All Chapters of Mated To My Alpha Stepbrother: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Daphne’s POVBy the time training was over my arms felt like they were about to fall off. Sweat clung to my skin, my chest burned with every breath, but at least I had learned something. I could swing a sword without dropping it now, and I had managed to dodge a few blows. Small victories, but victories all the same.The rest of the pack trained harder and faster, and I felt their eyes on me as I dragged my sore body off the field. At first, the stares used to cut into me, like they were mocking me, but now they were nothing more than background noise. They had made a habit of looking, and I had made a habit of ignoring. The sky had already turned deep with night by the time I reached my room. All I wanted was to collapse. A bath, some food, and the comfort of sleep, that was all I needed. My body ached in places I didn’t even know existed. I stripped the moment I stepped inside, my training clothes falling to the floor as I stumbled toward the bathroom. The warm water in the batht

Theo’s POVI watched as Daphne lifted the glass in both hands and gulped the shot I had given her. Her throat worked quickly, but the moment the burn hit, she squeezed her face so tightly that I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. She coughed hard and pressed a hand against her chest. “Too strong,” she muttered between breaths. But before I could take the glass away, she stretched out her hand, her eyes a little watery but determined. “Another,” she whispered, her voice firm even through the coughs. “Take it easy, Daphne,” I said, shaking my head as I poured another, though my hand betrayed me by obeying her request.She gulped it down, coughed again, and still leaned forward with her palm out, silently demanding more. I should have stopped her. I should have scolded her and locked the bottle away, but I didn’t. Something in me knew she needed this. She had been trembling not too long ago, begging me not to leave her alone, haunted by the intruder who dared to touch her. Maybe this

Daphne’s POV“No, you wouldn’t. I have a trainer already,” I replied, my voice sharper than I intended. Christabel’s eyes darkened as her lips curled into a cruel smile. “No one dares go against our orders in this pack. So don’t you dare try me, Daphne.” Her voice heavy and commanding, making me feel small under its weight.Joan chuckled beside her, tilting her head with mock pity. “You really think Theo will protect you from us every time? You’re nothing but a spoiled little mate clinging to him like a lifeline. Without him, you’d break apart in seconds.”The words hit harder than I wanted to admit, but I straightened my shoulders, refusing to let them see me bend. “I don’t need your help,” I shot back, though my voice wavered.Their laughter came in unison, sharp and taunting. Christabel stepped closer, so close I could feel her breath on my face. “You’ll beg for it soon enough,” she whispered.Before I could reply, the door behind me swung open. Theo stood there, shirtless, his br

Theo’s POVI had been meaning to talk to Liam since morning about the man I saw in Daphne’s room last night, but I hadn’t seen him anywhere. That was strange. Liam was never the type to disappear without a word. When I mindlinked him, his voice came out low and weak. He said he wasn’t feeling well and would return to duty tomorrow. Normally, I would have let him rest, but something about the way he spoke didn’t sit right with me. It sounded rehearsed, careful…like a lie. I wasn’t the kind of Alpha to ignore my instincts, so I decided to find out myself. As I made my way down the hall, guards bowed and pack members greeted me. Liam was like a brother to me. I knew him too well, and the idea of him lying to me didn’t feel right. His room was just down the corridor, a place I often visited when I didn’t want to deal with the elders’ endless talk.When I got there, I was about to knock when I heard noises from inside…soft moans mixed with a man’s low grunt. I froze, then sighed, rubbin

Daphne’s POVMy heart pounded against my ribs as she walked toward me, slow and steady, her lips curved into that smug smile that told me she had been waiting for this moment all along.She stopped just a few feet from me, tilting her head with mock sweetness. “Ready to lose, Daphne?” she whispered, her voice low enough for only me to hear.The crowd cheered louder, the sound of drums rolling through the air. And then, standing there in front of her, I felt it…the dread, the fear, and something else I couldn’t name.Was this the moment they finally planned to destroy me in front of everyone? I turned to look at Theo, hoping to find even the smallest trace of pity in his eyes, something that told me he didn’t want this. But his face was too hard to read. His gaze was fixed, straight and cold, and when our eyes met, I saw nothing…no concern, no hesitation, just quiet detachment. Then, without warning, he looked away and walked back to his seat. My heart sank. I didn’t know what to fee