39. Frankie

"You looklike you could use a breather." Matteo's rumbly voice rolls over my shoulders and down my spine, sending a shiver through me.

Glancing back, I find him only a few breaths away, close enough that his cinnamon scent makes my mouth water. My mind immediately wanders back to the diner, to how he touched me then. It feels like it's been forever since he touched me, though he's always around, and sometimes I swear I can feel him even when I can't see him.

"Yeah." My voice cracks, so I clear it. The noise of the crowd fades as Matteo steps closer, his presence sending a small thrill through me.

His warm palm slips into mine, and he begins to weave me through the crowd at the Grotto. True to Leo's word, the entire rugby team showed up, making Tori happy. However, I can feel my heartbeat thumping in my ears, and my chest aches from the overwhelming mix of music and chatter.

As Matteo leads me to the back patio and the door thumps shut, I look over my shoulder at the glass door and everyone inside, laughing and smiling. Their faces are flushed with excitement. Wasn't it the beginning of the semester when I stood in this exact spot and looked through the same window on the same door and wished to be a part of their excitement? Then, I stood on the outside looking in. Now, I'm welcome and overwhelmed. Life is strange like that.

I take a deep breath, the cold air filling my lungs, and turn to see Matteo looking up at the sky, his face impassive as he searches for the moon. He appears casual in low-rise jeans and a simple black T-shirt, no jacket despite the small flurries that flutter down from the cloudy sky.

"Can you see anything yet?" I step up beside him, gazing at his chiseled jaw and brown skin.

"Not yet," he replies, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "But soon." His eyes meet mine, dark and intense. "You know, there's a legend about nights like these."

"Oh?" I tilt my head, intrigued. "Tell me more."

His smile widens, and he steps closer, his warmth seeping into me despite the chill in the air. "It's about the world that exists beside this one," he says, his dark eyes full of something that sends a flutter of anticipation through me.

"And what exists?" I ask, curiosity piqued.

"Mm-hmm." He nods, tugging me closer until I'm pressed against his front. His arm wraps around my waist, and I can feel the steady beat of his heart against mine. The night feels alive, the shadows deepening as if the world itself is holding its breath. "They say that during a lunar eclipse, the worlds collide, allowing the hidden to be revealed."

"Really?" I try to keep my voice steady, but the way he's holding me makes it difficult. "How do you know so much about this?" My heart pounds in my chest.

This is it, he's going to tell me what's really happening just under my nose.

"My grandma told me the story when I was a kid," he says, his tone playful. "She said that during the eclipse, the moon's magic is weak, and the laws dissolve for a moment in time. That's when the veil between the two worlds fades."

"Sounds like a fairy tale," I tease, my breath hitching as his hand slides up my back, sending heat through my body despite the cold.

"Maybe." His eyes sparkle with mischief. "But she believed it was true. She said that if you ever found yourself outside during a lunar eclipse, you might see shadows moving in ways they shouldn't. They blend into the darkness, shifting and changing shape."

"And what happens if you see one?"

"Well," he murmurs, his lips brushing my ear, "if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of their true form, but they are elusive. They can blend in with the shadows and hide in plain sight."

"Sounds dangerous," I whisper, unable to tear my eyes away from his.

"It can be," he agrees, his fingers tracing patterns on my lower back, "but only if you don't know what you're looking for."

"What if you do?" I ask, my heart pounding.

"Then," he says, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper, "you might be able to understand them and see them for who they really are."

His words hang in the air, heavy with meaning. I feel a strange connection to the story, like there's something I'm missing, something just out of reach.

"Do you believe in the magic you speak of?" I ask, searching his eyes for answers.

As the first shadow crosses the moon, casting the world into darkness, Matteo's hold on me tightens. I lean into him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against mine. The cool night air wraps around us, but Matteo's warmth is all I notice. Somewhere inside, cheers rise until they fade away and then rise again, only louder. Everyone must have gone out front to witness the eclipse.

"I believe in a lot of things, Frankie," he continues, his voice a low murmur. "Sometimes, the truth is hidden in plain sight. You just have to know where to look."

His words stir something deep inside me, a feeling I can't quite explain. I gaze up at him, trying to decipher the meaning behind his cryptic tale.

"You know," Matteo says, looking back at the sky, "there's more to the legend. They say that the hidden, when they reveal their true form, can possess incredible power, but only if they embrace who they are."

"Incredible power?" I echo, my curiosity intensifying. "Like what?"

