Forcefully Claimed By My Alpha Stepbrother

Chapter 3

Fiona

I was woken up by a knock on my door. I dragged myself out of bed and walked sleepily to open the door. It was one of the maids.

“Sorry to disturb you, but I was told to inform you that breakfast is ready,” she said.

“Okay, thank you. I'll be down soon,”

I closed the door after she left, and rushed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I didn't know how the alpha's household was run, but I sure as hell didn't want to keep them waiting. I'd rather wait for them.

I brushed my teeth as quickly as I could and looked at myself in the mirror, trying to make myself presentable. I didn't know if I should change out of my pajamas, or just wear them.

I decided to wear them downstairs because I didn't want to make it seem like I was overthinking. I made my way down the stairs and to the dining room, thankfully, not everyone was there, and they were all still in their pajamas.

My mother was seated right beside the head of the table, on the right, while Ethan was seated on the left. The king wasn't there yet, neither was Olivia.

“Good morning,” I greeted but received no reply, not even a glance.

I sighed and looked between the two from where I stood, thinking where it would be safer to sit, and I decided to sit beside Ethan.

Not because of anything, but because I felt I could see my mom better that way, and maybe she should look at me.

I sat down beside Ethan, but even with all my movements, my mother didn't even glance at me. I stared at her, praying that she would try to look at me, but that prayer wasn't answered.

I heard a scoff from beside me, and I turned to look at Ethan, but before I could say anything the king walked in at that same moment.

It was my first time seeing him fully, and even though he had briefly spoken to me last night, it felt different seeing him this morning.

He was a really big man, and you could tell just by looking at him, that he was very powerful. He exuded an aura that commanded respect.

He seemed scary.

“Good morning, everyone. I trust you all had a great night. Let's eat,” he said as he took his seat.

The food was soon served, and I had never had that amount of food placed in front of me before. There was a lot of food, and different kinds and even some that I hadn't seen before in my life. I smiled, happy that I got to experience something like this in my life.

I silently wished my late aunt was there with me. We barely ate anything nice because we couldn't afford it.

After the king had taken his food, the rest of us dug in. I was kind of shy because I didn't want to appear inappropriate before them, but, after done time watching them, I somehow mustered the courage to.

Fiona, hope you are enjoying your stay so far. My stepfather asked me after some minute of total silence on the table.

“Yes sir, thank you," I answered, glad that he seemed to know how I was faring.

“Ethan, I just wanted to let you know that Fiona will be attending your school starting Monday,” the king informed Ethan, the sound of cutlery clattering down on the plate caught everyone's attention.

We all looked at Ethan, who had a very angry look on his face.

“What do you mean I have to attend school with her? There are more than enough schools in our town alone, but she just has to go to the same one as me?!” he asked, obviously not in support of his dad's decision.

“Like bringing her here wasn't enough now you want to dump her on me?!” he ranted on.

“Ethan, that's enough. That's your father you are talking to” my mother started, but Ethan cut her off.

“And who do you think you are to tell me what to do? Don't you dare talk to me, you're not my mother, and you'll never be!!” Ethan shouted at my mother, standing up from his chair with so much force that it fell to the floor.

“Don't speak to my mother like that, she might not be your's, but she deserves your respect,” I instinctively defended my mother.

“I never asked you to speak on my behalf. I am not handicapped. I am very capable of handling my issues,” my mother scolded me.

Those words cut deeper than they were meant to. My heart ached at how my mother would speak to me in such a manner after I defended her.

“Okay, okay. Settle down everyone. Breakfast time isn't time for all of these disagreements and fights,” my stepfather said.

His voice though calm, pierced through every other voice. “And you, Ethan. You shouldn't speak to people in that manner. That is no feature of a future king. Now apologize,” he ordered.

Ethan sighed and moved back a little. “I'm sorry and please excuse me,” he said, before walking out.

After saying that, he left the table. I looked down at his plate, and his food hadn't even been half-eaten. I sighed, knowing that I was the cause.

After breakfast, I went back to my room to take my bath and sat down in my room, thinking about what to do. Olivia wasn't at breakfast for some reason, and there was no one I could ask.

It made me sad.

I thought for a while, before finally deciding to go talk to Ethan. Maybe, just maybe I could get him to talk to me, civilly.

I looked into his room, and he wasn't there, so I asked the maids for him, and they said that he was in the garden. I went there and saw him sitting under one of the umbrellas, looking down at his phone.

I approached him slowly, feeling unsure of what I was about to do. I walked close to him and cleared my throat.

He looked up to see me, and his facial expression almost scared me away, but I decided to stay.

“Hi, I just wanted to apologize for what happened at the dining table. It wasn't my intention to be rude, I was just speaking up for my mom,” I explained.

I just stood there, waiting for him to say something, but he just stared at me. After a while, he laughed and looked away. Then he stood up and got into my face.

“I will never forgive you, nor that w***e you call your mother,” he seethed before walking away, leaving me confused.

‘Why the hell did he hate us so much?’

Not having anything else to do, I decided that it was time to speak to my mother. It was strange that she wouldn't talk to me after she invited me to come live with her.

I mustered up the courage and approached her. She was seated in the living room, watching some soap opera.

I sat down on the sofa, staring at her nervously. It was like I wasn't even there for her so she paid me no attention.

“Mom, I just spoke to Ethan. I asked him for forgiveness. I'm sorry for what happened earlier, you are right, I shouldn't have spoken without permission. Please forgive me,” I informed her.

I was met with absolute silence.

“If you could just acknowledge me, at least-”

“I want to be left alone,” she cut me off.

I stared at my mother as she stared at the TV. Her eyes held no emotion. They were just blank, and that was when I knew that she held no feelings for me, not even one bit.

I stood up from the couch and was about to head to my room when her voice cut me off.

“Just know your place while you are here,” she said and I turned to see that she didn't even move her eyes from the TV she was watching.