Mated To My Stepbrother Chapter 4

Aria’s pov

By the ti I had collected myself, I was already sprinting half way across the school field. My average legs took as far as they could.

Jaxon, whom my speed was no match for, was hot on my tail. Yelling, calling after to stop running.

But I couldn’t stop, not after what I had just witnessed.

"Aria! Stop!"

His voice cut through the wind like a blade, but I didn’t slow down.

My heart was thundering in my chest, drowning out logic, reason, everything.

Then suddenly, strong arms wrapped around from behind. I yelped. Our bodies tumbled across the field, grass blurring past my eyes.

He grunted as we rolled.

Before I could react, his body twisted under mine. I landed on him, his chest absorbing the full impact.

I also heard a sharp crack and a hiss from him, there was even blood as I looked down.

His hand had hit a broken fence post. The rusty edge of the iron rod sliced deep into his palm.

"Oh my God, Jaxon!" I cried out, reaching for his hand.

But then right before my eyes the wound sealed itself. The blood, cut, completely gone.

"No....no, what.....what are you?"

He didn’t flinch. "We need to talk."

"What are you?" I stood and backed up. "You healed.....like so kind of freakin’-"

"Werewolf."

I stared at him. "Is this a joke?"

He pushed himself up from the grass. "No."

My voice trembled. "When you said ’mate’... did you an like soulmate or.....or.....what exactly?"

"Yes."

He looked at , eyes firm. "You’re my mate. My bonded half."

I laughed bitterly. "You’re my stepbrother, Jaxon. That’s....That’s not even just weird, that’s wrong."

"We’re not blood. And I didn’t choose this, Aria. It’s how the bond works. The Moon Goddess chose."

"You sound insane."

He stepped forward. "Please. Just listen-"

"No!" I stepped back, shaking my head. "You’re a werewolf and we’re, we live in the sa damn house!"

His jaw tightened. "I know. But I also know what I felt when I saw you. What you felt too. That wasn’t nothing."

I opened my mouth, but no words ca out.

Because deep down....I had felt sothing. When he started watching , he sniffed .

I rubbed my arms, the wind suddenly colder than before. We stood there, quiet, the grass swaying around us like it knew sothing we didn’t.

"I need to go ho," I said, finally. "I... I don’t know what this is. But I can’t deal with it right now."

"I’ll walk you back," Jaxon said quietly.

I didn’t argue. My legs were still trembling.

We moved slowly. No words between us for a while. Just the silence of a bond I didn’t ask for.

"Is your dad.... like you?" I asked, glancing at him.

He nodded. "He is Alpha. The entire pack is his bloodline."

I blinked. "So everyone in your.....family is a werewolf?"

"Yes."

I swallowed hard. "My mom never told anything about this. She married into a family of wolves and.....never said anything to ?"

Jaxon hesitated, his voice softer now. "That’s because she doesn’t know the truth."

I stopped walking. "You’re saying my mom married into this pack, your pack, and had no idea?"

He t my eyes. "She thinks my dad is just a strict businessman with land out in the woods. He is careful about what he shows people. Especially humans."

My mind raced. My mom. Oblivious. Married to a monster, or sothing close to one. Living in a house built over secrets.

"I have to tell her," I muttered.

"No," Jaxon said firmly. "You can’t."

I turned to him. "Why not? She deserves to know. What if she’s in danger?"

"You don’t understand," he said, stepping closer. "I can’t even tell my dad about you."

"What?"

He looked away, jaw clenched. "If he finds out you’re my mate... he’ll interfere. He might tell to stand down. My father doesn’t always consider what I want, only what benefits the pack."

"But I’m human," I said. "Wouldn’t that make a liability anyway?"

Jaxon didn’t answer at first.

Then he looked at , sothing unreadable in his eyes. "It’s more complicated than that. If you were to reject .... it wouldn’t just be painful, Aria. For , it could destroy everything."

The weight of his words hung in the air, but I didn’t know what to do with it. I was still trying to understand how my life had gone from routine to supernatural chaos in under an hour.

"I need ti," I said. "And space."

"You can have both," he said softly, stepping back. "But I won’t stop protecting you from these rogue idiots."

Jaxon walked a little ahead now, gaze scanning the empty path that led toward the school gate.

"Why did they want to hurt ?" I asked quietly.

He stopped, looking over his shoulder. "The guys in the classroom.....they’re rogues. Banished from their packs. Outsiders with no allegiance."

"Rogues?" I echoed, confused.

He turned to face fully. "Werewolves who don’t follow the law. Most of them were kicked out for being dangerous or unstable. So run in gangs. They do what they want. They don’t care about the order or the balance."

"And you?" I asked. "You’re like.....their cop?"

His lips twitched in a humorless smile. "Sothing like that. I keep them in check. I’ve had run-ins with a few. Word got out I had a mate. A human mate. They see you as a way to get to ."

I felt a sharp twist in my gut. "So I’m just... leverage?"

"To them, yes." His eyes softened. "But I won’t let them use you, Aria. I swear on everything I have, I’ll protect you."

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t trust my voice.

"And I’ll never drag you into that world," he added.

I nodded slowly. "I just want to go ho. Shower. Eat sothing, and then think."

He reached out gently, his hand brushing my elbow. "I’ll take you ho. But first....I need to show you sothing."

I blinked. "Now?"

"It’s important."