Crave Me, Alpha Daddy

STELLA

I shivered like a drowned cat on that stupid curb with rain slamming down so hard it felt personal. New York weather flipped on a dime the moment my plane wheels hit the ground- cold and mean. 

My jacket was useless and soaked through, clinging to every inch of me. I was not supposed to be standing with my suitcase wheels stuck in a puddle. 

That fucking asshole.

Mom swore he’d be waiting. Of course not. 

My Fucking Stepbrother, Kane Blackwood had been a thorn twisting in my side since I was a kid. I’d lived my entire life in Paris with Dad after his divorce with mom and well, Mom wasn’t stable, and had no real setup so eventually, Dad took me in without hesitation, and I loved him for it. 

He was my everything- patient, present and pouring all his time into me when she couldn’t. He never even remarried. Just us. Maybe his steady love is why I drifted so far from her.

After the split, she remarried, settled in New York with her new husband and his son. Everyone moved on and even I didn’t reach out much. One big reason? Her stepson, Kane Blackthorn. That ugly dog. 

During one of Mom’s attempts to reconnect, she left us alone in my room. He smashed my most cherished doll collection- cracked their tiny porcelain faces and ripped their dresses. 

I attacked him and scratched his arms, drawing blood. We’d hated each other since, even with oceans between us.

Dad passed away three years ago. It wrecked me hard. Grief swallowed everything. Mom tried nonstop to pull me here- calls, letters, visits. I finally caved. Now, drenched and freezing, second thoughts crashed over me like the rain. Why did I come?

I cursed Kane under my breath, pacing the curb. “Useless prick. Can’t even do this one thing.”

Suddenly, headlights sliced through the sheets of rain and a sleek car stopped sharp. Immediately the door swung open and I had already readied a string of curses- until the guy stepped out. Brown hair, not black. No arrogance pouring off him like cheap cologne. 

He looked sorry, actually. “I am so sorry for getting late, Stella,” he said, voice cutting through the downpour. I frowned with water streaming down my face. “How do you know my name?”

He took my suitcase and duffel without waiting, and opened the passenger door. “Ethan. Kane’s best friend and beta.” I climbed in, too cold to argue. He settled in the driver’s seat and cranked the heat high, watching me shake.

“Traffic was brutal,” he added. “Apologies again.”

I sighed, rubbing my arms as warmth slowly seeped in. Feeling bad he kept owning the delay. “It’s fine. Not your fault.” Conversation stayed light after that- him muttering about the rain, me nodding along. 

Ethan revealed that Kane gave him the wrong time on purpose. My fists clenched as revenge ideas started forming already while I stayed quiet for the rest of the drive.

The mansion rose up soon, huge and glowing. I stepped out with my stiff legs and there they were. Mom, my Stepfather- Richard. And him. Kane. Smirk plastered on his face the second our eyes met and my blood heated despite the chill.

Mom gasped. “Stella! Honey, you’re completely drenched. What happened to you?” Ethan dipped his head respectfully to Richard. “Got stuck in traffic, sir. Sorry for the holdup.”

Richard’s look sharpened, clearly probing if that was the full story. Mom wrapped me in an emotional hug, her arms tight like she feared I’d vanish. It felt awkward as hell. We weren’t close. Years of distance sat heavy between us. “I’ve waited so long for this,” she whispered.

Richard smiled, warm but steady, and gave me a side hug. “Welcome, Stella. This is home now. Let’s get you inside quickly so you don’t catch a cold.”

They guided me in and mom dashed off. “I’ll get a towel for you! Stay right there.”

The foyer was warm, fancy, but my eyes kept sliding to Kane. He was leaning against the wall and watched me, intense, unblinking. I rolled my eyes and looked away, trying to ignore him completely.

“Kane,” Richard said, tone loaded with warning like- be polite, don’t pull any asshole moves. “Did you greet Stella?”

Kane snarled low, stepping close with hands shoved in his pockets. I tilted my chin up, meeting that stare full force. He thought his tall, huge figure could intimidate me but fuck off- I was not scared. 

He slowly bent forward and leaned his face close to stay inches away from me. I could feel his hot breath fanning me but I refused to back away. 

“Welcome to hell,” he said, voice rough and low.

I smirked because…. Indeed I was in hell. But this hell wasn't gonna burn me but… someone else and I was going to make sure of that.