3

Annalise helped me in the kitchen even when her mom kept complaining, she had said,

“I am not tired, mom.”

We set the table together.

“Lana, come down when the visitor is here. You need to be here while we discuss, okay?”

I nodded. Whatever it was, it had to be huge. Stepmom asked me to join them and even allowed Annalise to come home. Annalise joined me in my room, a gift box in her hand.

“This is for you.” She handed it over to me.

“Is this a bracelet?” I asked and she nodded.

“Do you like it?” She asked as I unwrapped it. It was a beautiful gold bracelet and it had ‘my heart’ engraved on it.

“Wow, it is super pretty,” I exclaimed. It wasn't an exaggeration. It was so beautiful and expensive for sure.

“Do you have an idea who Mom’s visitor is?” She asked, almost whispering and I shook my head.

“All I know is, he is important.”

Annalise nodded.

“Sis, I am going to get dressed now.” She patted my shoulder before leaving.

I looked at the bracelet once again, running my thumb through the words written on it;

“I love you more than the barrier you have set between us.”

Why did I feel like the bracelet wasn't made for me? I loved it but it seemed like it wasn't meant for me. I sighed and kept it in my drawer, shutting it while I prepared for the stepmom’s visitor.

When I was done, I packed my hair in a bun but I felt empty as I stared at my reflection in the mirror hence I grabbed the bracelet Annalise gave me and put it on. With this, I walked down to the living room.

“He is here!” Stepmom rushed down the stairs too, pointing at the door. He?! I asked myself.

“Open the door, Lana!” She screamed at me and I moved to the door and opened it. Once I twisted the knob, his scent rushed to my nostrils. Goodness, he smelled so good. He smelled like rose oil, one of the most beautiful scents in the world. He was taller than I was, I barely reached his jaw.

He wore black pants and a black shirt, looking sexy as fuvk. He looked over my head at my stepmother and she let out a shrill sound before walking past me. She wrapped her hands around him and pulled him inside the house. Annalise rushed to me.

“Where did mom find that hot man?!”

I said nothing.

“Lana, come over here!” Stepmom shouted and I rushed over. By this time Alexander was already seated next to her. I dished his food and I could swear that I almost placed my head on his broad rocky chest. His scent kept calling me. His Sapphire eyes hardly looked at me but I couldn't help but admire the silver glint in them.

“Lana, that's enough.”

I sat next to Annalise while we started to eat.

‘Why is he here?’ Elena kept coming forward, peering at him from my eyes. He ate softly, chewing gently. He was such a gentle hot man. Why was he here? StepMom said he was an important visitor. How did she know him? I wondered.

“Mom, are you going to tell us who is he and why he is here?” Annalise asked breaking the silence which I was grateful for. I was already dying of suspense here.

Stepmom raised her head and smiled.

“Annalise, I told you before that the pack has been settling this family because your dad was the Beta? Now there is no present Beta which they are asking for. The Alpha told me if I don't provide a Beta, he would have to stop the funds that come to this family and you know what that means.” She paused and took Alexander’s hands.

“What are you saying?” I blurted.

“I am saying that I will be getting married to Alexander and he will be taking over the position of the Beta in the next two days. Annalise, your new father, and you, Lana, you can call him whatever you want but you cannot disrespect him!”

The spoon in my hand fell back to the plate. I stared at Alexander but he didn't look at me. I wanted him to say something. I fought back the urge to speak and to shout. I looked back at my stepmother.

“What about dad?” My voice came out like a whisper, my hands trembling and I felt Annalise lay her hand on mine.

“What about your disabled dad? What about me? Am I a rock, your dad married me at age eighteen, and I am only thirty-five now. I am still very young and I need a man. Aside from that, where do you think your college fees are coming from? If Alexander doesn't take over as Beta, you will stop school. Is that what you want? You should be thankful I came up with a solution, you ungrateful child!”

“Mom!” Annalise shouted.

“What? Am I lying?” She shouted back at her. I got up from the chair and ran out. I couldn't listen to any more of their bantering. Why did the moon goddess have to treat me like this? What did I ever do to her? Why does she hate me very much?

My mate was going to be my stepfather? What do you call the man who marries your stepmom? I didn't even know. Goodness, what sort of twisted life was this? Tears rolled down both sides of my cheeks and I felt Elena come forward.

‘You are not alone in this,’ she said.

“I am not? Did you see what happened there? Did you see the fucking twist that befell me? That is my mate. My mate! How am I supposed to live with my mate sleeping with my stepmom? He is also going to take the place of my father. Yet, I can feel my arousal increasing just by the sight of him. Elena, I don't want to live anymore. I want to die. Please just let me die. I can't handle this.” My legs felt like jelly and I fell on my knees to the floor, crying in my palm. The tears kept falling uncontrollably and my heart tightened in my ribcage.

It hurt so much.