~LANDON
"Sure, Dad," I replied, trying to hide my frustration. This is perhaps the thousandth time he'd insisted on my best behavior.
Despite my dislike for being here, especially after what that runt did to my face, Dad insisted I come along. I couldn't understand why my presence was necessary. Couldn't he court the woman he liked without dragging me to some shit dinner, let alone enduring her daughter?
My teeth clenched at the thought of seeing that runt's face again. I never thought I'd see her anytime soon after she got kicked out of school.
Dad rang the doorbell, and the door opened, revealing my soon-to-be stepmom. She looked stunning. No doubt, Dad always had an eye for women. He hugged her tightly, a smile lighting up his face, brighter than I'd seen since my Mom passed away
“This is my son, Landon,” He introduced, breaking away from the hug.
“It's nice to meet you, Landon.” She beamed at me and I returned the smile out of courtesy, that was what Dad wanted.
"Come in. I prepared something for you guys. I'm certain you will love it.” She said, leading us into the sitting which was barely bigger than my bedroom back home.
Following her to the dining table, I couldn't help but feel someone's eyes on me. I glanced in the direction my instinct painted in my head–The upper staircase but no one was there. I shrugged it off and proceeded to sit before the mouth-watering meals.
“This tastes really nice,” Dad remarked, already enjoying a pancake while she served us pasta.
“Glad you like it,” She chuckled, taking her seat beside Dad.
Not like I care, but I was left out as their conversation went on about how good the meals tasted, their upcoming wedding…blah blah blah. I wasn't paying much attention, but I was relieved the runt wasn't here to make my irritation worse. Still, I wanted to go home.
“Is Allison not back from school yet?” Dad suddenly asked, changing the topic.
"She is,” she replied, and then her blue eyes flickered as if remembering something. “She must be having a hard time washing off the paint from her hair.”
I snickered.
“She got paint on her hair? How'd that happen?” Dad asked, furrowing his brows. Why was he so concerned about her?
“She got bullied in school and got rusticated. I'm trying to sort out the issue with Mister Jacob and met with her bully to set things straight," She explained.
If only she knew I was her daughter's bully. Maybe she'd kick me out, which sounded like a great idea to get out of here since Dad wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon.
I opened my mouth to speak, but Dad beat me to it. “I'm sorry about that. I can call Mister Jacob to withdraw her expulsion. I don't want you going through too much trouble.”
What?! Anger surged through me, darkening my face at Dad's words. Ignoring the weight of my words, I blurted out, “Aren’t you being too selfish, Mrs. Westwood? Using my Dad's influence to get your daughter back—”
"Landon!” Dad cut me off, his eyes flashing with anger.
“It’s the truth—”
"No one asked for your opinion," he sharply interrupted, glaring at me. "Apologize to her right now."
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Westwood. I didn't mean it that way," I said, clenching my hands beneath the table
“It's fine, Landon. I understand,” she said, smiling.
No, you don't! I badly wanted to speak up, but I held back, knowing it would only anger Dad more.
"I'm a bit pressed. Can I use your restroom?" I asked, changing the subject.
“Of course, it’s upstairs at the end of the hallway,” she replied. I stood up and headed upstairs.
Using the bathroom was an excuse, I just couldn't stand being there anymore. I wanted to vent out my pent-up anger on something before I completely lose it.
The floorboard loudly creaked, my shoe heels threatening to bore holes into them as I walked past the rooms in the hallway. Almost reaching the restroom, I caught a glimpse of Allison in one of the rooms from the corner of my eye.
I stopped and retraced my steps to the slightly open door. I stood transfixed, unable to take my eyes off her. She lay on her stomach in bed, wearing only a red lace bra and thong. Her comely curves were staring right at my face.
Damn, I never knew she was this attractive. I mean, I'd only seen her in baggy clothes before now.
I frowned as I heard her giggle.
Was she with someone? I felt suddenly curious. Though I couldn't see anyone else in the room from where I stood.
Tempted to enter, I held back upon noticing she had a cellphone in her hand as she flipped her wet hair to her side.“My Mom won't like the idea of me going over to your house right now, Jason.”
Is she dating Jason?
