Chapter 4

I wonder if the air feels suffocating to anyone else or if it's just me.

I mean, I'm the only one who slept with both my new stepbrothers.

Unzipping my jacket a bit, hoping it will help with the claustrophobic feeling I'm having.

Sipping my coffee as naturally as I can.

“Please, let me introduce you both to my sons, Draven, and Adrian,” William said, smiling warmly as he showed off his sons.

“ I am William’s eldest son, Draven,” Draven introduces himself, cordially, shaking my mom's hand, “ It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh, you're such a gentleman," mom said, smiling up at Draven from beside William, “ It’s wonderful finally meeting you, Draven, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Draven shoots me a quick glance. I subtly ignore him, sipping my coffee.

“You have?” Draven asked, focusing back on my mother.

“Yes, your father always talks about how proud he is of you,” mom said, her gaze flicking over to Adrian, and she realizes her slip, “of both of you.”

I wince, knowing moms are going to overthink what she said. Worrying if she made a bad impression or hurt Adrian’s feelings with her words.

I chanced a glance at Adrian, only to find his ever present smirk still on his face, completely unaffected by moms little slip.

Adrian’s eyes catch mine, his smirk widening like the Cheshire cat.

His eyes roaming over my body as Draven shared a few more polite words with mom.

I glare back at him but that only pleases him more.

Moving my cup so, my hand is facing him, I shoot him the middle finger where the other can’t see.

He chuckles. His laugh interrupted what Draven was saying.

“Sorry brother,” Adrian said, his smirk gone, now a sweet smile that looks so forced on his face I have to smother my laugh in my coffee mug.

“ I just read our new sister's coffee mug and I couldn’t help but chuckle,” Adrian explains, shooting a smile, quaking his brow in silent challenge.

I distract myself by turning my mug, noticing what it says, I feel my cheeks heat up, embarrassed.

“What does your mug say?” William asked, curious, smiling at me.

Before I’m forced to be embarrassed myself further, Adrian cuts in.

“Apologies, I just realized, I haven’t introduced myself yet.”

“ I’m Adrian, the more charming brother,” Adrian introduces himself, kissing moms hand sweetly, “ I didn’t know our new mother and sister would be so bewitching."

“Oh my,” mom said beaming at Adrian, “you need to be careful, you're basically catnip to some girls, with your looks and those piercings too."

Adrian laughs, shooting me a look, practically shining in smug satisfaction.

I can’t believe I'm listening to this. It’s making my earlier embarrassment triple.

Lord kill me now, like seriously.

My mom is warning my one night stand about girls who go weak in the knees over his piercings, so … me.

She's always a sucker for a pretty face and I would have found this amusing if it didn’t feel so personal.

The introductions quickly turn to discussions of school.

Of course I already know Draven’s major in Business Administration at Lupine’s A class. But now I have to deal with Adrian too.

My life is cursed I swear.

What the hell has my life become?

"Wow, that's very impressive," I tune in to hear mom praising them, "Katie you should say something, introduce yourself to your new brothers."

I cringe inside.

Both of my new brothers are quite uniquely familiar with me and various parts of my anatomy. A garden variety introduction feels extremely redundant, especially when it comes to Draven.

I mean we did date for three months.

Besides sleeping together we told each other everything or so I thought.

Draven never once mentioned he had a brother.

Then again he never acted like an elitist prick, until yesterday.

So I guess I never actually knew him.

Now Adrian, on the other hand, only knows things like, just the right spot to hit to make me scream.

Hell until now he didn't even know my name.

I'm not sure if that makes our situation any easier to handle or not.

"Clarissa, works as a tour guild for Luna international tours," William introduces mom to his sons, kissing moms hand, “which is where we met.”

"Katie, is also a student at Lupine," William introduces, smiling at me reassuringly, "Be sure to take good care of her."

I know he was just being sweet and kind, and it helped.

Up until that last bit.

Draven's expression had hardened since we sat down, but he still nodded, acknowledging his dads words.

The cause of his bad mood? No idea. I couldn't care less about it.

I have too much to stress about right now.

Adrian on the other hand glances at me, smiling deliberately, "It would be my pleasure to watch out for my new sister."

I take a swing of my rapidly cooling coffee, ignoring him.

Mom finally finds a nice, reliable, stable man who loves her and can make her happy. Also, I actually like him, which never happens.

But now, because of my flaming garbage pile of a love life and too much alcohol, everything could fall apart.

I don't dare utter a word during the rest of our little meet and greet.

By the time it's over and I am desperate to run out of the house, Draven speaks up.

"I was hoping I could talk to my new sister for a moment," he says right as they were getting ready to leave.

“ Is that alright Miss Stirling?" Draven asked mom politely.

“Sure thing honey," mom replies.

Obviously missing me shaking my head no.

“Please, call me Clarissa,” mom says smiling at Adrian and Draven, “that goes for both of you.” Shooing me off upstairs, Draven right behind me.

I have no idea what Draven wanted to talk about.

But since he was here, it's best I break up with him as planned.

Even if it was kind of unnecessary now.

The walk upstairs was tortuous to say the least.

Between still trying to digest the news I just got and now having to find the courage to break up with Draven I began to feel uneasy.

Once upstairs, we went to my room.

"Now that I'm your step sister,” I start, turning to face him, crossing my arms, "I hope we can just pretend that our little secret relationship never happened..."

“Who did you sleep with last night?" Draven interrupts demandingly, startling me.

How in the hell, did he know I slept with someone.

"I didn't," I lied, determined to not cave under his stormy honey colored eyes.

"Bullshit," he says, pulling roughly at the collar of my jacket.

His move was so abrupt, the force behind it enough to have me sway slightly, my jacket fell open.

His gaze burned my skin where each hickey lay.

Even after the cold shoulder he gave me the other day, why did I feel that his jealousy was fully justified?

My neck, the tops of my breast, my stomach, and one peaking out on my hip.

In an instant he was angrily forcing me back into a corner, pressing his hands on the walls beside my head.

I was trapped.

"Why did you just lie, Draven demanded, crowding me, "Who was it?"

I couldn't breathe, we were too close.

I pushed against Draven's chest but he wouldn't budge, he was too strong. A familiar voice cuts in.

We both turn, finding Adrian leaning against the wall nearby.

Smirking wickedly he stares at Draven, beyond amused.

"Looking for me?"