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.

just wanted to know if it's still happening... the flashbacks. Any episodes this past few days?" He asks, feeling

one... happened today actually. But it's the 'normal' case."

not-so-normal ones?" I heard

lift my head from Axel's chest to glance at Howard. He looks far more serious at the second, that if you took one look

quietly replied, "The last one transpired a month ago, with the same voice, the same scene in the woods...

respond after that, increasing

the 'episode' I had undergone a moment ago, there are others that I have no idea about. Others

memories to me. I can't even

on how or the

day and it's there; I just have

Odd?

Very...

just a bit... disturbed, that's all.

called

side. As if saying she tricked them into doing

Finally.

last-minute table set up, but also from the serious atmosphere,

she can,

thank Goddess for

both having a serious conversation while standing on

- or if it was related to me, because somehow their demeanor still looked calm and collected as

be a casual talk,'

his signature full smile - the one that sparkles, like a diamond ring under

didn't tell him about the invitation being misplaced. It was my fault in the first place, so - to redeem myself, I will be the one to

I could find

plan on how

everybody during the meal. All laughing and chit-chatting to update

a listener than a talker, and two, I just love watching everybody

give up

talk until they came upon topics regarding my work. They were truly pleased with the

hard Hailey," Howard commented after a long discussion about the overall work

mention the errands I fulfill for

me that you have

I frowned at that.

expect a

paused and sighed, "Yet,

that, you know. It's

you work under

to defy him when Mum

glared at me, then Axel - "quit it. Not in front of grace." She stated

instantly shut our

should be glad." Howard started after the short pause, "Hailey's work sounds better,

of getting into argument

face as if asking me the 'what did I do' question - I could even hear

other hand, was convinced and didn't further

so, I got annoyed.

unbelievable." I finally muttered and they all started laughing

Well, not all.

at

alone his anticipated laughter to my funny reaction, made me tilted my head in wonder. I was about to ask what was bothering him when Mum got to him

wrong?" Mum inquired, causing everybody else to quit their laughing and turned

me realizing it might be related

it... Though, would he

full details?

us. Most especially, one that is dangerous and involves the whole family or one of its members.

tries to solve

said before, he was

Or just scared?

he finally let out a heavy

he may be spilling the truth on the spot, I held my breath and

right now." Seth

Oh.

That was it.

one I was expecting to hear,' I thought to myself as I slowly exhale the

was always the cheerful one in the family and seeing him like this made me believe that the subject was far more important yet

else around me

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