INICIAR SESIÓNDamon stepped out of the car as soon as the driver brought it to a stop. A bright smile spread across his face, and he couldn't seem to wipe it away. His thoughts were completely occupied by Elara, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get her out of his head.He couldn't wait to make her his.He had actually been planning to ask her to be his girlfriend tonight, but his father's call had stopped him from doing so. He had been disappointed, of course, but he wasn't going to let that discourage him. He wasn't in a hurry. He would ask her eventually, and he firmly believed she would accept his proposal.Just the thought of having Elara as his girlfriend was enough to make his heart flutter.There was something about that girl that he couldn't quite explain. Something that kept drawing him towards her, something that made it almost impossible for him to take his mind off her. He had felt it from the very first day he saw her at the park.He still remembered that day so clearly.H
The moment Elara walked inside the house, she spotted Kael standing by the staircase. He was staring directly at her, his expression cold and frightening. His eyes followed her every movement, and there was something about his gaze that made her uncomfortable.Elara stopped for a moment, wondering what he was doing there. She had hoped to go straight to her room without running into him, but apparently, that was too much to ask. She let out a quiet sigh before walking towards the staircase.“Excuse me,” she said, her eyes fixed on his cold face.Kael didn't move.He remained standing in her way, his angry gaze fixed on her as though he was about to tear her apart at any moment. Elara waited for a few seconds, expecting him to move, but when he didn't, she decided she wasn't going to stand there all night.She moved closer, intending to push past him.But before she could take another step, Kael grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. In the next second, her back hit the wall, and
After all the orders had been placed, Derek stood up and walked over to the karaoke machine. He switched it on, and the large screen lit up, displaying a list of songs. Mia immediately grabbed the iPad and began scrolling through the available songs, already excited about choosing what she wanted to sing.Derek, on the other hand, didn't waste any time. He had already selected a couple of heavy metal songs, and the moment the music started playing, he grabbed the microphone and began singing.Or at least, he thought he was singing.His voice was so terrible that it sounded as though a frog was croaking into the microphone. He sang with so much confidence, completely unaware of how awful he sounded. Everyone around the table struggled to contain their laughter. Elara covered her mouth with one hand, while Maya buried her face in her friend's shoulder, shaking with laughter.Damon also lowered his head, trying not to laugh too loudly.Derek continued singing, completely enjoying himsel
By seven o’clock, Elara was already dressed in black baggy trousers and a matching top. She brushed her hair neatly, tied it back, and fastened the necklace Damon had given her. She glanced at herself in the mirror one last time, adjusting the chain around her neck. A small smile tugged at her lips as she remembered the moment he had placed it there.She slipped her phone into her pocket and left the house. Damon had already texted that he was waiting downstairs.She couldn’t wait to see him.The moment she stepped outside, though, her excitement dimmed. Damon stood near his car, locked in an argument with Kael.“I told you to stay away from my house!” Kael yelled, his voice carrying across the compound.“I’m not here for you,” Damon replied evenly, though irritation already edged his tone. “I’m here for Elara.”“And that’s exactly why you need to stay away from her. I don’t want you anywhere near her!”Elara frowned as she approached. Why was Kael making such a scene over a simple pi
**Kael Pov**Something warm and solid was pressing down on my chest. I tried to shift my arm and felt the weight still there. My eyes opened slowly; the room was a blur of morning light and leftover shadows. I rubbed my face, forced myself upright a few inches—and froze.Elara was draped across me, head tucked against my bare chest, one arm locked tight around my waist like she had claimed the space in her sleep. Her eyes were closed, lips slightly parted, breathing even. For a second I thought I was still fever-dreaming. Then the solid heat of her body and the faint scent of her shampoo made it clear this was real.I stared at the ceiling, trying to rewind the night. I remembered the crushing headache, walking into the house, the floor tilting, then nothing. So how the hell had I ended up on the couch with my stepsister using me as a mattress?Was she trying to seduce me? The thought made my jaw tighten. She had some explaining to do the second she woke up.I looked down. Her hand wa
**Elara Pov**I got back home late—almost nine. Instead of coming straight from the arena, I had gone to the park and sat there until the sky went dark, still replaying the way Kael had looked at me in the hallway and told me he didn’t want to see my face. My mother had called while I was walking; she thanked me for going to the game and then, in that soft, hopeful voice she always used when she talked about the two of us, asked me to try harder to get along with him. I didn’t know how to explain that the person she wanted me to get along with treated every word I said like an insult.Frustration sat heavy behind my eyes. I rubbed my forehead and tipped my head against the back of the seat, the lack of sleep from the past few nights pressing down on me. Kael’s music and the girls he brought downstairs had stolen every quiet hour I used to have.“Miss Elara.”The driver’s voice pulled me back. He already had the door open. I forced a small smile, thanked him, and stepped out. Kael’s ca







