A Second Chance Mate

Little Brother

Stephen's pov

I took a couple of steps away from her, feeling grateful for that clause in the contract.

"Let's go and eat? I'm famished."

By the time we reached the dining room, the table was set. The food prepared on the table reminded me of the time I spent in Suguta. I didn't think much of it though. That life was in the past and I intended to leave this life too, as soon as I could.

My dragon started to pace around, craving to catch a glimpse of her. Well, it wasn't just him. My heart and soul too seemed to yearn for her. It was a weird feeling, but I was slowly acknowledging it. Maybe she was the one meant for me. I grabbed advantage of Jenna's apparent greater interest in the food and took a cautious look around. I couldn't afford her starting to think that I had my eye on her maid. But Darlene was nowhere in sight. It was disappointing. Despite my desire to see her again, I didn't exhibit much emotion. I took a plate and started to pile it up. Yearning for silence at the table, I took my phone to read the online news. I presumed that Jenna wouldn't try to start a conversation with me, if I appeared to be reading. The daily news didn't bring me any consolation, nonetheless. The headlines for the day made me flinch.

Another suspicious death in Suguta.

Suguta was my original town. The three main underworld gangs called it home, and it was situated in the Dragon Kingdom's farthest western corner. It was the town where my father and his devotees were most active. The news of the mysterious death didn't surprise me. It only made me uncomfortable. I knew that the chances of my father being involved was high. His passion for eliminating his rivals was unnerving and his rivals were hell bent on winning the war against my father. They all desired to be the most feared dragon in the West.

Pursing my lips, I scrolled down the article. Recalling how I once aspired to be like him made me loathe myself. I was so utterly wrong back then. However, at least my eyes were now open.

I sighed… I was forced to open them.

After scanning through the details, I switched my phone off and put it in my pocket. Reading the news was bothering me. I quickly gobbled down the food and stood up to leave.

"Oh, I have asked the driver to help you. He'll be waiting for you at the entrance," Jenna uttered looking up at me as she leisurely ate her food.

"Uh, thanks," I said and briskly walked away.

The driver was prepared to accompany me wherever I desired to go, as she had stated. I would have been flattered if I hadn't been living in the lap of luxury in Suguta. In my home town, it was rather common for us to have a driver.

Living as a commoner who could barely afford the rent when I fled with my brother was a novel experience for me. There were many things I had to learn. And although we had it all for a whole year, I didn't want to become attached to the lavish lifestyle Jenna offered. Especially when I had met the woman of my dreams.

My lips curled into a smile and my heart skipped a beat when I recalled her. The sudden rush of blood to my cheeks amazed me. It was bizarre. No woman ever made me feel like that in the past. If only we met in different circumstances.

I was forced to stop thinking about that mysterious lady when the driver notified me that we had reached our destination. After ensuring that he would wait for my brother and I, I marched upstairs to our apartment and took the bags I had packed the previous day. I locked the door and went to the neighbour's flat to pick my brother up.

"Stephen!"

The sound of Seth's eager voice made me smile.

"Look! A new game! Theon and I downloaded it last night," he uttered, excitedly showing me his iPad.

Chuckling, I checked it out. Video games never caught my interest, but they seem to entertain my little brother.

"Great! I hope you had fun last night," I said.

"We did!" Seth grinned at his friend.

"Can he come here another day? To play with me?" Theon asked, his enthusiastic gaze stagnant on me.

Not wanting to make a promise that I wasn't sure I could keep, I let out a deep breath. With Seth's surgery so close by, I was scared to think of the future. It was a surgery and although we were dragons, I was scared for him since he was so young.

"I will as soon as I get better," Seth promised his friend before I could utter a word. "Right, Stephen?"

I smiled, hoping I was doing a good job of hiding my fear.

"Of course. When you get all better."

After bidding Theon and his parents goodbye, we left.

"Are we going to live in our new home?" Seth questioned as we entered the elevator.

I quickly hid my grimace. My brother didn't have to know I didn't like the idea of calling that place our home.

"Y…yeah," I breathed out. "That's where we are going."

Thankfully, Seth didn't ask any questions while we rode back to the estate. Nor did he say anything while we unloaded the car and entered the residence. I took him to the room where I had stayed the night before, not bothering to seek for Jenna.

"We have the doctor's appointment in the afternoon. Okay? Do you want to eat anything?" I asked.

"No. I'm full," he replied.

Regardless of noticing that the door was slightly ajar, I entered the room without any thought. However as soon as my sight drew to the lovely brunette making the bed, I froze.

Darlene gently rose up and turned around. She seemed to avoid establishing eye contact with me on purpose. My soul, beast, and body, on the other hand, craved for it.

Look at me. Please… just one glance.

"I… I'm almost done cleaning the room."

My heart palpitations boosted when I heard her melodious voice. With each passing second, my urge to get closer to her grew stronger. My need to touch her thrived. Even the thought of being close to her made me feel strange emotions.

I gulped.

Damn it. Why can't my crazy heart be more submissive? I didn't want to lose control of my beast or body and make a fool of myself.

"That's okay. My brother and I can rest here until you're done," Seth told her as he strolled towards the couch.

Phew! Seth's presence was unquestionably beneficial. He had managed to derail my emotions, which were about to go feral.

I took my gaze away from her and followed him, thankful for my brother. Maybe I should just let him do all the talking. With my emotions out of control, I was certain I'd say or do something stupid sooner or later.

Seth sat on the couch and grinned at me, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Don't worry about Stephen. He's nice but an i***t sometimes. He probably doesn't know what to say after seeing your beauty."

My eyes bulged and my face heated up. Or maybe I shouldn't let him do the talking.

I gave Seth a stern face, but as I heard her soothing giggles, my tense muscles relaxed.

"You are a funny boy," she said and continued her work.

At least the air seemed to clear a bit after that. Seth took his iPad and started to play games to kill time while I pretended to scroll down the newsfeed on social media. I just couldn't help but steal glances at her, at times staring at her awestruck by her delicate features.

Perhaps Seth was right. Her beauty had rendered me speechless.

"And done. Thank you for your patience," she offered the most beautiful smile and walked out of the room.

Inhaling deeply, hoping to calm my erratic heart, I glanced at my brother.

"Okay, Seth. Let's get some rest. I'll pick a shirt and a pair of jeans for you to wear this afternoon. We will have lunch and then…"

"You like her, don't you?"

Seth's interruption startled me.

"What?"

He tilted his head. "I saw your jaw tightening and your eyes doing that thing when you see a girl you like."

My jaw dropped. "Aren't you too young to know any of that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I'm eleven and not stupid. And I've spent enough time with you to know that look on your face."

Chuckling, I ruffled his hair. "You're my bro. Of course, you're not stupid. You now have to convince her that I am not an i***t since you told her so."

"Yeah… buy me chocolate," he smirked.

I rolled my eyes. Of course, that little pimp would try to manipulate the situation.

"I'll think about that," I said.

Just as I was about to stand up, Jenna entered the room and offered the brightest smile she possibly could have mustered.

"Oh, hello, Seth. I hope your brother has told you about me. I'm Jenna, your brother's wife," she said.

Pursing my lips, I cast a sidelong glance at Seth, who had his forehead creased up in confusion.

Great.