Stepbrother Mine A Son For Alpha Zoren (Ciara) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Ciara

“Alright then.” He finally breathed out, but he didn’t sound like he fully believed me.

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“Back to what I was talking about, after I got to my room that night, my mother came to me telling me we had to leave instantly because apparently she has always grabbed everything she needed and that even my siblings were asleep in her car. She went ahead to tell me how she doused your meal and your father’s that night but we had to move fast because you didn’t eat your food that night.”

I watched his face closely as I spoke.

“I was livid. For years, I suffered to care for myself and my two little siblings. I stopped schooling. I was happy that we finally got a father, one willing to take care of us like his actual children so I was mad she ruined all of that.” I let out a sigh after that, hating the ugly memories rising to my mind as I kept speaking.

“Anyways, I refused to leave with her she she forced me.” I sighed out while combing my hair out of my face.

After we left, because we have to live in hiding, we travelled far away from here, and had to change our identities. Then my mother decided she was leaving to start traveling around thd world.”

Zoren let out a laugh this time, sounding shocked and full of disbelief. “Are you serious?”

I chuckled wryly while nodding. “I am. After she said that, she divided the money and left a part with me to use in caring fit, myself and my sisters.”

“So she left you as your sisters‘ guardian? At nineteen?” He asked and I nodded, making him scoff in irritation.

“That’s insane and ridiculous. No wonder I never liked her.” He bit out and I cleared my throat.

“You never liked any of us to be fair.” I pointed out and when he had the audacity to look shocked, I barked out a laugh.

“Don’t deny it. You made life a living hell for us back then!” I cried out and he rolled his eyes, folding his arms.

“That’s not true, I never bothered your sisters. It was just you.”

I rolled my eyes. “So you admit to making life hell for me?”

He hesitatsd for a moment before shrugging. “That’s cause you got underneath my skin a lot.”

My eyes furrowed in surprise cause this was the first time I was hearing that.

“Oh, I had no idea.” I mumbled carefully.

“I had no–idea too, I refused to admit to myself that you constantly got under ny skin.” He pointed out and my mind. returned back to the past. The way he used to get my nerves and underneath my skin so much. I had no idea he was always feeling this way too bad back then and it made me feel better now, but before I could say anything, he snorting and shaking his head.

“All of that makes sense now that we’re fated mates.” He pointed out and I let out a small breath while squirming a little.

“So, on what I was saying before, my mother left and I was with the rest of my money. She left before I discovered was pregnant with Kai.” She mumbled quietly and I let out a sigh, my eyes dropping to her flat stomach for a moment.

“Does she know of Kai’s presence?” I asked and she rolled her eyes while shaking her head.

“Definitely not. She’d have to be a present mother to know about that.”

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12:31 Wed, Jan 14

Chapter 44

Zoren’s mouth fell open. “wow, she’s worst than I imagined.”

“Trust me, she’s even worst.” I grumbled.

Zoren suddenly stepped closer and I felt the hairs on my skin rise up as I blinked up at him.

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“How did you react when you discovered you were pregnant?” He asked and my mind returned back to the past at once.

“Very terrified.” I whispered honestly and that was even an understatement. I was so terrified cause I had no one, in a new town, no friends, no parent, no one aside my younger sisters.”

Zoren let out a sigh, a pinched expression on his face. “I wished I was there with you, then you’d have had no reason to be scared.”

My heart fluttered as those words left his mouth and I cleared my throat, feeling flustered.

“That’s… at least it’s now in the past.” I offered tentatively but instead of responding, he reached out and placed a hand over my shoulder, the touch grounding and heated as he spoke.

“Next time, you’ll never have to face anything about Kai by yourself, no matter what it is, you’ll always have me, I’ll always be right beside you and whatever the problem might be, we’ll face it together.” He breathed out as he stared down at ne and my breath hitched in my throat while my heart soared. So many times I’ve imagined those words being said to me but I never imagined those words would from

Zoren, the same man who broke my heart.

“Thank you.” I whispered, my voice cracking on my weak voice. He hummed as he shook his head.

“No need to thank me, I’ll just be playing my expected role in my kid’s life.” He murmured but I shook my head before grabbing his hand before I could stop myself.

“Seriously, thank you, Zoren. I used to think you’d not want Kai, it was what kept me away this long cause I was so scared. But I just couldn’t stay away anymore after Kai was decleared a wolf who needs the help of his father.”

Zoren’s eyes widened. “Why would you assume that?” He asked and I shrugged a little.

“I guess I just assumed you’d hate me cause I knew you’d assume I stole along with my mum.” I pointed out and he snorted.