"Like the ability to move through the shadows and become one with the darkness," he explains, his gaze locking onto mine. "To protect themselves and those they care about."

I swallow hard, the weight of his words sinking in. "And how do they embrace who they are?"

He smiles a slow, knowing smile that sends another shiver down my spine. "By understanding their true nature and accepting it. Only then can they harness their full potential."

The air around us grows colder as the eclipse progresses, but I hardly notice. Matteo's presence, his warmth, and the intensity of his gaze keep me grounded.

"Matteo," I whisper, my voice barely audible, "why are you telling me this?"

"Because," he says, cupping my cheek, his thumb gently brushing my skin, "I want you to know that you're not alone. That whatever happens, you have the strength to face it."

His words are like a lifeline, anchoring me in the midst of my confusion and fear. I lean into his touch, finding comfort in the warmth of his hand.

"Thank you," I murmur, closing my eyes as I savor the moment. The night is still, the sounds of the party distant, as if we are in our own world.

"You never have to thank me," he says, closer than he was a moment ago. A flutter rises in my stomach, and my eyes snap open when his lips brush across mine.

Matteo swallows my gasp of surprise as he kisses me. It's both a shock and a relief—a shock because I wanted him to kiss me, and relief because I worried he wasn't interested in me. Although Leo and Bishop are both into me, I can't help but want Matteo too.

And maybe Dorian, but that love triangle is a problem for future Frankie. Right now, I want to live in the present with Matteo.

Matteo, who is kissing me with a slow passion that makes my toes curl.

The warmth of his body, the taste of cinnamon on his lips, and the electric connection between us consume me. With a growl, he deepens the kiss, his tongue diving into my mouth and stealing every reservation I've ever had. Matteo makes me feel safe, cherished, and protected. He's the only one who has given me anything more than vague reassurances, and maybe he doesn't have all the answers, but what matters right now is that he tried.

I nearly climb him, my tongue plunging into his mouth to chase the cinnamon essence that is all Matteo. I swallow his growls of satisfaction and beg for more by pressing my body as close to his as humanly possible. His arms wrap around me, holding me as if he's afraid to let go.

It still isn't enough.

A sweeping growl that isn't Matteo's rolls over me, and I have to pull back.

"Did you hear that?" I ask, my voice trembling.

Matteo's expression grows serious, his eyes scanning the shadows over my head. "Stay close," he murmurs, his grip on me tightening.

I disentangle myself from him, my legs wobbly as he sets me down on my feet. Ever so slowly, I turn around, my body freezing with fear.

I fucking hate fear.

As the darkness deepens from the eclipse overhead, I catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye. A shadow shifts and changes shape just as Matteo described. My heart races, fear and excitement mingling in my chest.

I'm not alone.

"Is that..." I start to ask, but Matteo silences me with a gentle squeeze of my hand.

"Wait." He pushes me behind him as though protecting me.

He doesn't need to protect me. I know what this is.

My heart thumps wildly in my chest, excitement and fear mingling as I peer around him to see red eyes blinking at me from an alleyway.

That's when we hear the screams.

My blood runs cold, and a wave of dread washes over me.

"Frankie." Matteo's voice turns serious, snapping me out of my daze. "Back away and get in the bar, slowly."

He doesn't give me a chance to argue before he's pushing me toward the door. His grip is firm but gentle, a mix of protectiveness and urgency. As soon as we step inside, he pulls the door shut behind us.

"Stay here," he commands, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that leaves no room for argument. "No matter what happens, don't leave this room. Promise me."

"Matteo, I?—"

"Promise me, Frankie," he insists, his voice a low growl. "I need to know you're safe."

I nod reluctantly. "I promise."

Satisfied, he gives me one last, lingering look before slipping back outside. The door closes behind him with a soft thud, and I'm left alone in the dimly lit bar. I spin around as the door to the front opens and students begin to rush inside, their cries echoing all around me. I can just make out Tori as she runs to the stairs and swings the door open, silently ushering everyone upstairs.

I pace the floor, my mind racing with questions and worries as Andy helps Tori. What is out there? What's happening? The shadows seem to press in around me, and I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something crucial.

Suddenly, the lights flicker then go out completely, plunging the bar into darkness. My breath catches in my throat, and I freeze, straining to hear anything over the pounding of my heart. The darkness is thick and oppressive, and every instinct screams at me to stay put.

The muffled cries of the students abruptly stop. Curiosity gnaws at me, refusing to be silenced despite everything going on around me. I promised Matteo I'd stay, but something inside me won't let me sit idly by. I need to know what's happening. I need to understand.

