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Todos os capítulos de MATED TO HER ALPHA STEPBROTHERS: Capítulo 141 - Capítulo 150

159 Capítulos

142

STEPHANI didn’t move at first. Seeing her here, alive and completely unbothered should have sent me spiraling, but instead something inside me just went cold.“What are you doing here?” My voice came out flat, colder than I meant. “Come to see for yourself that I’m still breathing after I stuck a blade in my chest?”Lady Natasha tilted her head, a small frown flickering over her lips before it softened into a smile. “Stop talking like that,” she chided me softly like I was some petulant child, making herself comfortable on one of my couches. “No matter what’s passed between us, you’re still my son. I love you.”I scoffed, shaking my head as I stepped past her, into the kitchen. “Right. Love,” I repeated, a humorless laugh escaping my lips. “That’s what that was back there? Forcing me to beat my mate bloody? Forcing me to kill her?” I dropped my duffel bag onto the counter, grabbed a glass, and poured myself a shot of wine—dark, red, bitter. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t feel very

143

BROOKSThe palace was now a machine. Seamstresses, attendants, and priests moved around me like I was some sacred relic rather than flesh and blood. My body was measured, draped in silks heavy with gold thread, my hair coiled and uncoiled a dozen times until my scalp burned. Each ritual, each whispered vow, each touch of paint across my skin was meant to prepare me for the wedding and the coronation.But nothing could prepare my heart.Every time I caught my reflection in the gilded mirrors, I didn’t see a bride. I saw a girl caught between duty and grief, cloaked in jewels that felt like chains.Heath hovered constantly. His hand always at the small of my back, his shadow following mine through every corridor. His eyes were sharp, always scanning, as though danger might step through the walls at any moment. But more than that… it was his need. His need to keep me near, as if his grip on me could erase the ghost of Zade that still lingered in the corners of my heart.“You don’t h

144

STEPHANThe palace was now a machine. Seamstresses, attendants, and priests moved around me like I was some sacred relic rather than flesh and blood. My body was measured, draped in silks heavy with gold thread, my hair coiled and uncoiled a dozen times until my scalp burned. Each ritual, each whispered vow, each touch of paint across my skin was meant to prepare me for the wedding and the coronation.But nothing could prepare my heart.Every time I caught my reflection in the gilded mirrors, I didn’t see a bride. I saw a girl caught between duty and grief, cloaked in jewels that felt like chains.Heath hovered constantly. His hand always at the small of my back, his shadow following mine through every corridor. His eyes were sharp, always scanning, as though danger might step through the walls at any moment. But more than that… it was his need. His need to keep me near, as if his grip on me could erase the ghost of Zade that still lingered in the corners of my heart.“You don’t

145

ZADEI woke to the sour taste of regret.Venita’s hair spilled across my chest like dark silk, her breath hot and sticky against my skin. The sheets reeked of her perfume, cloying and heavy, still laced with the memory of what we’d done last night.Sex. If you could call it that.Every thrust had been mechanical, each groan forced through clenched teeth. I’d gone through the motions, biting back my revulsion, because I knew what was at stake. Venita needed to believe she owned me; body, mind, and heart. And so, I let her take what she wanted, let her think she had power.It was the worst thing I’d ever done. But sometimes survival demanded filth.A sharp knock at the door jolted the silence. Before I could answer, a servant voice slipped through.“My lord,” he said quickly. “Lady Natasha summons you.”Right on time.I sat up, careful not to wake Venita as I reached for my trousers. But then, Venita stirred as I tugged on a shirt, her lashes fluttering open. Her lips curled into tha

146

BROOKSThe pull had been gnawing at me for days now.Soft, insistent, like a thread tugging at the corner of my soul. No matter how hard I tried to silence it, it was there.Zade. I felt it every time I closed my eyes.Tonight, it was stronger than ever. And then, I found myself in his room, holding a shirt he had left behind. I stood by the window, moonlight spilling over the marble floor, clutching the shirt in my fist and inhaling his scent.It was still very strong, very potent… him.“What are you doing?”Heath’s voice cut through the quiet like a blade. I turned quickly, guilt flashing across my face as I dropped the shirt. “Heath…” But he already saw it. His jaw locked, his fists curling at his sides.“You feel him,” His voice was low, sharp with accusation. “You’re still longing for him.”My chest tightened. “Heath, please—”“Don’t,” he barked, stepping closer. The air between us felt charged, dangerous. “Don’t stand there and lie to me, Brooks. You’ve been drifting for da

