Chapter 81

"That was a good meal." Alex burped happily.

Matt ignored him and just continued washing the dishes. Alex cooked for the two of them so he has to do the dishes. It's a rule in their family, everyone has to do their share of the chores.

"Mattie, I'm craving for some ice cream." Alex suddenly said just as Matt was drying his hands.

"Then eat. I don't care." Matt replied while wishing in his head that Alex would stop talking to him. During their meal, Matt tried his best not to respond to any of Alex's provocations. That annoying brat kept asking him to get this and that while they ate. He kept using the pregnant card on him which is pretty effective since he couldn't say no.

"I want to eat the ice cream from the corner store." Alex said, referring to the small store down at the end of their block.

"Then go and buy it. Why do I need to know?" Matt screamed.

"I don't want to go alone."

"Then asked one of your guards to buy it for you, I'm sure they are just outside wasting their time." Matt replied frustratingly.

"But… it won't be the same."

"It's just ice cream, they're all the same."

"No… it's not the same because you didn't buy it for me." Alex replied on the verge of tears. The two of them always go to that corner store during summer, Matt would buy him ice cream and when they don't have enough money they would share a twin popsicle. He suddenly had the cravings for it now that he's alone with Matt.

"I j-just want Bean to have a taste of it."

"Damn it, fine I'll buy you an ice cream. Just stop with that pregnancy card. It's annoying. This would be the last time. Got it?" Matt said, giving his brother an ultimatum.

"Yes! This is my last request, I promise." Alex replied, raising his hand as if taking an oath.

The two of them headed out to the corner store with Alex trailing behind his older brother.

"It's been a while since I've seen the two of you together." The lady owner of the store greeted them as she welcomed them. "I can't believe you're still following your brother around." She said laughing at Alex.

"He's just an annoying brat now." Matt replied while opening the ice cream fridge.

"If I'm annoying then you're the stubborn one. I want the chocolate one." Alex replied before pointing at the flavor he wanted.

"I know. It's not as if you ever choose a different flavor." Matt hissed.

"I wish my children would have a good relationship just like you two. Helena is really lucky with her two sons." The owner said, smiling warmly while the two of them got tongue tied and couldn't respond.

"What are you doing?" Matt asked when Alex sat down on the bench outside the store instead of heading back home.

"We always eat our ice cream here. So just sit down."

"Last request my ass." Matt said but sat down beside Alex nonetheless.

"Aren't you lucky Bean? Your Uncle is a grumpy guy but he will still definitely spoil you." Alex rubbed his barely showing baby bump. "Of course your Dad will probably spoil you more." He said giggling.

"Are you really okay with all of these?" Matt snapped and couldn't help but asked.

"About what?"

"All of it! You barely know that guy. He marked you the first time you've met, he married you without Mom and Dad's blessing. He even got you pregnant. What decent man would do that?" Matt exclaimed, grabbing his hair frustratingly. "You are my precious little brother, how could he do that without giving us a chance to see if he's worthy of you? He can't even keep you safe for Pete's sake." Images of Alex's beaten up body kept rushing through his mind which made him angrier. "I can't bear to see you all wounded and battered again."

Alex could feel his brother's frustration and he knew Matt was keeping it all bottled up inside him. He can tell that his brother is just avoiding this conversation and he's not really mad at him, well maybe a little. Nonetheless, Matt loves and that will never change. Alex knew that, which is why he decided to stay back in order to have this conversation with Mattie.

Alex threw away his ice cream and held his brother's hands in his. "Mattie, I'm okay now. I'm not hurt. I'm fine, okay?" Alex doesn't know why but felt like he should emphasize that to his brother. "I hid from him, you know. I was so scared of everything that happened that I tried to hide from Keith. However when I met him, he was nothing but kind and gentle. He heeded all my requests and didn't force himself on me. As an Alpha I'm sure you know that with your pheromones you can make an Omega submit to you and with us being bonded together, it would be much easier for Keith to do that but he never did."

Matt turned his head towards Alex, he couldn't believe what Alex just said. All this while, he thought that Alpha forced his brother to be with him and was being controlled by his Alpha pheromones.

"It was me you know." Alex continued. "I was the one who initiated the wedding. I was insecure even though we bonded because I know Alphas can still be affected by another Omega's pheromones while me on the other hand will only have him as my Alpha. I was so insecure at how different our worlds are that I thought I needed something to tie him with me. Maybe I was being ruled by my pheromones or my nature as an Omega but I know I couldn't take it if Keith would abandon me. I have all these thoughts but Keith just kept on being patient and gentle with me."

"He wouldn't agree to the wedding if he didn't want to." Matt finally responded. He wiped the tears on Alex's face who seemed to not realize that he had been crying all this time.

"Th-that night. The night we bonded. We both shouldn't be there you know. I was just filling in for Dan and Keith was just there because he had a sudden free time and he decided to chase his brother. What are the odds that on that night we shouldn't be there? I suddenly got my first heat and Keith was the only one in that room. What I'm saying is that, maybe it wasn't just a coincidence instead we were meant to meet that night."

"Maybe what you say is true, maybe it was fate or whatever. However it still doesn't guarantee that he is a good man, he is still an Alpha that could control you with his pheromones. It was all too rushed!" Matt replied. "You've never been in a relationship. You were never that exposed to other Alphas. I couldn't help but worry about you. You are my precious little brother and I just want what's best for you. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Mattie... How could you say I'm not exposed to other Alphas? I may have not been in a relationship before but I have you and Dad. I have the two of you as my basis. The both of you are such great Alphas that my standards are too high and I assure you Keith fits those standards."

"Alex…"

"I may have been married now but I am still me. I'm still your little brother who would want you to buy him ice cream from time to time. You can still worry about me because I know you love me but please… Please trust me on this one."

Matt did not say another word and just let Alex cry his heart out. They sat there side by side as Alex calmed himself.

"Let's go home." Matt said after a while. He stood up and held his hand out to Alex.

"Mattie…."

"Common, Mom must be home by now, she'll be looking for us." Matt nodded and just gestured for Alex to take his hand.

Alex smiled in understanding and took his brother's hands. Just like how they were when they were kids, they walked home hand in hand, never letting go of each other's hand.