Tasting
Chapter 112

112–My Yummy Stepbrother Mate

Nora:

I walked along the path and, at some point, even took off my shoes. I heard his car behind me and noticed that he was purposely driving slowly to keep an eye on me, but I didn’t react to it.

I had decided to ignore him entirely and live peacefully. Tonight made me realize that out of all the brothers, he was the one I needed to stay away from.

Once we arrived at the mansion, I paused to catch my breath, and his. car drove past me on the road. He was certain I had arrived safely, so he left for whatever work was pending.

“Nora!” A call from Rykler from the second–floor balcony caught my attention. I sat down on the entrance stairs, massaging my ankles with my hands.

It was truly remarkable that I had walked so much without any help from my wolf. Well, not that I wasn’t used to it.

**Flashback:**

“Come on! Keep walking,” his authoritative voice made me squirm. Every time I heard him talk, all I thought about was poking holes through my ears.

“She is so lazy,” he continued to comment, stopping ahead of me as I struggled up the slope.

“You should be ashamed of yourself for being so weak,” he wrinkled

112–My Yummy Stepbrother Mate

his nose and shook his head. His comment elicited laughter from the others around us.

“She cannot even climb a mountain,” the girl who was his best friend snickered, making him smile at her.

“I am tired.” I uttered in a requesting tone.

“We don’t have time to hear your complaints. Everyone else is doing just fine, so why are you being so clumsy and lazy?” He hit my forehead with the sharp stick in his hand, and I quickly covered it to massage it.

“Because while you all rested, I had to climb down and reach you guys again,” I murmured helplessly. It was so hard to make them understand that what they were doing to a thirteen–year–old was bullying.

But whenever I would complain, I would hear the same thing: “He is also just thirteen, you need to suck it up.”

I didn’t like my father. He never took my side. He was just a crazy man who wanted authority, and he would use any means to torture those he thought were weak.

**End of Flashback:**

“Hey!” A snap before my face brought me back to reality and I found Ryker sitting on the stairs with me.

“Please tell me I don’t have to kick my brother’s ass,” he grunted, scratching his thumb with his index finger and showing extreme signs of anxiety.

“I took care of it myself,” I added.

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112 My Yummy Stepbrother Mate

“So something did happen. Why didn’t you call me? I would have

come there and beat his ass in front of his friends,” he groaned, huffing and puffing.

I wondered why he cared so much about me. I mean, I get that it was the mate bond that changed him towards me, but if we hadn’t felt the mate bond, would he have accepted me as his stepsister and treated me well?

I can see Nash showing care here and there. He was kind of in the middle. I could think of him as someone who took sides with what was right and went against what was wrong, no matter who was on the receiving end of these deals.

“Ryker!” I uttered his name and noticed his muscles tensed up. It was so easy to spot the change in his body language.

“You would hit your brother for me? You know, when you were sent to the woods, your brothers were really upset,” I didn’t want him to feel guilty for showing concern for me and choosing me over his brother. I just wanted to know more about him.

“Okay!” he shrugged.

“I want to know if you care the same about them and if they care about you,” I felt odd even asking that question.

“Hmm! Don’t ask me questions that will make you look at me differently,” his response was cold and also self–explanatory, “but should know that if there is someone I truly care about, it is you!”

you

Although I found it extremely sweet, it was also concerning why he wasn’t as loving towards his brothers as they were towards him.

“Did they use to bully you when you were a child?” I asked, raising an

112–My Yummy Stepbrother Mate

eyebrow.

“Huh? You think anyone can bully me?” he smirked, but the hidden pain in his eyes told a different story. Around this time, I realized I needed to stop asking him personal questions.

“Ah! I am so tired,” I yawned and stretched my hands while he stared at me silently.

“You want a massage?” His hand landed on the ground behind me as he leaned closer. I had to pull away for fear of someone catching us.

“You will give me a massage?” I raised my eyebrow.

“Sure, why not? You think I can’t?” That smirk on his lips told me he was being sneaky. He just wanted a reason to be in my bedroom, and Goddess knows for what.

“Huh! You cannot fool me into letting you in my bedroom and

touching my body again,” I scoffed, getting up from the ground, but he followed me.

“Why not? You think you will lose yourself to me?” he questioned, and a loud scoff escaped my lips as I dismissed his dreams.

“I can resist you easily,” I murmured and reached my door, but he stayed close behind, making me believe that the minute I opened the door, he was coming inside with me.

“Then let me give you a massage. There will be no happy ending,” he shrugged, and I watched his face for a while.

I truly wanted him in the bedroom with me. After Silas‘ disastrous party, I was reminded of my hard childhood, and I knew only Ryker could make me feel better as I was more myself with him than with anyone else.

“Fine! But no naughty stuff,” I pointed my finger at him and warned him.

“No naughty stuff,” he narrowed his eyes at me and touched his ears, promising but looking so naughty and yummy that I began to second guess my decision.