My brows snapped together.
I couldn't resist my curiosity, so I switched to my wolf's hearing, heightening my earshot.
I knew I shouldn't be eavesdropping, especially staring at her behind, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. I was too intrigued, even though getting caught wouldn't be funny.
“But why?” Jason's voice came from the other end of the call.
"Unfortunately, she's having dinner with her new boyfriend, who happens to be Landon's Dad," she replied, her tone seething.
"Wait, what? Landon? You mean Landon Smith?”
"The one and only. My life is officially ruined if my Mom decides to marry him. I can feel it.”
“Then ruin your Mom's relationship with his father immediately. You can't be living under the same roof with that bastard!" Jason suggested, darkening my mood.
I didn't understand why I suddenly felt so bothered by Jason's suggestion. I mean, just a few minutes ago, I was trying to cause trouble at the dining table, right?
“How do I pull that off? Mom seems so crazy about him," she asked, but before Jason could reply, I impulsively charged in and snatched the phone from her.
She looked up at me, her eyes widening in shock. Frantically, she pulled the bed cover across her chest and then angrily yelled at me.“What the fuck are you doing in my room?!”
“What's going on there, Allie?" Jason's worried voice came from the phone. I disconnected the call, tossing the phone on her bed.
“Are you seriously planning with Jason to ruin your mother's wedding—”
She fiercely interrupted me. “That's none of your business. Stay out of it. Leave my room right this instant before I do something you'll regret.”
Regret?
I tauntingly raised my brow. "What exactly are you going to do? Tell your Mom I saw your round butt-cheeks?”
Her cheeks flushed red. “Something worse than that, so just leave while I'm being nice," she glared, pointing to the wide-open door.
Mocking her threat, I scoffed.
“Do you even know what's at stake if you go on with your plans to ruin your mother's relationship with my father?”
From the confused look on her face, I knew her Mom was still keeping her in the dark.
“What the fuck are you saying?" she asked, glaring at me, although she seemed genuinely curious.
~ALLISONI hate to say but all Landon told me the day he barged into my room unannounced was true. The night of that day, I had gone to my Mom's room to confirm it all. “He is right, Allie". She began, tears gathering at the bottom of her eyes.“For some time now, Gary has been the one protecting us from Alvin's threats.”I sighed.Alvin, my dad, had been a thorn in our sides for years. I was still young, aged 5 or so when it all began—He blamed my Mom for being the reason why his life turned miserable… Up until now, I still can't place a finger on how my Mom caused his deranged state. Everyone knew he ruined his own life with drugs and all, but he refused to accept responsibility instead he keeps pinning the blame on us. Mom eventually had to flee with me to escape his abuse when she could no longer bear him.For years, we lived in fear, watching our backs in case he showed up one day to harm us and that's the reason Mom was super suspicious of anyone who came near our home. She liv
~ALLISONJason's trousers hung below his waistline, his back turned to me. Despite the angle, it was evident from his thrusting hips that he was fuckin having sex with…Samantha?Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I watched them. They seemed entirely absorbed in the moment, oblivious to my presence until I wailed. "JASON!"Jason broke apart abruptly, snapping his head in my direction. He hastily pulled up his pants, his face draining of color at the sight of me."Allie, is that you?" Samantha slurred, trying to steady herself as she got down from the sink. She looked obviously drunk. "Allie, I can explain—" Jason started, picking his steps towards me.I shoved him away before he could touch me. Tears of anger streamed down my cheeks as I cut in, "Explain what exactly? That you've just fucked my cousin?!"“Allison?" I heard Landon's voice from behind me, he is probably here to remind me about the upcoming toast but I completely ignored him. Jason was my main focus."It
~ALLISON I have always wished for this day. The day I would meet my mate, my other half. But what I never expected was for him to treat me with such coldness that could quench a wildfire. I can't believe he just reacted to our bond with furrowed brows and the next thing, his expression drastically turned cold. His reaction made my heart clench. I could barely enjoy my breakfast because the rest moment with him was extremely awkward, Even at that, I couldn't help but think about the feeling of nude strong body behind me, his hands fumbling my nipples and his deep baritone voice urging me to moan his name whilst nibbling my earlobe. My imagination ran wild making my folds moist as I stood under the shower letting the water glide down my skin. Instinctively, I trailed my fingers down to my V area and faintly brushed it against my clit. I suppressed a moan and shut my eyes as a shivering tingling feeling jolted through me. I knew where this was heading if I continued, yet I couldn't
