Chapter 2 Ella, What are You Doing in My Room?

Ella’s POV

I grabbed Mom's arm and pulled. Hard. "Mom. We need to talk."

"Ella, what.." She didn't get to finish. I was already dragging her toward my room, my heart beating so hard in my chest.

I shut the door and turned to face her. "Are you seriously getting married right now? Like... tonight?"

Her eyes crinkled as she smiled, that warm smile she always gave me whenever I had nightmares and crawled into her bed. “Yes, Matthias is a good male, darling. He cares for me very much, and I know you’ll love him too.” She reached out, touching my face warmly. “And think about it, his sons are around your age. You’ll finally have friends..”

I scoffed. Friends huh? What would she say if I told her that I just kissed that “one of friends” and that he was also my mate?

"Mom. Why? You never... you didn't even look at anyone after Dad."

She reached for me and pulled me into a hug, one hand in my hair. "I know baby, I know but we need protection now more than ever. Especially since you don't have a…” She didn't finish, but she didn't need to.

I knew what she meant. In this world, being alone meant being weak. Being weak meant being prey.

I was going to get strong enough that neither of us would need anything from anyone.

"I can protect us," I said into her shoulder.

"I know you can." She held me tighter. "But let me do this, okay? We're moving into his house tonight."

Tonight? I can’t blame my mom, or hold it against her for wanting a good life for me. She looked happy for the first time in forever. For her sake I was willing to try.

I quickly packed and drank a portion of scent suppressant for warriors. 

To be seen as his stepsister I need this. 

My stomach was already in knots thinking about it, about him. About that kiss in the garden that I couldn't stop thinking about. The way he'd looked at me with so much desire.

Except he didn't know. Not really. Not yet.

I could do this.

***********

The Alpha’s house rose in front of us like something out of a different world, wide stone steps, tall windows, and soft golden light spilling from the open doorway.

It was beautiful, too beautiful, the kind of place that made people like me feel small the moment we stepped inside.

It's a far cry from the cramped rented apartment mom and I had to manage. But I swore, this place could never give me the sense of security I was looking for.

My mother walked ahead of me; her hand linked with Matthias’.

She looked happier than I had seen her in years.

The entrance hall was large and quiet. Dark wood floors, high ceilings, the faint scent of polished furniture and something deeper, something that made the bond in my chest tighten the moment I stepped inside. His scent lingered everywhere.

Matthias smiled kindly at me. “Welcome, Ella. Your room is upstairs, second door on the left.”

My mother squeezed my hand. “Go on, Ella. I’ll be up in a minute. Unpack a little and rest. It’s been a long day.”

I nodded and started up the stairs alone.

The hallway on the second floor was dimly lit. I counted the doors the way Matthias had said.

Second on the left.

My hand closed around the handle and I pushed it open and stepped inside.

The room was dark and heavy curtains blocked most of the moonlight.

The air was thick, warm, and heavy with a scent that made my stomach flip.

Desire, heat and masculine that wrapped around me the second I crossed the threshold.

I took one more step forward and suddenly brushed against warm skin.

A solid, muscular feeling overwhelmed me and before I could react, strong hands grabbed my waist and pulled me forward.I stumbled into a hard chest, an arm locked around me, holding me tightly against a body that felt terrifyingly familiar.

Then his mouth was on my neck.

I froze.

“That meeting drove me crazy,” he murmured against my skin, voice rough and low.

“I’ve been wound up all night. I just need to blow off some steam. Let’s do it like we always do, Stella.”

It was Alpha Kane.

He thought I was someone else.

His lips moved along the side of my neck, while one hand slid up my back.

Something roared to life so violently that my knees almost gave out.

Heat flooded my body and every place he touched burned.

I tried to pull away, but he held me tighter, one hand coming up to cover my mouth gently.

“Shh. Don’t talk,” he whispered. “Just let me…”

His fingers found the clasp of my bra through the thin fabric of my dress as he started to unfasten it.

Panic and something far more dangerous tangled inside me.

This was my mate, the same male who had kissed me in the garden.

The same male who had no idea who I was and right now he was touching me like he had every right to, because he thought I was the female he usually did this with.

“You seem a little different today,” he murmured against my throat, almost thoughtful. His nose brushed my skin as he inhaled. A low, rough sound rumbled in his chest. “Sweeter… Strawberry lipstick...”

Oh God. What if he remembers? I was wearing the same lipstick in the garden!

The bathroom door opened and light flooded the room. Stella—I realized she was the female he had just mentioned—stood there, wearing nothing but one of his shirts.

Her hair was messy and her lips were swollen. There were clear red marks on her neck and collarbone, fresh marks.

She stared at us and Alpha Kane went completely still. For a long second, no one moved.

Then he released me so quickly I almost stumbled. His face was unreadable, but his eyes had gone cold and sharp.

He looked at me like he was seeing me clearly for the first time and hated what he saw.

“Ella,” he said, voice flat and controlled. “What are you doing in my room?”

I couldn’t speak and my eyes were locked on the marks covering Stella’s skin.

My mate had just slept with her. Did he touch her the same way he had touched me in the Garden? And he had kissed her, he had left those marks on her body...

For a split second, I wanted to storm out of the room. Then reality hit me. What right did I have to? He was my stepbrother, wasn’t he?