After some time, the brothers had a long heart-to-heart conversation. After all, they are, above everything else, still brothers. Bloodline isn't just the tie that binds them. They are each other's accomplice and co-conspirator. They are a single soul, split in two, born to be each other's rock and shadow.
But things were never quite the same for the twins after that night. Neither was the relationship between Wren and Milou. They settled to let time heal the wounds, but Milou remained cold towards Wren for many months. He would give Saliou hell whenever he brought Wren around. But the younger twin had made it clear to the other that they owed him no explanation about their relationship.
Soon enough however, Milou had come to accept in his heart that Wren had never really been his to begin with. Still, he held on, hoping that the young Alpha would change his mind. Though in truth, he knew Saliou had completely won his heart after all...
Up to that point, Milou had always been cordial yet distant with Saliou and Wren. He would still be jealous, but these days he had better control of it. Now, more than ever, he was determined to maintain his relationship with them for the sake of a peaceful coexistence.
For a time, things were indeed quite peaceful for everyone. Perhaps the worst had already come to pass.
Then again, fate has a strange way of playing tricks on people. And unfortunately for Wren and the twins, the worst was yet to come...
2025.
It's been two years since the Matisse twins moved out of their home and into a rented apartment, where they had their first taste of freedom after two decades of living under their parents' watchful eyes.
For the most part, both Milou and Saliou enjoyed the renewed sense of privacy and functioned with a fair degree of independence.
Independence, in a sense that both twins found decent jobs that allowed them to cover their living expenses, save for the monthly rent, which their parents insisted on paying.
Just a year ago, as Saliou approached the completion of graduate school, he quickly began looking for a direction. A former instructor who took such a liking to him, had referred him a good job at a well-renowned accounting firm shortly after he graduated. It was a pretty good job and for a time it satisfied him, but he wanted something more fulfilling. Something more meaningful.
He began praying for better opportunities and pursuits that gravitated toward his true passion: Art. Half a year later, he received an answer to that prayer, in the form of a job opening at a local modern art museum.
Of course, he wasn't planning to put those four grueling years of studying at a business school, to a complete waste. He accepted a position as staff accountant at the museum, and while it's not exactly the best position to make significant connections to the art side of things, he was now one step closer to achieving his dream.
Meanwhile, despite the State's stringent measures towards employing recessive Omegas, Milou was able to keep a stable 8-hour job as an accounting manager, at a local vegan shop. Unlike most establishments, the job did not require him to report to work on a daily basis. So when Milou's heat comes on, he would be allowed to work remotely.
Despite the few dents in their relationship, Milou and Saliou had a relatively peaceful cohabitation. They not only minded each other's business but also took active responsibility for each other. For a time, it was a pretty convenient arrangement.
Except for when Wren comes into the picture.
Over the years, Milou and Wren had grown apart. Wren would make every effort to try and reach out to the other, but Milou would always push him away. Eventually, the young Dumont learned to not cross paths with him.
But without Wren, Milou wasn't complete. There was still that big, gaping hole in his heart that could only be filled by him and him alone.
He was still in love with Wren. He could try to push away those feelings for all eternity, and they would still be there, nestled deep in his heart like a vise.
But his love for Wren was not a gift he would be willing to accept – it was a burden. And so he was willing to hold in those feelings for as long as he could. For Wren's sake and for his brother's sake. He struggled to be content to take them with him as a silent, secret part of him.
Then again, he might not have to...
Wren and Saliou were going to celebrate their eighth anniversary together. A week prior, Wren had carefully planned out an out-of-town day trip with Saliou to celebrate their anniversary. But three days before their planned trip, an emergency task cropped up for Saliou at work. He was suddenly called to fill in for a colleague who was to attend a symposium but called in sick at the last minute.
No sweat, Saliou thought, but why did it have to fall on the days before our anniversary?
He would have refused down pat but he was promised more vacation leave, on top of a rare opportunity to meet artists and curators. Now that was an offer he could hardly refuse.
When he broke the news to Wren, he could barely hide the disappointment in his face. "It's okay," Wren said morosely. "We can put it off for another week. Maybe on a weekend."
"I'm so sorry, babe," Saliou said with a regretful smile. He wound his arms around the other and rubbed his back gently. "I'll be back in time for our anniversary. We can still celebrate it over dinner."
Wren heaved a deep sigh as he hugged him back. "Promise?"