147

BROOKSThe silence stretched. I sat on the bed, my hands still trembling slightly in my lap. Heath lingered at the door, broad shoulders tense, his jaw locked as if he were fighting himself. Finally, he moved until he was close enough that I could see the conflict blazing in his eyes. His fists opened and closed uselessly at his sides, as though he wanted to reach for me but wasn’t sure he had the right.“I…” His voice faltered, hoarse, raw. He dragged a hand through his dark hair, and for a moment he seemed younger, stripped of all his arrogance, all his power. “I was cruel. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”“You really hurt me, Heath,” I admitted. “You made me feel like I was wrong for hurting.”He flinched, his shoulders sagging and his breath leaving him in a rough exhale. Slowly, deliberately, he lowered himself until he was kneeling before me, his pride set aside. Our eyes met, and I saw regret, fear, love so tangled it nearly hurt to look at.“I know,” he whispered

148

HEATHThe forest was quiet, too quiet. Even the birds didn’t sing, and the wind through the trees felt heavy, like it carried secrets. My boots sank into the damp earth as I led the men deeper into the northern woods, every muscle in me pulled tight.We had been following a trail since morning, broken branches, faint tracks, the smell of something foreign carried on the air. My chest burned with restlessness and anger I couldn’t let out.“Do you think it’s rogues?” one of the men asked from behind me, his voice uneasy.“Not rogues,” another muttered. “Rogues don’t move this clean. Whoever’s out here knew what they were doing. They wanted to be seen just enough to make us follow.”“Whoever it is, they’re not careless,” I slowed my steps, scanning the trees. “They’re planning something.”The men shifted, muttering among themselves. “Do you think it’s about the Romano house?” One finally asked. “About you… and your brothers?”I stopped and looked back at them. Their faces were tense, e

149

ZADEThe soldier hit the dirt hard, coughing as the air left his lungs. I stood over him, chest rising steady, not even winded. The ring of fighters erupted into cheers and applause, some even pounding their fists against their chests in respect.“Enough,” I said, rolling my shoulders as I stepped back. “That’s it for today.”A few groans of disappointment came from the crowd, but no one argued. They’d seen enough. My body ached from the day’s drills, and I was ready to be done, ready to disappear, gather my thoughts, and keep playing the part until it was time to end this charade.But then a voice, sharp and cold, cut through the noise.“Leaving so soon, little prince?”Ashar Vale stepped into the circle, his eyes locked on me like a predator itching for blood. His smirk carried the weight of a challenge.I exhaled, already annoyed. “Not today, Ashar,” I said to him. “I’ve had enough.”“What’s wrong?” He tilted his head, circling like a wolf. “Scared you’ll lose in front of the me

150

STEPHANThe night was heavy with a kind of silence that made every step sound louder than it should. Heath and I reached the meeting place first. A clearing deep in the woods, far enough from the palace walls to feel cut off, yet open enough that we could see anyone coming. I hated that it had to be like this; secret, dangerous, and in the dark, but there was no other way.I stood with my arms folded, restless. Every crack of a twig had me turning my head. Heath paced beside me like a caged beast, his jaw set tight, his fists already clenched as if he was preparing to fight instead of talk. I knew he wasn’t going to make this easy.Then Zade appeared. He stepped out of the trees and the moment Heath saw him, his whole body went rigid, his eyes narrowing into blades. I could practically feel the tension crackle between them.For me, I forced myself to stay calm. One of us had to be steady, and it sure as hell wasn’t going to be Heath tonight.“What the hell do you want from us th

151

ZADEI made my way to my mother’s study, rehearsing every word in my head and trying not to show any form of emotion that would compromise my plan. When I entered, she was seated behind her desk, speaking with one of her top officials. Her voice was sharp, clipped and commanding as ever, talking about what border to attack next.The moment her eyes lifted and found me, though, her expression softened. She raised a hand, dismissing the man instantly. He bowed and hurried out, leaving us alone.“Mother,” I bowed, mustering a smile that mirrored concern so she could pick on it.“My son,” she said warmly, rising from her chair. “You came. Tell me, what troubles you?”I lowered my gaze, acting as if it pained me to say the words. “It’s Ashar Vale,” I said slowly. “I can’t shake the feeling that he’s… dangerous. That he’s moving against you.”Her brow furrowed, the warmth in her face flickering into cold steel. “Ashar? No,” she scoffed out a laugh. “He’s a proud fool, yes, but he has bee

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