Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 121

The silence in my office was a strange land of loud. Even with Lance droning on about the weekly updates, every word felt like a whisper slipping through a fog

It was becoming increasingly difficult to stay even a second without being around or seeing Kasmine.

Fuck.

It was all getting to my head, and 1 didn't know how much longer I could deal with this distance she was forcing

011115

My heart kept beating at an unhealthy speed, and, fuck... I needed her like an antidote. I was gradually losing my

shit

"So the farmers are requesting Keliud fertilizer to the previous one we used before," Lance finished a sentence he made that practically flew over my attention.

I nodded slowly, rubbing the heel of my palm against my brow. "Get it for them."

He paused. I could feel his gaze on me, like he was waiting for me to actually engage. But I didn't have the strength to fake it today.

Hell, I hadn't slept properly. Not since I walked out of her room last night with her voice still echoing in my ears.

"I could never love you..."

Right

"About Karina..." Lance began after a brief pause, getting my attention, "Now that she's in the pack under the guise of having issues with her mate, don't you think she's posing more threats?"

I leaned back in the chair, exhaling a breath I had been holding... Probably to see how dying would feel... Maybe it would save me from this heartache.

My fingers found my temple again, circling slowly as if I could somehow massage away the dull throb that had taken root behind my eyes.

Lance had a point. He was smart, young and intelligent. And sometimes, one would wonder why he wasn't my close friend. Truly, he was sharp enough to earn my trust but too damn principled to ever be my friend. He worshipped the gods of discipline, honor, morals, and doing the right thing. He was the kind of man who'd burn the world down before crossing a line.

Which is exactly why he could never know I'd already crossed mine. Over and over again.

Imagine his reaction if he ever found out that I was fucking my stepsister and wanting her like a sin.

Lance would rip his own head off.

"Karina's not a threat," I said finally, "She's under control

Lange didn't respond right away. I could feel him still watching me, probably trying

to read the reason I sounded like I was one breath away from falling apart.

"I actually hope she stays a little longer," I added, eyes fixed on a meaningless spot on the wall.

The room fell quiet again. Lance had either run out of words or decided to let me stew in my own silence. He was still standing across from my desk, arms crossed while his posture was stiff with confusion or concern-I

+25 Borts

Chapter 121

which, and I didn't

phone buzzed

it immediately. The vibration skittered across the

irritated me

core.

the sixth time this morning

my gaze to the screen to

dinner tonight? I'm thinking that blue dress your mother said

jaw ticked. I didn't

of those performative family gatherings to make June feel like she was already part of the family legacy. A pre-engagement, pre-dowry, pre-prison celebration. It felt more like a funeral with wine and

The phone buzzed again.

time, she

the call with a

again immediately like she had been poised with her thumb above the call button, ready for

I

fu "I was halfway to unleashing the venom

Alfred.

exhaled and answered the

"Alfred."

was a pause on the line. Then the voice came through,

san

"Alpha. Good morning."

leaned back in the chair, phone pressed

throat. "I have...

Lance was still standing there, and I waved him off without looking, "We'll

nodded and stepped

I said

again as though swallowing a lump the

fear. I hoped it was

he finally said. "Just like

at the edge

a snarl. "You gave

Kex that the company's internal accounts were bleeding and

1. up.

the hook.

Chapter 121

my bones Illoe

"How hard?" I asked.

under two quarters. He's expecting the announcement by the end of the week. He even told

lips parted slightly, then pressed together as I leaned forward, elbows on the

bid for Elvric Systems today.

the far end of my office where the glass pane reflected my silhouette-one man sitting in a high

was going to burn himself trying to steal from a

Good.

let the silence linger a little longer before I

me and his head of finance, and she's too afraid of him to question the financial decisions he's making, And I've already deleted the

us."