Semua Bab Mated to My Ex's Brother: Bab 21 - Bab 30

The sound of the doorbell felt like it echoed straight into my bones.Jaxon was already moving—fast—but not in a panic. He had that dangerous, controlled energy that made the air feel tight. I followed him to the foyer, my legs stiff like they didn’t belong to me.Through the frosted glass, I could make out the shadow of someone standing tall, rigid, and not going anywhere until the door opened.Jaxon turned to me, his voice low. “Stay behind me. No matter what.”I swallowed hard and nodded, my pulse thudding in my ears. He opened the door.Two men stood there, both in dark suits, both carrying the kind of expressionless professionalism that made them scarier than if they’d been outright hostile.“Mr. Jaxon?” the taller one asked.Jaxon’s jaw ticked. “Yes.”The man’s gaze flicked past him to me. “We have orders from the Alpha Council to escort Ms. Ela

I stared at the dead phone like it might come back to life if I glared hard enough. My fingers twitched, itching to throw it against the wall, but I didn’t. That would only make me look unstable, which was exactly the narrative Cyrus wanted.Jaxon noticed. Of course he did. He was leaning against the counter with his arms folded, watching me with that infuriatingly calm expression that meant he was thinking five moves ahead.“What did he say?” he asked quietly.“That he’s going to share something with them. And that I’ll find it… enlightening.” The words tasted bitter. “He’s not bluffing. He’s got something.”Jaxon’s jaw flexed. “Then we take the air out of it before he gets the chance to spin it.”“How?” My voice cracked. “I’ve already told the truth. All of it. And somehow, I’m still the villain in half the public’s eyes.

Jaxon’s words hung in the air like a storm cloud.Tomorrow morning.Cyrus.In person.It was as if the walls of our apartment suddenly grew closer, pressing in on me until I could barely breathe. My fingers curled into the edge of the counter, grounding myself in the reality of the moment.“You’re serious?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.“Dead serious.” Jaxon’s jaw flexed. “They didn’t even give a reason for the change. Just… moved it up. And they want him there.”I swallowed hard. “Why? Why now? What does he think he’s going to get out of showing up?”Jaxon stepped closer, his hands braced on the counter beside me. “The same thing he’s always wanted. Control. If he’s physically in the room, he thinks he can rattle you. Throw you off your game.”I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Congratul

Jaxon didn’t move for a long second. He just stood there, listening, the air between us tight and heavy.The knock came again, sharper this time, like whoever was out there was done waiting.“Stay here,” he said, his voice low but firm.“Jaxon—”“Stay.” His gaze locked with mine, and there was no room for argument in it. He started toward the door, his footsteps almost soundless on the hardwood.My pulse was a drumbeat in my ears. My first instinct was to follow—of course it was—but some part of me knew that if I crowded him right now, he’d just get more protective, maybe even more reckless. Still, I took two slow steps toward the hallway, hovering just enough to see him approach the door.He didn’t open it right away. He stood at the side, peering through the peephole. His jaw tightened.“Who is it?” I whispered.He didn’t answer. Instead,

The ballroom was a riot of glitter and perfume, the air thick with the hum of voices and the low thrum of live music. I hadn’t even stepped fully inside before I felt a dozen pairs of eyes dart toward me. That was the thing about this crowd—nothing went unnoticed. Not the dress you wore, not the company you kept, and definitely not the way your hand might linger on someone else’s arm.And right now, my arm was linked with Jaxon’s.“You’re sure about this?” he murmured, leaning just close enough for me to catch the clean, cedar-and-something-darker scent of him. It grounded me for half a heartbeat before the butterflies in my stomach went rogue again.“Positive,” I said, even though my pulse was threatening to give me away. “If I’m going to be talked about tonight, I might as well be the one who decides why.”His lips curved, a mix between approval and something more dangerous. “Careful, Elara. You’re starting to sound like me.”I rolled my eyes, bu