“Claimed by my Stepbrother”

Chapter 3:The WARNING

I barely slept through the night.

The huge bed, the luxurious room, the soft sheets—none of it mattered.

Dante’s voice kept echoing inside my mind like a storm refusing to calm.

“Mate.”

That one word…

That one moment when he looked at me like he’d known me for years, like he owned a piece of me I never gave away—my body reacted before I could stop it.

I hated it.

I hated the heat in my chest, the shiver running through my spine, the way my heart had fluttered instead of freezing.

I hated that I remembered his scent—warm, dark, sinful.

I hated that my mind replayed how close he’d come to touching me.

And I hated most of all how terrified I was.

Because nothing good ever came from a boy like him noticing a girl like me.

I learned that lesson the hard way, years ago.

⸻

Morning came too fast.

I changed into my new school uniform—white shirt, plaid skirt, navy blazer—and stood in the mirror staring at the reflection of a stranger.

I didn’t look like the girl from my old life anymore.

Everything was cleaner, brighter, softer.

It didn’t feel like me.

Downstairs the house was quiet except for the smell of pancakes. My mom was already in the kitchen humming softly as she flipped them on the pan.

“You look beautiful,” she said, smiling. “Your first day. You’ll do great.”

I forced a smile. “Thanks, Mom.”

But her smile faded when she glanced toward the hallway that led upstairs. She didn’t say anything, but I knew exactly what she was thinking.

Dante.

She liked him, too much maybe. Everyone liked him—charming, polite, handsome. He could manipulate any adult into believing he was perfect.

But when their backs were turned…

My stomach twisted.

Before my mom could speak, footsteps echoed on the stairs—slow, lazy, confident.

And then he appeared.

Dante.

Wearing his uniform like it was designed just for him. Shirt slightly unbuttoned. Tie loose. Hands in his pockets. Hair messy in a beautiful way.

He looked like trouble.

He looked like sin.

And he looked right at me.

That same fire from last night flickered in his eyes. Dangerous. Possessive.

“Morning,” he said, voice rough from sleep.

I swallowed hard. “Morning.”

He didn’t look away. Not even when my mom greeted him.

Not when my stepfather walked in and asked about his basketball practice.

Not when he grabbed a pancake with his bare fingers.

He kept his eyes on me like I was something he’d marked.

Something he expected to answer to him.

My skin heated, and I looked away quickly.

I hated how my body reacted to him.

I hated how he made my heartbeat feel loud.

I hated the panic and the strange pull at the same time.

Stay away, I begged myself.

“You’re riding with me,” Dante said suddenly.

My head jerked up. “What?”

He didn’t blink. “School. I’ll take you.”

My stepfather smiled proudly like Dante had just won a scholarship.

“Great idea, son. Sophie hasn’t learned the bus route.”

Panic shot through me.

I couldn’t be trapped in a car with him. Not after last night. Not after that word.

“I—I can walk,” I stuttered.

“It’s too far,” Mom said, worried. “Please go with Dante.”

I hesitated.

Dante raised a brow, challenge gleaming in his eyes.

Like he dared me to say no again.

“Fine,” I muttered.

He smirked, slow and satisfied.

“Good girl.”

My face burned.

⸻

The car ride was torture.

Silence.

Tension.

The kind of awareness that made breathing difficult.

I kept my gaze glued to the window while he drove with one hand on the wheel, looking impossibly relaxed. The music was low, a deep bass vibrating faintly.

After a minute he spoke.

“You didn’t sleep.”

I stiffened. “You don’t know that.”

He snorted. “You have the look.”

“What look?”

He glanced at me, eyes dark and knowing.

“Haunted.”

My chest tightened painfully.

“I’m fine,” I lied.

“No,” he said softly. “You’re not.”

I pressed my lips together, refusing to respond.

Then he leaned slightly toward me, his voice low and controlled.

“Don’t run from me again.”

My breath caught. “I’m not—”

“You tried to avoid me last night. You will not do that again.”

I turned to him, anger breaking through my fear.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

He smiled, slow and dangerous.

“I already told you, Sophie. What I want—I get.”

I looked away, heart hammering.

I needed to get away from him. I needed space to breathe, to think.

“You’re insane,” I whispered.

“Maybe,” he said. “But you’re mine.”

My throat tightened painfully. “Stop saying that.”

“No.”

His voice wasn’t soft anymore. It was sharp. Final.

I shivered.

We pulled into the school parking lot. Students turned their heads instantly. Whispers started before the car even stopped.

“It’s Dante’s car—”

“Who is that girl?”

“New transfer?”

“She’s pretty… oh God, is she with him?”

“No way!”

My stomach twisted.

Dante stepped out, walked around the car, and opened the door for me.

He didn’t offer a hand.

He didn’t smile.

He just watched me, eyes burning.

Reluctantly, I got out.

And then—it happened.

He placed his hand on the small of my back.

It wasn’t inappropriate.

It wasn’t intimate.

But it was possessive.

Very, very possessive.

The whispers exploded instantly.

“WHAT?!”

“Is he… is he touching her?”

“Who is she?”

“She’s dead.”

“She’s so dead.”

“That’s the new girl. Poor thing.”

Dante leaned down slightly, lips near my ear.

“Stay close.”

My breath hitched. “Dante—”

Before I could finish, someone stepped in front of us.

A girl.

Tall, perfect, glossy hair, expensive lip gloss, sharp eyes filled with jealousy.

Aria.

I didn’t know her yet, but the entire school did.

Captain of the cheer squad.

School royalty.

Rumored to be Dante’s ex.

She crossed her arms and glared at me like I stole her crown.

“What is this?” she snapped, looking at Dante.

He didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at her.

He looked at me.

Aria’s eyes widened at the disrespect.

“You can’t be serious, Dante.”

She turned to me with a sweet but venomous smile.

“You must be new. Let me explain something to you—Dante doesn’t do relationships. He doesn’t date. And he definitely doesn’t bring random girls to school.”

Random.

Something inside me shrank.

But before I could speak, Dante moved.

He stepped closer behind me, hand pressing more firmly into my lower back.

Possessive.

Claiming.

“Aria,” he said coldly. “Walk away.”

Her jaw dropped. “You’re defending her?”

“Last warning,” he said.

The air around us froze.

Everyone stared.

Aria’s face turned red with humiliation. She glared at me one last time.

“This isn’t over,” she hissed before storming away.

I swallowed hard. My whole body trembled.

“Don’t mind her,” Dante said.

“Why would you do that?” I whispered shakily.

“Do what?”

“Start… whatever this is. I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t want that drama!”

His eyes softened for the first time, just a little.

“You don’t understand yet,” he said quietly.

“Understand what?”

He looked at me like the world itself didn’t matter.

“You were made for me.”

My breath hitched. “Stop saying that.”

“I won’t,” he said. “And I don’t care who hears it.”

Before I could respond, the bell rang.

Students rushed past, whispering louder than before.

Dante leaned close one last time.

“Meet me after class.”

“I’m not—”

“I’ll find you,” he said.

Then he walked away, leaving me breathless, shaking, and drowning in whispers.

And for the first time…

I wondered if running was even possible anymore.

Because something about Dante Rivera felt inevitable.