Alex checked the dance floor, he saw the shadow of a brown suit moving towards the backyard, is that Iren? he thought and decided to follow behind. as soon as he got near, he saw the light-haired man he'd seem with the briar couple, walking towards the swing with Iren, who is this? a companion or an aid perhaps? Alex had never seen this young man around, he was sure he'd remember someone so unique looking, ...someone who looked at Iren with utter dependence.
He saw Iren ruffled the blond man's hair, and the young man blushing in embarrassment, the more he saw them interact, his suspicion grew stronger. his jaw clenched as he stood alone in the shadows, he's eyes narrowed, interesting.
******
Eli was really tired of smiling continuously, he felt like he'd been chewing the same gum for 10 hours, the dazzling banquet had already lost all its charm, he'd already meet with his fiancée's family and given them his greeting, he had already turned off his brain after greeting the new comer on their table, trying to suck up to his uncle and aunt, well he didn't blame Mr. Thomas, even though the briar's were a dying legacy they still had more money, power than an ordinary businessman could fathom, after all a dying camel is still bigger than a horse.
He looks at his aunt in embarrasement, "auntie I want to visit the restroom .."
She looks annoyed, "okay, it's past that hall, come back quickly." She had to make sure everyone in the high society knew eli was a part of their family and that they were goin to marry the hayes second son.
"yes" he said as he moved towards the corridor,
Eli finds the way to the backyard, to be honest it was more of a garden fenced in by a forest, where he spots Iren, who stood under a tree, looking at his phone,
Eli hesitates as he stands near the glass pane but finally decides to call out Iren in a hesitant soft voice. Iren looks up from the phone- startled than he smiles as soon as he spots Eli.
"I came here to escape them for a little while", he said a little embarrassed they knew each other for two years now but had barely meet 5 times, Eli did not want to impose his presence on his cousin but the hall felt like the devil's waiting room, smiling was becoming tedious and that fiancée of his was not here anyways—the second reason why the elders of the briar family were parading him like a show donkey. Eli wanted to be on his A-game to meet the final boss.
Iren smiled and patted his head, "the weather is a little chilly, want a little swing" he said with a twinkle in his eyes, and a little canister in his left hand.
"nah, still have to meet the 'fiancee' " eli says with a roll of his eyes.
"pffft" Iren laughs, "don't worry about him, back then he was the scrawniest little shit, in the whole damn school." He says as he takes a tips the bottle on his lips.
Ahhh is that so, then it's a relief, Eli thought, he did not want to meet another selfish, arrogant alpha. But that relief did not last long.
"who are you calling scrawny?" A man moves towards them; Eli is startled as he turns around to look at this new comer who appeared behind then noiselessly. He had midnight black hair and golden eyes that seemed ablaze with hidden rage.
Iren had a surprised expression on his face, he gives him a polite but distant hello, "long time no see, Alex."
Alex smiles at Iren sarcastically, "don't worry about that we'll see each a lot from now on."
"Well certainly, but don't count on me visiting often, I am a busy man." Iren continued with a smile on his face.
Alex tilts his head to the right, "are you saying this marriage means nothing to you, is that it?"
Ehhhh? Eli's eyes widened as the bystander to this unreal conversation; he wanted to escape from this one-sided tension and a possible outrageous understanding that only happens in TV dramas, he takes a deep breath in and slowly back from the duo.
Iren laughs, "marriage? —ah yes! Congratulations to you! Never thought you would marry before me."
Alex's expression was warped to say the least, he couldn't believe Iren could be so nonchalant to his own marriage, Alex had thought Iren would at least feel awkward to say the least, but this reaction was really …. something. Alex question Iren's mental state and then he stilled "are you planning to not fulfill the terms of contract?", he scoffs, "the briar family has surely not fallen to such a pathetic state, that it won't fulfil its own end of the bargain,"
Iren had a kaleidoscope of expressions on his face as realization hit him, he laughs loudly ang says, "I am not your marriage partner."
What
Alex now really felt like something was wrong with Iren's head, "Iren, there is no point denying the inevitable."
Iren rolls his eyes, " I am a alpha," he says and releases some of his pheromones, "see-alpha." he enunciates as he points to himself.
utter silence follows Iren's announcement, the crickets had stopped chirping and the birds had woken up just to witness the upcoming storm.