CHAPTER FOUR

Chloe POV 

The silence stretched longer than it should have.

Asher stood off to the side, dressed in a white vest and worn jean shorts, the fabric smudged with oil and dust. Beside him, Kai and Jace were shirtless, their skin sheened with sweat that traced slow lines from their necks down to their chests.

I swallowed.

My heartbeat picked up, sharp and uneven. It wasn’t my fault—they were all staring. Not just looking. Staring.

The same way they had been since I arrived.

A cold breeze slipped through the space, lifting strands of my hair and carrying with it the dry, earthy scent of leaves and roots.

Asher looked amused, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips, like he was watching something unfold exactly the way he expected. Kai, on the other hand, didn’t smile at all. His gaze moved over me carefully, measured, as if assessing something I couldn’t see.

And then there was Jace.

His stare didn’t linger—it cut.

I tightened my grip on the box in my hands.

“Hiii,” I said, dragging the word out just enough to break the tension.

No one responded.

The sound of metal hitting the ground shattered the quiet as Jace dropped the screw at his side. The clang rang out, sharp and final.

“My…”

“What are you doing here?”

His voice cut straight through mine, loud and controlled, leaving no space for me to finish.

He stepped closer.

“Well…well, no rooms were available,” I said, hating the way my voice stumbled.

“And they sent you here,” he muttered, his tone rough with disbelief, “and you came?”

“Well, what was I supposed to—”

“Get out.”

The words landed hard.

I let out a short, disbelieving scoff. “What?”

“Asher,” he called sharply, his attention still fixed on me. “She’s not staying here.”

Asher pressed a hand to his forehead, exhaling as he shook his head. “Jace…”

“It’s late,” Kai added quietly, his voice low, calm in a way that didn’t quite feel calm.

“I don’t care,” Jace snapped. “She can leave the same way she walked in.”

He turned slightly, addressing them both now. “She’s human. She shouldn’t be here. You know that.”

‘Human.’ The word landed awkwardly, like they weren't. I frowned, irritation flaring. What was that supposed to mean?

His gaze returned to me, cold and final. “She leaves. Now.”

My fingers curled into fists. Yeah, no.

“Well,” I said, lifting my chin slightly, “she is standing right here and she’s tired.”

That got his attention.

He closed the distance between us in a few strides, stopping just short.

“I missed the part where you think you had a choice,” he muttered.

“And I wasn’t in the part where you think I don’t,” I shot back.

His brows lifted slightly, something sharp flickering in his eyes.

“I’m tired,” I continued, my voice steady now. “My feet hurt, it’s freezing outside, and I’m not going anywhere that isn’t a bedroom.”

Jace leaned in slightly, his fists clenching at his sides. I heard the faint crack of his knuckles.

There was anger in his eyes, but it didn’t feel like it was meant for me.

It felt… contained. Barely.

Like something underneath was pushing it to the surface.

This wasn’t the Jace I remembered.

“You’re leaving,” he said, his voice quieter now.

“I’m not,” I replied.

The words left my mouth before I could think twice.

“Enough.”

Asher stepped between us, one hand raised slightly, though the faint smile still lingered on his face. His eyes flicked toward me, amusement mixed with something sharper—interest, maybe.

“Relax,” he said lightly. “If you’re going to throw her out, at least wait until morning.”

Jace opened his mouth to argue, but Kai reached out, gripping his arm.

“It’s late,” he repeated, more firmly this time. There was something in his tone—something heavy, that made the air feel tighter.

Jace held his gaze for a moment, tension coiling in his shoulders.Then he shook his head.

A low, rough sound slipped from him… a growl.

“Whatever.”

His eyes met mine one last time, something unreadable flickering in them, before he turned and walked off.

I exhaled slowly.

What the hell is his problem?

“Alright,” Asher said, rubbing his palms together.

“Not the best welcome but, I can make it up to you with a bedroom.” 

I sighed, rubbing my two fingers on my temple.

“Thank you.” 

He took hold of my box, “you're welcome.” He whispered into my ear.

He led me upstairs, I followed closely, Kai walked slowly behind my back. My eyes crossed another painting on the wall. A wolf and an angel wing, same as the one at the Mansion. They're definitely obsessed.

Asher stopped at a door, he slowly opened and gestured for me to enter.

“Welcome to your temporary prison,” Asher said, a low chuckle slipping into his voice as he pushed the door open.

I stepped past him, my eyes immediately moving across the room, taking everything in before I could stop myself.

The scent of lavender hung faintly in the air—clean, calm, almost too deliberate. It softened the space in a way I hadn’t expected, settling against the edges of the neatly arranged furniture, the untouched bed, the curtains that swayed slightly from the open window.

Prison, he said.

I turned slowly, raising a brow at him. “If this is your idea of a prison, I think you’ve been treated a little too well.”

Asher leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossing loosely over his chest. “You’d be surprised. Some of us are suffering in silence.”

I let out a quiet laugh despite myself, setting my box down on the edge of the bed. “Yeah? You look devastated.”

“Completely,” he replied, placing a hand over his chest in mock offense. “It’s the emotional damage for me.”

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips before I could stop it. It felt… easy. Too easy.

“That explains the dramatic entrance earlier,” I added.

“Ouch,” he winced lightly. “I thought I handled that pretty well.”

“Mm,” I hummed, glancing back around the room, running my fingers lightly over the desk. “If that was you handling it well, I’d hate to see the alternative.”

He laughed at that—an actual laugh this time, not the quiet, controlled one from before. It caught me off guard just enough to make me glance back at him.

For a second, the tension from outside didn’t feel so heavy.

“You’re sharper than I remember,” he said, tilting his head slightly, studying me now instead of just watching.

The words landed softer than they should have.

I stilled for a moment, then shrugged, keeping my tone light. “Maybe you just weren’t paying attention back then.”

“Trust me,” he said, his gaze lingering a second longer than necessary, “I was.”

Something in the way he said it made my chest tighten, just slightly.

I looked away first.

The shift in the air didn’t go unnoticed.

A quiet movement by the door pulled my attention. Kai stood there, silent as ever, his gaze flicking between us. His expression didn’t change, but there was something in his eyes—something sharper now.

A warning. Not loud, not obvious.

But there, Asher seemed to catch it too.

His smile didn’t disappear, but it changed—just a fraction. Softer, more controlled.

“Anyway,” he said, pushing himself off the doorframe, tone turning lighter again, “try not to get too comfortable. Wouldn’t want you enjoying your ‘prison’ too much.”

I huffed quietly, folding my arms. “Don’t worry. I’m not planning on decorating.”

“Shame,” he replied. “I think you’d improve the place.”

I rolled my eyes, but the corner of my lips lifted again.

“Goodnight, Chlo.”

My name sounded different coming from him.

I glanced back at him.

“Except you want me to sleep next to you… you might get scared.” He teased me.

I shook my head, “Out.” 

I replied to him in a playful tone, his chuckled as I pushed him away. Idiot.

Kai lingered for half a second longer. His gaze met mine—steady, unreadable.

Then he followed.

“Kai.” I called back his attention.

“Thank you.” I added, He nodded.

“No problem Chloe.” He looked around the room, one last check.

“Lock the door too.” 

His voice– not commanding but close enough, I nodded and the door clicked shut behind them.

The room fell quiet again.

But not the same kind of quiet as before.

I sunk into the bed, drowning myself in my thoughts.

Three very attractive problems and one of them is my step brother, who I think dislikes me… What am I supposed to do?