Mated To The Alpha Stepbrother

Vinorca Jona POV

"Wow! Have you heard of it? Alpha Dante is coming back? I heard he recently donated a lot of money to the school. He's so generous and hot," Amy said, eliciting giggles from the others.

"Damn! You're right. He's incredibly hot and handsome," another girl chimed in.

I sat, listening to the students talk about him while filling my stomach with cold water and a single piece of bread.

"He's back," I whispered to myself. My nightmare was returning after three years. Who knew what would happen while he was here again?

The chatter of different voices unsettled me, causing my heart to race inside my chest. My hands began to shake dangerously as a forbidden name reached my ears, curling my toes and coating my body in cold sweat.

"Vinorca, what are you doing?" Amanda called to me, bringing me back from my thoughts.

"Nothing, Amanda. I'm eating," I replied, regaining my composure.

"I can see, but why are you eating this cold stuff?" she asked with concern.

A smile formed on my face at her caring tone.

She was the only person in this pack who cared about me.

"It's fine, Amanda. Actually, I like it," I lied. But maybe there was some truth to it. After eating it for so many years, it didn't taste as bad.

Amanda gave me a concerned look.

She had the kindest heart; sometimes I couldn't believe she was friends with someone like me, an omega with no wolf and no money.

"How about having dinner with me? It's already evening; come to my home," she generously offered.

"No, I have something that requires my urgent attention," I declined. I was already late. Dante was at home, and it wouldn't end well for me if I made him wait any longer.

Before she could say anything, I gathered my belongings and hurried away.

My life is worse on normal days. But I was used to it. Now that the bastard is coming back, I don't want to give him more reasons to hurt me.

No matter how bad these three years were, they were still better than when he was there.

Upon reaching home, I entered as quickly as possible.

"Be quiet! What are you doing, idiot?" The head maid scolded me coldly as she rushed in.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled.

"Keep your apologies to yourself. Don't forget, Alpha is here, so don't make him angrier than he already is," she warned before leaving.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I preferred the head maid scolding me over facing my damn alpha brother.

Or should I say, my guardian, to be exact. I don't know how he manipulated the papers to show that he was related to my family and got me adopted when he was just 18 himself. But according to the papers, he is my family, my brother, to be exact, a stepbrother, because he presented himself as the adopted child of my parents.

With slow steps, I made my way to my room, being careful not to disturb the alpha, or rather, to protect myself from being discovered.

I still wasn't ready to face him, and it was better if I avoided him as much as possible.

"Come here!" a cold voice commanded, freezing me in place, not because of the chilly weather, but because of fear. I knew exactly whose voice it was.

I knew why my room was next to his. It was difficult to pass his room, no matter how quietly I tried.

"Are you deaf?" he growled in anger, making me half-run into his room.

I stopped in front of him. He was sitting on the bed like a king, instilling more fear in me.

I kept my head down, not daring to make eye contact with my tormentor.

"Your birthday is coming in half a month. Eighteenth birthday, right?" He questioned, but I remained silent, still keeping my head down.

It wasn't that I was trying to defy him by not answering. I was simply terrified of saying something he wouldn't like and facing punishment. That wouldn't end well for me.

"Why are you looking down like you're going to bury yourself in the ground?" he snapped.

I could tell from his tone how frustrated he was. Why did he have to summon me when he was already on the verge of anger? Why did I feel like a scapegoat onto whom he wanted to unleash his rage?

"Raise your head, Vinorca. Are you afraid of me?" Dante asked calmly, his deep voice still carrying a threat.

I flinched at how even his calm voice sounded intimidating. Did he even need to ask? I was terrified, and I felt like I could wet myself at any moment if he continued this interrogation.

"Dinner is ready," a maid announced from downstairs.

"I'm hungry; we can talk later," I said as I walked away, escaping from his room.