn't like that. The Lycaean games were held every nine years in honour of his power. To keep Arcadians reminded of what Zeus could do. He worried that if one man returned from the curse, more would follow. That could result in Arcadians undermining his power." 

Axel put another band-aid on her forehead but didn't move away. Inaaya unsurely opened her eyes and looked into his.

"To stop that from happening, Zeus sent his son Hermes, the divine trickster, to separate the two lovers. Hermes tricked the man into feasting upon a dish made of human flesh by claiming that it was animal meat sent by his beloved. The man ate the dish and the curse was put into effect. He turned into a wolf for a lifetime. He howled in misery at the sky, at his beloved. The Menae goddess, in her profound grief, went to her mother, Selene, the Goddess of Moon."

Axel gently pushed a stray hair behind Inaaya's ear. Her heart was now pounding in her ears. It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to concentrate on his words.

"Goddess Selene was enraged upon hearing what Zeus had done. She was reminded of how he had separated her from her own lover Endymion. Endymion was a human, you see. Hence, the Moon Goddess had gone to Zeus, requesting for Endymion to be granted eternal youth so they could stay together forever. Zeus agreed but, envious of their love, he deceptively granted Endymion an eternal youthful sleep. Where Endymion would become ageless but would also remain asleep his entire life."

Axel cupped Inaaya's cheek and she sucked in a breath. She found herself incapable of breaking away from his bewitching gaze. She tried but it was irresistible to not lean into his touch.

"Seeing her daughter feeling the same anguish of losing her lover, Goddess Selene gave the victims of the Lycaean Games the strength to overcome the lunacy of the full moon. The werewolves could also now channel the power of the moon and shift between their human and wolf forms. As well, to ensure that none of the werewolves suffered more at the hands of Zeus, the Moon Goddess granted a soulmate to every werewolf so they wouldn't be forced to spend their life alone and without love."

Axel leaned closer. "That is what mates are to us werewolves. Our one chance at love. At life. They are a gift from the Moon Goddess and we love our mates unconditionally," he finished, his passion reflected in his grey eyes. 

He covered the small distance between them and placed his lips on Inaaya's in a soft kiss. Inaaya's eyes closed of their own accord. Her heart had gone into an overdrive. There were sparks igniting her skin. Fireworks were drowning out the sound of her rational mind. Though, not all of it was lost on Inaaya.

With a firm but gentle hand, Inaaya pushed Axel back. Hurt and resentment flashed across his eyes. Inaaya felt a heavy tug on her heartstrings. She wanted to take away those feelings from him. Yet she couldn't. "I'm sorry. I can't," she whispered.

Axel backed away, standing up. He cleared his throat, busying himself in putting the first aid box away, back in the drawer again. "It's- it's okay, Inaaya. I... understand." Axel turned back to face her but didn't quite meet her eyes.

There was a shift in the air inside the room and Inaaya didn't know how to shift it back. She didn't know why she even wanted to. Inaaya watched him. His jaw was clenched, there was a slight slump in his shoulders and his eyes were fixated on the door, just waiting for his escape. She wanted nothing more than for his eyes to focus back on her and her alone. 

Her own thoughts and feelings were becoming strange to her. To do away with them and to remind herself of the reality, Inaaya asked a question she should have asked long ago. "Where is my family, Axel?"

Axel's eyes snapped back to hers. He looked startled, like a kid who hid his test result with an F, before he regained himself. He didn't meet Inaaya's eyes but she caught the glimmer of guilt within his as he turned away. "They are safe, Inaaya," he said stoically.

"But where?" Inaaya asked, not giving up. Not this time.

Axel sighed. "As I said before, they are back at your hotel. Probably getting ready to tour the city right now. I have stationed two of pack's Eta with them for their safety."

"Two of what?" Inaaya asked, momentarily distracted.

"Eta. Pack's warriors."

"Warriors? Why? Are they in danger?" Inaaya rushed towards him, eyes wide with worry. Axel shook his head and opened his mouth to speak but Inaaya beat him to it. "And what do you mean they are getting ready to tour the city? They wouldn't just carry on with the trip when I'm missing!" she finished, the ridiculousness of the thought apparent on her face.

