Chapter 25
Stepsister
Alexa
I stare at the full moon shining high in the night sky. Its silvery glow looks like a giant diamond pinned to the edge of the dark heavens. I steady myself with slow, measured breaths, trying to make sense of everything that has led me to this moment.
The door opens, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Gabriel walks in. His presence still carries that same radiance, cutting through the heavy gloom of the chamber. His dark-blond hair is just as smooth, his hazel eyes still burning with that familiar intensity when they land on me.
“You’re here.” His smile spreads easily.
He comes closer as I stand by the window. But this is not my room. This is not my home. And the man standing in front of me is no longer my lover.
“I missed you,” Gabriel says softly, lifting his hand to cup my cheek.
I slap his hand away without hesitation. The last time we met, in the back corridor of South Star, he confessed his love to me. A lie I threw right back in his face.
I glare at him. His jaw tightens as he lowers his hand, his fingers curling into a fist at his side.
“Why are you pushing me away?” he growls. “We’re not done talking.”
“Let me and my friends go. Now,” I say, lifting my chin. “There’s nothing left to talk about. I reject you, Alpha Gabriel.”
“And I don’t accept that,” he fires back, quick and sharp, before the rejection magic can settle between us. “Not you, Alexa Dawson.”
I draw in a hard breath, turn my face away, and cross my arms over my chest like armor. Silence hangs between us until Gabriel reaches out again, tilting my chin gently so I have no choice but to face him.
“Why are you acting like this?” he whispers. “You know how much I love you.”
I sidestep his touch and take a step back, unmoved.
“Quit lying, Alpha Gabriel,” I say coldly. “You don’t love me. You care about my bloodline, my wolf’s power, the prophecy, and you had the nerve to promise Lorraine she could be your mistress.” I lift my chin higher, meeting his gaze head-on.
His brow furrows. His lips part slightly, shock flickering across his face.
“Where did you hear that?” he asks, denial clinging to every word.
“I heard you and Lorraine at the hospital,” I say. “She told me herself. You’d been with her for over a year.”
“Lorraine told you?” he mutters, still stunned.
“Yes. She told me to leave you. To hand you over to her,” I say quietly. “She hurt me that day.”
My voice cracks despite my effort to stay steady. The memory of Lorraine’s words crashes into my chest, crushing and sharp. Heat blooms beneath my ribs, spreads through my body, and burns behind my eyes as I fight to keep the tears from falling.
* * *
Six years ago
I open my eyes to a high white ceiling, white walls, and a narrow bed. I recognize this room instantly, shaped by years of being treated here since childhood. This is the same hospital room I frequently came to.
I lift both hands. They look normal. I force myself upright, my fingers clutching the hospital gown draped over my body. I peek beneath it, my brows knitting together. There are no bruises. No marks at all. Even the old scars from training are gone.
Moonlight fades through the narrow gap in the window. I glance at the clock. It’s already three in the morning. This isn’t a dream. Weeks have passed since my dad died, and I still can’t call my wolf.
Why can’t I shift like the other kids? Why don’t I remember any of it? My ritual must have failed. Completely.
The door creaks open. Gabriel peeks inside. When he sees me sitting up, his face brightens instantly, a smile spreading wide.
“Hey. You’re awake. How’re you feeling?”
He strides closer, and from this angle, something about him feels different. His blond hair looks smoother, almost glowing. His hazel eyes catch the light. Even the fine hair along his jaw and upper lip looks dangerously inviting.
Goddess.
His shoulders are broad, his chest solid, his waist lean. And then there’s his scent. Bergamot and oakmoss. Clean, masculine, like the forest after rain. Like home.
“Wow. He’s hot. And yeah… he’s our potential mate,” Mythril purrs.
“Uh, yeah. I’m fine,” I blurt out, snapping myself out of it as her voice echoes in my head.
“Sure?” Gabriel says, stepping closer. “You look kinda spaced out.”
“I can’t mind link his wolf. That stupid chain,” Mythril grumbles.
“Wow,” I laugh nervously, rubbing my temples. “Still weird hearing a wolf in my head.”
He gives a small chuckle, but his smile fades. His gaze darkens, his brow creasing.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, reaching out to take his hand.
The instant our skin touches, a jolt shoots through me. My breath catches. I yank my hand back, heat rushing to my face, my heart pounding hard. Gabriel glances at my hand, then meets my eyes.
“You felt that too,” he says softly, a grin breaking through. “That confirms it. We’re mates.”
My eyes widen. “You’re serious?”
“Completely,” he says. “We should do the marking ritual soon. Maybe next month. What do you think?”
The marking ritual. I’ve dreamed about this with Gabriel Scott for years. And now it’s real.