~ALLISONThe moment those daring words dropped from his lips, a fluttering feeling settled in my stomach. I swallowed hard, my mind racing with conflicting thoughts.Putting him in his place and challenging him was quite one of my hobbies. I take pleasure in seeing his expression sour but accepting this challenge would be crossing a line.Of course, i’m horny as fuck but my brain cells were still functioning properly enough to remind me that he is... my brother, though I hate to admit it. Ah yes. how could I forget that he is also my bully. I think that pretty much summed up my chaotic thoughts.“Challenge declined. Can I have my hands back?" I asked, hoping to end this uncomfortable situation.His pitch-black eyes returned to their original color, disappointment evident in them. “Guess you aren’t as daring as I thought,” he remarked, finally releasing my hands. “Get dressed, Uncle Andrew will be taking us to school.”As he shut the door behind him, I let out a deep exhale, releasing
~ALLISONA line appeared between his brows, clearly perplexed by my request. “What do you mean?"I took a moment to gather my thoughts, careful with my words so as not to give him the wrong idea, although secretly, I wouldn't mind if he did. I mean, I've been fantasizing about it and would love to have that experience...“Allison?" His voice snapped me out of my thoughts, leaving me lost on what I was saying before.Ah, yes.I need his company tonight.He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, I couldn't read his expression, but it was clear he was wrestling with his inner thoughts. After all, I'm his mate, and I can almost feel all his emotions.“Allison, I'm your uncle—”Of course, I know that. “It's not like we'll be doing anything together. You'll just watch me go to sleep, and maybe for a few hours after that,” I cut him off. I know I sounded dumb right now, considering the equation of our bond.You wanna know the equation?Well, it's pretty simple—Two desti
~ALLISONI suck it up, wiping away my tears, and then proceed to retrieve my makeup from my handbag. I dust on a bit of powder, covering up the parched area caused by the dried tears.Scrutinizing my reflection for a moment, I feel satisfied with my appearance and then proceed to stuff my things into my bag before turning on my heels.I stop mid-step when I see who’s at the door. My bullies. Kate, flanked by her two cronies. Sometimes I wonder if these two lap dogs have any life beyond causing trouble under Kate's command.Well, here we go again"Look who's back at college, our dear Allison Westwood," Kate announced with a smile, clapping her hands as her lapdogs chuckled without mirth.I half-heartedly offered a smile. "Isn't it the goddess's grace? I mean, your boyfriend's father made it happen," I said, and her expression darkened immediately as the words left my lips.She was visibly triggered by it, but I stood my ground. Yeah, I knew I was outnumbered, but I possess a wolf, and
~ALLISON Jason's somber expression hardened into a stern look. “You've got to be kidding me, Allie. I can handle a little break, but I'll never let you go," he gritted out before storming off.Feeling lost and unsure of what to make of the situation, I let out a heavy sigh. But as I sank back onto the bed, memories of Jason flooded my mind, and a stray tear rolled down my cheek.I might have acted bold earlier, but inside, I was consumed with pain – as if a sharp knife had been stabbed right into my chest.Jason wasn't just my ex-boyfriend; he was my first love, the guy who took my flowers and stayed by my side for three whole years. Our relationship was incredibly mutual, so much so that I never imagined finding myself in this situation. I always dreamed of starting a family with him once we graduated, despite my mom's skepticism about him. He was perfect to me... But now, I guess those dreams are shattered.The creak of the door interrupted my thoughts, and I lifted my gaze to see
