“Okay, young lady, what are you not telling me?” Mom asks, her brows knitted, as she scans my expression with suspicion.

I realize how paranoid I was acting, but who wouldn't snap at such news?

“I’m sorry, Mom, but you just revealed that you and Dad also can’t stand Melinda. I’ve made it pretty clear that I can't tolerate that woman for one minute, let alone an entire week,” I lied through my teeth.

That's what I can come up with, and it wasn't a lie; it was part of the truth.

I hate Melinda.

The thought of living with my brother under the same roof was a burden on its own, not to mention a bonus ‘Melinda.’

I'd totally go crazy.

“No, Mother, I don't want to go, and I told you I'd be lonely, not scared. It's okay if Brandon doesn't come over. I will stay alone.”

And, goddess, why does my voice come out sounding like I’m upset about the idea of staying alone when it’s the opposite?

Everything is a mess.

“If it's Melinda you're worried about, then be at ease; your brother mentioned she returned home this afternoon, and she will be staying for over a week.” Mom announces in a reassuring tone as she takes my hand, squeezing softly.

I stare at her face speechless.

If I didn't know better, I may have believed this was all a carefully thought-out plan.

Why the hell was everything falling into place? All leading to me staying over at my brother's.

Now I’m at a loss for words on how to prevent myself from having to stay at my brother’s house and experience the most difficult days of my life.

Ugh!! I really hate this.

How did things turn this way?

One day, I found myself unable to stand the older brother I love so much, the one who used to treat me better than anyone else.

I used to depend on him so much; even Brandon was envious, since he was an only child.

Now I can confidently say that I hate my brother. I hate that he's my brother, and I hate that he changed after what transpired between us.

I had hoped he would initiate a conversation, because goodness knows I wasn't going to start. He's the male, the one who's more mature, and who asked him to be so handsome?

Sinful, and flirting with his perfect-figure girlfriend in front of me?

I was sexually frustrated, and I got curious, and curiosity indeed killed the cat, the cat being our brother-sister bond that got damaged after that situation.

Oh goddess.

This is bad; this is really, really bad.

I can already feel another headache coming on.

“Mom, please, you guys should take me with you. I can't believe you guys are leaving for a whole week without me. Am I not your baby anymore?” I try another tactic, and Mother laughs, blushing fiercely.

I instantly understand what she's thinking. They are adults and need some alone time.

“Angel, your dad and I need some time together. And you know you're no longer a kid. You'll be 21 in a week.” She scolds sternly, but her face softens the next second, and she inquires, “Please, tell Mom. Did your big brother bully you and perhaps threaten you? Is that why you're afraid to…”

“No! I will go and pack my bag.” I interrupted her, relenting.

I seriously wasn't ready for another bully talk, as I'm already starting to recall how my brother had indeed bullied me with his finger in a certain tight hole.

I shudder, goosebumps erupting on my skin at the memory.

“That's my baby.” Mom hugs me tightly, and I hug her back, her warmth providing me solace. “Now you have the opportunity to tell him what's bothering you.”

Mother murmurs, and I almost choked on my saliva.

“Tell him what? ...” I demand pulling out of the hug, my heart racing so much.

Mixed emotions swirl within me, from panic to doubt, then fear and denial.

“About Melinda?” Mother asks with a frown. “What's wrong with you? Sweetheart. You keep forgetting things.”

“It's stress at work, Mom.”

“Is someone bullying you at work? Have you told your brother about it?” she inquires worriedly.

‘Mom, are you a friend or enemy?’ I scream inwardly.

“Mother, no one will dare bully the sister of the CEO.” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I reminisce about the workload I've been working on each day at work for months now.

I sometimes end up skipping lunchtime, the only time I get to spend with Brandon.

My life is a mess; it seems Selene is indeed punishing me for my sins.

“That's good to know,” Mother states, smiling, and I fake one in return.

“I will call you down once we're done. You'll have dinner at your brother's...”

