Marked by my Alpha Stepbrother

chapter five

Chapter Five

Gabriella’s POV

“What?”

The word barely left my mouth before the i***t laughed. It wasn’t loud, but more of a low, satisfied sound; as though my confusion was the funniest thing he had seen all morning.

My jaw clenched instantly.

Killian leaned against the porch railing like he had nowhere else to be, golden eyes dragging slowly over me in a way that made heat crawl under my skin against my will. The stupid morning breeze shifted the edge of my robe slightly, and his gaze dipped for half a second before returning to my face like he knew exactly what he was doing. Then he smirked. I don’t know why he had to be blessed with such good looks.

“You really shouldn’t look at me like that, little fox,” he murmured smoothly. “I might kiss you.”

My pulse betrayed me instantly.

“Who knows?” he added softly, amusement dancing in his golden eyes. “Jacob might finally feel something for you, even if it’s jealousy.” His lips curved slowly. “Still awkward though.”

My breath caught for half a second.

How did he… hmm

Why do I even try? Of course, he knew.

At this point, he was starting to feel less like a person and more like the world’s most annoying curse attached to my life.

Killian suddenly chuckled, taking a step closer.

“Wow,” he murmured, clearly entertained. “Annoying curse?” He placed a hand over his chest dramatically. “Asshole would’ve been better.”

My eyes widened slightly, as his smirk deepened.

“You do remember I can still hear your thoughts, right?”

“Go to hell,” I snapped.

That only made him smile and his eyes glow . Killian pushed off the railing and stalked toward me slowly until my back nearly touched the door behind me. He lowered his head slightly, close enough for his warmth to wrap around me completely, and my stupid heartbeat started acting like it had lost all common sense.

“Oh, little fox,” he said quietly. “That’s exactly where I plan on taking you soon.”

My breath caught, as his eyes darkened slowly.

“Or did we already visit the other night?” he murmured. “Because from what I remember… you didn’t exactly hate the experience… you literally begged for it.”

Heat rushed violently into my face.

“You’re disgusting.”

“Mm.” His gaze flickered meaningfully over me again. “Funny. You were holding onto me pretty tightly for someone disgusted.”

“f**k you.”

I shoved him hard in the chest.

But that did nothing, he barely moved, which somehow pissed me off even more.

I tightened my robe around myself quickly, glaring up at him while trying very hard not to think about the dream again. The worst part was knowing he could probably smell my panic right now.

“Are you done being a nuisance?” I asked sharply. “If yes, leave.”

Killian tilted his head slightly.

“Damn.” He pressed a hand to his chest dramatically. “And here I thought family should feel welcomed.”

“You are such an asshole.”

He laughed quietly.

“And yet,” he murmured, stepping closer, “you keep reacting to me like I’m your favorite mistake.”

“Get out.”

He stared at me for a second before chuckling quietly.

“You keep saying that like I actually plan on listening.”

My pulse skipped.

What was seriously wrong with this man? If he truly was my mate, which I would rather die than accept, then why did he feel less like fate and more like the world’s most arrogant pain in the ass?

The teasing eased slightly, and something heavier settled underneath his expression. Something serious enough to make my stomach tighten.

“Like I said…” he murmured. “I came to take you home.”

Before I could even ask what that meant, Killian pushed the front door open behind me and walked inside like he had been paid the mortgage.

My eyes flared instantly as my heartbeat spiked.

“What the hell are you doing?!” I hissed, rushing after him. “Killian…”

But he just ignored me completely.

The bastard walked calmly through the entryway, golden eyes roaming lazily around the house while my heartbeat nearly cracked through my ribs. Meanwhile, I was two seconds away from dragging him back outside myself.

“Nice place,” he murmured casually.

“Are you insane?” I whispered, grabbing his arm tightly. “Jacob is upstairs!”

Killian looked down at my hand gripping him, then slowly back at me.

“You keep touching me.”

“I swear to God,”

“You get very affectionate when you’re nervous, little fox.”

“Killian.”

“Killian.” This time his name came out sharp enough to finally make him pause, but it wasn’t from me. Silence stretched for half a second before his gaze flickered toward the staircase, a floorboard creaked upstairs, and my blood turned ice-cold as my eyes landed on him.

“Killian?”

Jacob’s voice cut through the silence as he appeared on the staircase.

“What are you doing here this early?”

Every muscle in my body locked instantly.

Jacob walked down slowly, still looking half asleep, confusion written all over his face as his eyes moved between us. Panic hit me so fast I stepped away from Killian immediately and tightened my robe harder around myself before Jacob noticed something was wrong.

But Killian? That psycho switched personalities so fast it almost gave me whiplash.

One second he had me trapped against the front door whispering sinful things into my ear. The next, he flashed Jacob an easy grin like he hadn’t spent the last fifteen minutes destroying my peace of mind.

“Damn,” Killian sighed dramatically. “Not you too?”

Jacob frowned slightly. “What?”

“What’s with married people and interrogations before sunrise?” Killian complained. “Is this part of the vows or something? ‘Till death do us part and ask annoying questions at six in the morning’?”

Jacob laughed quietly, but I didn’t, how could I? When, at any moment, this devil could slip up and say something.

His eyes suddenly found mine again.

“Nice place though,” he continued casually, slowly glancing around the living room. “Quiet too. Big enough that you could be screaming in one room while the other person sleeps peacefully on the other side of the house.”

My stomach dropped instantly. God, what is he doing?

This man would be the end of me.

Every single thing out of his mouth sounded normal to Jacob while feeling like a direct attack meant only for me.

Jacob scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “I mean… I guess?”

Killian moved behind him, pretending to admire the framed pictures hanging on the wall. Then the psychopath winked at me over Jacob’s shoulder like this entire situation wasn’t shaving years off my life.

I wanted to kill him.

“So,” Jacob said finally, turning fully toward him now. “You want to explain why the great Alpha himself is standing in my house looking like he hasn’t slept all night?”

Killian chuckled softly, before he turned towards me, walking closer.

Slowly, deliberately matching the beat of my racing heart, and he knew it.

“Killian,” I warned quietly.

But he just ignored me completely, again.

He stopped beside me, close enough for the heat from his body to wrap around mine again, and I hated myself for noticing how good he smelled. Then he looked at Jacob and smiled.

“I came to steal your beautiful wife away.”