My PlayBoy StepBrother Called Me His Mate

Elena Pov The first time I saw my new stepbrother, he was kissing another girl. The second time, he looked me straight in the eyes and called me his mate. And the worst part? He did it in front of the entire school. But that was later. Before Adrian Blackwood turned my life upside down, I was just a girl trying to survive a new home, a new school, and a family I never asked for. I stood outside the black iron gates of Blackwood Mansion, gripping my suitcase handle. “Please, Elena,” Mom said softly. “Give Victor a chance. He loves me, and he wants us to be happy.”I forced a smile. “I'm trying, Mom.”I wasn't worried about Victor. He had been polite enough during the few times we met. He even bought me a new laptop for school. But I didn't want a new father. I wanted my old life back. Unfortunately, my old life had disappeared the moment Mom married a wealthy man whose house looked more like a castle than a home. The front door opened. Victor Blackwood stepped outside, wearing a dark suit and an easy smile.“Welcome home, Elena.”Home. The word felt strange. Thank you, sir.”He chuckled. “You can call me Victor. There's no need to be formal.”I nodded, but before I could answer, a car engine roared from behind the house. A black sports car pulled into the driveway and stopped near the entrance. The driver's door opened. A tall boy stepped out, running a hand through his messy black hair. His white shirt was partly unbuttoned, and his tie hung loosely around his neck. He looked like someone who had never heard the word no in his life. A girl climbed out after him. She straightened her skirt, leaned up, and kissed his cheek. He smiled at her. Then he noticed us. His golden-brown eyes moved from Victor to Mom before settling on me. For a moment, he didn't move. Something changed in his expression. It was small, almost impossible to notice, but his smile disappeared. Then his gaze dropped to my hand. I followed his eyes. A thin red mark had appeared on my wrist. I rubbed it with my thumb, wondering where it had come from. When I looked up again, he was staring at me as if he had seen a ghost. “Adrian,” Victor called. “Come here. I want you to meet someone.” The boy walked toward us, but his eyes never left my face. Elena, this is my son, Adrian Blackwood.” My stomach sank. His son? I looked at Mom. She gave me an encouraging smile, but I barely noticed. The boy who had just been kissing another girl was my new stepbrother.Wonderful.“Adrian, this is Elena, your new stepsister,” Victor continued. “I expect you both to get along.” Adrian's jaw tightened. Stepsister?” His voice was low, almost disbelieving.“Yes,” Victor replied. “Elena and her mother will be living with us from now on.” The girl beside Adrian stared at me with open dislike. Wait. You're telling me he has a stepsister now?” she asked. Seraphina, this isn't the time,” Adrian said without looking at her. She folded her arms. “I'm only asking.”I lifted my chin. “And I'm only standing here.”Her eyes narrowed. Adrian suddenly let out a short laugh. I turned to him. “What's funny?”Nothing, sweetheart.”Don't call me that.”His smile widened. Oh, I already hated him. “Enough,” Victor said firmly. “Adrian, show Elena to her room. Her things will be brought up shortly.” Adrian looked at his father as if he had just been sentenced to prison. “Seriously?”Now.”He muttered something under his breath before turning toward the house. Come on, stepsister.”I grabbed my suitcase and followed him. The moment we entered the hallway, he stopped so suddenly that I almost walked into his back.“Listen carefully,” he said. I frowned. “What?” “Don't follow me around at school. Don't tell anyone we're living under the same roof, and don't touch my things.” I stared at him. Trust me, Adrian. I have no interest in following you anywhere.”His eyes flickered with amusement. Good. We understand each other.”He started walking again. I followed, dragging my suitcase up the stairs.“By the way,” he said over his shoulder, “stay out of trouble at Blackthorn Academy. People there aren't as friendly as they look.” “Are you warning me or threatening me?”He glanced back. “Would you believe me if I said both?”I stopped on the stairs. He laughed and continued walking. I promised myself right then that I would avoid Adrian Blackwood as much as possible. I had no idea how impossible that promise would become. My first night in the mansion was terrible. I couldn't sleep. The room was too large, the bed too soft, and the silence too strange. Around midnight, I heard something scratching at my window. I sat up. The sound came again.Scrape.Scrape. My heart began to pound. I reached for my phone and switched on the flashlight. Slowly, I crossed the room and pulled the curtains aside. Nothing. Only darkness and the trees beyond the garden. I let out a shaky breath. Then I saw it. Two golden eyes shining between the trees. I stumbled backward, knocking into the bedside table. The eyes disappeared. I rushed to the window and locked it, even though it was already closed. What is wrong with me?” I whispered. Perhaps I was just tired. Perhaps moving into a strange house had finally made me lose my mind. I climbed back into bed and pulled the covers over my shoulders. The voice had come from inside my head. Elena Hart. I pressed my palms against my ears.“Stop it.” The moon is rising. He will find you. I squeezed my eyes shut. Then, without warning, a sharp pain spread across my wrist. I pulled back the sleeve of my nightshirt. The red mark was glowing. Before I could scream, the pain vanished, leaving behind a strange symbol shaped like a crescent moon. I stared at it until my eyes burned. I had never seen that mark before. But somehow, deep inside me, it felt familiar. The following morning, I arrived at Blackthorn Academy with one goal: keep my head down. The school was enormous, with tall buildings, polished floors, and students who looked as if they had stepped out of a fashion magazine. Almost everyone seemed to know everyone else. Whispers followed me as I walked through the main hall.“Who's she?”New student.”She's pretty.”Do you think she's dating someone?”I ignored them and checked my timetable. Room 204. I was halfway down the corridor when someone grabbed my arm. I spun around, ready to slap whoever had touched me. Adrian stood behind me, looking far too pleased with himself.“Careful, sweetheart. You almost hit your favorite person.”You're not my favorite anything.”Give it time.” I tried to pull my arm away, but his expression suddenly changed. He was staring at my wrist. At the mark. His fingers loosened around my arm. What is that?” he whispered. I quickly pulled down my sleeve. “None of your business.” Show me. ”No.” “Elena.” The way he said my name made my skin prickle. For the first time since meeting him, he didn't look amused. He looked frightened. Before I could ask why, the school bell rang. Students began pouring into the corridor. Adrian stepped back, his expression returning to its usual careless smile. See you around, stepsister.” He walked away as if nothing had happened. I watched him disappear into the crowd, unsettled by the look I'd seen in his eyes. How did he know about the mark? And why had he looked so afraid? I didn't get the chance to find out. Because less than an hour later, during the opening ceremony, Adrian Blackwood would walk onto the stage, stare directly at me, and destroy every chance I had of living a normal life. And when he spoke the next words, the entire school would fall silent. “Mate!”