My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 24

Lydia

While glass windows are breaking and items are falling down the shelves as lycans and werewolves fight each other, I snarl at Kade. Amusement washes over his features, but even though he is handsome, I won’t be fooled by his appearance: this man is evil.

“I’m no future bride of yours!” I growl at him, shocked because I’m usually not this confident. But I suppose my anger comes from not wanting this random guy to become my husband. “You’re not even my mate! There is no bond!”

He chuckles at that and tugs me into his chest. He is tall. Then again, every male is a giant compared to me. My nose gets squashed against his lower pecs, and I growl when he strokes an arm up my spine.

“Sch,” Kade hushes me. “I’m just feeling you, and you better get used to this—when we are married, I will touch you all the time.”

“I won’t marry you! And like I said, you’re not my mate!”

He laughs as if I’ve said something funny. “The heart of Chang’e is inside of you. I’m unsure why, but one thing is for certain: the mate bond that usually accompanies a werewolf has been blocked by magic. Whoever placed that spell on you probably wanted to keep you alone so no one would pay much attention to you.”

This is news to me. “My mate bond is blocked?”

“Yes, so any alpha could claim you right now—how about becoming the bride of the lycan prince? With the heart of Chang’e inside you, our puppies would grow strong.”

When he k****s the top of my head, I snarl at him and try to flee. Unfortunately, I can’t battle his muscular arms, but that doesn’t stop me from growling at him.

“I just met you! I don’t want your puppies!” I snap at the massively entertained man. “And I’m already taken!”

He cups my cheek and his eyelids lower as he peers down at me with his unnatural purple eyes. “By that werewolf alpha?” he mockingly asks and snorts once I confirm it by going silent. “Trust me, you’re better off with me—I’m far stronger than a little werewolf.”

My eyes narrow. “I wouldn’t underestimate Avery if I were you.”

“And I wouldn’t underestimate the lycan prince if I were you. I’m the biggest and strongest lycan to have ever lived. So I’m not afraid of a tiny a*s little wolf—”

Kade falls silent once an unearthly roar rattles every item inside the living room. I cringe at the deafening sound. People are still battling each other both in the garden and outside. But it’s becoming apparent that some other creature has joined the battlefield.

One glance outside confirms this, and once Kade sees the giant creature I’m staring at, even his jaw drops.

In the garden, with eyes blazing like two blue fires, stands a creature unlike any other I’ve ever seen. No fur clads its enormous body. Neither does it hold any resemblance to a wolf.

No, this is a dragon. It’s covered by thick black scales and has a frilly, blue mane made of thinner scales that runs along the middle of its back. It’s beautiful, but at the same time frightening.

Never in my entire life has I seen a creature of this size, and it seems intent on staring down Kade. There is a rumbling in its throat, and I tilt my head, realizing this must be Avery.

But those news doesn’t calm me. Avery’s eyes are blank, like when he turned into a raven: he has forgotten himself again. And once his jaw opens and blue fire erupts, I’m one of many who screams.

Kade reacts quickly and pulls us both down to the floor while a blue blast erupts and sets most of the living room on fire. I’m down on the ground, breathing fast and barely daring to lift my head.

When I do, I see at least three dead bodies inside the room. They are entirely melted—dragon fire must be scorching. I’m sweating, and I didn’t even get hit!

“What the heck is this place?!” I hear one of the lycans scream. It’s a man who has shifted back into a human. “The furniture is attacking us, and now there is a dragon?!”

Kade releases me and laughs. “Well, things just turned interesting! Attack the dragon and try to keep it busy! We got what we came from,” he grabs my arm and smirks. “The heart of Chang’e is right here, boys.”

“If you think I will come with you willingly, then you’re mistaken!”

“Oh,” he tilts his head, and a wicked smile plays over his lips. Even his eyes seem to glow brighter. “Victoria told me you were a shy little thing but was she mistaken? You seem feisty—let’s put that to the test.”

