Chapter 30 #2
Last full moon was indeed a scare for the boys.
Eddie was bedridden the day of the full moon, both his boyfriends refusing to leave the apartment to look after him.
Jackson held his hand and ran a soothing hand through his then sweaty locks whilst Hakeem made soup for him.
He hated being doted on most of the time, often feeling it reminded him of his shortcomings as a child.
That time felt different, he gladly let himself be cared for by the two men who had so quickly filled his life with a warmth he had craved for so long.
“It would be good to be home for it, so he suggested we make a weekend out of it. If you don’t change then it’s still a good excuse to have everyone together. If you do, then you can finally go on a full moon run with your father and siblings.”
Eddie had wanted to join them on their full moon runs for years.
The full moon was when wolf shifters were at their most energetic and powerful.
He dreamed of a day he could join them and keep up.
He switches back to English to address the house.
“Umma says we’re invited for a weekend at the family home for the full moon in a couple weeks.
It should be nice out for May so we can have a poolside barbecue. Did you guys want to come?”
Eddie puts the phone on speaker as the boys voice their agreement, they figure it would be fun to get away for a weekend.
Janice is overjoyed. “Hakeem, why don’t you invite your family too? It would be so lovely to finally meet them. We have plenty of space and there is no issue in grabbing more food.”
Hakeem sets his pot of food to a simmer, closing the lid as he heads over whilst carrying Princess. “Are you sure? We would hate to impose.”
“Don’t be silly. We would love to have you all. That includes Princess Bandit, of course.”
The small raccoon waves happily to the woman’s voice coming through the phone. Since Janice is Eddie’s mother, did that mean she’s Princess’s grandmother in a sense? The question floats through Hakeem’s mind, an odd thought he could debate on a later date.
Janice continues, “Jackson, your mother and father are invited as well. It would be so nice if we could all get together outside of society events, something more casual.”
Jackson can hardly imagine his mother going to a poolside barbecue that had no underlying political plot, perhaps it would be nice. “You are too kind, Mrs. Seung-LaLune, I hope they can join us as well.”
Janice clicks her tongue at him, “None of that. Both you and Hakeem can call me Janice. I won’t hear any argument on the matter.” The boys share a laugh and concede. They say their goodbyes as Eddie hangs up the phone.
* * *
Hakeem paces his room the next morning, Eddie and Jackson still asleep on the bed, the larger man curling into the elf’s chest. He got up to feed Princess and practice asking his family to join them at the LaLune’s manor.
They’re early risers out of habit like he is.
His aunt and cousins would most likely be thrilled to join them, especially if they could meet both his boyfriend’s families in one go.
It’s his uncle Shadi he is worried about.
Wrapping himself in one of Eddie’s hoodies, inhaling the man’s scent for comfort, he brings up his uncle’s number. (Between Hakeem and Jackson, Eddie is running out of hoodies for them to pilfer)
Hakeem doesn’t know what grudge the man seemingly holds against the Nocturne and LaLune families.
Every time he asked, the man simply waved it off as disdain for the powerful.
Working class gripes and no more. Shadi hadn’t said anything negative when Hakeem told him he was dating Eddie and Jackson, in fact he said nothing at all.
The silence was worse for Hakeem’s nerves.
Hakeem decides the worst he can say is no. Right?
“Allu?”
“Khalo Shadi, hi, it’s Hakeem.”
“Hakeem, hi hi. How are things, habibi?”
Hakeem takes the moment to swap to Arabic, voice lowered as he steps out of the room to let his boyfriends sleep.
“Things are great. Really great even. I was calling to invite everyone to a barbecue in a couple weeks.”
“Ah okay, that sounds nice. Is a friend of yours hosting it? Or will it be at the apartment, with the boys?”
So far so good. He hadn’t called Eddie and Jackson those boys so that’s good. Right?
“No, it’s being hosted outside the apartment. In fact, Eddie’s parents are hosting. They invited all of us to LaLune Manor for the full moon. The full moon is a big deal for wolf shifters.”
“I’m aware, Hakeem.”
“Right, of course. So would you, Aunt Bahera, Nour and Mazen be able to join us? It would be so nice to see everyone and it would be a great chance to meet my boyfriends’ families.”
“So the Nocturnes are invited as well?”
Hakeem swallows around the lump that has formed in his throat, “Yes, Jackson’s parents were also invited.”
The line goes quiet. Hakeem can almost see the grimace on his uncle’s face. The image causes his stomach to twist, dreadful anticipation looming over his head. Finally his uncle breaks the silence, tone serious. “Hakeem.”
“Yes?”
“I want you to answer me honestly. How do those boys treat you?”
He knew this question was coming. His uncle had always been protective, sometimes overbearingly so. Hakeem draws in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. He has never been more sure of an answer in his life.
“Better than I ever dreamed I could be treated. I’m really happy with them, Uncle Shadi.
Coming to see this apartment all those months ago might be the best decision of my life.
I think….I think I can honestly say, I love them.
It might be too soon to say it out loud, but my heart has made up its mind.
I don’t know what reservations you have about them or their families, but I can’t imagine my life without either of them. ”
“Wallah, I see.” His uncle swapping back to English draws Hakeem’s attention.
He holds his breath in anticipation, he had never admitted his feelings to another person before now.
He can feel a thousand unsaid words brewing in his uncle’s mind from the other side of the phone.
Shadi isn’t a man of many words, yet the prolonged silence threatens to drive Hakeem mad.
“Okay, send me the details. I’m sure Bahera, Nour and Mazen would love to go. I suppose it’s time to meet these famous boyfriends of yours.”
Oh. Oh! He said yes! “Okay, great. I will send you the date and address. I miss you guys, it will be so nice to see everyone.” Hakeem usually spent his summers working or doing extra research towards his PhD, he rarely went home outside of the occasional long weekend or the long winter holiday.
“I will talk to you later. Bye, Khalo Shadi, love you.”
* * *
On the other end of the line, standing in his kitchen, Shadi Al-Najim says his goodbyes to his nephew, “Okay, bye bye. I love you too, Hakeem.” He hangs up his phone, hand clenched around its protective case, knuckles turning white.
The last thing he wants to do is see Christopher LaLune or Annabella Nocturne, but it was time Hakeem knew the whole truth.
He is eternally grateful to Jackson and Edmund for saving his nephew.
If he wanted to love those boys, no more secrets should be kept from him.
During that full moon weekend, the truth will come to light. The truth of how Christopher LaLune and Annabella Nocturne failed to keep his sister Hiba safe.
As far as Shadi is concerned, her blood is on their hands.