Tasting 23

23-A Stepbrother Or My Mate!

Nora:

“Ry-Ryker,” I hesitantly took a few steps back, debating whether to bolt towards the exit or engage

in this conversation with him here.

“Yeah! Ry Ry Ryker! Your stepbrother,” he clicked his tongue, his eyes bulging out and staring at me

like a ho. I began to fidget with my fingers because his appearance was freaking me out. Being

angry is one thing, but he looked like someone who was still chewing on the last person he killed.

“So what happened to you doing what exactly I had asked you to do?” he stepped off the bed,

striding in my direction. I pressed my back against the door and squeezed my body together.

“Your dad was insisting-” I only managed to say that much before he reached me and slammed his

hand on the door above me. I squeaked and hugged myself, closing my eyes from the pressure he

applied by hitting the door.

“I f**g warned you, and you didn’t take my warning seriously,” he had come so close that I could see

his chest from the button he had left open. He had changed into his casual attire of a long black

coat with a high collar and a white shirt that he left open for the most part.

“I did. But then your dad-I mean, our dad,” I instantly corrected myself when he narrowed his eyes

on my face.

23 A Stepbrother Or My Matel

1288 Mouchers

“You’ve played enough. I think you don’t realize how far we brothers are willing to go to get what we

want,” he clicked his lips, shaking his head and looking around like a crazy person. All the while,

standing so close that I could inhale his minty fresh breath.

“Now, I’m going to take you downstairs and tell Dad that you lied about not having a wolf. He’ll

figure out that you acted all helpless so that you could fool him into saving you from the cruel world,”

he sounded terrifying with the way he was nodding his head. His eyes began to look even creepier

now.

“Oh! -” as I attempted to open my mouth, he grasped my arm and began to pull me away.

‘No! Don’t do that,” I pleaded, but he had already opened the door and was in the process of

dragging me out when I made one last attempt to get his attention, “Fine! Do that, and I will let him

ask you how you know I have a wolf?”

My question stopped him in his tracks, his grasp tightening around my arm.

“You’ll have to explain to your father how you figured out that I was lying about my wolf,” I knew the

kind of game I was playing was deadly. Threatening an alpha king could leave me in a ditch all

alone, but if I didn’t stop him, I would fall into a huge mess.

“Say what you’re trying to say?” He played the fool, warning me through his harsh gaze, reminding

me that if I didn’t take my words back, he would make me pay.

“The answer is-when you felt the mate bond with your stepsister,” as soon as those words left my

lips, he set my arm -free and stepped back from me.

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I followed the gulp that ran down his throat. He seemed afraid, so afraid that he stood frozen for the

next twenty seconds. almost.

“That’s not true. I didn’t feel-and I will-” he began to stutter. It must have been really disgusting for

him to know he is mated to

me.

I felt the same.

Just the idea of calling him my stepbrother and then feeling the mate bond with him didn’t sit well

with me.

“I’ll tell Dad, and he’ll find out for himself,” I made sure to call his father

my dad so that he understands how people will look at

him after knowing about us.

“And if you still want to go tell Dad about my wolf, be my guest. I have a simple answer to your

query,” I shrugged, gaining confidence after he seemed shattered at my threats, “my wolf is weak.

And I am embarrassed of her.”

I hated saying that, but I knew she would understand.

“Huh?” he frowned, “so you’re basically an omega.”

“No! Not even that. My wolf could barely transition, and whenever she does, I grow weak and then

throw up all the food that I consume for weeks. Hence, I have decided to keep her silent so that I

don’t fall too sick because of her,” okay! It was. going too far. She was going to kick my butt when

she woke up next time.

“Oh Goddess!” After reality settled in on him, he turned away and started pacing around while

rubbing his face in his hands.

23.4 Sepbrother or My Matel

I bet he was devastated that he thought he got a secret of mine but ended up falling into a huge trap

himself.

I couldn’t understand if the Moon Goddess tried playing me or him.

“So, the decision is yours,” I folded my arms over my chest and watched him turn to face me. He

dropped his hands from his face and rested them on his waist.

“Why do you even want to be a part of a family where none of your stepbrothers wants you as their

sister?” he clenched hist jaw, watching me as I took a deep breath.

“It is still better than not having anyone,” I bet he was disgusted with me. But I was left with no

option but to pick a home for myself. That particular home.

“What do you want from me now?” after taking another pause, he asked.

“I never was going to ask for anything, but since you were the one who kept threatening me, I have

to ensure my safety,” I gulped when he narrowed his eyes on my face.

“Say it,” he gritted his teeth.

“You keep me safe in that mansion. If your brothers try to play me, you come for my rescue or else-”

I warned, noticing the frown growing on his forehead, “I will tell everyone that we are- -mates.”

It wasn’t easy for me to look at him and ask him to be my stepbrother or my mate. He stayed silent

for a while before nodding his head.

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Dry Mater

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“Fine, you’ve got yourself a deal, but you’ll never mention that mate bond thing again,” he clenched

his jaw, finalizing the deal with me.