Chapter 3

Alan's POV

I watched her scrunch up her face in disgust immediately those words left my lips. She looked at me, her cheeks puffed up and her eyes narrowing at me. “Don't even go there, Alan. If I had a choice, I wouldn't allow my mother to get married to your father. I hate you so much, and I wonder why the universe is so cruel to me whenever it has something to do with you!” she snapped, causing me to sigh.

“We are about to become family, Princess, which automatically means that I will become your big brother,” I threw my hands around her shoulders and she tried to push me away but couldn't. “You need to learn how to respect me because I'm going to do everything in my power to protect you like any big brother would.”

She scoffed. “I'd rather bury my face in mud than allow you to protect me. I am no weakling, I can protect myself, now get your filthy hands off me.” she slipped away and closed her locker.

She was about to walk away, but I held her backpack, dragging her back while she struggled against my grip. I laughed at her helplessness. Didn't she say she was no weakling? I wasn't even putting in a lot of power.

“Let me go, Alan!” she shouted, trying to wriggle free from my grasp.

I chuckled, enjoying the sight of her flustered face. “Oh, Princess, you're so cute when you're angry.” I teased, laughing.

She glared at me, her eyes flashing with annoyance. “I'm not cute, I'm furious. And I hate being called Princess. How many times do I have to tell you that I freaking hate you calling me that?” she yelled.

I shrugged, still holding on to her backpack. “Well, you're going to have to get used to it because I'll be calling you that a lot from now on.”

She scowled, trying to pull away again, but I held tight. “Let me go, Alan. This isn't funny anymore.”

I sighed, my grin fading. “Fine, fine. But on a serious note, we need to get along. We're family whether you like it or not.”

I released her backpack, and she quickly stepped away from me, her eyes still flashing with anger. “I'll never like it,” she muttered, before turning and storming off.

I watched her go, a mixture of emotions swirling inside me. I knew I had pushed her buttons, but I couldn't help it. I had always loved teasing her, and now that we were going to be family, I couldn't resist the opportunity to rile her up even more. I've always loved to see her angry and worked up because of me and there is this joy I feel whenever I prank her, and she returns the favor with a devilish prank of her own. Adeline might be reserved, shy and hates talking to people too much, she always seemed like a different person around me.

She might be the most gentle, but she was the only girl who stood up to me without cowering in fear like the others. She never hesitated to call me a jerk to my face, she wasn't fucking afraid of the consequences of her actions at all.

Adeline isn't fake, and that's one of the many reasons she became my favorite person to annoy.

I still couldn't believe we were going to be siblings in a few days. It should be good news to me because I get to rile her up everyday now, but somehow, there is this ache in my heart, knowing that I would soon be referring to her as “sister”. I don't think I want that, and I can't tell why.

I watched her back as she left, my grip on the rope of my bag, tightening. I felt someone tap my shoulder and turned to see Tyler. He watched Adeline quickly take a turn, the anger on her face still visible. He looked at me and shook his head.

“Dude, when are you going to stop bullying her? For goodness’ sake, she is about to become your stepsister.”

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “I'm not bullying her, I'm just teasing her. And besides, she can handle it. She's not some fragile little thing that's going to break easily.”

Tyler raised an eyebrow. “You know, Alan, sometimes I think you enjoy pushing her buttons just a bit too much. And now that you're going to be family, maybe it's time to ease up a bit.”

I snorted. “Ease up? Are you kidding me? This is just getting started. Now that we're going to be family, I'll have even more opportunities to tease her.” I smiled at the thought of the numerous pranks I could pull on her. It was going to be hilarious and I knew it.

Tyler shook his head. “You're something else, man. Just be careful, okay? You don't want to push her too far.”

I grinned. “Don't worry about it, Tyler. I know exactly what I'm doing.” I folded my arms and walked away with a smirk.

As I walked back to the class, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Tyler's words had left me with. Was I really just teasing Adeline, or was there something more to it? And why did the thought of calling her “sister” leave me feeling so uneasy? I pushed the thoughts aside, telling myself I was just being ridiculous. But the feeling lingered, leaving me with a sense of unease that I couldn't quite explain.

I took a deep breath and walked into the class, taking a seat immediately. Before I knew it, the girls had surrounded me, giggling and trying to engage me in conversations I wasn't even a little interested in. I wished there was a way I would be able to get past a day in school without being the center of attention.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it, but I need a break.

Besides, most of them are all over me because I am the Alpha's son and my mating ceremony was just a few months away. That day, I was going to find out who my mate would be.

I have delayed it for two years for reasons best known to me, but my father insists I get it over with.

I hope I won't regret it.