Page 33 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 3

"No‚ Dad‚" Ryan's voice cut in‚ louder this time‚ carrying a frustation I didn't fully understand."She's not coming."

Dad's head turned toward him‚ his eyes narrowing just slightly‚ and for a moment it was as if the air between them was about to crack."And why not?Both families are meeting.She's part of this family."

I glanced between them‚ feeling as if I was standing in the middle of something huge that no one wanted to explain."What are you meeting for?"I asked again‚ my voice quieter now‚ almost hesitant.

Dad didn't flinch."Ryan is meeting his betrothed.It's been many years since they last saw each other—about four years ago‚ wasn't it‚ Ryan?"

I could hear Ryan's groan before I saw his hand run through his hair‚ his eyes staying glued to the floor as if not looking at me would make it hurt less.

Betrothed...

The word hit me harder than it should have.My ears were ringing‚ and it felt as if I'd missed half the air in the room.

Dad kept going‚ his voice calm‚ unshaken."As he's about to take over the company and the pack‚ he needs to be engaged.He needs his Luna by his side."

"Dad.What's...Luna?And what's pack?"I managed to ask‚ even though my voice felt like it was catching on the words.

His gaze softened‚ but only for a second."I'll explain it to you later."

I just stood there‚ my thoughts running in circles so fast I couldn't catch them.Ryan's betrothed.All this time‚ I never knew.And now I was hearing it as if it was some casual business arrangement‚ something decided long before I had the chance to even know how I felt about him.My throat burned‚ my eyes stung‚ and no matter how much I told myself not to‚ I kept looking at him.He wasn't looking back.

Dad's voice cut through the mess in my head."What's wrong?"

I shook my head‚ forcing out a weak smile."Nothing...I'm...I'm just feeling emotional‚ that's all."

But inside‚ it wasn't just emotion‚ it was as if something had cracked open in me‚ and all I could think was that Ryan was already promised to someone.And not just anyone.

Sophie.

That name was already sounding like a nightmare…

CHAPTER 134

Anna's POV

"Anna?Anna!Listen to me!"

I ignored him completely‚ not slowing down for even a second as I rushed inside the house‚ my mind a mess of hurt and confusion‚ but a little bit relieved that Dad had gone off to deal with whatever business had brought him to Nivelle and that from there‚ he'd head to the airport to pick Mom up before meeting us at the restaurant.He had handed me his card earlier‚ telling me to shop for the dinner‚ to dress well‚ to represent the family—blah‚ blah‚ blah—but none of that mattered now.What mattered was that I hadn't expected Ryan to actually follow me home.

I walked straight to my room and pushed the door‚ wanting to shut it and just be alone‚ but his foot wedged into the gap before it could close.He forced it open and stepped inside‚ slightly breathless.

"Anna…" he called softly‚ his chest rising and falling.

"Ryan‚ please… I want to be alone‚" I told him without looking at him‚ but then his hands were on my waist‚ pulling me back toward him.His eyes locked on mine‚ intense and searching.

"I don't want any of this either‚ Anna‚" he said‚ his voice low but rough‚ almost desperate."I'll try to stop it.During this dinner‚ I'll make it stop."

The words hit me as if they were a wave‚ and my throat tightened."Why didn't you tell me?"I asked‚ feeling the tears start to fall before I could even try to hold them back.

"Because I didn't think it would be necessary‚" he said quickly."She's… she's nothing to me.I swear it."

"But she called you babe‚" I shot back‚ my voice breaking."Which means you guys had something!"

"No!We didn't have anything‚ Anna."

"Then why did she call you babe?"My voice was sharper now‚ the anger mixing with the hurt.

He loosened his hold on me‚ his voice lower when he finally spoke."Because… she's my betrothed.She thinks we're in a relationship‚ but I've told her countless times I'm not interested.I'll make it clear to them today.I promise."