✓ | PRIMAL, jacob black ²

chapter fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Aniya was still reeling from her argument at school when she walked into her house, her mind clouded with emotions she didn't know how to sort. She wasn't expecting to see anyone, let alone the last person she thought would be standing in the middle of the living room.

"Aaron?" she said softly, her voice tinged with disbelief as her older brother turned to her with a grin.

"Hey, Ani!" he said, crossing the room to pull her into a tight hug. "My beautiful little Ani! Ugh, I missed you so much!"

Normally, she would have laughed, maybe even teased him for being so over-the-top, but today, she just didn't have it in her. She sagged slightly in his arms, her exhaustion and frustration too much to hide.

Aaron pulled back, his brows furrowing as he studied her face. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Aniya considered brushing it off like she always did, pretending everything was fine. But today, it was just too much. Her brother had a way of pulling the truth out of her, and maybe, just maybe, she needed that right now.

"Can we pig out at Sully's while I unload my problems on you?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual.

Aaron's face broke into a grin, the kind that had always made her feel like everything would be okay. "I thought you'd never ask!"

...

At Sully's, the siblings slid into a booth tucked away in the far corner, away from the bustle of the diner. Aaron was already devouring a fry while Ani picked at hers, trying to gather her thoughts.

"So," Aaron said, leaning back in the booth, "tell me what's going on in that little head of yours."

Aniya tried to smile, but it felt too forced. Instead, she let out a sigh, her face blank. "I think I kind of broke up with my friends?" she said, though her tone made it sound more like a question than a statement.

Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Okay. So, what caused it? Was it a guy or some rumours?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "It's way more complicated than that. Like... okay, my friends know something they're not supposed to tell anyone. And I think I might know something about it. But also... I don't?"

Aaron frowned slightly, trying to piece it together. "So, they're part of something... and you might be connected to it, too?"

"I don't know if I'm directly part of it," Aniya admitted, "but here's the thing. I've been drawing these things lately—things that come from my dreams."

Aaron's eyes lit up as he leaned forward. "You mean the drawings you do from your dreams?"

Aniya nodded. "Yeah. But here's the thing. They're... weirdly specific. Like people, I don't know but somehow drew perfectly."

Aaron's expression shifted, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. "You're doing them again?"

"Again?" Aniya furrowed her brows, confusion written all over her face.

"Yeah," Aaron said slowly, leaning back in his seat as he looked at her. "Don't you remember? You used to do this when you were little."

"I did?" Her voice rose in disbelief.

Aaron nodded. "You were about five years old, I think. Anthea—our dear sister hoarder—kept all of them. I'm pretty sure she still has them somewhere."

Aniya leaned forward, her interest piqued. "What kind of things did I draw?"

Aaron tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Mostly people. Men and women. And you always told us they were soulmates."

Aniya's eyes widened, and she whispered, "Soulmates?!"

Aaron chuckled at her reaction. "Yep. You used to tell Anthea and me all about them. You'd explain how each pair met, their stories—everything. Some were sweet, others were... sad. But you told them all with this big smile on your face like you knew everything about them. Honestly, your stories put Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty to shame."

Her heart raced at his words. It didn't make sense, but somehow, it clicked with everything else she had been feeling. "What are the chances Anthea still has those drawings?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aaron grinned. "Well, we could head home and find out. But..." He raised a finger as he gestured toward the counter. "Not until I finish my burger."

Despite herself, Aniya let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Fine. Eat your burger. Then we're raiding Anthea's stash."

For the first time that day, Aniya felt a glimmer of hope stir within her. It was faint, but it was there—a tiny beacon amidst the overwhelming confusion she'd been drowning in. Maybe those old drawings, preserved by Anthea's habit of keeping everything, held the key to understanding what was happening. They might not solve everything, but they could offer her a starting point—a thread to pull at in the tangled mess her life had become.

The thought was both terrifying and oddly comforting. Answers, if they came, might change everything she thought she knew about herself and the world around her. But at least it would be something solid, something real to hold on to.

As she watched Aaron happily take another bite of his burger, her lips curved into a faint smile. She didn't know what lay ahead, but for now, having her brother beside her made the prospect of facing it just a little less daunting.

"Eat faster," she teased, nudging him. "We've got some childhood mysteries to solve."

Aaron laughed, a sound that seemed to ease some of the weight pressing on her chest. "Alright, alright, Ani. Just let me savour this masterpiece for a second."

For the first time in days, she allowed herself to exhale fully. Whatever was coming, she wasn't entirely alone.