I take a tentative step forward, the floorboards creaking under my weight. The bar is eerily silent now, the only sound my own shallow breathing. I edge closer to the door, peering through the small window to the outside. The shadows are darker, more pronounced, and shifting as if alive.

A chill runs down my spine, and I instinctively wrap my arms around myself. My heart hammers against my rib cage as I listen for any sign of Matteo or any clue about what's happening outside. The oppressive silence makes every second feel like an eternity.

Then, faintly, I hear a low, guttural growl, not unlike the one I heard before. It reverberates through the walls, sending a fresh wave of fear coursing through me, but with the fear comes resolve. I need to know. I need to see.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself, and reach for the door handle. The metal is cold under my fingers, a stark contrast to the warmth of the bar. I turn it slowly, wincing as the hinges creak in protest. The door opens a crack, and I peer out into the alleyway.

The shadows are thicker here, swirling like living entities. The red eyes are still there, watching, waiting, and then, I see a figure emerging from the darkness, its form indistinct but undeniably menacing. My heart leaps into my throat, but I force myself to stay calm and observe.

The figure steps closer, and I can make out more details. It's tall, with a humanoid shape, but there's something off, something otherworldly about it. Its eyes glow a deep, unsettling red, and its movements are fluid.

I swallow hard, my mind racing. This is real. Matteo's story, the legends—it's all real, and whatever this thing is, it's in front of me.

I've seen it before. At the game.

Before I can react, the figure lunges forward, its red eyes burning into mine. I stumble back, slamming the door shut, my heart pounding in my ears. I lock it quickly, my hands trembling, and press my back against the cool wood, trying to catch my breath.

What was that? What's happening out there? I promised Matteo I'd stay, but how can I just wait here when something so dangerous is lurking outside? The weight of my decision presses down on me, but I know I can't just sit idly by. I need to act. I need to be brave.

I take another deep breath, trying to steady myself. The bar is still dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the eclipse through the windows.

I look at the front of the bar then the back door. I should help them get people to safety, but I'm so close to uncovering everything around me that I'm not even sure I could hide. No. I need to get out of here. My skin itches, and my body begins to twitch with the need to flee.

Taking a deep breath, I feel my way to the door, the cool metal handle solid under my fingers. I hesitate for a moment, Matteo's words echoing in my mind, but the pull of the unknown is too strong to resist. I turn the handle slowly, easing the door open just enough to slip outside.

The night air is cold against my skin, and the silence is eerie, broken only by distant sounds of laughter and music. The moon, nearly covered by the eclipse, casts a surreal, dim light over everything, painting the world in shades of gray. I move cautiously, sticking to the shadows, my senses on high alert.

I round the corner of the building, peering into the alley where Matteo stood moments before. My heart skips a beat when I see him, his form tense as he faces off against the shadowy figure I glimpsed earlier. At least I'm pretty sure it's him. The figure is even more terrifying up close, its form shifting and writhing as if it's made of pure darkness.

Matteo stands his ground, his body poised and ready, but he doesn't see me. I should go back inside like he told me, but I can't. I need to know what's happening. I need to understand this world that's been hidden from me.

As I take a cautious step forward, a twig snaps under my foot. The sound is deafening in the quiet night, and both Matteo and the shadowy figure whip around to face me. For a heartbeat, everything is still, and then chaos erupts.

The shadowy figure lunges toward me, its eyes glowing red with malevolent intent. Matteo shouts something, but I can't make out the words over the roar of my fear. Instinctively, I raise my hands, as if to ward off the attack, and something within me responds.

My shadow rises from my feet, and my wolves, the ones who have been protecting me my entire life, materialize from the ground and step in front of me. Their forms are dark and solid, their eyes glowing with a fierce light. I drop my arms, watching as the beast steps out of the shadows. It's almost triple the size of my wolves. It sniffs the air and creeps closer.

I stand frozen until a buzz ripples through the air. It's one of those light pens that Dorian had, and Matteo uses it. The beast roars and takes off, its form dissolving into the darkness.

My heart pounds as Matteo steps out of the shadows. I can't hide my wolves from his eyes. When the form emerges from the darkness, I realize I've made a grave mistake.

It isn't Matteo. Hell, it isn't any of my guys.

It's Marcus.

He steps into the dim light, his face partially obscured by the shifting shadows. His expression is unreadable, but his eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that sends a chill down my spine.