Tempted By my Evil Lycan Stepbrother novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6: MATE!

Riley’s POV

Low growls rippled through the clearing, one after another. The male Lycans were getting excited, their voices echoing into the night and scaring the birds right out of the dark woods.

I stood frozen, staring at Ezra.

How could someone be so gorgeous and so evil?

He smirked at me, his emerald eyes sparkling with something twisted and dark.

“Well?” he said with a mock bow, extending his hand like he was inviting me to a dance. “The stage is all yours.”

All eyes were on me now. Dozens of Lycans with their teeth bared. Like if I didn’t strip, they’d rip me apart right away.

My heart pounded like a drum. The wine Ezra forced down my throat was burning through my chest. Weirdly, it gave me courage.

I stood up and stared right at him.

“She’s actually gonna do it!” someone called out. There were whistles and hollers.

Ezra grinned, running his tongue across his fangs. “Go ahead, sis. I can’t wait.”

I snatched the bottle from his hand. It was still half full. Without hesitating, I tilted it back and chugged it.

That’s fucking Vodka. Damn that’s strong!

My throat was on fire. My stomach turned. I was seconds away from puking. But I forced myself to keep drinking until it was

empty.

CRASH!

I smashed the bottle against the ground.

The whole clearing was in deathly silence. No more whistles. No more shouting. Just stunned silence.

Ezra’s smile faded. “What the hell are you doing?” he snapped dangerously.

I ignored him and walked over to the rack of alcohol nearby. My vision blurred, and my body swayed. I was losing goordination fast. But I could still walk.

Then I managed to grab another bottle.

Before I could drink, Ezra strode forward and snatched it from me. He hurled the bottle right into the bonfire. The flames shot up with a loud whoosh.

“Are you fucking insane?” he roared. “You could’ve died!”

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“I told you to strip, not kill yourself!”

I laughed bitterly. “What’s the difference? It’s all about humiliation, right? As long as I suffer, it’ll make you happy.”

His eyes darkened. I reached for another bottle, but he clamped his hand around my wrist.

“Let go,” I said. “I can keep going. You don’t care if I live or die anyway. So just sit back and enjoy the show.”

He didn’t let go. In fact, he squeezed harder.

+25 BONUS

I smiled at him coldly. “Well, if you’re done being entertained, I’m leaving.”

Still nothing. The others were also dead silent, watching us like it was some sick play.

I yanked my hand out of his grip and stumbled toward the edge of the clearing. The crowd quickly parted for me.

And just like that, I left the Shadow Forest.

The real crash only came after that. The alcohol hit me hard. Every single cell in my body was burning with agony. My world was turned upside down. I tried to keep walking, but every step was too hard.

I collapsed on the side of the road.

I think one of the campus patrols might have found me. I vaguely remember mumbling something about taking me home before I blacked out.

Next thing I knew, I was back in the cloud–like bed at the castle. The hangover was so fucking bed. I think I’d rather be unconscious.

“Riley! Oh my god, you’re awake.”

Someone jumped up from my bedside. I looked over. It’s mom. She was crying and gripped my hand like she was scared I’d disappear again,

“Don’t cry, I’m fine,” I whispered.

“How can you say that?!” she sobbed. “You were passed out at the gates, reeking of booze! The doctor said you could’ve died! God what were you even thinking? It’s been one day of school and you’re already getting drunk? What will people say? What will Soren think?!”

I closed my eyes and exhaled. “Didn’t you tell me to talk to Ezra?”

She froze. “No… don’t tell me…He did this to you??”

“He tried to do worse. But I got away.”

She covered her mouth, her eyes wide with horror.

“Mom, I really tried.” I told her.

She broke into tears, devastated. “I know, I know, sweetie. Oh god….How could he do this? He really hates us, doesn’t he?”

She kept on crying, but at least she wasn’t asking me to talk to Ezra again. So that was a relief.

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Mom then insisted I take two days off from school to rest, I didn’t need it, but I let her have her way. With Ezra’s coming–of–age ceremony approaching, she was getting more anxious and she needed me close.

Every Lycan’s 18th birthday is a big deal. But when you’re the Lycan heir, it’s huge.

During the following 2 days, Alphas were flying in from all over with their daughters. The castle was buzzing. Maids were everywhere, scrubbing, decorating. I heard they turned the back garden into something out of a fairytale.

But I didn’t care.

I used my “sick” status to stay locked away and out of sight, reading grandma’s books. A little solitude was just what I needed. Until the day of the ceremony, when Mom stormed into my room with a whole team of maids behind her.

“Why are you still in pajamas?!” she screamed at me.

I didn’t even look up from my book. “I don’t think I need to go. No one’s going to miss me there anyway.”

+25 BONUS

“No. You’re going,” she said forcefully “Now get up and start getting ready.”

I sighed and slid off the windowsill, letting the maids do their thing.

No one remembered.

But today was my 18th birthday.

I woke up this morning hearing my wolf for the first time. Her name’s Rene, and she’s awesome. She was the only one who said happy birthday to us. Mom forgot. Not that I expected any different. She’s been out of my life too long to remember that kind of stuff.

Turning 18 means I can find my mate and start higher–level classes that require a wolf. Not that the mate thing mattered to me. The classes were more important.

I didn’t pay attention to what the maids were doing. I was chatting with Rene the whole time. They spent a lot of time on my hair, makeup, everything. Eventually, they put me in a white dress that definitely wasn’t my style.

When Mom walked in and saw me, she gasped.

“Oh my god, Riley, you look absolutely stunning.”

“You’re exaggerating again mom.”

“No, I mean it. Look!” She dragged me to the mirror.

A girl I barely recognized stared back at me. Tall, elegant. My hair was braided and full of tiny flowers and beads. The white dress was fitted at the top and flowed out like mist, shimmering with silver and gold threads.

And that face resembled my mom a lot. That could tell you how beautiful it was.

“Every young man’s gonna be looking at you tonight,” Mom cupped my face, tearing up again. “You’re gonna find your mate, and I’m going to lose you.”

“Let’s not think too far into the future, alright mom?” I protested weakly.

She snuffled. “You’re right. It’s time. Let’s go.”

So we left the room together and headed downstairs, stepping out into the garden. Just like the maids had said, it really did look like something out of a fairytale. Flowers in full bloom were everywhere, ribbons swayed in the breeze, and soft lights twinkled through the trees. It was magical.

We were supposed to walk all the way to the laurel tree at the far end, where we’d offer our prayers to the Moon Goddess.

Mom walked alongside King Soren like a proper future queen. She looked nervous though, barely managing a few polite nods to

the guests.

I stayed back, walking slowly, gradually falling behind the main group. Around me were other young people, mostly girls dressed in fancy gowns. I’d heard some Alphas had brought their daughters in hoping they might end up being Ezra’s mate.

No one spoke to me, and I honestly didn’t care. I was off in my own little world as always.

Until I heard someone call my name.

“Riley! I knew I’d find you here!”

Roy jogged up to me with a big grin on his face. He looked a lot more relaxed outside of school.

I turned and waved. He stared at my face, then turned a little red.

“Wow… you look amazing tonight,” he murmured.

“Thanks,” I said with a small smile.

+25 BONUS

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