All Chapters of FATEBOUND: Mated to my step-brother: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Gianna. Morning didn’t rush me awake. It crept in slowly, settling into my bones like it wasn’t sure I was ready to face the day.I stared at the ceiling for a long moment before sitting up, waiting for the familiar wave of dizziness or nausea to hit. It didn’t. My body felt weak, yes—but steadier than yesterday. Still, my wolf felt… alert. Like it was pacing quietly beneath my skin, watching.I showered, dressed, and headed downstairs, my steps hesitant, as though I’d walk straight into something I wasn’t prepared for.The dining room smelled warm—toast, coffee, something buttery. Normal. Too normal.Mum sat scrolling through her tablet, Marcus was already seated, posture straight, composed as ever.And Ivan stood by the counter.Arms crossed. Jaw tight. Staring into his mug like it had personally betrayed him.My steps slowed.He looked up.Our eyes met, and for a split second, something unspoken passed between us—relief, tension, restraint. His gaze lingered, scanning my face lik

Gianna. I opened my eyes before my alarm went off, staring at the ceiling like it might give me answers if I stared long enough. My body felt… fine. Too fine. The kind of fine that lied. My muscles were loose, relaxed in a way they hadn’t been in days, and that annoyed me more than the headache I half expected but didn’t have.Water still lingered on my skin—not literally, but the memory of it. Cool against my legs. The way it had wrapped around me when I panicked. The way strong hands had steadied me without squeezing, without demanding.Don’t think about that.I sat up, swung my legs over the bed, and rubbed my palms together. They felt normal. No tremor. No claws threatening to surface. My wolf was quiet this morning—watchful, but calm. That alone should’ve been a win.I showered quickly, scrubbing harder than necessary, like I could rinse thoughts down the drain if I tried hard enough. I tied my hair tighter than usual, dressed neatly, and deliberately. Control. I needed control.

Gianna.He flicks the cigarette over the edge of the rooftop like it means nothing.It spins once before disappearing into the dark below.His eyes never leave the guy who’d been holding it.Ivan’s posture is loose, almost lazy, hands relaxed at his sides—but there’s something coiled beneath it. Something restrained. Something dangerous.The smoker scoffs, trying to save face. “What’s your—”Ivan steps forward.That’s it.The guy mutters under his breath and backs away, swallowed by the crowd like he was never brave enough to begin with.Silence stretches.Half a second.Long enough for me to realize my heart is pounding too hard, too fast.Ivan turns to me.He doesn’t search my face. Doesn’t demand anything.He just asks.“Are you okay?” he asks quietly.I hate that the first thing I feel is relief.I hate that the second is anger.“I was fine,” I say, too quickly.Ivan doesn’t argue. His gaze flicks briefly to Cole—an acknowledgment, not a challenge—then back to me.“Didn’t say you

Gianna.By the time I stepped onto campus, the sun was already warm enough to stick to my skin. The usual buzz of people, chatter, and car engines filled the air. I needed this — the noise, the normal. Something to pull me out of the chaos still looping in my head.Cole spotted me before I could pretend not to see him. Don't get me wrong,it's not like I don't like talking to him, I just didn't feel like I needed a conversation right now.“Hey, Gia!” he called, jogging up to me with that easy grin that made it impossible not to smile back.“Hey,” I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.“You’re early. I didn’t think you were the ‘8 a.m. lecture’ type.”I gave him a mock glare. “I can be responsible when I want to.” funny thing was I didn't even have an 8a.m class, I just really needed to get out of the house. “So basically never.” he joked,“Exactly.” and I played along.We walked side by side, weaving through the crowd of students. It felt… easy with Cole. He didn’t ask compli

Gianna.I told Cassie to come out early.Not just early—too early. The kind of early where the campus still felt half-asleep, where the air was cool and the pathways weren’t crowded yet. We met at the spot we always did before class, the long wooden bench tucked beneath the tree near the lecture halls, the one that had basically become ours over time.By the time Rue showed up, the bench barely looked like a bench anymore.Brown paper bags were spread across it, napkins tucked underneath so they wouldn’t fly away. Cups of coffee and juice. Bagels—her favorite kinds—everything bagels with sesame seeds clinging to the crust, cinnamon raisin ones stacked beside them. Doughnuts too: glazed, chocolate, powdered sugar. I’d even gotten the strawberry-filled ones she loved but only admitted liking on good days.Rue slowed the second she saw us.Her steps faltered, confusion written plainly across her face as her eyes traveled from the food… to Cassie… to me.“What’s going on?” she asked, st