Claimed By My Stepbrother
Chapter 78
Camila POV
“Don’t worry, he’s about to leave.”
I shot Ethan a sharp glare, practically dating him to argue.
Aunt Anya, however, just chuckled, completely ignoring the tension crackling in the air. “There’s no need for that, Camila. He’s welcome to stay.”
My stomach dropped.
Igaped at her, but she was already turning away, completely oblivious to the silent war happening between me and the uninvited guest standing across from me.
Welcome to stay? Had she lost her damn mind?
She started toward the hallway, stretching her arms lazily above her head. “It’s been a long night, and I need sleep. You two don’t burn the house down while I’m out.”
I was too stunned to even argue.
Anya disappeared into her room, the door clicking shut behind her, leaving behind a silence so heavy it felt suffocating.
I spun on Ethan, marching toward him with pure fury burning in my chest.
“How the hell are you even thinking of staying over,” I hissed, keeping my voice low so Anya wouldn’t hear, “when you literally put her boyfriend in the hospital?!”
Ethan just shrugged.
Shrugged.
Like this was nothing. Like he hadn’t just wrecked the man’s face.
I was going to lose my mind.
“Ethan I hissed, gripping his arm, my nails digging into his skin.
He glanced down at where I was holding him, then back up at me, completely unfazed. “What?”
My eyes widened. “What? What?! Are you serious right now?
He blinked. “He deserved it.“/
I clenched my fists, biting down on the urge to strangle him.
Chapter 78
Ethan took a step closer, invading my space like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Do you really want me to leave, he murmured.
“Yes!” I hissed, my voice sharp and filled with barely restrained frustration. “Just–leave, Ethan!”
I didn’t wait for him to respond. Didn’t give him the satisfaction of another word..
I turned on wooden stairs.
my heel and stormed back toward my toom, my bare feet making quick, angry sounds against the
I reached my room and slammed the door shut behind me, pressing my back against the cool wood as I sucked in a deep breath.
My hands trembled.
My skin was hot,
And worst of all?
I wasn’t relieved that he was leaving.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push the thought away, but it clung to me like a second skin.
God, why did he have to be like this?
as
I groaned, pushing away from the door and dragging myself toward my bed. I felt exhausted, like I had just run a marathon instead of having a conversation.
Falling onto my mattress, I buried my face into my pillow, screaming into it just to get some of the
frustration out.
him?
Why did it feel like no matter what I did, no matter what I said, I was always losing control when it came to
Exhaling deeply, I turned to stare blankly at the ceiling, my mind a complete mess.
Everything was mess up.
So… my mother was mated to Greg.
And I… was apparently mated to his son?
What kind of fucked–up, forbidden romance trope was this?
Seriously, if my life had been a book, I would’ve thrown it across the room.
This was the kind of thing you saw in those overly dramatic romance novels–where fate had a twisted sense of humor, throwing two people together just to watch them suffer.
I turned onto my side, trying to shake the thought.
Chapter 78
Werewolves were weird.
Mates? Destined partners? soul bonds? It all felt too surreal, too fantastical to be real. Yet, here I was, stuck in the middle of it like some kind of tragic heroine.
I groaned and shoved my face into my pillow again, my mind still running laps despite my body begging for
sleep.
I refused to believe it.
But then…
Why did I feel something when Ethan touched me?
Why did I get breathless when he was near?
I hated it.
Hated how my body reacted to him.
Hated how my chest ached when I thought about him walking away.
Damn it.
Damn him.
I sighed, rolling onto my back, my limbs heavy. My eyelids drooped, exhaustion finally weighing me down.
Maybe after takin
Maybe-
taking a nap, all of this would make more sense.
My thoughts blurred.
My body relaxed.
And before I could finish my spiral, I drifted off.
I woke up to the sound of my own stomach growling.
Loudly.
Embarrassingly.
Ugh.
Squinting against the sunlight streaming through my window, I groaned, rolling onto my side and grabbing my phone. Noon.
Dragging myself out of bed, I rubbed my face. The hunger gnawing at my stomach made it impossible to just
Chapter 78
lay there any longer. I needed food.
1 yawned as I padded toward the door, barely mustering the energy to drag myself downstairs. Maybe I could grab a quick bite and slip back into my room before dealing with-
I stopped in my tracks.
Sitting in the kitchen, comfortably chatting like he belonged here, was Ethan.
Still here.
Still in the house.
And next to him, sipping coffee was Aunt Anya.
I blinked, trying to make sense of the situation.
Anya was smiling, nodding as if they were discussing some hilarious inside joke.
What the hell was going on?
Why were they getting along like old friends?
And more importantly–why was he still here?!
I expected him to be gone when I woke up. I practically kicked him out!
Yet here he was, looking comfortable, drinking my aunt’s coffee, and probably charming his way into her good
graces.
My appetite momentarily forgotten, I folded my arms, leaning against the doorway with an unamused glare..
Neither of them noticed me at first.
It wasn’t until Ethan took a sip of his coffee, his gaze lazily drifting toward me, that his lips curled into that
damn smirk.
The same one that made my blood pressure spike.
“You’re finally up,” he said smoothly, like he hadn’t been the reason I barely slept last night.
I scowled. “You’re still here.”
