Semua Bab Prey Of Twin Stepbrothers : Bab 11 - Bab 20

Lily’s POVI could still feel Ryder’s presence long after he had left me in the hallway—like a stain that wouldn’t wash away, a shadow that clung no matter how much light I tried to find. I hated him. I hated him with everything in me. The way his voice dripped with arrogance, the way his smirk made my blood boil, the way he seemed to enjoy making me feel small. But worst of all? He was right. No one was going to save me. Hunter tried, but I knew—even he wouldn’t be able to stand against Ryder for long. Ryder wasn’t just a bully. He was a storm, tearing through everything in his path, and I was caught in the eye of it. I slammed my locker shut, ignoring the lingering gazes of the students who had witnessed what happened earlier. Some of them pitied me. Others found amusement in it. But none of them would do anything about it. Because Ryder Kingston owned this school. And me? I was just another toy for him to break. I forced myself to walk toward the cafeteria, ke

Lily’s POV Hunter’s arm was steady around my trembling waist as we left the academy behind. I barely registered the cool evening air outside, my mind still churning with the echoes of the day’s cruelty. His quiet determination and unspoken concern were a small comfort in a world that had so often made me feel utterly invisible. The drive home was shrouded in silence. The city lights blurred past the window as I stared out into the dark, my thoughts a jumbled mess of humiliation and despair. Every passing streetlight reminded me of the cruel laughter in the cafeteria and the relentless, cutting words that had scarred me so deeply. I felt small—broken even—yet somehow, Hunter’s presence anchored me. When we finally pulled up in front of our house, its warm glow and familiar silhouette should have offered solace. Instead, as the front door swung open, I saw my mother, Olivia, standing there, worry etched deeply into her face. Her eyes immediately locked onto mine, and in that momen

Lily’s POVThe scent of coffee and toasted bread greeted me as I descended the stairs, my fingers still fumbling with the sleeves of my sweater. I hadn’t slept much last night. My body had been exhausted, but my mind… it wouldn’t shut off.Hunter was already seated at the table, sipping from a mug, his eyes flickering toward me the moment I stepped into the kitchen. There was a faint bruise along his jaw from yesterday’s fight with Ryder. He didn’t try to hide it.Olivia, my mom, stood by the stove, flipping pancakes with an almost too-cheerful hum. Her golden hair was pulled into a neat bun, and she was wearing that floral apron she only brought out on “family mornings.”That already spelled trouble.On the other side of the kitchen island sat David—my stepfather. His face buried behind the morning newspaper like always, but I could still see the glint of interest in his eyes when he heard my footsteps.And then there was Ryder.He was lounging in his seat like a prince, casual and c

Lily’s POVThe cake was a blinding spectacle, a testament to manufactured joy. Its tiers, frosted in pristine white and adorned with impossibly perfect red roses, seemed to mock the turmoil churning within me. The golden light spilling from the ornate chandelier above turned the sugary confection into a shimmering beacon, drawing the gazes of the assembled guests.Polite applause rippled through the room as I reluctantly approached the table, the weight of the ceremonial knife feeling disproportionately heavy in my trembling hand. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat of exhaustion and a profound sense of displacement. It felt like an eternity since I had last recognized the reflection staring back at me in the mirror.Mom stood beside me, her smile radiant, a stark contrast to the hollowness I felt. Her hand rested lightly on my back, a gesture of maternal pride that felt like a physical weight. “Make a wish, sweetheart,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.I

Hunter’s POVThe celebratory air in the grand ballroom evaporated the instant that single, earth-shattering word echoed in the deepest recesses of my being. It wasn't spoken aloud, not by human tongue, but by the ancient, primal part of me – my wolf.Mate.The pronouncement hit with the force of a physical blow, knocking the breath from my lungs and sending a jolt of raw, untamed energy coursing through my veins. My wolf, usually a steady, watchful presence, surged forward with a ferocity I hadn't anticipated, a guttural snarl of pure instinct ripping through my consciousness.Mine. Ours. The claim was possessive, absolute, echoing the undeniable truth that resonated within the very core of my soul.No. The denial was a reflexive whisper in the face of such overwhelming certainty. No way. Not her. Lily? The quiet, almost invisible girl who navigated the halls of our lives like a ghost? The one Ryder… the one we had both, in our own ways, overlooked?And yet, despite the shock, despite