My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 29

Lydia

I’m no longer in bed, tucked into Avery’s side. It was nice being k!ssed and hugged by him. I love his muscles and the scent of him. The way he looks at me like I hung the moon.

Honestly, I could have stayed in bed forever, but there are important matters Avery needs to tend to.

Because of that, I’m now standing in the forest with the rest of my pack members under the blazing sun. Everyone is gathered here, ready to hear the alpha’s speech.

And I can’t relax.

My mom is staring at me, and so is John. It makes my stomach churn with anxiety. I don’t even want to imagine what they must be thinking inside their heads.

I arrived at this pack gathering with Avery. He is still by my side, and one of his hands is on my shoulder. Strong fingers grip me, and he silently follows my gaze.

Once he sees what I’m looking at, he sighs heavily and removes his large hand from my shoulder. I immediately mourn the loss of his touch and look up at his handsome face.

There is a bit of stubble on his face, and my fingers are itching to touch him. Play with his cheek. But I can’t do that here. Everyone would see it, and I’m still under the impression we need to be kept a secret.

Though, right now, it feels like my mom might be onto us. It makes me exhale heavily. “What if our parents know about us?”

Avery’s eyes narrow, and he focuses his eyes on our parents until they reluctantly look away. “Don’t worry about our parents. It’s not like we are k!ssing or something. I’m just being friendly toward my stepsister, and they would be rude to assume something else was going on.”

“I know… It’s just that…”

“Just what?”

“My mom has spider senses, you know… Maybe you should take a step back from me or something?”

He grunts but doesn’t move from my side.

Stubborn guy. I should be mad, but I’m touched that my new boyfriend is standing by my side. He doesn’t even move when more and more pack members gather to form a circle.

Jinora is off flirting with another werewolf. Owen awkwardly stands to the right, and Sally is with him. Her friends are behind her, scowling at me like mega bitches.

Just what I need, the quadra group that hates me…

I hide behind Avery only because I’m outnumbered, and the girls look ready to s*******r me.

Avery gives a grim little laugh. “As if I would let them. If they hurt you, I will tear them apart. Piece by piece. Rip the skin from their bones and listen to them scream.”

I stare up at Avery, shocked at his threat. “Okay! That’s… That’s seriously disturbing, even coming from you!”

His l!ps curl a little. “Disturbing?”

“Yes!” How can’t he think the same as me? Amusement is radiant in his eyes as he looks down at me, and I peer deeply into his gaze. “You wouldn’t seriously do that, right?”

“Don’t you think I’m capable?” He challenges, wagging his eyebrow at me with a dark look on his face.

I shudder. “Okay, that’s it. Stop freaking me out and go and hold your speech for the pack members.”

I shove his back, but he doesn’t budge. He looks at me funny, eyebrows raised, and why I replace that hot, I do not know. There is just something about his big body that drives me insane.

The fact that he towers over me? Hot.

That he is possessive of me? Also hot.

I’m just wet around him all the time…

“I’m ready for you if you want me that badly,” Avery purrs. He even gives me this look that says he would rather take me to bed than hold this speech.

I can actually hear the b***d rushing to his c**k, and I stare at him, speechless because I didn’t think realize until now that he… He REALLY wants me as badly as I want him, huh?

Avery chuckles. “Are you a mind-reader too?”

My eyes narrow, but I can’t hide the smile growing on my l!ps. Avery is smiling too, which is rare. My heart sings a happy tune. I like it when he dares to show affectionate emotions.

My voice goes soft, mushy. “I’m not a mind-reader, but you’re being pretty obvious.”

This surprises him, and his smile grows. “How?”

I nod at his hands that are playing with the tips of my brown hair, and he gives me a tight-l!pped smile before removing his hands. There is a guilty expression on his face, a knowledge I caught him redhanded.

“I get your point…” he mumbles.

I smirk at him. “Go and hold your speech.”

He sighs, and his signature grumpy expression makes a comeback. He even sounds whiny. “Do I have to?”

I shrug. “You already gathered us here…”

“I know, f**k… I have to hold this speech, but I want to head home,” he whispers, and his frown deepens. “I didn’t get close enough sleep, and it was nice cuddling with you.”

“Mhm, because cuddling is definitely what is on your mind… And what do you mean sleep? You don’t need to sleep! You’re a hybrid! A s*x-crazed hybrid with a thirst for things other than only my b***d!”

He snorts and winks. “I don’t think I’m the only horny person here. You’re touching me even now.”

I blush madly because my hands are already squeezing his biceps out of their own accord. Avery grins grimly, and I roll my eyes in an attempt to hide that my face is on fire.

“Speech, Avery… You should hold your speech…” I mumble.

“Is that another word for s*x?”

“What?!” I hiss and push him forward. “You bastard! Go and hold that speech before more people stare at us!”

He laughs but lets me steer him toward the center this time. Avery takes his spot and watches his pack members, and I’m bitterly aware that my mom is still observing me like a hawk.

It worries me. I have a feeling she knows something is going on between Avery and me, and I wonder how she will take it. Avery wishes to claim during his choosing ball. Will my mom try to stop it?

Not that it matters. I want Avery too. The sooner we are mated, the better. I don’t want to be claimed by my real, fated mate if it’s not going to be Avery. Uh-huh. Avery is the one my heart has chosen.

“As you may know, we were attacked by lycans during my parent’s wedding—”

Avery has now begun his speech, telling people about what happened and informing them about Kade being our new enemy. And later in the speech, there are questions and gasps of exclamation when Avery reveals himself to be a hybrid.

Some people are frightened, others are angered he has kept it a secret for so long, and there are even some pack members who don’t care. The eldest ones even seem grateful because it means our alpha is strong enough to protect Lavender city.

It makes sense. The elders remember the war against the lycans. They know a typical alpha werewolf wouldn’t stand a chance against a ten feet tall wolf monster. But I won’t pretend that some terrified pack members question their safety.

It saddens me because I can see that it hurts Avery. He didn’t choose to be half a vampire, and it becomes too much when someone asks if he will begin collecting b***d or attacking people.

How could they possibly think that?!

My heart aches for my big alpha guy, who explains that I have offered to give him my b***d.

It makes my mom nod her head, and I relax a little. This seems to be the perfect explanation for why I’ve spent so much time with my stepbrother lately. She stops glaring at me, which I’m thankful for.

I’ve only just decided to start dating Avery, and the last thing I want is my mom ruining things before they have even begun.

Because despite us not being true mates, I’m happy. Avery is a joy to get to know, and I’m curious to spend more time with him. Falling deeply in love with him feels scarily easy…