“Well, that’s fair. But I still wouldn’t have rejected my son because of that.”

After that, silence stretched out between us before he broke it. “So, why do you work so many jobs after the part of the money your mum left you?” He asked and my eyes widened in surprise.

“How do you know I work so many jobs?” I asked but he waved me off.

“That’s not important, no respond to my question. Was it because you’ve spent the money on a boyfriend or something similar to that?” He asked and I blanched as I kept staring at him.

“What? I’d never do that!” I cried out. “Most of the money is still back at home. I work so many jobs cause I still feel uncomfortable when I spend in the money cause the fact that it’s stolen never sat right witt me. I use to promise myself to replace the amount I’ve spent in the money once I’m chanced to do that.” I revealed and Zoren regarded me silent for a while before he let out a laugh.

“Wow.” He stated and I flushed, suddenly feeling self conscious.

“What?” I asked self consciously.

“You keep surprising me so much, Ciara.” He murmured. “In a really pleasant way, by the way.”

12:31 Wed, Jan 14

Chapter 44

I felt my face grow hot as I ducked my head, my heart pounding away.

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“So… do you believe that I really didn’t steal from your father in the past?” I asked quietly when I looked up, my breath. bated.

He nodded once. “Yup, I do.”

Shock and relief filled up my insides at once as his words washed over me. I had hoped he’d believe me after I finished explaining but I knew he might still have doubts. To hear him say that he believed me filled me with so much relief thst I almost burst into tears.

When we returned back into the room where Gregg was still in, I felt skittish and shaky on the inside. I wished that I was holding Zoren’s hand right now before I quickly pushed that thought away, while wondering where the fuck that came from.

“Father, I’ve made a decision.” Zoren said without beating around the bush.

“And like I told you before, I’m gonna take her as my mate.” He spoke zmc my eyes widened, my heartbeat instantly accelerating. I want to instantly object, to point out that this wasn’t what he told me he was returning to tell his father, but I kept my words to myself for now just as he continued.

“I’m not gonna send her off or lock her up. I won’t be doing that so don’t bother expecting me to change my mind.” As Zoren spoke with a tone of finality, it made me feel warn and fuzzy on the inside and my heart kept fluttering so much. I quickly reminded myself that he wasn’t doing any of this because he cared about me, but only because if Kai firstly and because of the mate bond, whatever that meant, and but because he loved me or something.

“You’ll not take a thief as a mate, Zoren.” Greg bit out, his nose flaring angrily. “Her mother stabbed me in the back and she’ll undoubtedly do the same thing to do. She’ll not just betray you, she’ll betray the entire pack!”

I flinched at the hardness in his voice and it was clear he was more than hurt than what my mother did to him. I still feel so guilty even though I didn’t do a damn thing to him.

“She didbr join in on her mother to do that, she is innocent.” Zoren bit out and it feels so surreal to hear Zoren defend me now after he’s constantly accused me of being a thief.

“I’m still not in support of this. Why won’t you lock her up or throw her out? As alpha king, you’re expected to make great decisions. This isn’t a great decision.” Gregg bit out angrily and while I want to get angry, it dosent take me long to remember the fact that my mother really betrayed him so it’s logical for him to feel this way right now. His reaction isn’t even out of this world cause it’s just him being protective of his son and trying to prevent him experiencing what he went through in my mother’s hand.

“I’m not doing that father and please stop suggesting it. And again, she is innocent. She’s not gonna betray me or the pack.” Zoren argued firmly.

His father let out an irritated scoff. “I still don’t support this and I’m sure the pack wouldn’t either. No one wants a hijab for a mate, much less one that’s a thief.”

“Father!” Zoren called out sharply, scorning. “Stop calling her that.”

“The pack members will reject her.”

Zoren rolled his eyes and folded his hands. “My word is law, father. They’ll have no choice but to accept her.”

“But they won’t be happy. They’ll never be.” Gregg pointed out.

“They’ll learn to be happy with her as their Luna.” Zoren responded and my mind returned back to the conversation we had about me being a Luna without actually handling anything a Luna is supposed to. I’d have to bring that up with Zoren later.

“What about Erica?” Greg asked. “I assume you now plan to ditch her. Her father won’t be pleased.” He grumbled.

12:31 Wed, Jan 14

Chapter 44

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Zoren rolled his eyes, not looking bothered at all. “That’s none of my concern, I couldn’t care less what he thinks and h already ended things with his daughter,”

Gregg‘ brows furrowed. “I thought you were really gonna end up with her.”

Zoren shrugged. “I thought so too. Clearly, fate had other