MY HYBRID STEPBROTHERS AND I

Chapter 4

AARON

As I drove to the company, the sun was shining brightly, and the sky was a clear shade of blue. The weather was perfect, but my mind was consumed with conflicting emotions of what was going to happen. It was worth thinking about, I guess.

There was the fact that I couldn't shake the guilt of leaving my new step sister behind this morning. She had looked up at me with her round, doe-like hazel eyes, and I couldn't even tell if she was hurt that I had chosen not to take her to school or disgusted by my sight. She had this look of surprise when she first saw me, like she knew me and I knew her. Well, her features were so amazing. It was obvious we wouldn't be any good to each other.

The moment I had said, “I am not going to take you to college,” she frowned at me. I made sure I maintained my dangerous and deep voice (women say that was how I sounded; dangerous and deep).

“Why?” She had asked, with a raised brow that told me what to expect from her being.

“Can’t you drive?” I had questioned her.

“I can.”

And that was my escape. “Then you can take yourself to college.” I ensured I had this steady expression that would make her hate me and I was glad it worked, because as I stood up and was walking out, I heard her say, “jerk.”

I couldn't let myself give in to her at this moment or any moment. It was better this way, I told myself. It was better to hurt her now than to entangle her further into the complicated mess of being my mate. Yes, my mate and that was what I smelled. Who could have thought I wasn't having a ‘human’ as my family?

The warm rays of the sun streaming through the car window made me hot and I lowered the window glasses. The crisp morning air filled my lungs making me feel at ease for a while.

What bothered me was my father. If he knew about this, he would take it that I didn't welcome his new family and that was far from what I wanted. When my father decided to have himself a woman to warm his bed, I didn't expect one that has a child and I still agreed with that, I also didn't expect a girl and I still went ahead with accepting them, until I saw the girl in question and everything in me turned.

From the moment I saw her, I knew there would be an undeniable pull between us, a magnetic connection that threatened to unravel all my carefully built walls. We barely even know each other, and the animosity between us was palpable. It was safer this way, I told myself. Safer for her, safer for her. At least that's what I tried to believe.

As I parked the car outside the company building, I sat for a moment. My father already saw me as a monster, a freak of nature for being half vampire and half werewolf. He would never understand that the connection I shared with my mate was beyond my control, beyond any societal norms. If he found out, it would only confirm his beliefs about me as a hybrid freak.

I could picture the disgust in his eyes, the disappointment etched on his face. My heart clenched at the thought of losing his approval, his acceptance. I had to terminate all of these thoughts I was having and stay away from my step sister.

“I guess that's solved then.” I said aloud and came out of the car. The plan was to stay away from her.

Navigating through the bustling halls of the company, I tried to push aside my conflicted emotions. I should be worried about how to grow the company not to be worried about a ‘mate’ that happened to be my stepsister.

I yanked the thoughts of her off my mind as I entered the reception and I continued to walk, feeling comfortable in my outfit. The dark wash pants clung to my legs comfortably, while the white shirt and monkey jacket provided a sense of familiarity and warmth against my skin. The golden watch on my wrist added a touch of sophistication to my look. The outfit exuded confidence and comfort, empowering me as I navigated the corporate setting. As I walked, I felt a sense of ease and assurance, knowing that I was both comfortable and stylish in my attire.

“Good morning, sir.” I turned back and saw Emma and Anthony, both good friends of mine.

“Sir? You make me sound too old.” I joked.

“Well, aren't you?” Anthony chipped in and handed me a coffee. “You look like you've eaten but you need the coffee.”

I chuckled and collected the coffee, I took a sip, I loved the taste. “Send one of them to my office, will you?”

“Surely, sir.”

As I sipped the coffee, I looked around to see if I would see Violet with someone showing her around. I had earlier scanned the parking lot for any sign of her car. She was nowhere in sight. Well, I didn't even want her here to start with. She was trouble.

When father had asked her to intern here, I wanted to protest but it would have been off and I didn't want to make things any weird between I and my new step mom so I stayed silent hoping she hated the idea too, but her mum was quick to chip in that she'd take the spot and I was defeated.

I was smiling and then I looked up, and there he was, Nathan – the exact copy of me. Our eyes locked, and memories of our relationship flooded my mind. I just stared and he did too. What would happen with him here? Well, let's see.

I made my way towards Nathan, with a frown on my face. I wasn't going to talk to him. That I was sure of.