Navy's Sons: Bullied by Quadruplet Stepbrothers novel Chapter 4

Tabitha’s POV

The hallway is cold this late at night, but Evren’s voice is colder.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

I face him fully. He stands a few feet away with water still dripping from the ends of his damp hair. His eyes are unreadable, but I feel the weight in them. There is something in the way he looks at me that is almost accusing.

I take a deep breath and boldly raise my chin up as I equal his piercing gaze. “I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d have a little stroll around here.”

His eyes flick once toward the portrait behind me, then back to my face. “This isn’t a place for wandering.”

“It’s a hallway. Not a crime scene.”

Evren steps closer. His presence is sharp and almost suffocating, it’s like the air itself folds around him.

“That’s not just a hallway. That’s where she is.” I can almost freeze to death by the way he is looking at me.

I glance back at the portrait on our side. Corinne Aldair looks so regal. And the glacier look in her eyes definitely resembles the man in front of me.

“I just thought the painting looked fascinating. I didn’t mean to pry,” I say carefully. My eyes trail at every exquisite brush strokes, “Your mother was beautiful.”

Something flicker in his eyes. And it’s not amusement. If anything, he looks almost angry. His jaw tightens as if the compliment wounds him instead of honors her. He steps forward slowly and I instinctively back away. Goodness, this man is intimidating.

“You…” He grits his teeth like the words themselves taste foul. “You don’t belong in this hallway. You don’t belong in this house.”

Okay, that’s harsh. But what do I expect from him? He’s always been the type to hurl ruthless words to others without batting an eye.

“Don’t you think it’s too late for that? Your father—Alpha Emery already made it clear that me and my mother are here to stay… whether you like it or not.” I don’t mean to sound entitled but before we came back to this island, I promised myself that I would stand up for myself and my mom… something that I didn’t get to do in the past.

Evren’s eyes narrow. His jaw clenches so tightly I think he might break a tooth. But I hold my ground. If he thinks I’ll cower like I used to, he’s wrong. I’m not that girl anymore.

“You think a bed in this house makes you one of us?” he bites out. “You think a ring on your mother’s finger makes her Luna?”

I frown. “She never said she wanted that.

“Then why is she pretending? Sitting at that table. Smiling like she earned a seat there. Like she belongs,” he snaps. He thrusts a hand toward the portrait behind me, rage burning in his eyes. “And you—you stand there staring at my mother like you have any right, while yours plays house and tries to take her place?”

“My mom isn’t pretending anything. She’s just trying to survive, same as me. She didn’t ask for your approval. And she definitely doesn’t need it to smile at a dinner table.”

Evren’s expression hardens, but I keep going.

“She’s kind. She’s patient. And she’s done nothing but try to be respectful in a house that clearly doesn’t want her. If you think that’s a crime, then maybe the problem isn’t with her. Don’t hate a woman who didn’t do anything wrong just because you can’t stand your father’s choices.”

His eyes darken, but he doesn’t speak. There’s a muscle twitching in his jaw like he’s biting back something sharp, something angry. I’m sure his mask of indifference will shatter and I’ll get a proper lecture. But it doesn’t. He just stares at me for a long second. Then, without a word, he turns and walks away.

As soon as he disappears down the hallway, I finally exhale. My legs feel unsteady beneath me, like the floor has shifted somehow. I steady myself against the wall and press a hand to my chest.

Shit, I should’ve kept my mouth shut… Or maybe not. Screw him and his brothers! I should be proud of holding my ground. For not flinching.

I glance at Corinne Aldair’s portrait once again and heaves a frustrated sigh.

Your sons are a pain in the ass, Luna.

**

The days crawl by like a bad dream I can’t wake up from. I try to avoid the Aldair brothers as much as I can, not that they make it hard. They’ve made a sport out of ignoring me and Mom. Meals are quiet when they do bother to show up at all. Most days, they vanish before breakfast and don’t return until long after dinner. I don’t really mind their absence. In fact, I prefer it. But I worry about my Mom. She tries not to look hurt, but I see it. In the way her smile falters when she sets the table. In the silence that lingers when she asks about them and gets no reply. She’s having a hard time and it’s all because of my assholes soon-to-be stepbrothers.

This morning, it’s no different.

“Tabi, Could you go fetch the boys from the range? I thought maybe if we all sat together for lunch today...”

Her voice trails off, as if she already knows it’s a lost cause. I bite the inside of my cheek. I hate the idea. But I hate seeing her disappointed even more.

“Alright. I’ll get them,” I mutter.

I already know it’s a bad idea before I march out of the mansion. But I convinced myself to at least try for my mom.

The shooting range is tucked deep within the estate’s massive grounds. I follow the gravel path until the trees thin and the air fills with sharp gunfire. I spot them immediately. The four brothers, guns in hand, lined up like they’re preparing for war. Beside them are Wyatt, Rye, Ian, and Wilson—friends of the Aldair brothers and fellow members of the Crystal Ridge pack. They were my schoolmates too, back in high school. Not as cruel as the quadruplets, but far from saints. And by the looks of them now, they’ve grown into men who train like killers.

The brothers look like they were carved from the same stone as they aimed their guns at the targets in front of them. Their eyes flash molten gold as they fire in perfect sync.

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