Chapter 002

~Amanda~

I blinked once, twice, thrice just to make sure that my eyes were not playing some kind of tricks on me.

How?

How was it even possible?What the hell was he doing here and how come he turned out to be my stepbrother?

I just couldn't believe it.Why did it have to be him out of all the men out there?

When I found out that I had a Stepbrother just a few minutes ago,I was so excited and anxious to meet him.

However,I think I wasn't excited anymore.

Even though five damn years had passed.I could still recall those piercing grey eyes.His dark hair was longer compared to five years ago,it fell on his shoulders and it was messy.I couldn't remember seeing him with such long hair.

He had grown taller than the last time I saw him.He was more masculine and he looked more manly as many years had passed by.The boyish look was long gone and now it was replaced by a more masculine look.

He looked surprised too.Perhaps,he recognised me as well.I was supposed to be happy that he still remembered me.However,all I felt was heartache,anger and bitterness.

He seemed as though he had seen a ghost or something.Well,I wasn't expecting us to meet in such a way after what happened five years ago.

No!I didn't want to ever meet him again or see his face ever again!But here I was and there was nothing I could do to get rid of him even though he made me feel sick.

He is here to stay because this is their territory.If there is someone who is supposed to leave, it's me because this is not our home.

I wish I could have known that I would bump into him in such an unexpected way.I wish someone would have given me heads up.I swear I wouldn't have stepped foot in this territory.

He's not someone that I can get rid of that easily because he's my Stepbrother.And I hated the mere thought of it because it only meant that I have to see him every single day!

I lost my appetite even though I was feeling so hungry just a second ago.

All I wanted at the moment was to leave the dining room so badly because I felt suffocated.

I wanted to run somewhere far away.

Away from Alvannia city and away from everything.My  grip on the fork tightened until I felt my knuckles burning.

Even though I wanted to walk away so badly so that I don't see his face ever again,I just couldn't because that would be rude.

It was our first day in crescent moon pack and I didn't want anyone to have a bad impression of me.

“Son?Are you okay?”Jacob asked his son and he snapped out.

“Yes,I'm okay Dad.”He heaved a deep sigh and his lips curved into a smile.

How dare he say that he was okay?

I hate him!I fucking hated the fact that he was okay!He has always been okay for the fucking five years while I have been trying to put my head above the water!My heart clenched at the thought.

“It's just that,I'm exhausted from the journey and everything,”He added.

I didn't want to look at him anymore.I dug the fork in the steak because I was afraid that if I continued to look at him,I might end up doing something that I would regret for the rest of my life.

“I understand son,”I heard my stepfather say and I could feel the love that he had for his son.

I just wished he could know how much pain he caused innocent souls…

“I would like you to meet,my love and her daughter.”I took a deep breath and raised my head so that I couldn't look rude.

“My love is called Hellen Williams,”Jacob looked at my mother with gentle eyes,”And her daughter is called Amanda Williams,”He introduced me to his son.

I wanted to tell him that his son knew me fucking welI!

However,I tried so hard to keep my mouth shut because I didn't want anyone else to know about it.

Gabriel looked at me and I saw different emotions swirl through his eyes that I couldn't wrap my head around.

It seemed like he didn't know what to tell me.He looked lost and speechless.Like a deer caught in the headlights.

“Mommy,”I heard Ariana's angelic voice call and I turned my head towards the dining room's door and there she was.

She rubbed her eyes as she tried to get a clear vision.

“Ariana?”I whispered,my voice gentle and so many emotions washed over me.

I turned to look at my stepfather,”I'm sorry.I will take my daughter back to her room.We will catch up tomorrow.”I tried my best to put on a smile.

However,I didn't miss that surprised look on Gabriel's face.I know she never expected me to have a kid…

“Mother,see you tomorrow.”I pecked my mother on the cheeks and she flashed me a smile.

I pushed the chair back and stood up then walked to my daughter.I heaved a sigh of relief because I was so relieved my daughter had come to my rescue.

I wasn't ready to face it…

I crouched to my daughter's level and brushed hair from her face,”What is it,Ariana?”I asked in a gentle voice.

“I had a nightmare,mommy.”She looked so afraid and my heart ached to see her in that state.

“Can you go with me in my room and read me a story?”She pouted and I couldn't help but smile.

“Of course my love.Come on let's go,”I planted a kiss on her forehead and picked her from the ground.

Ariana clung onto me so tightly as though she was never going to let go and my heart warmed up.

Before I walked away,I turned to look at my mom and new family.Mom smiled at me and I smiled back.My Stepfather nodded at me in understanding.

However,my Stepbrother was still confused and surprised…

______________

When we entered Ariana's room,I placed her on the bed then walked to the drawer to pick a story book.Thanks to the heavens I carried some story books because I know how much she liked them.

“You don't need to be afraid of anything because mommy is right beside you,”I joked and Ariana smiled, I kissed her on the forehead and she giggled.

I began to read the fairy tales about the forgotten princess.Ariana listened keenly and she couldn't stop smiling because of how interesting the story was.

“Do you think that the princess will ever find her way back to the palace?”I asked but it was deadly silent.

I couldn't help it but turn my head to check on my daughter and that's when I realised that she had already fallen asleep.

I felt tears in my eyes as I watched my daughter sleep peacefully.I didn't know what to say to her because she looked so innocent.

“Mommy will always love you,”I whispered under my breath, pecked her on the cheek,fixed the pillow so that she doesn't wake up with a sore neck, then covered her with the warm blankets so that she wouldn't catch a cold.

There was a knock on the door and I couldn't help but frown as I wondered who it might be.

There was no doubt it could be my mother.She must be worried about her granddaughter.It's our first day here in Crescent moon pack and I know it will take some time for Ariana to get used to the new environment.

My lips curved into a smile when I gave it a thought.The anger that I felt earlier was long gone and all thanks to my daughter for bringing a smile to my face.

Taking a deep sigh,I opened the door with a smile.

However the smile faded as soon as I laid my eyes on whoever was standing at the door…