Beauty And Her Obsessors

Chapter 45: Catching up

3rd POV

As the morning sun stretched its golden fingers over the land, Alexander found his brother Alan in the back hut, diligently tending to his herb garden. The scent of mint and basil filled the air, mixing with the dewy freshness of the dawn.

"Alan!" He called out, his voice breaking the stillness. But Alan, still smarting from an awkward incident earlier that morning, pretended not to hear and continued his meticulous work among the herbs.

"You're still hung up on earlier, huh?" Alexander teased, leaning his back against the wooden frame of the hut. "Did you like what you saw that much? Did it turn you on?"

Alan's shoulders tensed as he plucked a sprig of thyme from his small garden. "No of course not! Shut up!" he furiously yelled without turning around.

Alexander chuckled as he went towards his brother, crouching down helping him pick the thyme "If you want I could help you find a female. You can experience what I feel everyday, "he suggested.

Alan glanced up then, his eyes narrowed. " eh? What?, you mean like... mating?" he scoffed.

Alexander's laughter faded, replaced by a look of sarcasm. "No! What the fuck Alan. What do you take me for? It's not just about mating. It's about what's in here," he said, tapping his chest where his heart lay.

Alan was bewildered looking at his brother as if he were crazy, not understanding what he meant. "Okay and? What is in there?"

"Idiot, it's love! The heart-..."

"huh?" Alan thought.

As he was about to ramble on to Alan. He stopped noting that it was a waste of time explaining it to his brother. "You know what nevermind"

For a couple of mintues, Alexander took a moment, his gaze drifting off as he reflected. This journey was not only to help save Shino. But another opportunity to reunite ties with his brother Alan. Such a long time since he had left, Alexander didn't know what Alan had been doing over the years.

He wanted to catch up with him like how they used to.

"I know you might resent me even more, but I don't regret going to the Heihei tribe" Alexander first said.

"I don't resent you at all. Your annoying but you had your reasons for leaving." Alan said back.

From the past he had a lot of deep regret and hard decisions to make. Especially leaving his brother Alan behind. They always stayed together like a pack. It made Alexander slightly smile hearing that his brother wasn't resentful at him for leaving.

"You know, after I settled in with the Heihei tribe, everyday was miserable. Sometimes, I thought of just giving up and coming back to the mountains. But I feared you'd see me as a loser after all the bragging I'd done. I thought that if I came back, I'd just be a failure."

Alan, still kneeling in the dirt, finally looked up at his brother with a softer expression. "Idiot, even if you came back, I wouldn't care. What matters is you're alive," he said earnestly.

"And this female, Nia, you mentioned—she sounds truly vile. How could she treat you like that? Why didn't you stand up to her?"

Alexander chuckled, the tension easing from his face as he watched Alan's serious, almost pouting expression. "Believe me, I learned the hard way. It's better to walk away. It's not always about fighting, Alan. Sometimes, it's about surviving and knowing who to trust."

Their conversation deepened, bridging the gap that awkwardness and distance had built, slowly reconnecting them on the tranquil grounds of their simple, herb-filled farm.

Alan listened intently as Alexander shared the bittersweet tales of his past with the wicked suitor Nia he used to like. The morning was growing warmer, and the early sunlight cast long shadows over the garden where they stood.

Finally, Alan spoke, his tone reflecting his growing disillusionment. To Alan he thought that getting a mate seems not worth it.

"Looks like all females seem to want is power and strength. What's the point of having a mate?"

Alexander smiled softly, brushing a bit of soil from his hands. "I thought that too at first, but not all females are like that," he said gently, his voice carrying the wisdom of experiences both harsh and tender.

"When I met my Freya, my world transformed into something meaningful. The first time I met her, I actually mistook her for a witch," he continued.

Alan burst out laughing. "A witch, pfft!"

"Yea.. Stupid right" Alexander chuckled, nervously scratching the side of his head in embarrassment. Though he wanted to leave that part out, Alexander wanted to share everything he experienced with his brother.

"The way Freya looks at me, the things she says... It makes my heart start racing. Her gentleness and kindness... they gave me a reason to keep going on," Alexander added, his voice growing softer with each word.

As he rambled on, Alan listened, his brow furrowing in thought. When Alexander finally paused, Alan blinked, taken aback, and let out a bemused "Eh? Is that all?" Knowing that his brother looked like he was rambling on. As if he was love stuck, chattering of his wife.

Pretending not to take his brother seriously, Alan smirked slightly. Alexander's irritation flashed, and he smacked Alan on the back of the head lightly.

"Hey! I'm serious! You know I don't tell this to just anyone. Not even to Shino, and you know we're sharing our mate together. He's a really calm orc, but I trust you more than him!"

Regaining his composure, Alex's tone softened. "You should come visit us in the tribe. It doesn't have to be soon, I know you're busy. It would be nice for you to visit. Even if it is after Freya gives birth." The invitation hung in the air. "I would love for you to meet my cubs one day"

Alan's face warmed with a slight blush of embarrassment. His eyes averted as he mumbled, "I'll think about it."

"Alright," he said, smiling back before smacking his back again, making Alan irritated.

"Ouch! You idiot, why did you slap that spot!? I told you yesterday I got burnt from the sun from it. Are you trying to provoke me?!"

Alexander with a blunt smiling face replied "Yes", pissing Alan even more especially when he heard Alexander now laughing out loud.