002| The New Stepbrother

MENA

Behind me, the door banged open. Two maids walked in carrying my things from the car and placing them on the bed, and Mom was right behind them.

"Mena!" she hissed. "Jude is here. Come downstairs quickly!"

I didn't tell her that her husband asked me to stay here and wait for him. Instead, I followed her to the staircase, where Jude and his father were downstairs. They seemed to be having a tense conversation of some kind, but they fell silent once we approached.

"Jude," my mother said in that low, fake sweet voice of hers, "this is my daughter, Mena. She's so excited to meet you! She asked me a million and one questions about you on our drive here!"

Jude slides his sunglasses from the bridge of his nose to the top of his head. His hair was thick, dark brown, and wavy. His eyes were blue, too, but they were an even frostier shade than his father's. From a distance, they would look white.

His voice was deep and velvety with a hint of humor as he asked, "Is that so?"

I blushed and wished I could say it wasn't true. Even Alpha Marcus looked uncomfortable at what she said. He quickly changed the subject so I didn't have to respond. "Jude is enrolled in the same university as you, Mena. Jude, Mena is studying medicine."

"She's really smart," Mom claimed, digging her nails into my arms. "And she'll help you with anything you need. All you have to do is ask and she'll do it."

Alpha Marcus looked down at my mother in surprise. "Of course, not. Mena will only do what she wants, and if Jude asks nicely."

"I'm only saying—"

"Are you done?" Jude cut in rudely, glaring at both of them. "Because I have more important shit to do than stand here listening to this boring fuckass conversation."

I was shocked by his reaction, but Mom and Alpha Marcus just looked mildly annoyed. He walked past us and headed somewhere I couldn't see, and he returned half a minute later with a carton of milk in his hand before heading upstairs, not looking at any of us again.

Mom glared at me. What, did she think this was my fault?

"Don’t mind Jude, Mena," his father said apologetically. "He's just...not used to company. Tell me, why medicine?"

"Uhm...I guess I want to help people. Heal them."

He smiled. "That's gallant. I'm sure you'll make us all really proud."

"Thanks."

Alpha Marcus told me that we'd have our first family dinner soon, and that I could spend some time freshening up in the room or exploring the house. Whatever I wanted. I headed upstairs, deciding that I needed some time alone, and I closed the door behind me before taking a deep breath.

I turned around and gasped.

Jude was in my room.

Going through my stuff.

He turned to look at me with a devilish look in his eyes as he held one of my granny panties in his finger. It was the one I used when I was on my period. "This is an interesting choice of undergarments, little stepsis. Tell me...are you as boring as everything in this bag?"

I stormed toward him and snatched my panties from his hand. I was fuming at this point. "What the hell do you think you're doing!?"

"A few ground rules," he began, ignoring me. "Since we'll be sharing the same bathroom, I should let you know that I take my morning wank in there. Walk in at your own risk."

I was sure I made a disgusted face because he tilted his head to the side and watched me with his eerily blue eyes that seemed to look right through me. His lips were a deep shade of pink, and they were full and shapely. He said, "Or maybe you'll want to. Who knows?"

"Ugh, that's disgusting!” I spat in a low voice. I just couldn't believe my ears.

Jude looked almost disappointed. "A prude for a stepsister. How...stimulating. Look, I know by now that my father has tried to put some bullshit into your mind about being a good influence on me, and bringing out my tender, caring side, but trust me, that won't happen. Stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours. Got it?"

He started heading toward the bathroom, where I was sure he'd head to his room next. I should've kept my mouth shut and remembered Mom's warning, but I blurted, "Sure. That's no trouble at all. As long as you stay out of my things!"

Jude turned his head to look at me, and I saw that he looked genuinely surprised by my outburst. "Well, look at that. The little kitty has teeth after all. This is my house, kitten. I touch whatever I want. I don't know what it was like wherever the hell you came from, but here, everything is done my way."

I stepped toward him. "You don't know anything about me or where I'm from."

Jude narrowed his eyes at me and closed the distance between us again. His scent invaded my nostrils and turned my stomach. It was a mix of musk, smoke, and something minty. I didn't like it one bit. "Don't I? Well, I can tell you a thing or two about the kind of woman who'd own panties like that."

A scoff escaped me. "Oh, really? Let's hear it then."

His nose nearly brushed against mine, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of backing away and showing him I was intimidated. Dad always taught me to stand my ground, no matter who I was talking to.

"She's the kind of woman who doesn't know how to have any fun. A prude. Someone so cold and stiff when you fuck her that your dick goes limp from pure dissatisfaction. I bet you're a virgin, little stepsis. You are, aren't you? I can tell by how you walk. You haven't been cracked yet. Hm? Tell me the truth. That cherry hasn't been popped yet, has it?"

My eyes were wide open as I stared at him in disbelief. Satisfied with my reaction, he finally turned around and walked toward the bathroom before disappearing.

I sat on the edge of my bed, holding my panties in my hands. I didn't know how much time passed; what I did know was that he was the rudest person I'd ever met in all my life, and I couldn't begin to imagine the torment my life would become, sleeping in a room right next to someone so perverted.

I stood up suddenly to close the door. I didn't want him in here again. I saw him, though, and halted. He was standing on the other side of the bathroom, in his room. He'd changed into a black shirt with the first few buttons undone, exposing his tattooed chest.

He smirked at me. "What are you closing the door for? Think I'll go in there and rape you? Don't worry. I wouldn't bother. You're just not my type, kitten."

Angrily, I asked him, "So, if I were your type, you'd rape me?"

He shrugged. Gee, he really thought this was one big joke. "I guess we'll never know, will we?"

I shut the door and heard him chuckle. My mind was still spinning from the shocking interaction. Five minutes later, my main door opened and Mom walked in. "Dinner's ready. Call Jude and come downstairs."

I wanted to scoff right in her face. Like hell I would. I wouldn't go anywhere near that guy ever again.

In fact, I was already thinking about going home.

I left my room at the same time he did. He cut me a look, smirked like he found my presence funny, and then headed toward the stairs. I waited for a few beats before heading downstairs, too. It didn't take me long to find the dining room, but only Mom and Alpha Marcus were seated at the table.

He looked at me apologetically and said, "Jude left. He has...things to do."

We all heard the screeching of his tires as I sat down to eat. To me, this was the best news in the world.

I didn't want to be anywhere near him.

Goddess, I'd never met a worse person than Jude Trevelyan in all my life.