My Alpha Stepbrother is My Bully (Nevaeh) novel Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Eli

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Gritting my teeth, I trail after Cam like his own personal shadow as he lugs my suitcase down the remaining stairs. I’m fuming inside but bite my tongue, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his words stung. Instead, I keep my mind busy by studying his muscular back and shoulders rippling beneath his tight, black t-shirt. The pipsqueak has clearly been hitting the gym.

it’s actually very distracting.

Cam was never good-looking in the past, but now he reminds me of a younger and more swole version of Ismael Cruz Córdova. Cam is actually HOT, which isn’t a good thing since checking out your younger stepbrother should definitely belong on the list of deadly sins. I need to get a grip and stop staring at his butt.

We reach the basement door, and he opens it. “After you,” he says with mock chivalry, gesturing for me to go

first.

I shoot him a withering glare but soon I’m distracted by a smell and wrinkle my nose in distaste.

“Really, Cam? You’re going to have me live down here without getting rid of the mold first?”

“There isn’t any mold behind the door,” he replies.

I’m about to ask him, “What door?” but I have my answer when I see there’s another door at the bottom of the

stairs.

Cam fishes out a key from his pocket and hands it over before lifting his eyes to the door. “The lock can be a bit tricky. You have to jiggle it just right.”

I snatch the key from his hand and march over to the door, determined to prove I can handle a stubborn lock. After a few clumsy attempts, I finally get it open.

I step into the basement apartment and look around, surprised by what I see. Despite the musty smell in the stairwell, the space itself is nice-more than nice, actually. The floors are made of dark wood, and the walls are painted dark blue. There’s a small but fully equipped kitchen, a cozy living area with a white couch, and a door that I assume leads to the bedroom. Another door is slightly ajar, revealing a glimpse of a tiled bathroom.

It’s clear Cam put some effort into making this space livable. Grudgingly, I have to admit I’m impressed. But I will be damned if I let him know that.

I turn to face Cam, who is watching me with an unreadable expression. “It’s…adequate,” I say haughtily. “I suppose it will do.”

“Glad it meets your lofty standards,” he retorts sarcastically. He sets my suitcase down just inside the door. “Well, I’ll leave you to get settled. There’s a pack meeting tonight that I need to prepare for. You know, Alpha duties and all.” He smirks, letting the implication hang in the air.

But I won’t let that get to me and wave him off dismissively with a bored expression. “Don’t let me keep you then, Mr. Important Alpha.”

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Chapter 103

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Cam’s eyes narrow at my sarcastic tone. He isn’t amused by it, which frightens me, and that’s shocking. I shouldn’t be afraid of my little stepbrother, who really isn’t all that little. The kid could snap me like a twig these days.

And he knows it because, in the next moment, he takes a step closer, his tall frame dwarfing mine. “You know, Elmyra, I could make things very difficult for you here if I wanted to. As the future Alpha, the pack will follow my lead in how they treat you. So I’d watch that pretty little mouth of yours if I were you.”

His words should intimidate me-I’m already half-freaked out about his size-but instead, they send an unexpected shiver down my spine. Am I seriously getting off on his anger?

I tilt my chin up defiantly, meeting his intense gaze. “Is that a threat, Cam? Because it sounds like one.”

Cam leans down like a parent speaking to a child, his face inches from mine. “It’s not a threat, Elmyra. It’s a promise.”

We stare at each other for a charged moment, the air crackling with tension. Cam is actually making me nervous. My traitorous heart won’t stop hammering in my chest. Geez. Since when does Cam have the ability to fluster me like this?

Finally, he steps back, breaking the spell. “I expect to see you at the pack meeting that will be held once the moon is full. Don’t be late-the others need to know you’re back.” With that, he turns on his heel and strides out, slamming the door behind him.

I release a shaky breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Holy hell. What was that? Cam has certainly grown a backbone…and an attitude. I shouldn’t find it hot, but since I’m a bit of a psychopath, I do.

“Jesus, just what has gotten into me?”

Cam is still on my mind, so I do the only thing I can think of and start unpacking my belongings. I find a place for my socks and shirts, and while I’m sorting through my hoodies, the door swings open.

“Oh my god, you’re back!”

Evie?

