My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 70

Josie

After being saved by that mysterious white-haired man that looked like Legolas on steroids, I march back to the mansion.

I enter the doors and aim for the stairs, but then I hear laughing and crying from the kitchen. It picks up my interest, and I follow the red carpets on the floor until I enter the large kitchen.

And that’s when my day turns into a nightmare. The second I enter that kitchen, goosebumps prickle over my skin.

I’ve never been afraid of showing myself naked. Never. I’m a hybrid, a mix of werewolf and lycan, and I’m always naked after a shape-shifting. So I’ve never been “camera” shy, so to say, but I am now.

Because when I wander into the kitchen, my eyes land on him again, my white-haired savior. This time he is sitting by the kitchen table with auntie Lydia and uncle Avery. Both of them are crying, which says it all: hot, sexy, and tall is Misha.

I almost pass out when he looks at me. My b***d freezes to ice, and for a long moment, all I do is stare.

I have so many questions. Where has Misha been? When did he get here, and why is he suddenly huge? Like, come on, man, the guy looks like he eats screaming villagers for dinner!

Also, did he use magic earlier?!

And why is Misha looking at me so intensely?

Wait.

My stomach plummets when I realize something, and discomfort grips my throat. Does Misha hate me? It must be why he looks at me as if he wishes to… I don’t know… murder me?!

“Oh, Josephine!” Lydia turns around to see for the first time. “Guess who is back from the dead? Misha!”

She goes back to hugging her son, who I’m pretty sure is glaring at my… breasts? Wait, what?

I stare back at him and notice his eyes swoop down to my cunt. Heat spreads over my skin like wild flames, and I get the sudden urge to clench my legs. But when I do, Misha lifts his eyes and smirks—f*****g SMIRKS at me! Why? Is there something wrong with my body?!

“Is that the latest fashion?” Misha asks in a voice that definitely doesn’t sound like my small and shy childhood friend. I knew he would sound different, but I didn’t expect the shudders I would get.

I scowl at him. “This is from having to shape-shift… but you know that already since you were there.” Jerk.

“Was I?”

Oh, is he going to play dumb now? “Yeah, you saved my a*s.”

I expect Misha to keep the charade. He had no wolf in the past, and neither did he have a vampire’s strength or magic. This is why I expect him to brag—it’s what Asher would do. Or laugh.

But to my surprise, Misha does neither. He gives me a smile that seems… kind? Huh. That’s so odd. It makes me blush, but only because there is this weird shift between us: Misha is the more powerful of us now, and I’m not sure if I like that…

“It’s… good to see you again,” I say.

Misha doesn’t smile or get up to hug me but simply says, “Likewise.”

And that is that. Lydia goes back to crying again, and I turn around to leave the family alone. When I walk out of the kitchen, Misha’s little sisters, the twins he has never met, run past me.

“Big brother Misha!”

“Is it true that you’re our brother?!”

I smile to myself. I’m happy that the Hale family is reunited, but I’m… I’m feeling weird. When Misha looks at me, it feels like… I can’t even describe it. My skin burns, and I feel… restless.

Why?

Sighing to my own weird state of mind, I head upstairs. I’m rather tired and could take an afternoon nap. It wouldn’t hurt.

***

My “nap” turns into a fifteen-hour sleep. When I wake up, I’m all confused and dizzy. Something smells like bacon, though, and my nose is eagerly twitching. I blink life into my eyes, only to witness a breakfast tray in Misha’s hands.

“Hungry?”

I stare up at him. “You… you made me breakfast?”

“Mhm.”

I sit in my bed, entrance by Misha’s red eyes, as I take the tray with food from him. His eyes have no hints of blue, and I want to ask him why, but perhaps he has taken the eye color of what side of his is the more dominant? Either way, I can’t take my eyes off him.

Only when his lips twitch, do I realize I’m staring. Heat spreads over my cheeks, and I avert my eyes.

I stab some bacon and hashbrowns with my fork. “These are like my favorite breakfast items,” I look at Misha again. “Are you a mind reader like your dad?”

Amusement washes over his face. “I’m not a mindreader… I just have a great memory. I remember everything of the past.”

I almost choke on the orange juice I’m clunking down. A strange sound leaves my lips, and juice runs down my chin. I wipe it on the back of my hand, and Misha continues to look amused. He is sitting on a chair on the side of my bed and eyeing me like prey.

I wet my lips. “Okay, are you angry with me?”