Axel looked guiltier than before. His lips were sucked in and his eyes shifted around the room but never once landed on hers. Inaaya's eyes narrowed as she stepped closer, standing right in front of him. "Axel. What did you do?" she asked, her voice low and steady.

Axel looked at her, pursing his lips in what could only be defiance. "They are fine, Inaaya. That's what matters."

"No!" Inaaya raised her voice. After all that had happened, Axel trying to hide things about her family from her was only fueling her anger. "That's not all that matters. Where are they, Axel?" She stepped closer still. Despite her being shorter than him, it was easy to see who was doing the intimidation between the two. "And you better not give me some bullshit about how they are touring the city when I am here, abducted by you," she pronounced her words slowly, menacingly.

Axel's jaw clenched. He clutched Inaaya's arms in a vice-like grip, giving her a slight shake. "Else what, Inaaya?" His voice raised to match Inaaya's. "What can you do?" he asked lowly, equally as menacing.

A gasp left Inaaya's lips and fear momentarily crossed her features before his words stuck to her. A bitterness overshadowed her face as she met his gaze staunchly. "I don't know whether I can or cannot do anything to you, Axel," she gulped, her nostrils flaring as she gathered her courage to continue, "but you sure as hell should know at the rate you're going, you wouldn't be able to turn that one chance given to you by your moon goddess into a goddamned success."

Inaaya's words seemed to have slapped Axel across the face as he let go of her and stepped backwards. He turned away, running a hand through his black hair. "I'm sorry."

Inaaya breathed out, staggering backwards from his sudden change of mind. She wasn't ready to accept his apology yet, so instead, once again she asked, "My family, Axel?"

Axel exhaled in frustration, closing his eyes and shaking his head to himself before he looked back at her. "You remember that woman you met on the train with me?" Inaaya thought back to waking up on the train and finding two strangers in front of her— Axel and the black woman who had been rude but also tried to help. She nodded, waiting for him to explain.

"She's a vampire."

Inaaya scoffed, rolling her eyes heavenward as a derisive laugh escaped her lips. "Of course. Of course she is," she mumbled to herself, shaking her head in disbelief. "I'm not even as surprised as I should be. In my defence, I did see a man turn into a wolf," she said, mocking herself as she met Axel's eyes again.

"Inaaya—"

"Save it, Axel. I don't want to hear it. It's- it's fine. Whatever," she said, raising her hands in incredulity. "What has she got to do with my family?"

Axel swallowed, pursing his lips as he stared at Inaaya for a moment before shaking his head. "Vampires possess a sort of mind control ability, much like hypnosis..."

Inaaya raised her eyebrow, clenching her jaw. "You better not be going where I think you're going with this, Axel," she murmured, her heart beating in her throat at the thought.

"Talisa made your father and your brother believe you don't exist," Axel blurted, wincing at the pin drop silence his words created inside the room.

Inaaya stared at him with her mouth open and eyes wide. A moment later, as if coming out of shock, she blinked and staggered backwards. "Not even that I wasn't here on the trip with them. She made them believe I didn't exist at all," she whispered, slumping down on the bed, still trying to wrap her head around it. This was much worse than she had thought.

Axel kneeled in front of her, holding her hands in his. "Inaaya, I'm so sorry she did that. I really am. We can fix this. Please, listen to me."

Inaaya shook her head, closing her eyes to stop the tears from spilling. She stood up, moving away from him. "I don't want to hear it. I..." she said, her voice thick. "Leave me alone, Axel. Please, leave me alone," she pleaded, not looking his way as a traitor tear rolled down her cheek.

A/N:

So... they kissed.

Then they fought...

Anyone wants to share how they feel about it all??

So, conflicting, isn't it? 

Also, this chapter talked a bit about how werewolves (of this story) came into existence. While mythology in this book is based on different stories of the Greek Mythology, please remember that this book is a work of fiction. Hence, the mythology discussed in this book isn't verbatim of Greek Mythology. I've added and combined different elements into those stories to make a new, different version for the werewolf world of my imagination.

P.S. I'm sick, you guys! Having a cold is such a pain in the arse. Who else hates getting a cold? 

If you don't hate it, are you Phoebe Buffay? :o