I spin around to see Evie and Clara, my two childhood friends. Clara is my age and a total goth, while Evie is younger and much more bubbly-she runs up to hug me the second our eyes meet.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” she exclaims, much to her sister’s irritation.

“Don’t squeeze her too hard, or you’re going to scare her into leaving again,” Clara says in a dry tone as she leans against the doorframe, arms crossed to look tough. But although she looks all badass, there’s no missing the hint of a smile tugging at her dark-painted lips.

I laugh and hug Evie back tightly. “It’s good to see you too, Evie. And you, Clara. I’ve missed you both so much.”

Evie finally releases me from her enthusiastic embrace, her blue eyes shining with excitement. “We have SO much to catch up on! I want to hear all about college and your life in the city!”

18:57 Tue, Jan 20

Chapter 103

59

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I bite my lip, not wanting to dampen the mood with the truth about my situation. “Oh, you know, just the usual stuff. Classes, parties, trying not to die of boredom.” I force a smile and change the subject. “But what about you two? What’s the latest pack gossip?”

Clara rolls her eyes. “Same old drama. Though there has been a lot of buzz about Camden taking over as Alpha soon. People are wondering if he’s really ready for it since he is only turning eighteen years old this week.”

“He seems pretty confident he can handle it,” I mutter, thinking back to our tense exchange upstairs.

Evie giggles. “Well, he has definitely grown up since you’ve been gone, Eli. In more ways than one.” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.

“Evie!” Clara scolds. “That’s her stepbrother you’re talking about.”

“What? I’m just stating facts!” Evie protests. “Camden is fucking hot, and everyone knows it!” She looks back at me, grinning widely. “He might not be single, but once he turns eighteen, his girlfriend might turn out to not be his fated mate. That’s what every girl in the pack is hoping for since everyone wants to be his Luna. It would be such a dream to look into his eyes and find out he is my mate for life. Totally magical.”

I roll my eyes at Evie’s heart-shaped eyes. “Well, you can count me out of that competition.”

Even as I say the words, my mind flashes back to how Cam’s tall, muscular frame had loomed over me, the intensity in his green eyes making my pulse race. I quickly push the image away. Cam might have grown into an attractive man, but he’s still my arrogant stepbrother. The one who banished me to the basement like some kind of second-class pack member.

“Haha, that’s true,” Evie laughs before sighing, “I really hope Lautner doesn’t turn out to be Cam’s fated mate. Girl’s already a bitch.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Wait, is Cam dating Lautner?”

“He is,” Clara studies me curiously. “Disappointed?”

“Uh, yes? I mean, hello, I don’t want my former bully and enemy to marry my stepbrother.”

“Why not?” Evie asks.

“Because then Eli won’t get any kind of peace? Are you stupid?” Clara rolls her eyes at her sister. “It’s bad enough Lautner exists, but having her over for holidays and shit? Gee, sounds like a nightmare to me.”

“It does,” I agree. “Which is why we should change the subject into something funnier.”

Clara giggles before asking, “Are you planning to stay long this time? Or is this just a brief visit?”

I hesitate, not wanting to reveal the full truth about my health situation. “I’m…not sure yet. I have some things I need to figure out.”

Clara narrows her eyes at my answer, watching me in silence with a look that gives me shivers. She has always been able to read me, which is why I’m grateful when her sister butts in to break the tension in the room.

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Chapter 103

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She grabs my hand, her expression earnest. “Well, we’re so happy you’re back, Eli. No matter how long you stay. We’ve really missed you around here.”

Her sincerity makes my throat tighten with emotion. “Thanks, Evie. I’ve missed you too. Both of you.”

Clara’s gaze softens, and she uncrosses her arms. “The pack meeting is in a few hours. We should let you finish unpacking and rest a bit before then. I’m sure it was a long journey.”

“A nap does sound good right about now. I’ll see you both later?”

“Definitely!”

My two old friends leave me alone in my room and I stare down at my suitcase with a frown. The plan is to keep my mouth shut about my health condition. I don’t want to burden anyone with it before I’m really dying, but is it possible to keep this secret away from my friends?

Evie and I have never been THAT close, but her sister has always been able to see through me. I wonder if she already knows something is up…

田

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18:57 Tue, Jan 20