“Claimed by my Stepbrother”

Chapter5:The Night He Chose Me

Lunch break used to be the quietest part of my day — a moment where I could hide behind my earphones, pretend the world didn’t exist, and move silently through the halls.

But ever since Dante stormed into my life like a hurricane, silence became impossible.

And today proved it.

The cafeteria was louder than usual, buzzing with whispers I could feel crawling over my skin. Everyone was staring — not just at me, but at him. Dante. Sitting at the far end of the room with his boys, arms folded, jaw clenched, looking like he owned the whole school.

His eyes were on me.

Again.

I pretended not to notice and continued picking at my food, but my heart didn’t get the memo. It kept racing, beating anxiously as if my body knew something big was coming.

I just didn’t know what.

“Girl, why is he staring at you like that?” Aisha asked, leaning close. “Did you two fight again?”

“No,” I whispered. “We didn’t talk today.”

“That’s the problem,” she said, popping her gum. “Dante doesn’t like being ignored.”

I rolled my eyes, but deep down she was right. Dante was the type of boy who expected attention — demanded it. And for a reason I didn’t understand, he wanted mine.

But today… he hadn’t spoken to me, not even a glare in the hallway.

Something was off.

I swallowed hard. “Maybe he’s just… having a day.”

Aisha raised a brow. “Or maybe you’re the reason he’s having a day.”

Before I could respond, a shadow fell over our table.

A tall, familiar boy stood there, smiling softly. Lucas. The only boy in school who treated me like a normal person — who didn’t stare at me like I was a puzzle to solve.

“Hey Sophie,” he said, shifting his backpack. “My chemistry notes… you still want them?”

I blinked. “Oh—um, yeah. Thank you.”

He handed them to me, our fingers brushing slightly. His touch was warm, gentle, comforting. The type of warmth I wasn’t used to.

And that’s when the cafeteria went completely silent.

Because Dante had stood up.

Every step he took toward us echoed with warning. His friends watched nervously. Even the teachers pretended not to see him. Aisha grabbed my arm under the table.

“Bestie,” she whispered, “brace yourself.”

Dante reached our table and didn’t even look at Lucas. His eyes were glued to me like a promise he wasn’t planning to break.

“Sophie,” he said, voice low. “Come with me.”

I blinked. “I’m eating.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

Lucas stepped forward. “Hey, relax. She’s talking with me.”

Dante finally looked at him — but his eyes were cold. Dangerous.

“Move,” he said simply.

Lucas swallowed. “She’s not your—”

“I said move.” Dante’s voice dropped even lower.

The cafeteria held its breath.

I stood up quickly, placing a hand on Lucas’s arm. “It’s fine. I’ll go.”

Lucas looked frustrated but didn’t stop me. Dante’s jaw relaxed slightly as I moved beside him. He didn’t touch me — he didn’t have to. The air around him pulled me in like gravity.

He walked out of the cafeteria, and I followed him into an empty hallway.

The door closed behind us.

Silence.

“What was that about?” I asked, hugging my books to my chest.

“You tell me,” he said, turning. “Why were you smiling at him?”

I stared at him. “Are you serious?”

“Very.”

“You ignored me the whole morning,” I snapped. “What did you expect me to do? Sit and wait for you to speak to me?”

Something flickered in his eyes — something dark, almost vulnerable.

“I wasn’t ignoring you.”

“Then what were you doing?”

He hesitated. Dante never hesitated.

But he did now.

“I was trying to stay away,” he muttered.

“Why?”

His jaw tightened. “Because you distract me.”

My breath caught.

Distract him? Me? The girl who blended into walls?

“Dante, that makes no sense.”

“Everything about you makes no sense,” he said sharply. “You show up, you talk back, you look at me like you’re not afraid of me—and then you let him touch you.”

“He didn’t touch me,” I said.

“He wanted to.”

“And what if he did?” I challenged. “It’s not your business.”

He stepped closer — too close.

“It is,” he said quietly, “if I’m making it my business.”

My heart dropped into my stomach.

“What do you want from me?” I whispered.

His hand lifted slowly, like he was fighting the urge to touch me. He didn’t—he hovered an inch from my cheek.

“Something I shouldn’t want,” he murmured.

A chill ran through me.

Then footsteps approached, breaking the moment.

Dante stepped back fast, expression hardening like a mask.

“Meet me after school,” he ordered. “Behind the gym.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m done staying away.”

He didn’t wait for my answer. He walked away as if he hadn’t just turned my world upside down.

I stood frozen in the hallway, my heart refusing to calm down.

Behind the gym.

After school.

God help me.

I wasn’t ready for whatever Dante wanted.

But I wasn’t sure I could stay away either.