my step brothers

So Cold

RHIANNON'S POV~

My breath catches, and just before I can think of slapping his hand away, cold water drenches me from head to toe. I jolt back, shock and humiliation coursing through me as my stepbrothers laugh cruelly.

Draven feigns innocence with a false shocked expression, his voice dripping with sarcasm while he holds the now empty jug that was once filled with water as he says, "Oops, my hands slipped this time."

Lucien and Roman chuckle darkly, their eyes glittering with malice.

Goosebumps break out on my skin, my eyes stinging with the humiliation of being made a fool.

I shoot Draven a murderous glare, but he returns my look with a bored, dismissive expression. I begin to wring the water out of my nightgown, tears threatening to spill over as I try to salvage some dignity.

Roman leans in and whispers in my ear, his voice menacing. "Why don't you go ahead now, sister? Don't make us repeat ourselves next time, or you'll regret it." He nuzzles my ear, and I flinch away, but his hand stops me from escaping his grip. "Oh, and dear sister, your stupid boyfriend has been whimpering like the p***y he is, wanting to talk to you, but guess what?"

My heartbeat slows as Liam's name is mentioned. I can't imagine how worried he is for me.

Lucien taps my forehead, his voice a sickening mix of mockery and possessiveness. "Stop thinking so much, you'll hurt your pretty head. We're the only ones allowed to hurt you." His lips quirk in a cruel smile, and I bite my tongue to stop myself from saying something that will make these assholes cause more trouble for me.

The sound of something suddenly crashing startles us from our argument. We turn to face the door, where a maid stands frozen, a shattered vase at her feet. Her face is a mask of terror, her eyes wide and pleading. Shards of porcelain crunch beneath her shoes as she backs away, a look of panic etched across her features.

"I'm... I'm so sorry Alphas... I didn't..." the maid stammers, her voice quaking with fear. "Your father is back and would like to see you."

Roman snaps at her, his voice like a whip. "Get out!" The maid scurries from the room, leaving us in silence. Then, Roman turns his attention to me. "Now get going!" he barks.

My breath catches in my throat, and I can feel my cheeks burning with humiliation as I glare at the three of them. My eyes sting as I force myself to make the toasts exactly as they've demanded.

Their footsteps begin to recede, the kitchen door slamming behind them as they leave.

I release a shaky breath, a single tear slipping down my cheek. I rub my eyes, trying to dispel the sadness that engulfs me.

~ ~

It's already afternoon, and the house is eerily silent. My stepfather and brothers have gone out, and for once, my stepfather hasn't sought me out to shame and berate me.

It's just more like the calm before the storm and just before the storm can come, I realize this might be my chance to escape before they return. I pull on my hoodie, my hands shaking slightly as I sneak out the front door and hail a taxi.

The taxi drops me off in front of a small bungalow. I pay the driver, my stomach twisting in knots. I turn to face the house, a lump rising in my throat as I take in the familiar facade.

I clench the sides of my hoodie, trying to steady myself before I release a sharp sigh. My feet feel leaden as I force myself to walk up the path and knock on the door.

Footsteps approach after some seconds and the door swings open to reveal a woman with a look of disgust on her face.

"Hello aunty," I say, forcing a small smile.

"What are you doing here?" she snaps. "You know you're not welcome here, only when you bring the money and after that you have to get lost."

My heart breaks a little more with each hateful word.

My hands begin to tremble as a cold ache spreads through my body. I reach into my pocket, my fingers shaking as I pull out a wad of cash. "This is 2000 dollars," I say in a soft, timid voice. "This is for my mom's upkeep."

My aunt scoffs, reaching out and snatching the money from my hand. She examines it for a moment before throwing it back in my face. I gasp, taking a step back and staring at her in shock.

"What the heck do you think I need 2000 dollars for?" she snarls.

"Your almost dead mother is ruining my life just like I warned your dead father," she hisses. "You both are miseries. You took after your mother's curse of not having your own wolf or mate, and now want to spread it to me?"

My heart sinks as her words cut through me like a knife. I try to hold back the tears, but they spill down my cheeks anyway.

"I wish you had died in the stead of your father and brother!" Jolene screams.

I flinch, my body shaking as the full force of her hatred washes over me. My heart turns cold. So cold that I feel like I'm dying.

"Mom that's enough for now," Cara, my cousin says, stepping in front of her mother, her voice firm.

But my aunt doesn't back down, her eyes like daggers. "Make it 5,000$ before you show your cursed face in here, Rhiannon. I don't care how you get it. I don't care if you die. I don't even care if you spread your legs, get me the money or I'm leaving your mother to die in the hospital!"

My aunt spins on her heel, marching into the house and slamming the door behind her. Cara lingers for a moment, her face a picture of regret.

"I'm... Sorry. My mother's pissed off because your stepfather withdrew every payment plan for the hospital bills. There's no means for us to pay. I'm sorry," she says, her voice small and apologetic.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. My heart feels like it's been cleaved in two, shattered into a million tiny pieces.

I turn to leave, hot tears spilling down my cheeks. But Cara calls out to me. "Uhm, Rhiannon?"

I turn back to face her, and she looks away before taking a deep breath and meeting my gaze. "Can I... Can I take that? I'll hold it in case my mother changes her mind." She flashes me a weak smile, but it feels like a slap in the face.

I stare at her, my mind reeling. How can she ask this of me after everything that's just happened? After the things my aunt just said? My hand clenches around the money, my knuckles turning white.

Cara looks away, her eyes downcast, her cheeks burning from embarrassment. Then, without another word, she turns and slams the door shut, leaving me alone in the cold.