Falling For My Step-brother

ur

words replayed in my mind like an echo I couldn't escape. What did he mean about forces at play? And why had he come to me in the first place

m Ronan since our brief conversation, and Gregory had been busy with meetings, leaving me to wander the mansion alone. The s

nd lush, offering a sense of peace that I hadn't felt inside the house. The sounds of birds chirping and the faint rustling of leav

, I came face to

ntense gaze locked onto mine, his jaw tight as he studied me. I didn

trying to keep my voice steady, t

never leaving mine. "No, I'm not fol

inside me. "About what? Because the last time we s

g overheard. "There are things you need to understand about what

cold breeze against my skin. "Why me? What co

ckly hardened again. "You're more involved in this than y

tighten. "What are

Then, with a sigh, he looked up at me again. "There's a reason you were brought here, Lauren. I

ed with questions-questions I didn't even know how to ask. "So wha

murmur. "I know this is hard to understand, but you have to trust me. The da

through me. "This is insane," I muttered under my br

the sunlight. I looked up to see Gregory standing at the edge of the g

controlled. "I think we've had eno

spoken tension. I glanced between them, my confusion growing. It was clear that whatever w

ightly as he addressed me. "Lauren, you should come insid

rned to walk back toward the mansion, I could feel Ronan's eyes o

rivate study at the end of a long hallway, the door clicking shut behind us as h

"But I need you to listen carefully. There's more going on here than y

Just tell me what's going on. All I've gotten are cryptic warnings, and none of th

stead, he took a deep breath, as if gath

"You're involved in something much big

y heart racing. "And what exa

een operating in the shadows for years. They have their hands in everything, including the very foundation of this

stomach drop. "Darker?" I repeated, unabl

p have a particular interest in supernatural abilities. And they beli

re you saying I have... powers?" I couldn't help the i

hinking. But there's something inside of you, Lauren. S

t he was saying. "You're telling me I'

f something far bigger than you realize. And I'm afraid that those

. "I need to think," I muttered, the

o leave, Gregory'

ul. They're watching you. And we don't know

confusion and fear. My whole life had just been turn

g just a bystander in this twisted game. And no

like a reflection of my growing sense of unease- cold, distant, and filled with mysteries that I didn't

gory and Ronan were giving me. I could feel the weight of their words pulling me deeper into s

egory's warning echoed in my head: "They're watching you." Who were "they"? And why me? I felt a

rply, heart skipping a beat. Ronan stood at the end of the hallway, his hands tucked into

ething about Ronan made me feel... understood. Maybe it was the way his presence felt familiar, or mayb

y, as if reading my thoughts. His

of everything he had told me-and everything he hadn't. "Why are you doing this?" I finally a

s gaze softening. "You can't leave, Lauren. Not now. There a

ration bubbling over. "Stop talking in riddl

ou know, Lauren. You're not just a bystander in this game. You're part of it. And whether you l

ice shaking slightly. "I don't even k

said, his voice rough with an emotion I couldn't place. "You're tied to it. I don't know how or why, but the

ing back. "I don't und

, I saw a flash of something akin to fear in his ey

ss the impossible truth of his words. It felt like the ground beneath me was shif

?" I asked quietly, my vo

reful. There are people here who would do anything to get what they

Ronan's sincerity was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel a flicker of something

leaving my mouth before I could sto

ropping to a near whisper. "I can't tell you yet. N

nswers. "And what about Gregory?" I asked, my voice tinged with suspi

t's complicated. You can't trust anyone fully, Lauren. Not y

spine as his words sank in. "What's a

said simply. "The fu

flicker at the edges of my vision. I heard whispers in the dark, promises of power and control that seemed to call out

the people behind the veil of secrecy that had swallowed me whole. And if I h

be a pawn in som

spotted Ronan waiting by the grand staircase. He seemed to be

ike this," he said sof

yebrow. "What

t have a choice, Lauren. There's more going on here than yo

s. "What's that s

e. "There are forces at play-dark fo

down my spine