MY CRUEL ALPHA BROTHER

ENTERING WOMANHOOD

~CECILIA’S POV~

The next day, we return to Woodside ranch. Nikolaj and I have been so piqued by the new neighbour's beautiful farm that we couldn’t stop ourselves from exploring it.

“It’s such a beautiful piece of land. I can imagine myself leading my whole life here,” Nikolaj appreciates the orchards that were beside the farm.

While we are engaged in prying on someone else’s land, we forget to pay attention to the dogs that are there to guard the land. Our carelessness causes one of the dogs to leap over me. Afraid of being bitten, I lay motionless beneath it. Another dog comes running and catches my leg in its teeth.

Nikolaj scares the dogs away to help me free myself. The dogs must’ve thought us to be thieves. The fearful encounter with the dogs and bleeding feet renders me unconscious. Upon waking, I realise that I am lying on an unfamiliar bed and have a pack of strangers around me. Among them, I spot Nikolaj. I plead with him to take me home.

“What a vicious pair of robbers!” screams a displeased Mrs Anderson.

While I try to make sense of my surroundings, I see the Anderson boy, Peter looking closely at me. He then tells his mother, “She’s the daughter that the alpha William has adopted. She used to go to our university, but then suddenly stopped attending the institution.”

“My leg is bleeding badly. Could you please fetch someone to help me with it? “ I am too distracted by my pain to even look at them.

Instead of heeding my request, the proud woman crosses her arms and comments, “Isn’t she the one who was brought up from a brothel? Why would anyone want to bring someone like her to their home? I think Alpha William has gone insane to do something so bizarre.”

She reluctantly cleans my wound with the antiseptic and then applies a fresh layer of bandages. Even though the woman’s helping me, I can tell by the expression on her face alone the aversion held by her for me.

“She’s a sin child, you can see that,” remarked Mrs Anderson. “She’s rumoured to be an ill-mannered, sordid woman. I am glad she’s not attending my children’s institution. People like her shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near our children.”

For four years, I’ve heard those mean and baseless comments every day. I’ve lived through the insults as if they didn’t matter to me. Hence, I get shocked when I developed tears in my eyes. Maybe, I didn’t know it, but we all have our limits.

Since I cannot walk, it is decided that I’d stay at the ranch for the time being. When Nikolaj receives a messenger from Dorian about calling him back to the pack’s house, Mrs Anderson assures him that I’d be taken care of.

Nikolaj refuses to leave as he doubts that I’d receive good treatment from Andersons. His unwillingness to depart from the ranch brings Martha there as well. She urges both of us to return to the mansion at the very instant, for she feared that the delay will worsen our punishment.

“Dorian found out?” asks a worried Nikolaj.

With fear perceivable on her face, she demands that we leave that very instant. Nikolaj then hurries to hold me in his arms and then carries me to his horse.

“I shouldn’t have asked you to take me here. I’ve got you in so much trouble,” I feel responsible for taking him to the ranch.

He caresses my head gently, gets on his horse and assures me, “We will be fine.”

Then we begin making our way to the mansion. Since the blood loss made me weak, I rest my head on my chest. That made him believe I was asleep.

It must be the reason why he shares his feelings with Martha, “Cecilia’s like a breath of fresh air in this orthodox town. I feel like Peter likes her as well. Honestly, I am not surprised by his feelings for her. Everyone who sees her ends up loving her, don’t they, Martha?”

“I’m afraid your brother wouldn’t agree to this, young master,” Maratha says with grief evident in her tone.

Shortly we reach the mansion. At the entrance itself, we are greeted by the man who puts the devil to shame, Dorian Grey. He looks at Nikolaj and me with a critical gaze.

“Nikolaj, you are going to make ten rounds of the training grounds,” instructed Dorian while keeping his arms crossed.

Nikolaj nervously gets down from the horse and informs his older brother, “She’s injured. I need to take her to her room.”

“You need to head to the training grounds. I don’t want any argument about the same,” Dorian raises his voice at us. “I will take care of her.”

Nikolaj at once heeds to the older brother’s demand as he worries about his bad temper. Martha, who suggests that she can take me to my room instead, gets dismissed as well.

“I’ll take care of her,” Dorian relates himself and demands for everyone to leave us alone.

Ever since Alpha William’s sickness had pushed him to the bed, Dorian had more or less presumed the role of the alpha. That’s why everyone respects his instructions.

“You’ve been getting better with your persuasiveness, little lamb,” he grabs me and then holds me in his arms. “You managed to force my introverted brother to take you out. That’s impressive!”

His wild emerald eyes stare at me in a spiteful manner. I look away as I answer him, “I do not understand your question, master.”

The moment we enter our room, he throws me harshly onto my bed. Before I’d ever recover from the pain of the fall, he dashes toward me. With his hand around my neck, he asks me, “Is Nikolaj pursuing you romantically?”

“Excuse me?” I am not sure why he thinks he has the right to question me about my personal life. “Why do you think I will tell you what’s going on in my personal life?”

His grasp over my neck firms as he reminds me, “I’ll snap your little neck if you’ll dare to disrespect me again.”

“I won’t. Let go of me,” I push him away and then wheeze to catch my breath back.

The monster isn’t pleased. He returns to my side and holds my wrist and commands, “You’ve entered your womanhood and seem to have rightfully inherited all of your mother’s filthy charms. But, I do not wish to see history repeat itself. Stay away from my brother.”

“You’re misunderstanding things,” I dare not look at his hateful eyes.

I thought he’d leave now, but he brings his face closer to mine, holds my jaw and makes me turn to look at him, “How will I think that you’re serious if you won’t look me in the eye?”

His face is too close for comfort. I can feel his breath on my face. The proximity makes me stutter, “I- I will maintain my distance from Nikolaj if that would stop you from bullying me.”

His hand surprisingly caresses my cheek. He does it very tenderly. I can also see the expression on his face changing. What brings this change to him? Cluelessly, I just stare at him and hope to revive an answer.

By looking into his confused eyes? I realise he is just as surprised by his actions. Why does he just let his guard down and touch me so gently? There should be some hidden trick to it. What is he planning?

He no further discusses anything. Just reminds me to keep my alleged tentacles to myself. Upon his retreat from my room, I jump out of my bed, lock the door behind me and mumble out, “Nikolaj is the only friend I have here, and I don’t plan on ignoring him.”

If I’d stop talking to the only person who understands me, I would go crazy in this place. Just like how I do other things that I am deprived of, I will pursue Nikolaj secretly.

Nikolaj is not only my friend, but he is also my teacher and the means to escape this town. If I were to stop seeing him, I wouldn’t receive any more lessons. I cannot afford to do so, not in my circumstances. I desperately need to get out of this mansion before something unfortunate happens to my father. If his sickness were to kill him, Dorian and Luna would begin torturing me.

Quickly, I moved towards my window and saw Nikolaj making rounds of the training ground. Poor lad! He was being punished because of me. I shouldn't have asked him to take me to the ranch.