“Yes, Alpha.” I smile and nod as I whisper my answer to him.
He cups my cheek, leaning down. His lips brush my forehead as he inhales slowly, like he’s memorizing my scent. His warmth surrounds me, steady and gentle.
“My future Luna,” he murmurs just before our mouths touch.
I close my eyes, breathing him in, and then his lips meet mine. It’s soft, careful, and different from our last intimate meetup.
The kiss sends a shiver down my spine, spreading through my chest where my heart hammers wildly. Mythril surges in sync with it, warm and alive.
“You should rest,” Gabriel says quietly as he pulls back, his thumb grazing my lower lip. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“It’s three in the morning,” I whisper. “And you’re still here.”
“I just finished patrol with the younger wolves,” he says, straightening. “Had to see you.”
“I’m sorry I missed training again,” I say, frowning. “I passed out.”
He smiles. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll do patrol together once you’re discharged. Just us.”
My cheeks heat up, and I drop my gaze.
“I should head out,” he says, brushing my cheek again. “You need sleep.”
“Thanks, Alpha Gabriel. You must be exhausted. Get some rest too.”
He nods, smiling softly. “Yeah. Good night, Luna.”
“See? Already calling you Luna,” Mythril beams.
He backs toward the door, giving me a small wave. I wave back, smiling until he disappears.
“Goddess, I miss him already,” Mythril sighs.
“Do you feel it too?” I whisper as I lie back down.
“Oh, absolutely. And you’re lucky. You gave your virginity to your mate.”
“How would you even know that?” I gasp.
“I can see your old memories now. The chain only limits my movement, not my mind. But I don’t remember our blessing ritual. Weird.”
“Yeah, me too. It’s really strange, Mythril. My chest hurts, like something is pressing down on it, but I don’t know why. And I miss my dad. I can’t believe he’s gone, even though I can’t remember what happened.”
I frown, confused, thinking about Mrs. Geeny and that strange mental chain. But exhaustion wins. My eyelids grow heavy, and sleep pulls me under.
I’ll ask about it later. About everything.
* * *
I wait for the doctor to sign my discharge papers. They already know I’ve recovered without scars after examining my body more times than I can count. Something about my wolf’s power causing rapid healing, though even they admit it happens too fast to explain.
It’s already three in the afternoon, and I’m sick of waiting. Unfortunately, I can’t leave until my family arrives to pick me up.
Family. I snort at the word. Mrs. Gertrude will complain and grumble like she always does every time she picks me up from the hospital, but that’s fine. After this, Alpha Gabriel will be my family once the marking ritual is done.
My cheeks warm, and I fan my face with my hand. It’s pointless, I know, but everything feels right the moment I catch that familiar scent again. Bergamot and oakmoss.
“He’s here!”
My smile spreads wide, and I jump off the bed. My feet slide into the hospital slippers, and I hurry out of the room. A few nurses startle when they see a patient like me running down the corridor.
Alpha Gabriel’s scent grows stronger, filling my lungs, and he’s close. Just as I reach the hallway intersection, Lorraine’s voice cuts through the air. I recognize that voice instantly, the same one that’s been yelling at me for years.
“You can’t marry her, Alpha. What about me? Don’t you love me?”
My steps freeze. I press myself against the wall and clamp both hands over my mouth.
“Quiet down! Someone can hear you,” he snarls at her.
“But…”
“I know, I know,” Alpha Gabriel says, letting out a long breath. “But she’s pure Alpha blood, and you’re…” He doesn’t finish the sentence.
“Is that why you offered me a mistress role?” Lorraine snaps. “Am I nothing to you?”
What. Mistress? My heart slams against my ribs. Something is wrong, and once again, I’m the last to know.
“Lorraine, I’m sorry,” Gabriel says, his tone steady. “That’s all I can offer. My Alpha status matters. With all these rumors about dark powers going around, I need a strong Luna.”
“I’m stronger than her,” Lorraine fires back.
“Your wolf isn’t,” Gabriel says, cold and firm.
My entire body shivers. My heart races for reasons that have nothing to do with what I felt just minutes ago.
“Let’s, let’s try this again,” Lorraine says, her voice rough. I peek around the corner just in time to see her press herself against him. She kisses him hard. Their tongues tangle, chests and hips pressed tight together.
“Oh, this is bad.”
Mythril grumbles, snapping me out of it. I shouldn’t be listening. My first instinct is to run. My breath comes short and shallow as my body trembles. I hurry back to my room, crawl onto the bed, and yank the blanket over myself, clutching the white fabric like it might hold me together.
Why? Why? How could I be this blind, this stupid?
I cover my mouth as tears slide down my cheeks. I wipe them away over and over, but they keep coming.