“At my brother's house.” I completed her words, “I know, Mom. Please don't miss your flight because of me. It’s not the first time I’m staying at Big Brother’s.” I respond, and she nods, then turns to leave after cupping my cheek affectionately with a smile.

I step inside after she leaves and close the door, leaning against it, my emotions spiraling out of control.

I allow myself to slide down and sit on my legs, my head lowered.

“How did it come to this?” I whisper in dejection, letting out a weary sigh.

~~~

After packing clothes to last the week, including work attire from Monday to Friday, I head to the bathroom for a bath.

…~...

Thirty minutes later, I make my way down the corridor, dragging my wine-colored suitcase, and notice Dad and Brother engaged in a deep conversation at the grand foyer; they were so engrossed that they didn't turn to acknowledge me.

I arrive downstairs when Mom comes out of their room, I look at the four suitcases, and wonder if they were perhaps planning to stay a year.

How did she even pack four suitcases in just this short time? She probably stuffed everything in.

But that’s my mother—classy and sophisticated.

Whenever we visit the human cities, people usually confuse us as sisters, with me, of course, being the older one.

And with my four eyes and nerdy look, the men always check out my mother, the spotlight of every moment.

Over three centuries ago, a plague that struck werewolves caused us to stop aging at 30, so my parents look just as I remember them at 5, even better with their daily fitness, but I don't join them, since I'd rather use that time to read, learn, and do other things—anything that doesn't involve working out.

Yet, Mother compliments me for having a body that naturally works out considering all the junk food I consume.

“It's sad you hide that perfect figure behind those loose clothes,” were her exact words.

“Sweetheart, why didn't you dry your hair? You might end up catching…” Mom didn't finish speaking when…

“Achoo!” I sneeze, and my eyes widen in disbelief.

Turning, I see both Dad and Brother staring at me, looking more like buddies than father and son.

‘What in the world?’ I curse internally.

How strange is this? This is not the first time I didn't dry my hair after a bath. I never caught a cold, so why?

Could it be something I'm inhaling?

“Achoo!” I sneeze once again.

“Bless you,” Mother states, pulling me into a tight hug. “Oh, my little girl.” She buries her face in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent.

She told me it calms her.

“Kyle, why don’t we take her with us? Look at how pitiful she's already looking.” she adds, and before I can cheer about my wish coming true, my joy is short-lived when Dad interrupts quickly,

“That's not a funny joke, Pam. After a busy month without any action. This is a break we need without distraction.” Dad asserts, looking at Mom intensely.

I turn to look at Mom, whose face is red, as she grins shyly, tucking her hair behind her ear.

These two look like they're going to break everything in that hotel with whatever they'll be getting down with.

Dad wraps a hand around me, pulling me to his side, and placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

I happened to catch Brother's eyes at that moment, and the bloodthirst in them as he looked at Dad made me tremble.

I blink to be sure I saw right, and there really was nothing, just his usual stoic and aloof expression I've come to know over the past months.

Maybe I was imagining it.

“Our kids are grown enough to take care of themselves. Right, Angel?” Dad asks me, I look up at his face, and reluctantly nod with a forced smile after casting a glance at Brother.

The door opens, and the chauffeur enters to get their luggage.

Dad takes one, so does Brother, and they walk out, leaving only Mom and me.

She hugs me tightly, inhaling me deeply.

“I love you so much, angel. And please don't make things hard for your brother.” I nod, since it's me she believes is making things difficult.

“I love you too, Mom. You and Dad should have fun.” I say, and she kisses me on the forehead.

“We will. I'll send you pictures, and we'll facetime every night, okay?” She cups my cheek, smiling.

I nod, unable to fake a smile this time.

They were really leaving me.

We walk out with me dragging my suitcase.

“Angel, if Cassian gives you any trouble, let me know and I'll take care of it,” Dad says as a joke, kissing me on the forehead.

I smile awkwardly, stealing a glance at Brother, who's grinning with his hands inside his pockets.

“You two have the best time of your lives. And be rest assured I'll take great care of my baby sis.” Cassian drawls, his intense eyes fixated on me. And the way he stretches “take great care” makes my skin crawl.

“That's a promise,” Dad says, patting him on the shoulder, and he nods, looking at me, his eyes predatory?

I must be wrong; I look away from him to Mom.

