Alpha's Nala
Chapter 24. Wait a Minute
Legaxy
"Hailey!"
"Flower!"
Both Howard and Axel yell upon seeing me. Then, without another word, they started racing towards me.
Frozen on my seat, I just watched them boys compete their way towards me. Until, it was Howard Martin Dyme, the big and muscular brother of mine, that got to me first.
He quickly picked me up from the chair I was sitting in with one swift of his broad, firm arms and started spinning me around.
"Oh my goodness! I have missed you so much, Hailey bear." He shrieked gleefully, still spinning around.
"I miss you too, Howie," I muttered, a giggle came out of my throat.
As he put me down and was about to greet me, Axel David Dyme - my tall and lean brother - popped in front of me and engulfed me into a long, bone-crushing hug.
"Hey! I was here first!" I heard Howard complain but Axel ignored him as he tightened his embrace around me.
"I miss you, my little Flower. Haven't you bloom so well and," he sniffed my hair, making me blush on his arms, "you still smell sweet... very, very sweet." He continued in a gentle, quiet tone.
Why the nickname now?
Since Axel sees me as a fragile and delicate sister, apart from the reason Mum calling me Lily, he thought it would be suitable to nickname me as 'Flower'.
I know, too cute... Let those eyes roll.
"I mi - miss you too Ax - Axel," I stuttered, trying to cool down my burning cheeks.
Though, it wasn't fast enough. Axel, after freeing himself from the embrace, chuckled when he caught sight of it.
"Still hating the compliments, Flower?" He asked while gently caressing my redden cheeks.
I swatted his hand away from my face.
"No. Ju-just the sniffing," I replied shyly, my eyes averting his delicate stare.
"Oh, just old habits." He chuckled again, "My apologies though." He's now scratching the back of his neck.
I smile upon seeing that.
"It's okay Ax. Just don't do it again, please."
He smirked.
"I'll try, Flower, I'll try." He promised and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead.
And there goes my blushing again.
"Dude, stop! She's getting red again." Howard laughed while grabbing Axel on his collar, pulling him away from me. Then, in Axel's place, Howard stand and gave me a formal hug.
"So, how's my Hailey be - oh wow, you look cute in pigtails. Did Mum do this?" Howard asked, feeling him touching the braid.
"Nope, I did," I respond casually.
"Oh, and where did you learn that?" He inquired after releasing me from the hug. His eyes currently studying my face.
The question, for some reason, caught me off guard, making my forehead wrinkled in question.
"Actually, I don't know. I just... well, I felt like I could do it. So, I did it and here it is." I slowly explained while touching my braided head.
Listening to this, I noticed Howard giving Axel a bothered look which Axel returned with a concerned gaze.
Then, both of them, at the exact same time, stared at me weirdly.
"What?" I blurted out.
"Hailey, don't you think that unconscious act is part of your memory?" Howard cautiously spoke the words and when my silver-gray eyes landed on his cyan ones, I saw he was uncomfortable.
"I'm" - I licked my lips - "unsure... I only felt it. Does that count?" I sounded uneasy now and my brothers noticed that.
Axel, with one swift motion, pulled me into another hug.
still happening... the flashbacks. Any episodes this past few
happened today actually. But it's the
about the not-so-normal ones?" I heard
chest to glance at Howard. He looks far more serious at the second, that if you
same voice, the same scene in the woods... The same" - I gulped - "screams of pain."
after that, increasing the tension
had undergone a moment ago, there are others that I have no idea about. Others that I,
it hurts to remember, it's just unfamiliar memories to me. I can't even tell
recall the time on how or the
day and it's
Odd?
Very...
cooed, his blue-green eyes were apologetic. "We were just a bit... disturbed, that's
my response and from there, Mum called the boys for
wink once the boys came to her side. As if saying she tricked them into
Finally.
the blushing and last-minute table
she
Goddess for
conversation while standing on the threshold of the room. Then from serious, Dad became upset while Seth became wary, which made my mind suspect something was
to me,
be a casual talk,' I
one that sparkles, like a diamond ring under a bright light. He then excused himself from Dad and approached
made small talks about our day - no, I didn't tell him about the invitation being misplaced. It was my fault in
could find
was about to ask regarding the plan on how to announce the
to everybody during the meal. All laughing and chit-chatting to
more of a listener than a talker, and two, I just
give up on me
regarding my work. They were truly pleased with the success of their attempt because I,
work sounds hard Hailey," Howard commented after a long discussion about the overall work I do
mention the errands I fulfill
Axel gently interjected. "Though, Flower, it never really occurred to me that
I frowned at that.
expect
my words as a mock, Flower. Though, if it does sound like one, then I am sorry." He paused and sighed, "Yet, I
that, you know. It's part
work under supervision,"
was about to defy him
You two" - she glared at me, then Axel
us instantly shut our
short pause, "Hailey's work sounds better, SAFER than the other jobs she has mentioned a while ago."
your sister to go through that task of getting into argument after argument with guests. Mainly, with them werewolf guests... pure
fake innocent face as if asking me the 'what did
the other hand, was convinced and didn't further
I got
I finally muttered and
Well, not all.
at a
to my funny reaction, made me tilted my head in wonder. I was about to ask what was bothering him when Mum got to
to
didn't say a word at first and me realizing it might be
god, he's gonna declare it... Though, would he
in full details?
Most especially, one that
danger part to himself and tries to solve it quietly on his own. So, when you finally heard about the problem, it was
I said before, he was becoming
Or just scared?
he finally let out a heavy sigh and started speaking.
thinking that he may be spilling the truth on the spot, I held my breath and
right now." Seth stated in a rough, husky voice, "We have rogue vampires and black
Oh.
That was it.
to hear,' I thought to myself as I slowly exhale the
I caught a glimpse of Dad becoming dead serious. He was always the cheerful one in the family and seeing him like this made me
everyone else around me tenses up.