Page 39 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 3

"You can't stop it‚ Mom‚" Ryan said evenly."The bond is the bond."

"I will!And don't you dare look me in the eye and act like this is right!Before you laid a hand on her‚ did you tell us?Did you ask?Did you even think about how this would destroy her?No—you went ahead.How many times‚ Ryan?How many times have you done this?"

"Mom!"

She suddenly yanked me from his side‚ her grip strong."How many times did he sleep with you?"

I couldn't answer.My whole body was shaking.

"Did he force it on you?"

I looked at Ryan‚ my eyes filling with tears.I didn't know what to say.My voice wouldn't come.

"Anna‚ baby‚" Ryan's voice was softer now‚ almost pleading.

"Anna…" Mom's voice softened‚ almost pleading now."Please.Tell me he didn't hurt you.Tell me my son isn't that kind of man."

"Mommy…"

I was shaking so hard I couldn't breathe.Mom took my silence as an answer‚ and the look she turned on Ryan was something I'd never seen before‚ something that made my stomach twist until I could barely breathe.

CHAPTER 139

Anna's POV

Mom looked at Ryan with this expression I had never seen on her before‚ and I instantly panicked because I knew whatever was coming next wasn't going to be good.My mouth moved before I could even think‚ my voice shaking but loud enough for everyone to hear‚ "Ryan didn't force it on me.It was mutual."and then‚ before I could stop myself‚ I added quietly‚ "I love Ryan."

It was as if the air got sucked out of the room.Mom heard it.Dad heard it.In fact‚ everyone heard it.Their eyes widened in shock‚ and I could see Mom's lips part slightly like she couldn't believe what I had just said.Ryan‚ on the other hand‚ looked… pleased.He didn't hesitate‚ walking over to me and pulling me into his arms as he said‚ "I love you too‚ Anna."

Mom stared at the both of us like we had lost our minds."This must be a fucking joke‚" she spat.Then she turned fully to me‚ her eyes sharp‚ her voice dropping into that tone that made me feel about two inches tall."Honey… you're still too young.You don't even understand what you mean by love.Ryan is your brother, your big brother.You're confusing the love you've always had for him as your brother with something romantic‚ when it's really just brotherly love."

She didn't give me a chance to reply before she continued‚ her voice shaking with anger."I know exactly what I'm going to do.Bringing you over here was the biggest mistake I've ever made.From now on‚ you're going to live in the dorms.I'll find a spot for you.I didn't push for it before when they told me it was filled because I thought you staying with Ryan would be better than staying in the dorm.I thought you two could bond… but not like this.Definitely not this kind of bonding."

My chest tightened so much I could barely breathe while I tried to understand why she was being like this.She turned to Dad‚ her voice suddenly calm but cold."I think we're late for the dinner.Let's go.Ryan needs to get himself occupied with another lady.The engagement must be finalized today."

Her words stabbed right into me‚ as if she was cutting away any hope I had.I didn't understand why she was so against this, against me and Ryan.We weren't blood related.I knew she valued her friendship with my late mom‚ but I was so sure my mom wouldn't have minded me being with Ryan.I was certain of it.

Ryan's jaw ticked‚ his anger showing in the way his shoulders squared as if he was trying not to explode."I'm going to stop this betrothal‚" he said‚ his voice hard."I don't love Sophie‚ and I don't plan on having anything to do with her."

Tears burned my eyes‚ and I could feel them spilling down my cheeks."It's Anna I love‚ Mom‚" Ryan said firmly."Please‚ don't make this harder for us."

"I won't accept this‚" Mom shot back instantly.

"Mom!There's no changing this‚" Ryan said‚ his voice rising."Anna's the one for me.The one the goddess fated to be mine."

That made my head snap up.I blinked at him‚ confused."What does that mean?"I blurted out‚ my voice cracking.All eyes turned to me.

"Dad‚ you promised you'd explain it all to me‚" I said quickly‚ my voice trembling but firm."So please‚ I'm listening.I want to understand what Ryan means by me being his fated mate."

There was a heavy sigh from everyone before Ryan stepped closer to me‚ his eyes locked on mine."It means we're meant to be together.It means we're made for each other.Baby‚ that strange feeling you get whenever you're with me… that pull you feel when I'm close to you… that ache you had when I stayed away from you, that's the pull.That's what it is."

I frowned‚ still not fully getting it."I… don't understand."

Dad finally spoke‚ his tone serious as he looked between us."Anna‚ we aren't pure humans."

"What?"

"Yes‚" Dad continued."We're werewolves.If you don't know what that means… well‚ I'm sure you've heard of it from books.Most romance authors write about us."