I watch in silence as Mom and Dad enter the car and wave at us, and I wave back.

I turn upon feeling Brother's looming presence behind me.

I force a smile, and with my fingers fidgeting, something I do when nervous, I look up at his face and murmur,

“Hi, big brother.”

“Hi, Big Brother.”

He opens his mouth to speak, but…

“Achoo!” I sneeze onto his chest.

The blood drains from my face, my eyes enlarging behind my glasses as I stumble backwards, away from him, only to lose my footing.

‘It’s official. I'm cursed! Now I know the gods have cursed me!’ I curse inwardly as I allow gravity to take control as I await impact.

This is embarrassing; only a few seconds in front of my brother and I'm this clumsy.

Moon goddess, please have mercy on me. I promise I won't lust after…

“You can open your eyes now.” Cassian's voice pulls me out of my degrading thoughts. I open my eyes; that's when I realize our position.

He caught me.

His strong arms around my waist and shoulder, his chest against mine, causing my nipples to touch his taut muscles, with only the fabric of our clothes separating us, and what's that poking my abdomen?

Is he… hard?

My eyes widen, my lips parting as I look into his frosty blue eyes, adjusting my glasses.

“Brother… I… Achoo!” I sneeze in his face. “Oh, goddess…” I push him away, but he doesn't let me go; instead, he helps me up on my feet.

I quickly reach for a tissue paper from my bag hanging around my shoulder and stand on tiptoes to wipe his face, my fingers shaking uncontrollably.

“I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry.” I continue to apologize, the urge to cry and sneeze again overwhelming me, but this time I hold it in, and it hurts so much, causing a tear to escape my eyes.

I hate myself.

“It's alright.” Brother mumbles, taking hold of my trembling hand. “Come,” he urges, leading me, and opening the back seat of his dark gray Jeep Wrangler.

I sit, and he helps fasten my seatbelt.

I, on the other hand, was as stiff as a rock as I tried not to focus on his hot, labored breath on my face, his expert fingers touching, and brushing my body, and his body that seemed to hover over mine.

“Done,” he states, looking at my face. I force a stiff smile.

“Thank…” I immediately cover my nose with the tissue paper in my hand, sneezing; my glasses almost fall off.

How awkward is this?

I adjust my glasses after wiping my nose and murmuring,

“I'm sorry. I'll pay for the disinfecting of the car.”

“It's not necessary,” he says, catching me off guard when he places his hand on my forehead. “You're running a fever and have a cold. I will stop at the pharmacy and…”

“No. No.” I wave my hands hurriedly, interrupting him. “I think I am having an allergic reaction. There must be a cat around here.”

He raises a brow at me, and I nod, agreeing with him.

“You are right, I need medicine. Thank you, big brother.” I say, smiling heartily at him. But then he frowns, suddenly emitting a cold aura and shutting the car door so firmly I jump.

‘What did I do?’

I watch as he picks up my suitcase and goes to the back of the car, opening the trunk and putting my suitcase in before closing it.

He gets into the car and drives off.

It was a silent ride, and I couldn't watch one of those short reels to kill time because my head aches whenever I'm inside a car, and looking on the phone will only worsen it.

So my focus moves to the man driving.

I didn't want to look too much, but I couldn't help it; he's too breathtaking as he drives seriously with his jaws clenched.

I don't want to know what he's thinking, looking that serious.

Suddenly, he turns to look at me, and our eyes lock briefly before I look away.

“Are you unhappy staying at my place?” He starts a conversation.

Weird. What's he up to?

“No.” I answer abruptly, and he chuckles, and I can tell by his side profile it wasn't a pleasant laugh.

“Tell me, and I might agree to your wish,” he says, looking into the rearview mirror. I look up, and he's looking at me.

I hold his gaze for seconds before relenting; it's clear he doesn't want me at his home.

I look away angrily and reply,

“I want to stay home with Brandon; it's been so long since I spent quality time with him. And he's beginning to doubt my love for him. I thought spending a week together would assure him how much I love him.” I explain with a soft smile, emphasizing ‘how much I love him’ so Brother doesn't suspect I still think about our little encounter.

I look at him, but he doesn't speak and just keeps driving, and so I don't talk either.

…~…

The car comes to a stop at the pharmacy, and he alights without asking me if I'll need anything; that's how things have changed between us.

If it was in the past, he would have asked if I needed something, and even if I told him I didn't need anything, he would still get me something.

“I wish I had spoken back then.” I whisper, shutting my eyes and relaxing into the seat.

