Claimed by My Alpha Step Brother

chapter 5. phyna POV

The word hit me like a physical blow.

‘’Mate,

I stared up at Tristan, frozen in his arms, my mind refusing to accept what he had just said. His eyes burned gold, locked on mine with a certainty that terrified me more than any rumor ever could. His arm around my waist was solid, unyielding. The hand at the back of my neck held me in place like he was afraid I would disappear if he let go.

“No,” I whispered.

Tristan’s jaw tightened. “Yes.”

“You’re wrong.” My voice shook. I pushed against his chest, but he didn’t move. “I’m not—this can’t be—”

“It is.” His voice was low, rough, and absolute. “I felt it the second I saw you. I just didn’t understand until now. You’re mine, Phyna.”

Panic flooded every part of me. I twisted harder in his grip. “Let me go.”

“I can’t.”

“You have to.” My breathing turned sharp and uneven. “We’re stepsiblings, Tristan. Your father married my mother. Do you understand what that means? If anyone finds out—if the pack finds out—”

“I don’t care about any of that.”

“I do!” The words came out louder than I intended. I forced my voice back down to a desperate whisper. “You don’t know what it’s like to be the weak one. The one people can crush without consequence. If the girls at school hear that their future Alpha called me his mate, they will destroy me. And the pack… they will never accept a Beta from another territory as yours. Especially not like this.”

Tristan’s expression darkened. For a moment he looked almost angry—not at me, but at the truth in my words. His hold didn’t loosen.

“You’re not weak,” he said. “And I won’t let anyone touch you.”

“You can’t control everyone.”

“Watch me.”

I shook my head, heart slamming against my ribs. My wolf was restless, pulled toward him in a way that made my skin feel too tight. The bond was already there, humming under the surface, trying to settle. I hated how much part of me wanted to stop fighting.

“This is a mistake,” I said, quieter now. “You need to forget it. Pretend it never happened. I’ll stay out of your way. I’ll transfer schools if I have to. Just… don’t do this.”

Tristan stared at me for a long time. The gold in his eyes slowly faded back to that dark honey color, but the intensity remained. He lifted one hand and brushed his thumb along my jaw, the touch surprisingly gentle compared to the strength in his arm.

“I can’t pretend,” he said. “And I won’t let you run.”

Footsteps sounded somewhere downstairs. A door closed. The house was still awake.

Tristan’s head turned slightly toward the sound, then back to me. He leaned in until his forehead rested against mine. His voice dropped to a near growl.

“You can fight this all you want, Phyna. But you’re my mate. That doesn’t change because of our parents. It doesn’t change because of school. And it doesn’t change because you’re scared.”

He finally released me.

I stumbled back a step, putting as much distance between us as the narrow hallway allowed. My hands were shaking. My pulse still raced.

Tristan watched me retreat, something fierce and possessive in his gaze.

“Get some sleep,” he said quietly. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Then he turned and walked back toward his room, leaving me alone in the dark hallway with the word *mate* still echoing in my head and the terrifying knowledge that nothing in my life would ever be simple again.

I locked my bedroom door the moment I stepped inside.

It didn’t make me feel any safer.