Claimed by my Alpha Stepbrother and Stepfather

“Congratulations, Miss Rose. You’re eight weeks pregnant.”

The words hit like a fist straight to my heart. My eyes blurred as I stared at the paper in trembling hands. The words were printed in clear black and white, but somehow they made no sense.

Pregnant.

No.

This couldn’t be right.

My fingers tightened around the paper.

“Did you say eight weeks?,” I asked.

She replied sharply. “Exactly eight weeks, Ma.”

Exactly six weeks since that night.

The night I let him cross every line we’d spent years pretending didn’t exist. The night I gave into the feelings I’d carried for him since I was a teenager, the feelings I’d buried beneath guilt, shame and the constant reminder that we were supposed to be a family.

Archer Hayes.

My stepbrother.

The man I’d ached for a decade. The only man I couldn’t stop dreaming about no matter how hard I tried. The same man I let him ruin me on a living room couch.

And then, only hours later, I’d walked into the study and found my stepfather in a situation I should never have witnessed. I should have turned around, crawled back to my room if I had to.

But I didn’t.

I’d stayed.

And what followed was something I could barely bring myself to remember, barely say to anyone. Because I knew if I did. It will destroy everything. My mother’s happiness. Her home. I couldn’t let that happen. So, I chose silence even if it meant carrying the shame of a night that had taken more from me than I could bear.

My stomach twisted as the reality settled over me.

And now this?

A father and a son. Same night.

They’ve left a part of them in me.

A living seed.

A proof of my mistake.

How is this possible?

How do I explain this? That I’m pregnant for both my stepbrother and stepfather? How do I face Mum with the truth? I couldn’t even look at her without the guilt tearing me apart. This would destroy her. This would destroy all of us. This is pure betrayal.

She trusted me with her happiness and now, I’ve ruined everything.

My gaze dropped on the pregnancy result again. A child is growing inside of me and I had no way of knowing who the father is.

What was I supposed to do?

Archer.

Maybe Archer.

I needed to tell him first.

Maybe he’ll know what to do.

Maybe he wouldn’t panic.

Maybe he would look at me the way he had that night and tell me everything was going to be okay.

The nurse was still babbling something about vitamins, next appointment, options but her voice only sounded like it was under water. I nodded when I was supposed to, signed what I was supposed to sign and somehow I walked out of the clinic on legs that didn’t feel like mine.

The walk back home felt like the shortest, I didn’t bother taking a cab. I couldn’t. Maybe the more time I wasted, the easier it’d be to lie to myself. But eventually, I got home.

I tightened my fingers around the straps of my handbag, trying to steady myself. My heart was still hammering against my ribs, I could literally hear them.

I stood just outside the front door.

My hand hovered over the handle.

What was I even going to say?

Hey Archer, I’m pregnant… And guess what? I can’t tell if it’s yours or your Daddy’s.

Exciting, right?… You’re either getting a son or a stepbrother.

My stomach twisted.

Shit.

That sounds stupid even inside my head.

But I did it anyway.

I took a deep breath and turned the handle open.

What’s the worst that could possibly happen? I mean I got through the worst of the day, nothing could beat that. Atleast, that’s what I thought.

Not until I opened the door and my world came crumbling in pieces again.

My stomach sank at the sight inside.

My entire body went frozen.

Archer

My supposed baby daddy and stepbrother. All wrapped up in the hands of a blonde woman, his fingers tangled in his hair as she leaned in to kiss him.

His hand rested possessively on her thigh, and the way he looked at her made everything inside my chest cracked.

I felt my heart tightened.

“What the hell?” The words ripped out of me.

Archer’s head snapped towards me. But he didn’t react, he didn’t even try to act remorseful. No. None of that shit. His brows just furrowed in irritation like I just interrupted his happy timing.

And I swear I saw my whole future lit in flames right there.

“What is going on here, Archer? Who is she…”

I didn’t finish that sentence before he caught me off.

“She is my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?”

“Yes. Meet Lyra.” He scoffed, while the bitch in question flashed me a wink. “We met aboard and have been dating since then.”

He has a girlfriend?

Super great.

And he never mentioned it.

What’s wrong with men these days?

I mean aren’t these the kind of things people say before getting intimacy with someone else. Before claiming on that same couch while he proclaimed his love for me.

“Great. Just great, Archer.” I started. “You could at least told me.”

“I don’t think I owe you that explanation.”

Did I hear right?

Did I just hear right?

I laughed.

I didn’t even know why. It just got out of me.

“You made love to me right there, on that same couch. And you say you don’t owe me an explanation.”

“We’re adults, Rose.” He spat. “We made out. Sure. Okay? Shit like that happens all the time. Why are you making a fuss about it?”

I couldn’t believe my ears. You know what? I couldn’t believe anything about this day.

Am I cursed? Is this the universe's way of cursing me? First was the pregnancy. Now this?

“You said you love me.” I choked out.

“And you believed me?” He hissed. “C’mon Rose. We're practically siblings. How in the world were you supposed to end up together?”

Tears welled in my eyes, but I didn’t let it fall, not here, not in front of him. I wouldn’t let him see me cry.

I picked up my bag, walked past them, straight upstairs, straight to my room.

You're an idiot, Rose.

You’re such an idiot.

You let yourself get pregnant for a man who doesn’t give a fuck about you.

The second, I slammed the door shut, the tears streamed down my cheeks, my eyes were red, my hands trembling.

How would I face Mum when the pregnancy begins to show?

How do I sit across those two, eating dinner like some normal family, knowing exactly what had happened that night, knowing that I’m carrying either one of their baby.

I can’t.

I needed to run.

Not just for me, but for my baby.

I wouldn’t let him be born in this madhouse.

I yanked the closet open and started stuffing essentials into my bag, a few clothes, my wallet, and other things.

I opened the window and carefully climbed out.

I had to leave.

Mum would blame herself for my mistakes, I’ll never be at peace knowing I ruined her marriage. I destroyed her only chance of happiness.

No. No. I wouldn’t let that happen.

So, I left.

No goodbye.

No maybes.

I just disappeared.