BLAIR'S POV

I stirred awake, squinting my eyes at the sun rays coming through the window. A yawn escaped my lips as my body stretched against the bed.

Wait!

This bed felt different.

My eyes snapped open, and I bolted upright, the bedsheet slipping down my bare shoulders. I looked down, and my eyes widened when I saw that I was naked!

I sucked in a sharp breath and pulled the covers up to my chest, my gaze darting around the unfamiliar room.

And soon, I spotted my clothes scattered on the floor.

Oh, my goddess, I thought, panicking.

How did I get here? What did I do?

My heart pounded as bits of memories flashed through my mind.

I remembered the bar. The drinks. That guy, the one with piercing blue eyes and a gorgeous smile.

I remembered kissing him. I remembered wanting him. But the rest? I couldn't remember the details. I couldn't remember how I even got here.

Shit!

Did I really do it? Did I actually have sex with a complete stranger?

Embarrassment flooded me, and I closed my eyes, wishing this was a dream. When I opened them, I was still in the same room, and I threw my head back, cursing the shots I had taken.

So, I lost my virginity to him, and I didn't even know his name?

And now, he was gone without a trace.

I had been so desperate to prove something to Jaxon, and that made me throw away something I once thought was special. And for what?

To prove that I was not a prude?

I felt ridiculous just thinking about it. Why did I have to get so drunk?

Before I could answer the question, a small paper at the bedside caught my eyes.

I stared at it for a while before reaching for it with shaky fingers.

"You're no longer a prude. – K"

That was all that was written on it.

I stared at the note, not sure what to think. So, he had left this and his name started with K.

I flushed.

What if he was a student? What if I ran into him again?

Would I even recognize him?

I pushed my tangled hair back, exhaling shakily as I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. My screen lit up, and I saw that it was 9:30 AM.

Goddess!

I needed to get out of here.

I hurriedly got out of the bed, my heart pounding as I scrambled to gather my clothes. My hands shook as I put on my jeans, barely able to focus on buttoning them up.

"This can't be happening," I muttered.

I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to meet my mom, her mate, who was going to be my stepdad, and new stepbrother today.

The meeting was by 10 AM, but here I was in the campus inn.

I needed to get home. Fast.

Without a second thought, I rushed out of the inn. The bartender from last night was still there and I felt so embarrassed as I ran out.

By the time I made it back to my apartment building, I was breathless.

I barely spared myself a glance in the mirror before jumping into the shower, scrubbing my skin hard as if I could wash away the bad decisions of the past twelve hours.

Fifteen minutes later, I was dressed in fresh clothes, my hair pulled into a messy ponytail. 

And in another five minutes, I was already in a taxi, speeding toward home.

As I leaned back against the seat, I exhaled heavily.

I thought about my new family, especially my stepbrother. This was actually the first time I was thinking about him or what he could be like because my whole life had been consumed by Jaxon until yesterday.

I had no idea what to expect from my stepbrother. I didn't even know his name or what he looked like.

My mom had met his father two months ago during one of her medical outreach programs. He was a Lycan King, and apparently, fate had worked its magic-he imprinted on her instantly.

According to mom, it had all been so sudden, but I didn't necessarily hate the idea of her being with someone again.

My dad died ten years ago, and ever since, it had just been the two of us. So, if this man made her happy, then fine. I was happy for them.

But I assumed she would eventually move into his pack. That would have made sense. What didn't make sense was his son suddenly moving in with us.

Why?

I sighed, staring out the window as I wondered what kind of person my stepbrother was. Was he a stuck-up, entitled Lycan prince? Or worse-someone like Jaxon?

I barely had time to think about it before the taxi pulled up to the house.

I stepped out, adjusting my bag over my shoulder, and walked inside.

"Hi, Mom," I greeted, spotting her in the living room.

She looked up with a warm smile. "Blair." She pulled me into a tight hug.

"Sorry I'm late," I murmured. "I had... a few things to do."

"That's fine, sweetheart," she assured me. "We haven't been waiting long."

I turned to my stepdad, who stood beside her, watching me with a calm expression.

"Hi, Robert." I gave him a polite hug.

"Good to see you, Blair." His voice was deep but kind.

Then my mom turned toward the staircase.

"Kade! Come downstairs. Blair's here."

"Give me a minute," a masculine voice shouted back.

I paused.

That voice was familiar.

I knew that voice somehow.

My heart started to pound as heavy footsteps descended the staircase.

Slowly, and with a coil in my stomach, I turned to meet my step-brother.

And there he was.

Standing at the top of the stairs, staring down at me with those familiar blue eyes, was the last person I ever expected to see again.

K!

The guy from last night.

BLAIR'S POV

It felt like the sitting room was suddenly shrinking and then it began to spin. The furniture, the TV and even my mother blurred into nothing as I stared at him.

