My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother

Chapter 6

Lydia

My eyes widen at the suggestion. "So, you need your other self to drink my blood to survive?"

"That's right," grumpy Avery confirms. He is using his authoritative alpha tone with me, and the muscles in his arms are bulging as he keeps them crossed over his chest. "And as my omega, I expect you to obey."

His voice rubs me off in the wrong way.

Avery is acting like a brat. It's beginning to dawn on me that his only redeeming quality was his vampire side. Because now that he has rejected that part of himself?

Pfft, he is as friendly as a hungry shark!

I lift my nose into the air, trying to stand tall and appear brave even though I'm not even five-foot-one. "I would have helped you regardless. Unlike you, I actually like your vampire self."

Charming vampire Avery smiles at me. "Thank you."

"Wait, what?" the grumpy Avery intervenes, glaring at me. Since his eyes are glowing, one could mistake my alpha for being jealous. "You like him? Why! There is nothing good about him!"

I growl back. "Unlike your alpha side, your vampire side is charming, funny, and approachable! What is there not to like? He is the only part of you that actually respects me! You've been rude, but your vampire side hasn't called me weak even once!"

Grumpy Avery stands up from the tree trunk—typical alpha male behavior. He can't settle this by speaking, so now he needs to show off that he towers over me by a foot. Using his size against me.

Real classic.

I wet my lips, ignoring his arms and shoulders roped with veins and muscles.

It's more challenging than it seems.

Avery looms, taking up too much space and, in my mind, the air I'm desperately trying to breathe. I try to calm myself, but it's not easy when Avery could probably kill me in less than a heartbeat.

Is Avery an aggressive alpha? I wouldn't know. I don't know him.

"You should mind the way you speak to your alpha!" Avery growls, and I will admit that he does scare me.

He is tall.

Dark.

Irritatingly handsome.

Huge.

Totally capable of snapping me in half.

Yet I challenge him by barking back. "Or what?!"

Grumpy, alpha Avery looks ready to wring my neck.

Avery takes a step forward while I take one step back. I brace myself to be beaten by him, expect it, but his vampire self steps in the middle to keep us from flying at each other.

"Easy there," charming Avery holds up his hands and glances between us. When he notices me shaking, he gives me a sympathetic smile and turns to his other self. "You're scaring her right now. Is that really what you want? Intimidating your own step-sister?"

I expect grumpy Avery to tell his vampiric side that he doesn't care, but his eyes travel to my legs. He notices them slightly tremble and something resembling guilt washes over his face.

It baffles me.

I didn't take grumpy Avery had it in him to care. But he obediently sits down on the tree trunk again. Though, even when sitting, he is still larger-than-life in my eyes.

"Sorry for snapping at you..." grumpy Avery mutters. "I... I wouldn't get physical with you. I'm not that kind of alpha."

"He is speaking the truth," charming Avery says and tilts his head while studying my face. "We have this massive crush on you and think you're pretty—you're safe with us."

"WHAT?!" grumpy Avery exclaims, entirely red in the face. "I don't have a crush on the f*****g omega! Stop making s**t up!"

The charming Avery burst out laughing, and I'm unsure what to believe.

I don't think for a moment that Avery likes me when he acts the total opposite. But there is no denying that he is blushing right now and seems intent on avoiding my eyes.

Odd.

But perhaps that is not to frighten me?

"Anyway, we should get to work," charming Avery says and passes me another smile. He looks so unlike the grumpy Avery that it's uncanny. Whereas he radiates friendliness, the other is like a cloud of ominous energy. "You're still willing to offer me your blood, right?"

"Oh!" I straighten my back. "I'm ready!"

"Great!" charming Avery looks pleased. Too pleased.

He approaches me with smooth, fluid movements and stands right before me. My chin is tilted up, and his red eyes meet mine.

Avery is beautiful. Like a walking daydream. A shiver runs down my spine when his large hand is placed on the back of my head. Every hair standing on the edge of my body.

"This won't hurt," charming Avery whispers. "Maybe a little, but I promise to try and be gentle."

"Woah, Woah, Woah!" grumpy Avery interrupts. "Why are you holding her as if you're going to kiss her?! Just drink the damn blood already! Do it from her arm!"

Charming Avery pouts. "But it's so much better from the neck..."

Grumpy Avery makes a "Tssk" sound and looks away. I wonder what his problem is until I'm hit with burning pain. Charming Avery's fangs sink underneath my skin, but luckily, it's gone as soon as it starts.

"Thank you."

The charming Avery pulls away and uses the back of his hand to dry his mouth while grumpy Avery stands up.

"It's my turn to use the bedroom tonight," he announces. "You stay out in the woods. Hunt or do whatever you do."

"Roger that."

I glance between them. "Why can't you both stay at the castle? Your dad seems to think you have the ability to clone yourself."

Grumpy Avery doesn't look interested in answering my question, but luckily his vampire self does.

"When we stay too long in the same place, this pull happens. It's as if our souls know they are meant to be together, so we start to feel the need to morph into one and the same person increasingly."

"Which I don't want to happen," grumpy Avery chimes in. His expression is dark and irritated. "I can't f*****g imagine turning into a full-fledged hybrid by accepting my vampire self."

"Why not?" I ask. "What is the huge deal?"

Grumpy Avery snorts. "Really? You haven't figured that out yet? My, I wonder what the huge deal could be? You know, except I would have to drink blood and wouldn't age."

My heart falters. "You wouldn't age?"

"He is right," vampire Avery confirms with a conflicted expression. "As the vampire prince, we are bound to freeze in time."

Grump Avery sighs. "And I'm not interested in turning into some immortal creature. I just want to be normal... I never asked to be a freak of nature, and rejecting my vampire self is the only solution I have."

I glance between them. "But... But if you pick a mate at your claiming ball, then your life would be bound to your mate. You might not age, but you wouldn't live forever, right?"

A sardonic laugh leaves grumpy Avery's lips, and I shudder when his sullen eyes meet mine. "And who in their right mind would accept me as their mate? Maybe at first, but... Do you honestly think they would be happy when they age and I don't?"

My lips part, but not a word comes out. I hadn't thought of that. Avery seems to realize I got nothing to say and breathes a bitter laugh before heading toward the mansion.

"Anyway, I'm leaving. I'm going to cook dinner and shower after training the new warrior wolf recruits," he stops in his tracks. "Thank you for the blood, Lydia. I appreciate it."

Grumpy Avery leaves with his hands in his pockets, and I'm left alone with his vampire self.

I glance up at him, and he smiles. "Lydia, do you think you could do me a small favor?"

"Anything," I tell him, mostly because I feel bad for him.

"Keep an eye on the other me," there is a heavy sigh. "I'm hoping he will accept that he is a vampire and that we can merge before the ball... Because there is something that we forgot to tell you."

"And what is that?"

"If we keep staying apart, then both of us will eventually die," he shrugs nonchalantly as if he just didn't deliver me a bomb. "One can't exist without the other. We are like Ying and Yang. The other side of me knows this, but he is ready to die—I want you to change his mind. Convince him that living is worth it."

"How do I do that?" I ask with panic clawing at my chest. I had no idea their life was at stake. "No offense, but the other Avery hates me and would never take my advice!"

There is a chuckle. "Oh, the other Avery values your opinion more than you think. Just talk to him, okay? Be with him, and he will come around."

I swallow thickly. "I can do that, but I make no promises... I really don't think your other self likes me."

And to be honest, the grumpy Avery frightens me.

He is gorgeous but carries this insane darkness within him. Whenever he looks at me, I shudder, and now I'm supposed to convince him life is worth living? How do I do that?