~~~

The first thing I feel is something slick lick over my lips, hot breath fanning my face, and hands behind my neck and waist.

I gasp, my eyes fluttering open.

“B-big… brother.” I stutter, from his face that was only inches from mine, enlarging his facial features.

His wet lips that look like he just licked them, compelling me, luring me to grab his face and kiss him to quench my thirst for him, and damn all my fears of doing something abominable.

I lick my lips instinctively as I hold his hypnotic gaze dazedly.

“You're awake,” he inquires in his alienated tone, and I snap out of my daydream.

“Y-yes.” I mumble flusteredly, sitting up so abruptly, I bump into his face. Reaching for his face, I begin to apologize. “Oh, my goodness. Big brother, I'm very sorry…”

But he stops my advances, an angry scowl on his face, as he mutters coldly,

“We're here.” Then he turns and leaves.

Okay, it seems I was right about someone being pregnant; it just turns out to be my brother instead of Melinda.

Dammit, I can't keep up with his sudden mood swings. I step out as he closes the trunk.

I close the car door, approach him, and stretch my hand to take the suitcase from him, but he takes my hand, yanking me to his side, his hand wrapping around my waist so intimately and dragging me alongside him, his focus ahead and not sparing me a glance, like his hand isn't above my ass.

I tense up at first, my hands curl over my chest, but I begin to walk, looking up at his side profile as he looks forward, with a concentrated expression.

We walk through the lawn and stop at the entrance.

Cassian takes out his keys, reaching for the door to open, when the door is pushed open from inside, revealing a beaming Melinda.

“Honey. You're back.”

How great. The witch is here.

“Honey. You're back.” Melinda asks enthusiastically, running for Cassian's arms.

I quickly break out of his arm as if scorched to give way for their lovely reunion after hours apart.

I glance at Brother's face, feeling betrayed, hurt, and angry.

Just when I thought living with him wouldn't be as bad as I'd imagined, he had a big surprise waiting for me.

To think he lied to Mom about Melinda leaving.

I watch as Melinda jumps into his arms, and he catches her, and she seals his lips in a passionate kiss.

An eternity later… They finally pull apart.

How sweet. I sneer inwardly, filled with contempt.

“Oh, Angela… You're here?” Melinda mumbles, looking confused as if she wasn't expecting to see me here, as she breathes heavily from the mind-blowing kiss.

I roll my eyes, unable to hide my anger and disdain.

I round Cassian, reach for my suitcase, and make my way into the house.

"To think she even has the key to his house." I scoff disdainfully under my breath.

He had taken out his key earlier. Does that mean he didn't know she's here? Was I quick to jump to conclusions?

Well, to hell with them, I don't care anymore! My thoughts race as I lift my suitcase, each step I take up the stairs.

The moment I enter my room in my brother's house, I slam the door shut and run for the bed, slumping on top and taking off my glasses.

“Ahhhh!” I scream into the mattress while hitting it repeatedly. “I hate you, Cassian Ironveil, even more than I hate that clingy, beautiful girlfriend of yours!” I shout, my tears falling out at last.

