I'm His Stepmom; He's My Mate

**Esme's POV** "What are you doing here?" Kai's voice, rough as bark scraping against stone, cut through the tense silence of the large living room. "I've told you times without number, a potential Alpha like me, son to the great Alpha Lucian, heir to the Bloomfield pack, can never… read my lips, NEVER! Be mated to an Omega. All right, if you need to hear it, I will say it: I, Kai, reject you, Esme, as my mate. Now get out of my house." I stood there. He stood, looking back at me. The words he spoke, each syllable, was a poisoned dart, it pierced my heart, leaving a trail of icy fire. The rejection wasn't new; it was a familiar ache, a constant throb in the background of my life. But this time, it felt different – colder, sharper, more final. The dream I’d foolishly clung to, the wish for him to just look at me, the fantasy of a future with him, all shattered into a million icy shards. "Well," I said, my voice surprisingly steady after a moment of stunned silence, "I'm not here for you." I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "I'm standing here, not as your admirer, but as your stepmom." "What?" The question was a choked gasp. "I'll be married to your father, Alpha Lucian, in the coming weeks." He stared, his jaw slack. "You must be joking now." He sat back down, seeming unconcerned as his fingers swiped on his phone. "I slept in this house yesterday, so I guess it's not a joke anymore," I replied, walking to the sofa and sinking into its plush cushions. I was opposite him I’d never seen him shirtless before; the sight of his lean, powerful physique, sculpted with the hard angles of a warrior, was unexpected. His dark hair, usually styled with careless perfection, was tousled, emphasizing the sharp line of his jaw and the intense, smoldering gaze that had first captivated me – that had set my wolf ablaze. His eyes, the color of a stormy sea, were narrowed in disbelief. A thick smattering of dark freckles dusted his high cheekbones, adding to his rugged appeal, a contrast to the broad shoulders and powerful chest that spoke of an untamed strength. Even now, despite everything, the memory of his scent, a heady mix of pine and wild earth, made my breath catch in my throat. "You... Esme? Engaged to my Dad?" "Yes," I said, my voice firm. "And don't forget, you have to stop calling me Esme henceforth. Call me 'Step-Mom'." "What the f**k!" he roared. "What the f**k is," I retorted, my anger finally bubbling to the surface, "is that you, Kai, broke my heart. You broke it into fragments and speckled them all about. Remember my first day at York Isles University? My wolf howled, leaped inside me, the moment I saw you. I spent every moment trying to be at the same parties as you. I even sacrificed my lips, letting Jonathan, your beta, kiss me, just to be accepted into your pack. And what did you do? You told me I was 'too pretty to be an Omega,' that I had Luna's body wasted on a worthless Omega, and that I was 'too low' for your standards. You said you'd rather be gay than be with me! You didn’t just reject me as your mate, Kai, you actively worked to make me leave the pack! You want to make me hate you. You want me to see it. You went after all my Omega friends, you even… you f****d Paloma in the same room where I was!" Kai remained silent, his face a mask of barely contained fury. In my stead, I heaved heavily and struggled to breathe at an easy pace. I still love this bastard. I expected him to talk, but he kept staring. "I decided to move on with my life," I concluded, my voice low but resolute. "I decided to take the next step of my life, and your father, Alpha Lucian… well, he was the ladder." **Part 2: Kai's POV** "I hate you," I spat. I turned to my phone. That wasn't enough. I had to say more. "You make me want to spit." Usually, this would send her into tears, a pathetic display of begging for a chance. Just a day with me. I wanted to see that again, to revel in her humiliation. But her response shocked me. "I know, Kai, I know you hate me. Maybe you should spit. Because I don't care anymore," she said, her voice surprisingly calm. "The hate you give… It made me stand above all other hate and rumors. ‘She's getting married to an older man, she's a golddigger’ – I accept the tags, I accept the hate; I accept the rejection. At least, at