Fated to My Step-Brother.

Chapter Three: Desire

[William]

Her scent filled my nose as I leaned across her, stealing a fleeting moment of closeness while pouring her another glass of the Pack brewed wine from Chicago that she seemed to like.

I'd been catching glimpses of that scent all day, it leading me on a wild swirl of the airport and made me late when I realised where it was coming from.

She hadn't spoken much over dinner, but dessert had perked her up, telling me about her studies and human friends.

She gave me a playful scowl when our hands brushed as I reached for my fork, the tingling sensation making a strained noise threaten to leave me. Her emerald eyes shone with something deeper, something that called to me.

She turned away, her cheeks flushed for a moment, digging into her strawberries and cream cake I'd asked father to have made for her, knowing it was her favourite.

A noise of enjoyment fell from her as she bit down, my chest and pants tightening uncomfortably.

I turned away, collecting myself before I did something stupid.

Odette wasn't the teenage girl I remembered - she wasn't quiet or shy, the trauma that had dulled her eyes years ago seemed to have eased, but I could see moments of it.

Moments her mind blocked out memories, shielded her beautiful mind from the horrors she experienced from that night.

I mentally shook myself, I wouldn't bring it up. Dad said she'd been doing better, her psychologist sent me updates every few months telling me the same thing.

But she still didn't remember, and that worried me.

A small hand touched my arm, the warmth that shot up my arm made my heart race as I met Odette's eyes, looking at me with an annoyed smile.

Her full, shining lips twitched. "Did you hear me?" She asked, her voice soft and playful.

I blinked. "Uh, no," I admitted, "What did you say?" Her smile widened as she rolled her eyes and pulled her hand away.

I had to stop myself reaching for it again, wanting to feel her soft skin against mine.

She repeated herself, carving her cake with her fork again. "Did you ask Dad to have May make this?" She gave me a coy look, seeing straight through any lie I could attempt.

A smile tugged at my lips that I covered with my napkin, wiping the sides of my mouth. "Maybe," I teased, shooting her a friendlier grin than I felt able to provide right now.

She scowled again, the bridge of her cute nose wrinkling and she pouted her lips at me.

"You're all weird and mysterious now," she muttered, reaching for her glass then and took a large drink, seeming to muster some kind of courage as she asked. "Why are you so..." she trailed off shaking her head and looked around us, noting the few Pack who had stayed for dessert and coffee.

Her scanning stopped suddenly, a panic lighting her eyes. "s**t," she muttered, scrambling from her chair as I glanced back.

A few high-ranked Wolves sat at a table nearby with Dad, chatting happily and consumed by our Alpha's charisma and storytelling regaling.

A younger Wolf caught my attention, the only one not paying attention to Dad.

I pushed my senses, feeling he was a Gamma, a fighter, which explained the muscular, wide frame that threatened the threads of his suit, and the shaven hair that suggested at dark blonde hair. But he wasn't from our Pack, probably an invited guest - or intruder.

My Wolf snarled in the back of my mind, an instinct going through me seeing the lustful look in his dark blue eyes, watching Odette retreat.

A smirk tugged at his mouth as he finished his drink and went to excuse himself from the table.

I was already on my feet, my senses pushed through the mansion to locate Odette hiding in the reading room across the hall.

The door closed behind me with a gentle click, startling Odette and she spun, gasping and wiping away tears.

"Will," she mumbled, embarrassed. Her green eyes shone, tears streaming down her face as if she was in the verge of shattering.

I was in front of her before I could take my next breath.

"Why are you crying?" My voice came out harder than I intended, but the sight of it shattered something inside of, tearing me between a fury I couldn't contain - a desire to end whatever was causing her pain.

She shook her golden hair, refusing to tell me. I reached for her before I could stop myself, gathering her small frame into my arms, trying to ignore her good she felt in them as I leaned down, my lips close to her ear.

"Tell me, please," I begged, letting some of these feelings slip.

The door behind us opened, Odette tensing as a thick, liquorice scent filled the room and a deep voice rumbled through. "Huh, guess this is him."

I turned, seeing the Gamma in the doorway, watching us with a mocking look, his hands in his pockets and his eyes pinning Odette.

I narrowed my eyes at him, a growl leaving my throat. "Excuse me?"

The Gamma smiled, cocky and arrogant, stepping further into the room. "You're Will, right?" He asked, tilting his head at me then tossed his chin at Odette without waiting for my answer. "You know she talks about you in her sleep?"

I faltered.

In her sleep?

I looked down at Odette, questioning what he meant, but her eyes were black, glaring at the Gamma.