It hurts.

It hurts so bad that I hate myself.

For crying out loud, he is my brother, not even a step-sibling.

Mom and Dad will kill me if they ever find out.

I know this is wrong, but I can't help it. I try to convince myself it's only lust, but I know I'm just deceiving my heart.

For me to hate my brother this intensely in just a day, there’s only one explanation.

Goddess, help me. How do I stop this madness?

I don't want to destroy this family of mine with my forbidden emotions.

Knock

Knock

“Who's there?” I ask because I am not going to allow Melinda in. In fact, I won't allow Brother in either. How do I explain my tears to him?

However, the door clicks open the moment my question leaves my lips.

I didn't have to turn to know it's him; his cold and domineering presence commanded the space, like a grip around your neck, both pleasurable and deadly.

I don't move, since he must be here to deliver the medicine he got me.

“You just put it on top of the nightstand.” I murmur into the mattress, my voice sounding muffled.

However, seconds turned to minutes, and I didn't hear my door opening and closing.

I turn, putting on my glasses, and there he stands, leaning against the wall with his one hand casually tucked into his pocket.

Shameless me begins to check him out instead of rebuking him.

The few undone buttons of his black shirt that expose his intricately inked chest. I should probably stop checking out my brother, but I look further downward, and the front of his pants at his groin is full.

He has a boner, and it's because of Melinda.

That realization knocks me out of my reverie, and I look away.

“Why stop so soon? Go on, I know I'm good-looking.” He mutters with a hint of mischief, and my head snaps at him as I glare at him with eyes that shoot daggers.

“What do you want, Cassian?” I ask harshly. But he pulls off the wall, like his back has been pricked by needles.

“Say it again,” he demands, and I roll my eyes. He was acting out of character. Did I say something wrong?

“I ask you why you're still here; your girlfriend must be sick and lonely, waiting for you,” I inform him, sarcasm dripping from my tone. I look away.

I hear him sigh heavily, and then, the next second, I feel the bed dip from his weight.

“You… why are you sitting down?” I stutter.

He doesn't answer me but replies with a question of his own.

“Why were you crying?” I turn to look at his face at his soft voice. It's been months since he last used that voice, but that doesn't mean I forgive him for deceiving me about Melinda.

“The reason I cried is because I hate you. I don't want to be here. I want to be with my boyfriend!” I yell in his face, the action bringing our faces close.

My breath catches in my throat.

“You hate me?” he asks hoarsely through clenched jaws as he grips my chin, bringing our faces closer.

I think I felt our lips brush; maybe I'm wrong.

I look into his eyes, drawing me in like a magnet, my emotions overwhelming me, my eyes stinging with tears.

“Yes, Brother, I hate you.” I state firmly, and he nods so calmly, but his face says otherwise.

“You would rather be with that loser than stay here?” He asks in a deceptively calm tone, but this time I've already seen through his guise.

He's angry, very angry; I can feel it rolling off him in waves.

Why the hell is he angry?

He should know why I hate him; he should know why I would rather stay at Brandon's place.

“Yes. I would rather stay at his place!” I let out a cry, and his grip on my chin tightens. I can see how he's trying to control his anger but is failing.

Goddess help me, because I can see I'm truly testing his limits, and I’m anxious about what he might do next.

But I simply couldn't relent.

“You don't want to provoke me, Ella.” He drawls in a low growl, and my skin crawls from the intense glint in his bloodshot eyes.

He has lost it.

Great, this is what I need, to finally have a valid reason for staying away from him. So I say something, anything, to rile him up more.

If I'm lucky, he might hit me, but I doubt that my brother will ever raise a hand on a woman.

But I really hope he will.

Because if he does, I will use that to guilt-trip him the rest of his life.

“I wish I never met you, Cassian. I hate you. I hate your perfect girlfriend, and I hate that you're…”

He seals my lips, cutting me off.