All Chapters of FATEBOUND: Mated to my step-brother: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Gianna. “Gia! Gia! Wake up!”The voice echoed in my head, distant but urgent. My eyes flew open, my heart pounding. Rue was leaning over me, shaking my shoulder.“Finally,” she sighed in relief.I blinked, trying to make sense of where I was. My sheets were tangled around my legs, my skin damp with sweat. That dream… Someone had been there with me—a girl. I couldn’t see her face, but her voice… it sounded so familiar.Just a dream, I told myself. Just a stupid dream.“Are you okay?” Rue’s voice snapped me back.“Of course,” I lied, forcing a small smile.“You looked like you were struggling to wake up,” she said, her brows knitting.She wasn’t wrong. My body had felt frozen, like I’d been fighting to open my eyes. Before I could reply, a sharp pain stabbed through my skull. I winced and pressed my palms against my temples.“Ugh, my head hurts so bad.”Rue rolled her eyes. “You were the one who drank uncontrollably.”I groaned. “Don’t remind me.”I hated drinking. Hated the taste, th

Gianna. The next day felt like it was crawling. My body was still buzzing from the strange surge of energy I felt yesterday — the wolf inside me was restless, whispering, pacing. By the time I got to English class, I just wanted quiet.The classroom was cool, the faint hum of the air conditioner mixing with soft chatter. Rue waved at me from the back, but I slipped into a seat by the window, pretending not to notice Ivan was sitting directly opposite me. His sleeves were rolled up, forearms flexed on the desk, pen spinning lazily between his fingers. He looked relaxed — too relaxed — like he didn’t know what his presence did to me.Our professor, Mrs. Leclerc, stood at the front of the class, silver glasses perched on her nose. “All right, everyone. Today, we’ll be discussing The Binding Path. I hope you all read it.”A few groans echoed. I flipped open my notebook, already annoyed. The Binding Path was about a woman who fell in love with a man fated to destroy her. It hit a little

GiannaSunday went by faster than I wanted. One second I was waking up, telling myself I’d be productive, and the next I was wrapped in a blanket, switching between movies and half-heartedly studying. The maids brought food to my room—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—which made me feel slightly guilty. I wasn’t the type to take advantage of people just because they were paid to help… but I also really didn’t feel like leaving my room. So I didn’t.Monday showed up uninvited.Next thing I knew, I was sitting in class, listening to Mr. James rant about how his ex-wife “never appreciated good literature.” Typical.“Hey beautiful,” Cole said as he slid into the empty seat on my right. Rue, on my left, shot me the look—eyebrows raised, that teasing glint in her eyes. I rolled mine.“Hi, Cole.”“Why the down face? Not a fan of Mr. James?” he teased.I gave him the fakest smile I’ve produced in months. “Oh, I’m a huge fan.”He chuckled, and I gave a tiny smile back. Then—our eyes locked.That s

Gianna The morning of the tour came faster than I expected. One minute it was Tuesday, the next I was dragging my small suitcase down the stairs, half-awake, half-nervous, and fully convinced this trip would either reset my brain… or make everything worse.Mum was already waiting in the car when I stepped outside. The trunk popped open automatically, and I tossed my bag inside before sliding into the passenger seat.“Ready?” she asked, smiling like someone who’d had two cups of coffee already.“I guess,” I muttered.She started the engine. The drive to the airport wasn’t very long, but she acted like it was some emotional goodbye-forever moment. Her hand kept brushing my hair away from my face, and eventually she sighed softly.“I hope you actually enjoy this trip, Gia. You need it.”“I’ll try my best,” I said, staring out the window.There was a comfortable silence for a few seconds. Then she said, without warning:“I just wish it wasn’t only a first-year student program. If Ivan co

Gianna The plane smelled like the usual mixture of recycled air and too many perfumes mixed together. People stuffed their bags overhead, some complaining, some already arguing with the attendants like the flight hadn’t even taken off yet. Rue and I were supposed to sit together, but then a small commotion broke out a few rows ahead, and suddenly seats were all being rearranged.“Gianna!” Cassie called, waving as she approached. “Can I sit here? Some man in my row is arguing with everyone and my brain cannot take it.”I blinked. “Uh—sure?”Rue didn’t seem bothered at all. She was already chatting with the girl beside her. Figures. Rue could make friends with a rock.So Cassie slid into the seat beside me, placed her hand luggage under the seat in one smooth motion, and buckled in. I settled into my chair, leaning my head against the cool plastic wall beside the window. I was tired. Like bone-deep tired.The lights dimmed. The captain gave his little speech. The flight attendants smil