Alpha's Nala

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.

wanted to know if it's still happening... the flashbacks.

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

not-so-normal ones?" I

from Axel's chest to glance at Howard. He looks far more serious at the second,

quietly replied, "The last one transpired a month ago, with the same voice, the same scene in the woods... The same" - I gulped - "screams of pain."

after that, increasing the tension

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

to remember, it's just unfamiliar memories to me. I can't even tell if

worse, I don't even recall the time on how or the reason why I have this amnesia in

up one day and

Odd?

Very...

cooed, his blue-green eyes were apologetic. "We were just a bit... disturbed, that's all. We mean you no harm." He added while

nodded my response and from there, Mum called the boys for help in setting

didn't miss Mum's wink once the boys came to her side. As if saying she tricked them into doing the job and that I needed a

Finally.

and last-minute table set up, but also from the serious atmosphere, my brothers created from interviewing me about

for those recalls and as quickly as she can, she tries to avoid

Goddess for

of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Seth with Dad - both having a serious conversation while standing on the threshold of the room. Then from serious, Dad became upset while Seth

know what it was - or if it was related to me, because somehow their demeanor still looked calm

a casual talk,'

me his signature full smile - the one that sparkles, like a diamond ring under a bright light. He then excused himself from

me and we made small talks about our day - no, I 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

I could find

when I was about to ask regarding the plan on how to announce the truth to everybody, Mum called us

meal. All laughing and

conversations because one, I was more of a listener than a talker, and two, I just love watching

didn't give up on me

make me talk until they came upon topics regarding my work. They were truly pleased

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

the errands I

too," Axel gently interjected. "Though, Flower, it never really occurred to me that you have that kind of job;

I frowned at that.

what did you expect a Personal Secretary

it does sound like one, then I am sorry." He paused and sighed, "Yet, I did expect you in a higher

that, you know. It's part of the responsibilities."

work under

was about to defy him when

at me, then Axel - "quit it. Not

us instantly shut our

the short pause, "Hailey's work sounds better, SAFER than

Axel." Dad seconded, "You don't want your sister to go through that task of getting into argument after argument with guests. Mainly,

and he made a fake innocent face as if asking me the 'what did

hand, was convinced and

so, I

unbelievable." I finally muttered and they all started laughing at

Well, not all.

gaze at a troubled Seth.

tilted my head in wonder. I was about to ask

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

brother didn't say a word at first and me realizing it might be related to the secret he was

god, he's gonna declare it... Though, would he truly?

in full details?

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

quality that wants to keep the danger part to himself and tries to solve it quietly on his own. So, when you finally heard about the

said

Or just scared?

let out a heavy

he may be spilling the truth on the spot,

sorry to say this but canine aggression is the least of our worries right now." Seth stated in a rough, husky voice,

Oh.

That was it.

I thought to myself as I slowly

the room became heavy as 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

else around