last, I’ll be loved by your father." She had never talked back to me before. She would lower her head. That audacity… was almost… exhilarating, so much that it made me laugh. Still confused though. I hated her more. Seeing her here, in our house. The thought of her as my stepmom ignited a fire in my gut, a fire that quickly turned into something else. She sat opposite me, her legs slightly apart in that ridiculously short nightgown, revealing her red panty. She was intentional about that. The curve of her thick thighs, her tiny waist, her broadened hips and chest… the very definition of a Luna, trapped in the frail form of an Omega. Her hair, a cascade of dark waves, framed a face that was both delicate and strikingly beautiful. Her eyes, usually downcast and hesitant, held a newfound spark of defiance, even a hint of triumph. The way her long, dark lashes framed her eyes; the soft curve of her lips, usually trembling, now set in a determined line…it all consumed me. All this time, I'd been consumed by my hatred, a hatred born from a strange mix of desire and disgust. My wolf had resonated with her the moment we met, a primal pull that I'd violently suppressed. But as Kai, I couldn’t stoop low enough to have a son with an Omega. One who was meant to serve. "Do you know?" I asked, my voice low and dangerous. "What?" "Do you know why a guy asks you out today and sends you away tomorrow? Do you know why no one has ever shown a real interest in you?" She squinted, her curiosity piqued. I liked that she was listening and wanted to know. “Tell me,” she said. I didn’t answer. It was too late. None of those matter. I'd kept other guys away. I had told the ones who asked her out … ‘let it be known, she is mine, one that I wouldn’t share’. The connection was there, undeniably there, but I'd chosen hate. I wanted her to hate me; maybe, if I could push her far enough, the mating bond would break. Now… she'll be my father's? "f**k!" I snarled, rising to my feet. The image of her, a defiant Omega in my father's arms, burned itself onto my mind. I heard footsteps coming from the staircase. My father! **Part 3: Lucian's POV** "Oh, you two," I said, entering the hall, trying to sound nonchalant. "I hope you're not fighting?" "Father, why didn't you tell me there was a stranger in the house?" Kai's voice was laced with barely controlled rage. I looked at the two of them. Kai, perpetually angry; Esme, her lips pressed into a thin line, a mirror of his simmering tension. Cat and mouse. Always. And that’s exactly what I wanted. "Esme is not a stranger, remember?" I said, walking towards Esme. I placed my hands gently on her shoulders, kissing the top of her head. Her hair smelled faintly of lavender and something else, something wild and untamed, one that reminded me of Kai's mother. "You know I hate her, and you chose to marry her?" Kai’s voice was a low growl. "That's precisely why I chose to marry her," I said, my voice steady. "I chose her because you hated her, and that she hates you too. You know what you’ve been doing, Kai. My girlfriends end up in your bed. My mistresses… their asses piled high on your c**k. So I had to go after someone you hate." It wasn't as easy as it sounded. If it were anyone else, I would have already killed them. The news was scandalous; Lucian, the powerhouse of the Lycan community, in finance, in power, losing his women to his son? Unthinkable. "I see," Kai mumbled. “You see clearly. The hate is exactly what I wanted.” “The hate is what you want?” He asked. "Yes," I said, my hands still on Esme’s shoulders. "I guess we’ll all be happy. You don't have to love her, you don't even have to like her, all I need is for you to respect her as your stepmom." "f**k you both!" "I am not just your father," I growled, my eyes flashing amber, the reflection of my anger was visible in his own eyes. I could feel my fangs lengthen, but I didn't care. He took a step back. I went back on my words. I had promised to never be an alpha to him. But he was dealing as a loyal son either. "I am your Alpha. I sired you. I can kill your wolf and put it into hibernation. I can suspend you; I can banish you; I can turn you into a rogue. Respect her. Now." I gave my ‘NOW’ an emphasis that screamed anger. "Yes, Alpha," he muttered. Then, looking at Esme, he said, almost inaudibly, "Welcome, Step-Mom."