Beauty And Her Obsessors

Chapter 58: Family brunch

(Anime Food- Oishii~desu)

3RD POV

When they arrived back at the beach tent, Heinry and Freya saw Lucas in action, managing not one but three tasks simultaneously. He was in his half snake form, stirring the soup, flipping skewered meat, and chopping even more food for lunch. Both his hands and snake tail.

Freya glanced into the distance, spotting Shino and Alexander still with the cubs. Her two youngest, Noe and Nico, were holding large leaves over their heads for shade, sitting on the sand and chattering with one another. Alexander held Samson in his arms, walking towards Shino, who was overseeing the other wolf cubs playing in the water.

From the moment Shino held his son in his arms. It looked like Shino was about to teach his panther son how to swim. Seeing Shino hold up Samson as he slowly aided him into using his arms and feet to swim.

Freya turned back to Lucas grilling and asked, "Need help?"

Lucas smirked at her. "There are plenty of things for you two. Darling, can you clean this mess and set up the table? And you," he said, pointing at Heinry, "Might as well make yourself useful. Why don't you help me cook this meat?"

"Okay" Heinry willingly agreed.

"Cook a lot; those two buffoons over there have big appetites. That wolf over there has both- a loud mouth and stomach." Lucas joked, pointing right at Shino and Alexander from a distance.

Heinry laughed, nodding at Lucas. Before arriving back, he had worried about the feral snake named Lucas, especially after the glaring looks earlier. But now, seeing Lucas welcome him without hostility made Heinry feel relaxed, knowing Lucas was cool with him, well for now.. was what Heinry thought. He remembers Freya telling him not to mess too much with Lucas, warning him of Lucas's dark and ruthless nature. It was a good thing that Lucas was calm today. Heinry was lucky that Freya was around and also the cubs that were not far.

As Lucas and Freya did their part in preparing a lunch feast for the family, Heinry focused on grilling the meat skewers and marinated steaks and pork.

From behind him, he could hear Freya and Lucas talking to each other, their voices filled with warmth and laughter. Freya was giggling at Lucas's perverted jokes, while Shino was teaching three of the cubs to swim in the beach.

Heinry then watched Alexander climbing a coconut tree, ripping the coconuts off and dropping them down. The two wolf cubs cheered their father on with raised hands, one of them already drinking coconut juice from an opened shell.

Seeing Freya's family and mates enjoying their time on the beach surprised Heinry. It was unlike anything he had seen before. Usually, females enjoyed themselves while males slaved away, doing hard work and sacrificing their efforts to please the female. Even if it was most of the time taking care of the cubs and doing the housework.

But seeing Shino, Alexander, and Lucas working together with Freya, each doing their part for everyone's happiness, was different. It was harmonious and balanced of what a true partnership was like. A real happy family they had.

Heinry smiled to himself as he continued grilling over the lit campfire. He can see that Freya's family was well balanced. Sure there were some fights but all of them worked together.

At first, Heinry found it odd that he was intervening in their affairs. Being involved in their family outing, even though Freya had invited him, felt strange. He wasn't Freya's mate or suitor. He was uncomfortable but strangely happy to have come. Almost feeling like he too was a part of their family.

But as Heinry, Lucas, and Freya finished cooking lunch, the whole gang came together. Alexander, Shino and the cubs came running back all drenched with water and sand on them. There were a few coconuts and seashells brought back by them.

Heinry watched as all of Freya's mates and cubs gathered around the table, eating and talking, making him feel very awkward. They all sat down on a log around in a circle and the food in the center.

The beastworld, males that are not part of a female's harem have to keep their distance. Only when the female invited them could they be allowed close, but that didn't mean the female's mates would approve. All males in the beastworld fought for the favor of their female in hopes of receiving affection or attention. Even their cubs competed for their parent's affection, striving to be the favorite by proving their strength with gifts of prey they caught. This was how most orcs were raised.

Despite these norms, the scene before Heinry was different. As they all sat together. Heinry couldn't help but feel the warmth as if he too was a part of the family. All of them talked to him normally. There was a little aggression from the Freya's males but Heinry laughed it off.

The cubs chattered happily, Lucas and Alexander playfully teaseing their mate. Freya stood up, moving around her family, ensuring everyone had enough to eat while she listened to the ongoing chatters.

"Here, Heinry, try this," Freya said, handing him a plate of grilled meat with a smile. "Lucas used a special sauce to marinate this meat. He makes the best barbecue."

Heinry nodded his thanks. "Smells good" he admitted, taking a bite and savoring the rich, smoky flavor of the tender meat.

Lucas chuckled. "Told ya. It's good isn't it?" he bragged.

Only then Lucas shut his mouth trying his best to avoid getting nagged at again it he had said more. By more, his usual rude and aggressive way. But today Lucas had to be nice to Heinry even when he clearly saw Freya eyeing him down.

Suddenly, Samson held up his plate and asked for more food. His blue eyes wide with anticipation. " I want moore! Pweasee!" He said.

"Here you go," Shino replied, handing him a grilled chicken leg and slices of beef. Samson thanked him before eating.

Shino watched as Samson began eating, finding the sight adorable because the chicken leg was bigger than Samson's tiny hands.

His son had a perfect blend of his and Freya's characteristics. While Samson resembled his father, Shino, with his black hair and overall appearance, he inherited his mother's blue eyes and unwavering kindness. The small, kind gestures Samson made filled Shino with pride. Though he just had Samson as his only cub now, he was still happy. Not only was his son respectful, but Shino was confident he wouldn't struggle to find a partner in the future. Unlike himself, who had faced years of rejection before luckily finding Freya. Despite this, Shino was glad it was her.

Suddenly, four more plates were raised, accompanied by the eager voices of the wolf cubs.

"I want!" one of the wolf cubs exclaimed.

Shino laughed heartily. He set his plate down on the table and his large hands began to skillfully give out more food to the hungry wolf cubs. Looking at the wolf cubs, he too was proud of them. Though they are similar to their father Alexander, they too had potential. Half of them were smart learners while the other two developed strong abilities.

"Alright, alright, Don't fight. There's plenty here" Shino said, filling their plates with the food their tiny hands pointed to.