“Angry with you?” Misha looks confused, but he might be faking it.

“Yes, are you?” I press him further.

It looks like he is trying not to laugh. “Do I seem angry?”

“No, but… why are you being so nice to me?” Probably because I was never nice to him, and this is Misha’s way of torturing me.

“Because I want to be your friend?” He blinks at me. “You don’t think I have ulterior motives do you?”

Yes. “No.”

This time, his lips twitch into an amused smile, but he doesn’t laugh. Instead, he pushes himself up from the chair. “I see…” those intense eyes look me over, and I shudder. Why did he have to become so good-looking? It’s confusing. “Your birthday is in a week, right?”

I narrow my eyes in suspicion. “Why?”

He breathes a laugh. “Because it’s your big eighteenth birthday, and I want to get you something.”

My heart melts a little. “You’re going to give me a present?”

Misha smiles and walks closer to my bed. It makes it hard to focus because he still isn’t wearing a shirt. I’m not sure why Misha is running around without one, but it’s distracting. He is just so big… huge.

“Shouldn’t I give you a present?” Misha asks, and when my eyes swoop up to his, his lips form a knowing smirk. He caught me checking out his pecs, but he luckily doesn’t comment on that. “I thought turning eighteen were a massive celebration for werewolves. It allows you to replace your fated mate, whoever that will be.”

I laugh, but the sound is dry. “With my luck, I won’t ever replace my fated mate. He was probably run over by a bus or something.”

Misha is silent for a while, then he looks out the window. “Your dad said you’re dating Asher. He sounded proud of that too… do you wish for Asher to be your mate?”

I chew more bacon. “No, Asher is… he is an a*****e.”

Misha turns around and meets my eyes. “Wasn’t he always?”

I grimace and have to stare down at the bedsheets. I can’t concentrate around Misha. “I thought Asher had changed when I began to date him… you know, matured…”

“Fair enough…” I can still feel him staring at me. “Do you think you have changed?”

His questions feel like a direct stab to my heart. Of course, I have changed, haven’t I? Most people change, and I’m not the same brain-dead kid I was when I last saw Misha.

I swallow thickly. “What do you think?”

To my surprise, his face lights up, and he laughs. “I think you still need to learn when to thank someone.”

My face scalds. “Oh, for the forest attack?” Didn’t I thank him for that?

“No, not for that.” His eyes look scary and severe for a second before he seems to catch himself. His body relaxes again. “But I served you breakfast in bed and have yet to receive some form of gratitude.”

He is right! I haven’t even given him a proper welcome home, and even though Misha doesn’t want me to thank him for saving my life, I should! It would be terrible if I didn’t do that!

I shoot up from the bed like a rocket, and Misha turns into a block of ice. Shock washes over his features, especially when I hug him like my life depended on it.

And holy moly. I’ve never been one of those girls that dream of replaceing a tall dude. I’m tall myself and replace the “short girl with a tall guy” matching a bit cringe, but flipping hell, Misha is a giant!

My face is almost making out with his pecs, and I hold my breath when Misha angles his head and blinks down at me in mute silence. It sets me aflame, and suddenly, my heart is racing. Why? WHY!

“This was my thank you!” I slowly let go of him while smiling nervously. I’m horrified by my own actions. I take a step back from him. “So yeah… thank you so much for breakfast in bed!”

A soft smile moves over his lips. “You’re welcome,” he seems to stifle a laugh. Amusement dances in his eyes. “I will leave you alone so that you may replace clothes.”

I look down at myself. “Oh… yeah… shit…”

Misha chuckles, and I watch him turn around and head for the door. But before walking away, he pauses in the doorframe. “Are you going to compete in the alpha tournament?”

His question surprises me. “Will there still be one now that you’re back?”

“Yeah?” Misha shrugs without turning around. “It only seems fair to give every pack member a chance to fight for the title. And from my understanding, it will happen after your birthday since you’re the youngest contestant.”

“That’s right… but if you knew I was a contestant, I’m not sure why you asked if I’m competing…”

He turns around, and his smile is absolutely wicked. “Just checking if you had changed your mind. It would be wise if you did.”

My eyes narrow. “Why?”

“Because I’m going to win that tournament, and I won’t go easy on anyone standing in my way. Not even you.”

I stare at him, and his lips curl higher.

“You have a good day, Josie. Think about what I said, okay?” Misha winks at me, and then he disappears.

I stare at my door, and when I look outside my window, I notice it’s snowing despite it being summer.