My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 75

Josie

My dad doesn’t look too happy after I’ve said Misha is my mate. I can see the cogwheels turning in his head. He isn’t unhappy, and he doesn’t dislike Misha, but there is a reason why my dad wants me as the new alpha that I haven’t shared with anyone yet.

It makes me step away from Misha and try not to show my unhappiness. I wish to make my dad proud, but with Misha in the alpha tournament, I wonder if I can win it anymore.

I want to.

Why? Because both my dad and I agree that the lycan people need more help and focus. With me as the alpha, I can order more people to help us replace a solution to the cursed lycans. I could replace a way for lycans to live in the human world without fear of the full moon.

At least I think I could help the lycans more than alpha Avery have, but if I mate with Misha, I would never become the new alpha. Instead, the luna position would be mine. And Misha probably wouldn’t care about the lycans at all.

“Fated mates, huh…” my dad finally comments and glances at Misha but says nothing to him. He smiles at us and then walks past us toward the kitchen without a word.

I blink in surprise when I’m alone with Misha again.

He smiles. “Looks like we are alone again…”

“Yeah, and… what was that?” I ask him with a raised eyebrow. I mean the k**s, and I know that Misha will understand what I mean.

“Well, I—umm…” he nervously scratches the back of his neck underneath his white hair. His lips are curled into a gorgeous smile that melts me. “I don’t know… didn’t you like it?”

Misha watches me with intense eyes that make me feel vulnerable. Would he laugh if I admitted that I liked it? Probably not, but I can’t help my nerves around him! I still can’t believe he is my mate.

He is just… looking like a dream, and he is strong and k****s like a god. I’m nervous, but since I also like him kissing me, I must admit it.

My cheeks heat. “I liked it..”

A slow smile spreads across his face. “You did, huh?”

“Mhm…” how come I suddenly feel so shy? This is Misha! But he is just… so tall and different. All grownup. I suck in a deep breath. “I liked you kissing me a lot…”

Misha plays with the red tips of my hair. “Oh… then, is it wrong for me to think that maybe you don’t hate me that much after all?”

His words confuse me, and I tip up my chin to look up into his glowing red eyes. My neck is going to hurt, but it can’t be helped. “What do you mean? I don’t hate you?”

Now it’s Misha’s turn to seem confused. He blinks down at me while still wearing his uncertain smile. “You don’t hate me?”

“No?” I have no idea why he would think that. I wet my lips. “I have trouble understanding you, but I don’t hate you. We were good friends in the past, but now we are both older, and I don’t know you anymore. Not like I did. I have no clue what intentions you have…”

He grins and nods as if realizing something. “Okay, we are both confused and new at this… may I suggest something?”

“Uh, sure?”

“Go out and eat with me,” when I open my lips, he grimaces. “Sorry, that came out like you don’t have a choice…” he clears his throat and meets my eyes, smiling faintly. “Do you want to go out with me?”

I giggle. “You’re asking me out?”

“Yeah?” Misha lowers his tone. “We can get to know each other again over dinner. I will put no pressure on you, though. You’re my mate, and I want to get to know you, but I also realize that… we might have gotten off on the wrong foot. s**t. Is it too much to ask you out with everything that is going on?

“No… but are you sure you want to go out with me?”

“I do,” Misha places my hand on his muscular chest. “I want to go out with you. I think it’s what we need in order not to ruin this. You and I need to talk things out. So, please go out with me?”

My chest warms. “You’re not miserable that I’m your mate?”

His eyes narrow, but he doesn’t look mad. He seems puzzled I would even think such a thing. “No, I’m not miserable that you’re my mate. I thought you were the miserable one?”

“I’m not miserable…” I say shyly. “Not at all.”

“I’m not either,” his grin is back.

It feels like a heavy rock has been lifted off my chest, and suddenly I don’t know what to say. I’m questioning my every interaction with Misha right now. There are so many misunderstandings…

“You actually want to give us a try? It’s really not a disappointment that I’m your mate?” I need to hear it again.

“No, it’s not,” Misha whispers and gazes deeply into my eyes. My hand is still over his chest, and he places his larger hand over mine, engulfing it. “Can’t you feel my heart beating, Josie? It’s racing for you, and I can’t make it shut up. Whenever you’re around, I go crazy.”

His words make my skin feel like it’s set on fire.

Misha is dangerously seductive and beautiful, and kind when it counts. But I’m still a bit frightened by him because I feel as if I don’t know him enough to judge his character. I want to get to know him better.

And I want to take my time. Misha has been gone forever, and we haven’t spent that much time together. I might be interested in him, but I want to know that he is a good person before deciding if I want to date him seriously. I don’t want it to turn into another Asher situation when I’m stuck dating an a*****e, and then comes a dramatic breakup.

“The mate-bond is a powerful thing,” I whisper and take a shaky breath. We are standing super close. “I want to go out with you, but not yet. The alpha tournament is coming up. It’s messing with my head, and I want to focus on that first… you’re not a bad mate, but I want to get to know you again and digest things a little.”

He nods and releases my hand. “Alright, how about this: we deal with the tournament first, and I will ask you out again after our battle?”

“Sounds good,” I agree firmly. Waiting for the alpha tournament to be over will buy me some time. “Friends until then?”

With a tight smile, I extend my hand to him. It might be awkward, but I feel like we need to seal this agreement.

Misha smirks, with makes me hesitate to keep holding out my hand. I feel awkward and silly. But Misha eventually takes my hand and squeezes it lightly while his eyes look deeply into mine.

A moment later, he steps closer until his face is right above mine. He dwarfs me, and my heart rate speeds up. I experience one thud after another, and Misha smiles.

I expect him to bend down and k**s me again. I honestly wouldn’t complain if he did. In fact, I want it. Those lips look so beautiful in the dimly lit corridor, but Misha doesn’t dip down.

“I will be your friend… for now, but make no mistake, Josie. I intend on making you mine. I understand that you’re shy around me and that this is just you making up excuses for us not to get into something that might hurt you, but for you, I will wait.”

I stare up at him. Misha is sharper than I initially gave him credit for. It seems he has figured me out. He is right about what he said, even though I’m unwilling to acknowledge that to myself.

“Okay…” I breathe, starstruck by his ability to read me. Misha is still smiling, and I wonder if he will k**s me. His chin is tilted, eyes on mine, and I want him to bend down. K**s me, damn it.

I beg for his mouth inside of my head, but Misha doesn’t k**s me. Of course, he doesn’t. He only smiles at me and flicks his red eyes to my mouth before he steps away from me.

Strangely enough, I’m disappointed? Slow is what I said I wanted, yet I wished he had kissed me.

Why do I contradict myself?

Deep inside, I know what it means: I’m still unwilling to accept how much I like Misha. I’m shy and nervous and coming up with excuses to protect myself from a possible heartbreak.

I’m such a freaking coward…

Why did I claim I needed time to digest things? Maybe I do, but at the same time, I don’t want to take it slow. Are all women like this, or am I just a frustrating case?

“I’m going to train in the garden with Becky,” Misha announces from the stairs that he is slowly walking down. “I’m looking forward to our battle, Josie. It will be fun seeing how far you’ve come.”

I blush at the little wink he gives me. “Don’t go easy on me.”

He laughs. “Oh, Josie, believe me, you want me to go easy on you.”

Despite my inner turmoil, I manage to bite back. “Cocky much?”

Misha’s face lits up in surprise. “I like it when you bicker back,” he breaks out into a large smile. “It feels like old times again.”

To that, I smile back. “Go out and train with your friend, Misha. You will need it because I won’t go easy on you.”

He winks. “I expect nothing less.”