That face.

No. No. No.

This could not be happening.

I tried to swallow but it felt harder than anything. I couldn't even breathe properly and I was sure everyone could hear my heart beating so loudly.

Why was it him?

I pinched myself, desperate to wake up from my dream. I must still be sleeping because this could not be my reality.

The pain I felt in my hand after I pinched myself made me realize that this was real. I was here, with my mother and the boy I lost my virginity to.

Last night, he had kissed me, and we had sex. And now, he was standing there, about to be introduced as my new step-brother.

My lips opened to talk but no sounds came out. I looked like a fool, my mouth opening and closing out of shock.

Immediately, I looked away, biting down on the insides of my lips. There was no way this was happening to me.

Oh, my Goddess, I thought, taking a step back.

What have I done?

What kind of chaos have I brought into my life?

"Kade, this is Blair, my daughter." My mom's voice cut through my thoughts. She smiled, completely oblivious to the horror I was feeling inside. "Blair, this is Kade, Robert's son."

I couldn't breathe and her introduction was making everything worse. I had slept with my stepbrother! I lost my virginity to him. It was better to die than for me to keep standing here.

Kade took a step forward and I slowly looked up at him, his expression unreadable as he extended a hand toward me.

"It's nice to meet you, Blair."

Nice to meet me? Was he kidding?

My fingers twitched as I hesitantly placed my hand in his, and the second our skin touched, the memories I couldn't recall came flashing back.

I suddenly remembered his hands on my body last night. I remembered his lips on mine and the way he made me feel things I'd never felt before.

I gasped, withdrawing my hand instantly like he had burned me with a hot iron.

I barely registered myself mumbling a response. I wasn't even sure if words had actually left my mouth because my ears were ringing too loudly.

Meanwhile, Kade looked completely unaffected. Calm. Like he didn't even recognize me.

Like we hadn't just slept together.

What the hell was going on?

My head snapped toward my mom as she smiled. "We have something to share with you both."

Oh Goddess. Let it be that he was not moving in with us anymore. Let it be that I didn't have to see him again.

"Robert and I decided that I should officially move to his pack," she announced. "I know it's sudden, but it's best for us."

My stomach dropped and goosebumps immediately masked my skin. She was moving? Would they leave with him?

I could only blink, and when I finally found my voice, I decided to ask.

"When are you leaving?" I asked, my voice coming out smaller than I intended.

"Tomorrow."

Tomorrow?! My heart skipped.

She said it so casually, like she wasn't about to pack up and possibly leave me alone with the stepbrother I'd just unknowingly slept with.

"You and Kade will join us during breaks," she added.

That didn't make me feel any better.

Robert nodded in agreement. "I'm sure the arrangement is not so inconvenient, is it?"

I forced myself to shake my head, but inside, I was screaming.

I was fucked.

As if the situation couldn't get worse, my mom turned to me with an almost pleading look. "Blair, honey, I was thinking... maybe you and Kade could be roommates for a while. He's still having issues with accommodations, and it might take some time to get it sorted."

My mouth fell open.

Roommates? With Kade? The same guy I was just naked with last night?

Before I could speak, Kade shifted beside me, clearing his throat. "Actually, I can stay here. I have a car, and this place isn't so far from school."

Yes. Perfect. Do that, I thought. Stay away from me. I couldn't possibly be roommates with him.

But his father waved a dismissive hand. "No. Staying with Blair is better. She can help you adjust." He said.

No, please.

Kade's jaw ticked. "I can adjust just fine on my own. I don't need to move in with her."

"It's not up for debate," Robert snapped and the room fell silent. It was obvious they had talked about him moving in with me and that was why he was in a bad mood last night.

Oh, he had even told me about it.

I was the step-sister he was supposed to babysit.

How couldn't I have pieced together the details? 

How could I have not suspected?

"Blair, just accommodate him for at least a month until we get everything settled." Robert said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I stared at him, wondering what to say. Could I say no? What would be my reason? 

My mother would be unhappy and it would look like I didn't want them together.

But then, there was Kade. This was a hard decision to make.

One month.

That's all it would take.

But could I do it?

Could I really live with my stepbrother, the guy I'd slept with, the guy I found so utterly irresistible?

BLAIR'S POV

Kade dropped his box on my bedroom floor with a heavy thud.

I knew I shouldn't be staring as he bent down, but my eyes had a mind of their own. His jeans clung to his body in all the right places, like his ass, and his muscles flexed as he moved.

Moon Goddess, please help me. How would I survive living with him for a full month?

"Snap out of it!" my wolf growled, dragging me back to reality.

I cleared my throat, trying to focus on something other than him. But I had questions, things I needed to ask.

