Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 136: An adorable family

Chapter 136: An adorable family

Azrael drove off of the orphanage with a pout that almost kissed the windshield. He sneaked a sullen look at Knox on the passenger’s seat, but the omega pretended like he wasn’t aware of the grumbling alpha next to him.

Thankfully, the guards were inside the van, and their car was heavily tinted so they escaped easily. Ragel and Rian stayed as planned, while Knoa and Aresh were in the backseat, looking out the window with sparkling eyes.

Knox watched the kids through the rearview mirror. Knoa was busy pointing at the things he found on the way, while Aresh diligently explained what they were. He looked calm, yet the glint in his eyes betrayed his cool visage, and Knox could perceive the growing anticipation in his active movements.

The six-year-old kid noticed Knox’s attention on him. Their eyes met in the mirror; Knox smiled warmly which made Aresh blush greatly. He immediately looked away, flustered and discomposed.

Knox chuckled. He found the little guy cute and amusing. It made him feel the same as when Knoa was younger, whenever he’d clung onto him, peeked at his face, and claimed his cheeks with his little hands as he sucked on his pacifier, looking at him innocently yet exuding possessiveness.

Back then, Knoa would giggle and blush if he bent down and reassured him that he was at his beck and call as though he understood what it meant. Somehow, it made Knox feel wanted and liked by kids, just as how Aresh made him feel.

From the mirror, his eyes moved to the left, only to get scared at the darkness looming over Azrael’s head. He couldn’t help but mumble, "What’s with you?"

Azrael puckered his lips, "Stop smiling at that kid..."

"Are you jealous?" Knox asked, wondering if it was true. Azrael just frowned and looked away. He focused on driving without giving any definite answer. Knox’s jaw fell at the ridiculous notion. He exclaimed in disbelief, "You’re unbelievable! Kids are like that, you know. And as I said, ’kids’, Azrael. Goodness. Even Knoa has a crush on someone. How else are you—

"What?! Who?!" Azrael shouted, startling the two kids behind.

’Look at this guy. Is that even a big deal?’ Knox hissed at Azrael and pointed at the road, "Eyes on the road! Geez, you’re too much already. I get that you’re being protective, but Knoa won’t like it if you always tear him away from his closest friends. And it’s perfectly normal for kids to like someone they find attractive, and reliable, or admire something they find cool and amazing. And if you’re wondering who, ask him yourself. He said it’s a secret, so I won’t tell."

Knox folded his arms and looked away indignantly.

Azrael glanced at Knoa with a frown, then his gaze moved on the other kid.

Aresh was still awkward toward Azrael. Who wouldn’t? When all the latter did was glare at the kid like some child whose lollipop was snatched by Aresh. Sometimes, Knox even wondered who really was the kid between the two.

Sighing, Azrael whispered, "Why did you have to bring him along?"

Knox yawned. He gave Azrael a carefree look and mouthed, "Knoa wanted him to come."

That caused Azrael’s face to go longer than it was before. A kid who gets on his nerves intrudes on his precious time with his family. Both Knox and Knoa liked him, which made him a bit annoyed.

Knox looked out the window. They made sure to visit the orphanage after breakfast, to have plenty of time to play and meet. Shawn was left to his own devices as usual, obviously giving the three of them space. He probably didn’t want to get caught up in the middle when Athan called and checked on them.

Knox would then wonder what Shawn was doing alone in the resthouse since Alex and Franz had been barhopping on the island.

Not long after, they entered a beach resort to have a proper area for parking. They don’t have a boat on their own either, so they really need to pay an entrance fee and service to one of the beach resorts lined along the coastline.

"Good day, sirs, are you checking in for the night? We have a promo for one of our available suites. You can avail a three-day stay with only...blah blah..." an employee came to them and kept advertising their rooms.

Knox smiled politely as he waited for Azrael to park the car. There was no valet service since the beach resort isn’t that high-end, just an average establishment that looked clean and safe. He held Knoa and Aresh in each of his hands, and the kids were hugging their little backpacks on their stomachs.

"And if you’re thinking of hopping to the next island, we also have a room to offer. We have a family room with complete necessities, kid-friendly, and...blah...blah...for only..." the employee mentioned a price.

Knox’s brows twitched, ’Isn’t that too expensive?’ He asked himself. He glanced around and didn’t find anything worth the value of the cost the employee spoke. The hotel wasn’t that amazing, it was just average, and even though employees seemed to be accommodating and friendly, the cost was still expensive.

’Anyway, why am I even considering this? It’s not like we’re going to spend the night here...’ Knox concluded, erasing the thought in his head. He politely smiled at the employee and was about to decline when a full, cold voice came from behind.

"Do you have an entire house? With three bedrooms at least," Azrael remarked. He picked Aresh without warning, which made the latter yelp in surprise. Aresh eyed him with confusion, and Azrael just ignored him.

