My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 92

Misha

My mate doesn’t want me.

No matter how hard I’ve tried to flirt with Josie today and cajole her into doing nasty things with me, she just pushed me away. I’m… puzzled. How did it come to this?

I’ve been searching for her love all day, just a tiny fraction of the kind mate I know she is, but I didn’t recognize her today! She has been ice-cold! I’m supposed to train with my dad, but how do I focus?

Josie won’t even look at me!

s**t.

What am I doing wrong?!

My eyes travel to Josie.

My gorgeous mate sits on a rock in the garden underneath the green trees. One leg rests over the other, and her stomach is flat and defined as she arches her back.

Beautiful.

I’m glad that Josie is here so I can watch her. She told me she wanted to witness my first shape-shifting and be here to comfort me, but… what if us being mates is the only reason she is here?

Does she hate me?

Nah, that can’t be it.

Or can it?!

I’m so confused.

Josie got to like me, right? What is there not to like: I’m tall, muscular, dependable, and… oh s**t, most of my good qualities are about my appearance—could that be the problem?! Hot BUT stupid as f**k, and now Josie is beginning to realize I’m not a good mate?

Unhappiness churns in my belly, and I’m tempted to stop training just to ask Josie what I’m doing wrong. She is clearly pissed with me. Pouting off in the opposite direction even though I’m shirtless.

Why won’t she look at me?

Now it’s my turn to pout. I’m jealous of the blue flower Josie is currently studying. Isn’t my body enough to keep her attention for even a millisecond?

I glare down at my abs. Should I try to get an eight-pack instead of a six-pack? Becoming even bigger might not be a bad idea. s**t. I can’t believe a flower is more interesting than me!

I grunt in irritation. Once this training session is over, I must confront Josie and ask what is happening.

“Hello, son!” My dad suddenly shouts from behind me, all excited. He is clearly feeling more vampiric today. “Are you ready for your training session? Excited to turn into a wolf?”

Gah, why does he sound so chirpy? Can’t he read my mind and understand that I’m in agony?! Josie is planning to leave me—she admires a flower, goddamn it!

“I’m so excited…” I mutter sarcastically.

My dad chuckles, and I shoot him a glare. I don’t know why he is so damn happy, but he keeps glancing at Josie, then back at me, and then he looks like he is trying not to laugh.

What is the matter with him? Is he replaceing amusement in my mate’s disapproval of me being her mate? That’s so mean.

“So, Misha…” my dad’s face is still amused when he pats my shoulder. It hits me then and there that I’m much taller than him. Like, I knew, but it still shocks me. “How about we start with you changing into a wolf, and then later, we will try changing you into a dragon?”

Did I hear him correctly?

“A dragon?” I ask, wide-eyed.

“Yes?” He doesn’t seem to understand the problem. “You created a baby dragon made of ice—I think you could perhaps take the shape of a larger one yourself?” My dad looks at Josie. “You took the baby ice dragon with you for reference, right?”

“The dragon is right here,” Josie holds up the dragon, smiling. “He is sleeping in my palm right now.”

Her fond expression is enough to make more jealousy bubble up within me. Even the baby dragon, Frosty or whatever, is getting more love than me from that woman…

“Right,” my dad is speaking again. “I’m not sure what Damien has taught you, but once you got the hang of shape-shifting, it should come naturally. It will be like using your arm or leg. Before then, we need to replace a powerful emotion to help you change into a wolf.”

My attention spins back to my dad. “An emotion?”

“Mhm, for example, anger—thinking about wanting to destroy something, like a letter, might help you change.”

I laugh. “Or why not the mailman himself?”

“I’m sure that would be fun, but your mom would kill us if we injured a human. She isn’t allowing me to drink from anyone but her—imagine the punishment if she found out we played with the mailman.”

This isn’t a joking matter. Instead of laughing, we both shudder. I swear even the temperature has dropped.

My l!ps pull into a flustered grimace. “No harming the mailman—got it. The last thing I want is for us to die.”

Josie giggles on her rock, the she-devil. She wouldn’t laugh if she knew how scary my mom can be…

“Right, let’s replace a strong emotion that doesn’t require a mailman… how about the affection for your mate?”

I glance at Josie. She is staring at her naked feet in the grass, hands planted on either side, holding on to the rock. It would be awkward to think about her, especially since she doesn’t even look at me.