I folded my arms. "Did you know?" I asked.

Kade didn't look up at first. He just kept unpacking his things like we weren't in the most awkward situation in the world. But when he finally turned, his blue eyes looked me over for a second, making my breath hitch before I could stop it.

"Know what?" he asked.

"That I'm your step-sister." I responded. "At the bar last night."

"No."

I opened my mouth, ready to say something, but then he beat me to it.

"Forget about last night," He continued in a calm and indifferent manner. "It's not a big deal."

I scoffed. "Did you really just say that?"

He shrugged, acting like we were talking about something unimportant while we were actually talking about my virginity. Did he think I kept it all these years just to give it to him?

"My mom did say you were a bit arrogant, and now I see why," I muttered, crossing my arms.

He didn't even react. He just glanced at me, looking completely unaffected. "I'll be out of your hair before the month is up, so your opinion of me doesn't really matter."

Oh, this guy.

I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to throw something at him. It hadn't even been a full day of living together, and I already wanted to kill him.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why are you being such an ass?"

He exhaled, still looking very unbothered. "Look, just because we fucked doesn't mean we're besties. Besides, siblings fight all the time, don't they?" he added so casually.

"You're not my brother." I spat.

He tilted his head slightly, almost like he was amused. "Yeah. I wouldn't have fucked you if I were."

Unbelievable.

I was pissed at this point.

"Do you..." I started to say but a sharp knock sounded at the door. I turned, my irritation deepening the second I heard the voice on the other side.

"Blair, open the door." Jaxon said, knocking again.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, trying to calm down before going over to the door and pulling it open slightly, just enough to talk to him without letting him see Kade.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I've been calling you since last night." He said, running a hand through his hair. "We really need to talk, Blair."

"Do we?" I asked. "What part of we broke up did you not understand?"

Before he could answer, I tried shutting the door in his face, but then he looked into the room and spotted Kade inside. His eyes widened and he forced his way in.

Jaxon looked Kade over before asking me, "Who the hell is this?"

I ignored his question, running my fingers through my hair in frustration. Could my day get any worse. Did I really have to deal with this?

"I said, who is this?" he demanded, his tone annoyingly possessive, like he was still my mate and still had a say in my life.

I crossed my arms. "I don't owe you an explanation."

Behind me, Kade didn't even glance up, still folding his clothes like he couldn't care less about the drama unfolding in front of him.

Jaxon scoffed, his jaw tightening. "Is this why? Is he the reason you're ruining our relationship?"

Wow, I thought. Ruining our relationship?

"Did you forget the part where you cheated on me with Harper?" I asked, the painful memory I tried to forget replaying in my head.

Jaxon stepped closer to me, his eyes filled with anger. "Blair, couples have issues. We argue. We make mistakes. That doesn't give you the right to turn into a slut one day after our breakup."

My stomach twisted and my anger flared.

"First, you call me a prude," I spat, stepping toward him. "And now, a slut. Which is it, Jaxon?"

Jaxon didn't answer. Instead, he turned to Kade, his fists clenching. "Get out, buddy."

Kade still didn't react. He folded another shirt even more slowly, completely ignoring Jaxon.

I exhaled sharply. "Please leave, Jaxon." 

His gaze snapped back to mine, and he looked furious. "Leave? Did you just ask me to leave?" he barked, raising his hand, and it was obvious that he was about to hit me for disrespecting him.

But before I could react, Jaxon's back hit the wall with a loud thud. And when I looked, Kade's hand was tightly wrapped around his throat.

I was breathing heavily as I stumbled back.

Kade had moved so fast I hadn't even seen it happen. One second, he was folding his clothes, completely uninterested. And the next, he had Jaxon pinned against the wall, stopping him from hitting me.

Jaxon choked, his fingers clawing at Kade's wrist, with his feet barely touching the ground.

I sucked in a sharp breath. "Kade..."

But he didn't even glance at me. Veins lined his neck, and he looked really mad. His entire body was vibrating with barely restrained anger.

"Touch her again," Kade said in a low voice, "And you won't find your fingers anymore. Stay away from her."

Jaxon let out a bitter laugh. "Or else what?"

Kade's fingers tightened for just a second before he let go. Jaxon dropped to the floor and began coughing.

Kade crouched beside him and answered his question, "I'll break your fingers and shove them down your throat."

Jaxon wiped his mouth, glaring up at him. "And who the hell are you to threaten me? Her bodyguard?"

Kade tilted his head slightly. Then, without a hint of hesitation, he said, "Blair is mine. So, fuck off."

My stomach flipped when I heard that.

His? What did he mean by that?

Jaxon's face twisted in disbelief, his eyes darting between us. "You-"

Before he could finish, Kade grabbed him by the collar and shoved him out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.