Lahat ng Kabanata ng My brother-in-law is my mate: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

Alex I leaned back against the wall, watching Alexis walk away. Her words replayed in my head, like a broken record, hours after she'd left. She called me a murderer. The woman who was supposed to be my mate, my other half, stood by the man who was everything she should fear. Rage simmered beneath my skin, but beneath that, I pitied her. If she only knew the monster, she slept beside. Byron wasn’t just a bastard—he was dangerous, capable of horrors she couldn’t even imagine. If she knew, she'd run so fast that her shoes would wear out before she stopped. Yet, she played the doting wife and acted like her life was perfectly normal.It was pathetic. Alexis was blind, letting Byron pull her strings like a puppet.One day, she would see what Byron was—dangerous, vile, and manipulative. And when that day came, she'd realize how wrong she was. She'd run, and she'd need me. She'd have no choice but to rely on me. By hook or by crook, I’d pull her from Byron’s clutches. Byron was a tick

Alexis Despite the evening chill in the garden, my body betrayed the cold. Beads of sweat clung to my forehead, gathering faster than I could wipe them away. My shimmery gown stuck uncomfortably to my body as I shifted from foot to foot. Sweat trickled down my temples, sliding along the curve of my jaw. I pressed my lips into a thin line, trying to make sense of the twisted thoughts swirling in my head. From across the room, I watched McKenzie laugh and act all buddy-buddy with Alex, as if they'd known each other for years. It grated on my nerves. What the hell did my sister see in him? Couldn't she at least believe me, her own blood?The party’s lively chatter buzzed around me, but all I could focus on was kicking McKenzie out. I wiped my brow again, only for more sweat to take its place.Money—what a disgusting motivator. Some females would do anything to get close to it. They would sell their souls for a designer bag or a pair of shoes with a red sole, stack their closet with Bi

Alexis I drove for about fifteen minutes before reaching the border. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and I kept swiping the wipers to clear the blurry windshield, desperate to see better. The border was a fortress of thick brick walls stretching endlessly in either direction. The walls stood at least twenty feet high. There was no way to see outside the border unless you stood on higher ground, perched on one of the distant hills. Even though members of the pack had free entry and exit, my nerves buzzed with fear. I glanced in the rearview mirror, adjusting the black wig I had found in the car. It was an old one, probably from when McKenzie used to cosplay. She’d always been obsessed with anime. The wig, a black bun with bangs, barely fit over my head, but I added a scarf for good measure. The guards wouldn’t recognize me, not with this disguise. Even if they knew Byron’s wife, they wouldn’t recognize this version of her. One guard stopped my car and leaned in, flashing his lig

Alexis "Mommy, are you going to tell me what happened last night? How did I get out of my bed? I can't remember that." Valen's voice cut through my thoughts, his innocent curiosity turning into a relentless list of questions.How could I possibly explain to my little boy that I had tried to run away with him, to take him far from his father? How could I make him understand the craziness of my decision, that it wasn’t because I didn’t love him, but because I couldn’t bear Byron’s control any longer? He wouldn’t get it.Not yet.I had planned to tell him once we escaped—once we were free—but with Byron’s iron grip back in place, his fake attempts at playing the good husband had crumbled, and now I had no choice but to stay. "We were going to see someone," I said, forcing a smile. "But bad guys showed up, and Uncle Alex saved us." As the words left my mouth, images of Alex flooded my mind. His presence had come like a lifeline, right when I needed it most. Things would’ve taken a dark

AlexMcKenzie was as happy as a lark when I took her to the studio, tucked away in a renovated industrial block in the Central District. After confirming our tickets, we headed toward the lobby, which had an art deco vibe with modern lighting and sleek fixtures. A narrow hallway led us to our booth, where we could already hear the shuffling of feet and soft laughter echoing."Oh my god, this is weird," McKenzie said, her eyes wide. "Beautifully weird."I nodded in agreement. We made our way to our section of the studio, and I handed her a mocktail. She wore a glittering crop top, neon leggings, and flashy red lipstick, practically glowing in the dark with the energy of the place."This feels different," she said, swaying from side to side while the staff set up our headsets.A couple joined us in the booth, and despite how distracted I was, I found myself having fun. We vibed to everything, from hard-hitting techno beats to soft pop and even a ballad or two. Every so often, Mckenzie