Saliou nodded. "Promise."
And so, Wren was forced to change his plans entirely. But even that was carefully planned out, too. After all, this was meant to be something more than just an anniversary celebration.
He was planning to propose to Saliou.
August 25.
It was a particularly hot and humid day. Wren had on his usual business attire. Well-tailored Italian suit, crisp white shirt, red tie. His new job at an advertising agency required him to wear a suit. He hated it, but the job required it of him when he was dealing with clients.
On that scorching hot day, it was a complete torture to wear that thing. He should have headed home first and changed into a more comfortable attire.
Wren pulled into the driveway in front of the apartment where the twins live, and parked his car in the usual spot. For a moment, he stayed inside the car and gave himself a once over in the rear-view mirror. And then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet ring box, weighing it in his hand as though contemplating whether today is the perfect moment.
He purchased the engagement ring for Saliou. He used up all the money he earned from working part-time last year during the holidays. Saliou hated buying and wearing overly extravagant things, so Wren made sure to choose a simple ring with a vintage flair. Minimalist. White gold. With a marquise diamond on its bezel setting.
Wren opened the box to look at the ring, then smiled with great satisfaction. It won't belong in his pocket anymore. Soon it would belong on Saliou's finger.
In three hours, Saliou will be back from his business trip. They had agreed to meet at the apartment before heading out on their dinner date.
He closed the ring box and slipped it back into his pocket. And then, he turned off the ignition and stepped out of his car.
Wren trudged toward the apartment, carrying with him a big bunch of flowers, balloons, and a box of cake. Call them banal but he and Saliou loved to celebrate their special day over cakes, balloons, and a good bottle of champagne.
Besides the sweltering heat, everything seemed to go according to plan. But as he walked around the parking lot, he came to an abrupt stop. He stood for a moment, eyes fixed on a red Toyota Venza parked right at the end of the lot.
There was no mistaking it. It was Milou's car.
Wren's forehead crinkled in confusion. Huh? He's supposed to be at work right now, isn't he? Did I get his work shift wrong?
Ever since the twins moved into the apartment, Wren made sure to stay out of Milou's line of sight as much as possible. And so, he would often schedule his visits when the older twin is at work or out on a trip. This time, however, he may have mixed up the schedule.
He hurriedly walked towards the front porch, dropped everything he'd been carrying on the doorway, then fished his phone out of his pocket. He scrolled through his messages to look for Milou's work schedule, which Saliou had sent to him a week before. After several seconds, he found it, read it again more carefully.
Wren cursed under his breath. He was indeed supposed to be at work.
Two scenarios played in his mind. Either Milou had forgotten something at the apartment and had come running back to get it, or he has a new work shift.
Wren grumbled to himself. He'd already carefully planned this day and knew exactly how it should go. He already made reservations at the fanciest restaurant in Glapshire and even booked a hotel room. He only had to wait for Saliou at the apartment and drive them to the restaurant. And then, during dinner when the mood is right, he would pop the question. He can already picture Saliou's face – he'd be so elated he'll cry happy tears.
And then after dinner, he'd spend the night at the hotel and make love to his future husband. That's how things are supposed to be.
Wren looked at his watch and sighed deeply. "'Guess I have no choice." He shrugged as he reached into his pocket and retrieved the spare apartment key Saliou had given him some months ago. He pushed the door open, slipped the key back in his pocket, and picked up the flowers, balloons, and cake.
He moved quietly across the living room and headed into the dining room adjacent to a mini kitchen. Carefully he placed the cake on the wooden dining table. He opened the box, admiring the cake decorations and the beautifully written "Happy 8th Anniversary, Wren & Sal" icing on top of it.
With a finger, he scraped the icing stuck to the side of the box and licked it off. And then, he went over to the sink to wash his hands.
For a moment, Wren stared blankly out the window, wondering where Milou could be. The whole place was oddly quiet...
He's probably in his bedroom. Should I just wait for him to come out or should I knock and let him know I'm here? he argued with himself. He decided to go for the latter.
After drying his hands, Wren slowly walked down the hallway toward Milou's bedroom.
But before he could even take one more step along the hall, all the muscles in his body suddenly tensed up with a wave of awareness.
It was then when he smelled a particularly strong scent flume wafting through the air, beckoning him, urging him forward.
The aroma of an Omega in heat hit him solid, instantly setting off all the warning bells in his head.
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