I frown, muttering. “I’m sure there must be a stronger emotion we can work with…”

Josie fixes her gaze on me, and my heart falters when I catch a hint of sadness in her expression. Her l!ps are trembling, and she doesn’t let go of me for a long moment.

When she does, I feel defeated, like I’ve done something wrong. Which baffles me. Josie is the one who doesn’t want me—how come she is acting as if I hurt her?!

Irritation burns hot within me, and then when I hear Josie cuddling with the little baby dragon—that little other me, I can’t take it. I growl, and then pain overtakes my body.

“That’s it, Misha!” My dad shouts. “You’re shape-shifting!”

Shape-shifting? From what? Jealousy?

I don’t have time to question it. Everything inside me is burning bright, and my stretching limbs are killing me. I g***n while my legs bend and break, rebuild.

For a moment, I think I might die, but then that little dragon part of me takes a look at me and decides to return. It leaves a shocked Josie’s hands, and as it enters me, the pain subsides.

Left is dizziness. I sway from side to side, paw to paw, and then I trot forward like a newborn foal or Bambi on ice.

Josie is laughing. I think that is good? Either way, I like her voice and near it while whining.

“Look at you! Are you a wolf or a horse?” Josie giggles and her face comes into view. I don’t even have to look up at her. “I had a feeling you would be a white wolf. It makes sense, don’t you think?”

No, nothing makes sense. The world is spinning, and I shove my nose into Josie’s chest. She yelps in surprise and then grips the side of my face not to fall down onto her butt.

“Easy there, big guy!” Josie strokes my fur.

It feels nice being touched, and I slowly sink down onto the ground, taking her with me. My head somehow ends up in her lap, and she lies straight across my front paws.

“Misha…” Josie is bubbling with laughter. “You’re supposed to be training, you fool! Now isn’t the time to cuddle!”

“No, I actually think Misha will be fine without my help,” my dad says from somewhere behind me. “The ability to shape-shift into anything is definitely within him, or else his wolf wouldn’t be this huge.”

“So what are you saying?” Josie asks.

“I think his shape-shifting will naturally come when he asks for it. Misha needs some time perfecting it on his own… oh, and you should definitely be with him. Your presence calms him.”

Josie is silent for a while before speaking. “Uh, so are you just going to leave us alone?”

My dad laughs. “My work here is done.”

It dawns on me. My dad told me to replace a strong emotion, and before that, he glanced between Josie and me—!! s**t. That bastard! Affection wasn’t what he was going for; it was jealousy!

My dad cackles inside my head. ‘Keep practicing with Josie, son. Without me being around, maybe you can use affection instead? Or why not the will to protect the pack and your mate? Either way, I’m sure you will figure it out. Peace.’

Peace?!

Anger rises within me but vanishes into thin air when Josie sits up and hugs my head. “I can’t believe how fluffy you are! You’re such a soft, big boy! And so cuddly!”

Josie k!sses my cold nose, and my tail starts wagging. I’m not a dog, but f**k if I don’t act like one. It can’t be helped. I’m finally getting some damn attention around here!

“Whose a good boy?”

I am.

I stretch out my tongue and enjoy being scratched behind my ear. This is the true meaning of life.

Forget about abs—all I needed was some real floof and pudge. Girls love that s**t. Josie is all over me!

Best. Day. Ever.

I’m totally fine with my dad leaving us alone.

“You’re such a nice wolf…” Josie keeps hugging me, but I notice her trying to get up on her legs. I help by standing, lifting her with me. She laughs at that and grabs at my mane. “How about we head into the forest to practice you turning into more animals?”

I like the sound of that, but I can’t answer her. Josie isn’t waiting for me to speak, though. She grabs my scruff and climbs up on my back, straddling me like a horse.

She pats my head as I eye her over my shoulder. A radiant smile has spread over her l!ps. “I could run on my own, but this seems more fun—letting my mate do the work!”

My chest warms. I could argue with Josie, but what would be the point? I don’t hate serving her. She can ride on my back whenever she likes, and I happily let her pull my hair like she is holding reins.

“Off into the forest, we go!” Josie shouts, and I don’t hesitate to let her control my heart and limbs. Isn’t that the purpose of the mate bond? Trusting the other person fully.