~ALLISONI vehemently denied whatever Landon had heard me say. Thankfully, he didn't press any further with the conversation as he pushed open the door and stepped into the hallway.Walking down the hallway, I felt a shiver run down my spine as all eyes were on us. Their stares felt suffocating; while some looked at us admiringly, most glared – mainly girls who had a crush on Landon.A few people shot us strange looks, and I totally got why. Landon was carrying me like a groom heading for his honeymoon with his bride, forgetting I was his sister. He didn't seem to care about the stares as much as I did.Oh, goddess!"This is gonna be a long walk," I muttered, burying my head in his chest, and shutting my eyes to avoid more judgmental stares.Feeling a sudden warmth on my skin, I peeked out to find we were already out of the school building.Thank goodness.“Landon, can you put—”“I'm taking you to the car. No further talks," he interrupted, and I conceded without arguing.After all, I
~ALLISONI froze, unsure of what to say as he looked me straight in the eyes, searching for answers.Sure, I panicked when I saw him. But wouldn’t it be adding fuel to the fire if I honestly told him why my heart skipped a beat?“Allison?" he snapped me out of my thoughts, his brows furrowed.“Because I wasn’t expecting you. I mean, you came quite early." I chose my words carefully, trying not to stir up more suspicion.I guess that didn’t work as I hoped. His brows furrowed even more. “You weren’t expecting me?”Now it was my turn to be confused. I arched an eyebrow and slowly replied, “Yes... I wasn’t.”"But Landon called me. He said you were trying to reach me to come take you home,” he said, and I blankly stared at him, my confusion doubling.Okay. Get a grip, Allison.What kind of trick did that jerk pull on us?“He said you weren’t feeling well and wanted to go home,” he added, and I quickly put on a fake surprised expression.“That’s right. You weren’t picking up your calls, so
~ALLISONYeah.I'm screwed again.Here I am, in the disciplinarian's office, sitting in front of the old snitch who won't stop glaring at me.Putting my offense aside, Mr. Jacob rarely has a smile on his face. From my first year, he's always had this grim look that scares the students. Definitely not me, but especially the humans among us.I wonder if he still looks this way at home with his family. That's if he has one. I can't see why any woman would settle for a man who never smiles. It’s weird and would be scary for their future kids.“So you think you can do whatever pleases you because you're part of the Smith family, Miss West?” he finally speaks up, and I frown at his words.“With all due respect, sir, this has nothing to do with the Smith family, actually,” I say, giving a tight smile even though I feel offended and want nothing more than to curse him out.“Then why were you found in the boys' locker room? I bet you know that's against the school's law.”Uhm.If I could turn
~ALLISONApproaching the steps from inside the room snapped me out of my thoughts, and I quickly dashed behind a nearby pillar, shielding myself as a group of boys poured out.Peering around, I couldn't spot Landon among them, making me wonder if he was even in the locker room. Maybe he had gone home or somewhere else.Well, checking it out wouldn't hurt, as long as I didn't get caught.I moved away from the pillar towards the door, took a deep breath, then pushed it slightly. Making sure no one was in sight, I peeked in first before pushing the door wider.The large room was deserted as I stepped in. My nose wrinkled in disgust as I took in the sight of dirty jerseys and boots strewn across the floor.Jeez,"Is that undies?!""Boys can be really dirty sometimes..." A crack sounded from behind, snapping me out of my thoughts. I spun on my heels, my face instantly flushing red as I beheld Landon's half-naked form—he was only wearing shorts."What are you doing here?" he asked, not both
~ALLISONThe cafeteria wasn't too crowded, thankfully, so finding a seat was a breeze. Otherwise, we might've been left standing or even skipped lunch altogether. But let's be real, who could survive the day without munching on the school's delicious hotdogs?Personally, I'd love to have a bucket of Crestview's hotdogs in my grave when I die. It's that good.As we settled into our seats after ordering, Lydia casually mentioned, "Just a short vacation to France."But her flushed cheeks and the excitement sparkling in her blue eyes hinted at something more. Definitely not as simple as she claimed.I shot her a look, silently urging her to spill every detail, just as the waiter brought our orders to the table.As the waiter finished settling our orders, I gave her a nod of thanks and dug into my hotdog, taking a generous bite while Lydia started talking.With a wide grin, she blurted out, "I hooked up with a few French guys..."Her words caught me off guard, and I ended up coughing out m