I yelp when I feel his lips k**s my cheek, and then I slap him hard in the face, which, to my surprise, makes him laugh.

“Ah, still a shy girl, huh?”

I blush, not because I like him, but because this beast of a prince has no shame to be kissing me like this.

Yet I say nothing. My answer is a growl because I’m not really a feisty girl. I’m blushing even now, and Kade uses that to his advantage. He digs into his pocket and throws purple sand into my eyes.

I sneeze. “What… Was that?!”

“Just a little something to make this easier,” Kade beams at me. “And I don’t mind if you’re shy, love. It will make it much more satisfying when I win your love.”

“I won’t ever fall for you!”

“Sure you won’t,” Kade stands up and pulls me up by my arm. It hurts, which he has little regard for. He even tightens his grip and lifts me into the air before I’m slung over his shoulder. “Time to leave this place and enter the portal—consider yourself kidnapped.”

I kick and slap at his muscular back. “I won’t go anywhere with you! You’re a freaking swine! Release me!”

“Nope.”

“You leave me no choice but to shape-shift—” I blink and then snarl once I realize what that purple sand was. “You did something to me! Why can’t I shape-shift?!”

“It’s only temporary and last for like thirty minutes. The purple sand is scarce and blocks shape-shifting,” Kade is moving now. I can feel the muscles in his shoulders as he maneuvers to the door.

I squirm on his shoulder. “Where are you taking me?!”

“To the backside, since your dragon lover is busy killing most of the clan members I brought here—you were right. I did underestimate him. To think that alpha has mastered shape-shifting into other things… I’ve never met anyone with that ability.”

I decide this might be my chance to make him release me. “That’s right. Avery is super strong; are you sure you wish to make him your enemy? He will come for me.”

Kade chuckles. “Once we have entered the portal, there is nothing even Avery can do. I doubt he knows where to replace the lycan dimension.”

I growl at him as he pushes up the door. A blast of fire hits the mansion, and Kade immediately closes the door. A few awkward seconds pass, and I laugh in bitterness.

“Are you sure you will make it to the portal unscathed?” I say, unable to mock the lycan prince. “Because it looks to me like Avery is guarding the mansion and won’t let you leave. But if you release me, I could ask him to let you leave unharmed…”

Kade seems to consider this, placing me on the ground. It confuses me, and when I look up, I replace him grinning.

“Alright, if you can calm that dragon, go ahead, shoo, little girl—go and tell him to calm himself.”

I grimace before a sheepish smile forms on my lips. “Ah, so that’s how it is… You know that I’m faking, don’t you?”

His lips tip upward. “Yeah… I don’t think anything could make that dragon calm down and come to his senses. But it was a good try.”

“Thank you,” I clear my throat. “So what now?”

“I still have every intention to kidnap you.”

“You don’t want to work together even though half the house is burnt down and people are dying outside?”

He proudly lifts his nose into the air. “You and I are enemies.”

“I thought you said I would be your bride?”

“People who are married usually hate each other,” he shrugs one massive shoulder. “I see no difference.”

I almost laugh at that. Almost. Kade is still a freaking d**k, and I slowly move my hand to the door.

Kade snarls. “Don’t even think about—”

Before he can stop me, I lunge for the door and run across the burnt grass. There are dead lycans all around. Most werewolves have fled the scene, though some are fighting lycans in the forest.

However, my focus is on the giant dragon intent on burning the house. Within me, I can sense why Avery is upset: he was fearing for my life, and that made him change in a fit of rage.

So maybe I can calm him?

I lift my chin, and a shudder passes through me when I make eye contact with the black-scaled dragon. It has landed in the burnt garden, and its wings are spread.

It’s equipped with sharp teeth and blazing eyes, yet I know I must approach and calm this creature unless I want more people to die.

I wet my lips and lift my hand. “H-hello, Avery!”