Knox did the same and carried Knoa in his arms as well.

The employee’s face brightened, and hurriedly flipped the brochure he held, and explained the available rooms they had. Azrael picked the most expensive one, earning a baffled look from Knox.

"Why? We’re not going to stay for the night. It’d be a waste!" He whispered to Azrael.

Azrael grinned, "Sure. But tomorrow, we’re going back anyway. Besides, we need a place to leave our belongings."

Knox raised his brows, "Aside from Knox and Aresh’s backpacks, we didn’t bring anything." Since the trip was unplanned, they didn’t even have an extra tee shirt at all. "We don’t even have any spare clothes..."

Azrael smirked. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he whispered back, "Baby, you won’t be needing any clothes at all, trust me."

The alpha earned a slap on the back, startling the employee who was too engrossed in guiding them inside. They waited in the lounge for a few minutes before a bulky man appeared and guided them outside.

Knox began to wonder, "Wait, where are we going? The rooms are upstairs?"

"Papa, you didn’t listen? The chatty mister said our house will be on the island!" Knoa pointed to the said place. Aresh nodded in agreement. "Oh, I see. Did you kids understand what the chatty guy said?"

"Uh-huh!" the two kids replied simultaneously, one lively and raised, while the other was calm and leveled.

They reached the dock. Azrael spotted a bowrider boat moored not far from them. He pointed at the thing and asked the burly and tanned guy, "Does someone own that thing?"

"Sir?" The guide glanced over where his guest pointed to. He then turned to look at Azrael and he answered, "Ah, yes sir. It belongs to the owner of the beach resort. Now, please sir, wear the life jackets and—

"I’d like to buy it," Azrael interrupted.

The guide was bewildered. Knox just sighed and placed his hand on his waist, then he spat, "Didn’t you hear it has an owner?"

"Well, maybe the owner might consider selling it. If I had known that we’d be visiting the island, I would have bought a yacht beforehand. Maybe I should consider looking for a property in this area—

Knox waved his hand at Azrael’s bragging, dismissing his uncalled plans, "Okay. That’s enough. Let’s proceed and wear these, then hop on the boat—

"Tell your boss, I’d like to buy it. He can name his price if he wants, so hurry, we’ll be waiting," Azrael insisted.

Knox grumbled, "Hey, why are you doing this?"

Azrael looked away and pouted, "Knoa wants to ride that one since it looks cooler, isn’t that right, son?" Knoa bobbed his head in excitement, fluttering his eyelashes to his omega father who seemed against the idea. Azrael grinned. He turned to Aresh and scored his approval as well, "What do you think, kid? It’s much cooler than that rundown rowing boat, right?"

The guide grimaced as he thought, ’It’s not even a rowing boat. It’s a motorboat as well, only less appealing and old...’

Aresh’s face brightened and nodded enthusiastically. He glanced at Knox with an anticipating look.

Now, three pairs of eyes were looking at Knox, waiting for his agreement. He sighed and scratched his head, then embarrassedly looked at the guide whose face paled. He dared to explain the matter but soon backed down after meeting Azrael’s domineering gaze.

He excused himself and called the management, informing them of the unreasonable demand of an innocent-looking family. After a minute, the guide went back with a dejected and nervous look, giving Knox a failed smile, "I’m sorry, sirs, but the boss declined."

Azrael pursed his lips. He put Aresh down and walked to guide, clung his arm over the guy’s shoulders, and dragged him away.

Knoa tugged on his father’s collar, "Papa, what is Daddy doing?"

Knox gulped. He was tempted to tell his son, ’Probably threatening the poor guy to call the management again and insist on talking to the owner.’ He forced a smile and answered differently, "Maybe he’s making friends with him?"

He pulled Aresh closer to him when another group of guests came on the dock. Azrael went back, a successful grin danced on his face. Knox just sighed resignedly and felt sorry for the guide who ran back to the building, probably taking the key from his boss.

Azrael picked Aresh again, this time, the kid was more accustomed to him than before. He awkwardly wrapped his arms on the alpha’s shoulders and stared at the man admirably. Azrael glanced down and spat, "What are you looking at, kid?"

"N-Nothing..." Aresh looked away, embarrassed.

Knoa grabbed his alpha father’s chin and asked genuinely, "Papa, you don’t like being looked at? Brother Aresh looks at you because you’re cool! You don’t like it?"

Azrael paled when Knoa frowned at his indifferent behavior toward his friend. Dissatisfaction showed in his cute face, stabbing Azrael’s heart. He sweated and mumbled, sounding defeated, "I’m...just shy."

Knox stifled laughter. He turned away, and his eyes noticed the girls from the other groups looking at them with smiles. He then heard one say, "What a cute family! They’re all beautiful!"

He averted his eyes immediately, feeling embarrassed at the playful squabbles of the two kids and Azrael. Yet pride swelled inside him, drawing a warm and contented smile on his face.