~ALLISON The sight of Landon filled me with relief, not just because he had fed off Jason's grip, but because I had finally laid eyes on him after four long days!"Jeez, Allison. Why are you so excited about something as lame as seeing him?"I'd never loved the sight of him before… something was definitely wrong with me… this is not me. I could feel it.I toned down the smile that threatened to break out on my face and shifted my gaze to Jason. He was still on the floor, unmoving, causing fear to grip me as I stared back at Landon.“I only gave him a temporary sleep. He will be up on his feet within minutes if he's strong enough.”Strong enough?My brows arched in confusion as I eyed him suspiciously. “Please tell me he is fine and stop with your taunts.”He flashed a grin, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder. “Maybe, maybe not—”I cut him off, feeling scared to the core. “What do you mean, maybe? If anything happens to Jason, you’ll be to blame. I bet some cameras caught y
~ALLISONPainting has always been my go-to activity whenever my day starts off dull or when everything seems to bore me.I can't really put into words what painting makes me feel. It's like the moment I sit before my board and pick up my brush, my boredom fades bit by bit as I let my brush roam freely, reflecting whatever is on my mind.Sometimes, I have nothing in mind and just move my brush absentmindedly on the board.Surprisingly, these paintings I create out of sheer boredom often gain more admiration than the ones I make when I'm in high spirits.Mrs. Ann, my art tutor, often calls them my masterpieces, but I totally disagree. They're just candid paintings without any clear or relatable meaning in each stroke of the pencil or touch of color.Nonetheless, everyone appreciates art differently. I guess Mrs. Ann's perspective on creativity is a bit odd.As much as I get really creative when bored, I can't say the same for this moment.Right now, I'm sitting before my board, making a
~ANDREWI've had it up to here with his rudeness. Does he really think he can just waltz over and lay a hand on me whenever he feels like it? Does he take me for one of those spineless college boys he can push around without consequence?He just smirked at me like my question was straight out of a comic book."The next time you pull a stunt like this, you'll regret it," I warned, letting him go roughly."Go get dressed—"He interrupted me, meeting my stern gaze head-on. "You won this round with your cheap tricks, and I'll give you that."He closed the distance between us in a single stride, making me realize he was just as tall as I am. It made me wonder how the little baby I held in my arms not too long ago grew up to be this fearless and challenging.He placed his hands on my shoulders, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "I knew you kept me locked in here all night to ruin my plans with her. Let me ask you something, Andrew. Do you love Allison?"His disrespect stirred anger withi
~ANDREW.Blinking my eyes open to a gentle tap on my arm rousing me from sleep, I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness. Squinting against the sudden brightness, I finally noticed Allison standing before me."Hey?" I croaked, still feeling a bit sleepy. I must have looked like a mess because she chuckled softly."Good morning," she greeted, smiling brightly. I mustered a tired smile in return and attempted to sit up, only to be met with a stabbing ache in my neck. "Are you okay?" she asked, noticing my discomfort."Not too great, but I'll manage," I replied, taking in her appearance. "You're all set for school?""Yeah, it's almost nine, and I'm running late for my first class as usual," she replied, rolling her eyes playfully."Why didn't you wake me when you got up?" I inquired as I watched her gather her things.With her back to me as she blow-dried her hair, she answered, "I figured you needed more rest... I mean, you were up watching me sleep past midnight.
~ANDREWJust then, I pulled back, resisting the urge to go any further, and her eyes lost their gleam, looking disappointed."Your dinner. You forgot it," I said, dropping the pack into her hands."I'm allergic to oats. I'll just go to sleep now," she mumbled, handing back the pack to me and then headed for her closet.Gary didn't mention she had any food allergies, and I can't watch her sleep on an empty stomach. I have to fix something for her, but then again, that would mean letting Landon out of the kitchen. He'd probably be fuming I'd locked him up.I pinched my brows, realizing my initial plan had boomeranged on me.While I waited in the room for her to come out and decide what she wanted to eat, I scanned my surroundings. Her headboard was covered with captivating paintings, while at the far end, a long mirror half-covered in little cardboard pencil drawings caught my eye—quite ugly ones, which made me chuckle.I ambled towards the mirror, taking a closer look at the drawings.