Page 4 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 3

Longing.

Pain.

She smiled softly."Hi, Ryan…"

My throat dried up.My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I thought I might actually pass out.

She was here.

Right here.

and all I could do was stare at her like she was some forbidden fruit I was dying to taste but knew would burn me alive the second I touched it.

My towel suddenly felt way too thin.

and the only thing echoing in my head‚ louder than my pulse‚ louder than reason‚ was one word.

Mate.

CHAPTER 113

Ryan's POV

"Won't you invite us in?"

My mother's voice snapped me out of the fucked-up spiral my brain was trapped in.I was just standing there like a damn statue‚ towel barely hanging on my hips‚ water still dripping from my chest while I stared at the one girl I never thought I'd see again.anna.

My little sister.

I cleared my throat quickly‚ forced the tension out of my shoulders‚ and stepped aside like my body wasn't shaking from the inside out."Yeah… sorry.Come in."

I didn't look at her.I couldn't.

But the second she walked past me‚ her scent hit me hard.Sweet‚ soft‚ and warm.It smelled like vanilla and strawberries.It smelled like trouble.I gripped the door handle so tightly I thought it might snap off‚ just so I wouldn't do something fucking stupid‚ like reach out and pull her into me and bury my face in her neck.

"Give me a sec‚" I muttered‚ already heading down the hallway before I could say something else.I needed clothes.I needed to pull myself together.I couldn't sit there with her in just a fucking towel.

I changed fast.Threw on a black shirt and some jeans‚ ruffled my wet hair with a towel‚ and came back out to see them already seated.Mom was in her usual calm posture on the couch‚ and anna...she looked too damn comfortable‚ as if she belonged here‚ as if this was already her home.My eyes didn't want to leave her‚ but I forced them to.I couldn't risk meeting hers.Not now.Not when I could already feel my control slipping.

"Would you like something to drink?"I asked them.

"Just a glass of water for anna‚" Mother replied.

I went straight to the kitchen‚ poured a glass of cold water‚ and handed it to her.She smiled.God‚ that smile.The same smile that used to follow me around the house back then‚ the one that crept into my dreams and ruined me.

"Thanks‚" she said softly.

"No problem‚" I replied‚ sitting on the single couch opposite them‚ making sure there was enough physical space between us.

My apartment was big‚ more than enough for just one person.Three bedrooms‚ each with its own bathroom and a view of the city skyline.a modern kitchen‚ an open-plan living and dining area‚ a glass table I barely ever used‚ and a massive black leather sectional I'd picked out because I didn't want anything that looked too cozy.No maid‚ no cook‚ no company.Just me‚ the privacy‚ and my work.I liked it that way.I needed it that way.

Until now.

Mom started talking about how anna just got accepted into Nivelle University‚ right here in the city‚ and how it was a huge deal because the school was insanely competitive.I nodded.I was proud of her.I really was.Despite everything‚ despite my own twisted thoughts‚ I still saw her as the same determined girl who never gave up on anything.

"Congratulations‚" I told her‚ still not looking at her face.

"Thanks‚ Ryan‚" she said again‚ this time sounding a little nervous‚ and that made something in my chest tighten.