He smiled at her, something in me wanting to rip his throat out before he said whatever he had to say next.

Odette's voice came out low, her Wolf on the surface. "Tanner," her fists balling into my suit jacket with anger, using me to control her rage. "Why're you here?" She demanded.

His grin was obnoxious and grating as he answered, shrugging. "Festivities," he said simply.

She scoffed harshly. "You don't care about the Solstice or the Crowning," she spat, venom and weight in her words that told me she knew Tanner well.

A flash of jealousy went through me, thinking of Tanner touching her - kissing her.

Touching what was mine.

Before I could reconsider my thoughts, rage boiled in my veins, a possessive surge overtaking my senses as I clutched Odette to my side, pinning the Beta with a glare that dropped the temperature of the room.

Tanner tensed, flinching at my sudden aura that pressed against him like stone.

A cruel smirk twitched on my lips. "So, you know my name," I drawled, my voice low and dangerous, Tanners eyes widening as I straightened. "But not who I am." I felt myself let go of Odette, moving across the room with calculated steps, the Gamma pinned in place.

"Will," Odette breathed when I was a foot away, close enough I could still end his life. I glanced over my shoulder at her, seeing her hands clasped together at her chest and fear in her eyes.

"Please, don't." She begged, her voice shaking.

The rage in my veins died instantly, replaced by guilt and regret - My favourite girl, my Odette, was scared.

Of me.

I kept my eyes on Odette as I grabbed Tanner's collar, taking him by surprise and pushing him harshly to the door before he could react. "Come near Odette again, I'll rip your throat out." I warned, Odette's eyes shining with emotions as I waited until the door was closed behind us and the Gamma's foul scent finally dissipated, being replaced by Odette's soft, intoxicating scent.

I felt drawn to her, like a moth to a flame and I realisation set in, tightening my chest.

Something is different. I've always loved Odette - she was my little sister, the girl I protected and did everything I could to keep safe and cared for. Even when we'd been seperated, I know she checked in on me as much as I had her.

Odette's sweet voice filled the silent space then, "You didn't have to say that," she said, seeming to force herself to lower her hands, and then her head in submission that filled me with a need to claim her in a way I shouldn't.

I wanted to kiss her, f**k her against the desk and make her mine.

I'd had these thoughts before, but they'd been easy to ignore - to push aside and try to forget the way they made my heart race .

Now, I couldn't bring myself to ignore them.

I wanted to act on them.

"I did," I found myself arguing, my voice low and serious, Odette meeting my eyes then. "No one touches what's mine," I knew it crossed a line, but I didn't care.

We watched each other, seeming to be gauging the same feelings and reactions before she took a small step towards me.

"Will-" whatever she had to say was cut off when the door behind me opened, a rage flickering in me at being interrupted.

"Kids, there you are!" Dad's cheery, slurred voice echoed through the room, snapping both of our attention to him as he leaned in the doorway, waving us out of the room. "Come on! Everyone's left!" He chuckled drunkenly, making me scowl and look behind him, seeing the dining hall empty and the housekeepers moving through the room, cleaning and clearing plates.

We had to have been in here for at least an hour.

"Oh," Odette muttered, seeming just as surprised as me, not realising we'd been caught in some kind of trance. "Sorry, Pops," she said, moving past me, letting Dad throw his arm over her shoulder and grinned down at her, chuckling.

"It's alright, princess," he squeezed her against him, turning with her down the hall towards the kitchen.

I followed behind as he guided her through the mansion, ducking to press his temple against the side of her hair. "I wanted to sneak in a midnight snack before bed, what'd you say?" He asked, Odette giggling at him and her arm wrapped his waist, helping to ease his swaying.

"Sounds good," she nodded, grinning at him, then hesitated before looking over her shoulder at me, she voice coming out as a delicate question. "Are you coming along, Big Bear?"

My heart twisted at the childhood nickname, a smile spreading on my lips and I took the hand she outstretched for me, Dad waddling ahead - unaware of the spark that had ignited between us.

I squeezed her small hand, relishing in how soft and warm her skin was against mine. "Try and stop me, Little Rabbit," I leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, hearing her small gasp before she collected herself, tugging me to the kitchen where Dad was diving into an enormous tub of rocky-road icecream on the centre isle. Odette stopped for a moment, shooting me a suspicious scowl as she took the spoon Dad offered her and dug in.

I joined them, though it wasn't my ideal choose, it was Odette's other favourite dessert.

And giving her what she wanted and loved, was all I desired.

She was my mate, after all.