Claimed By My Alpha Stepbrother.

13.

SERAPHINA

The only reason I was standing here knocking on the door of my one-night-stand lookalike was because Mom had come up to my room after dinner.

"Sweetheart," she'd started carefully, sitting beside me on the bed. "Can you tell me what's really wrong?"

"Nothing, Mom." I'd tried to play it off with a shrug. "Just tired, like I said earlier. I'll be fine when I wake up. I promise."

She didn't buy it.

"Don't brush me off, Seraphina." I knew she meant business the moment her tone turned serious. "You were rude to Azriel, and you barely spoke to him during dinner."

Heat had crept up my neck immediately. "I wasn't rude."

"I know you didn't intend to be," Mom replied gently, taking my hands in hers, "but you were so uncomfortable that it came off that way. Tell me honestly... do you not like Azriel?"

What was I supposed to say?

He looks exactly like the guy I had s*x with in Las Vegas, so I physically cannot act normal around him?

Yeah. That definitely would've gone over well.

So I shook my head quickly. "He's cool. Maybe I'm just not used to this whole brother thing yet. I'm sure I'll get used to it in no time."

Mom sighed softly, her thumb rubbing over my knuckles. "Honey, I know this is a lot for you, but you can see he's trying. Just try your best too. You don't have to like him immediately, but I don't want this house turning tense because of you two. He's a sweet guy. You'll like him."

Guilt hit me immediately.

It had to be hard enough already for Mom trying to build a relationship with Azriel, trying to make him feel comfortable enough to accept her presence in his life. And tonight she'd looked genuinely happy. Relaxed. Hopeful.

Azriel had played along perfectly too. Calm. Polite. Patient.

Meanwhile, I was internally losing my mind every time he looked at me.

Because every glance, every movement, every shift in his voice dragged me right back to Las Vegas. To large hands on my waist. Hot tongue inside me. The deep rasp of his voice against my ear while he—

I cut the thought off immediately.

Mom was right. Azriel hadn't actually done anything wrong. If anything, he'd been more understanding than I deserved.

"Maybe just talk to him?" she suggested carefully. "Clear the awkwardness before it grows into something worse."

I groaned dramatically and fell backward onto the bed. "You are literally forcing sibling bonding right now."

Mom laughed. "I'm not forcing anything."

"You absolutely are."

"And you'll go."

"Mom."

"Seraphina Zephyrion."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Using my full name is emotional manipulation."

"And yet it's working."

I snorted, and her expression softened. She leaned forward, brushing a strand of hair away from my face gently. "I just don't want you feeling alone here. And honestly..." She hesitated. "It'll be awkward for your stepdad and me if we constantly have to choose between the two of you."

That only made the guilt worse. Because she sounded worried. Not angry or disappointed. Just worried that her daughter and stepson were about to make her marriage miserable.

"Fine," I muttered. "I'll apologize."

Mom smiled triumphantly. "Good. I'm proud of you, baby."

And somehow, thirty minutes later, that was how I ended up standing outside Azriel's bedroom like an i***t. I stared at the dark wooden door in front of me, suddenly questioning every decision that had led me here.

Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe he was angry. Maybe he was done playing the understanding stepbrother after my behavior downstairs.

I knocked again. Still nothing.

I shifted awkwardly on my feet, glancing down the hallway. The house was quiet now. What was I even supposed to say?

Sorry for being rude earlier. You just happen to look exactly like the stranger who ruined my ability to think straight two years ago.

Perfect.

Total normal conversation starter.

I sighed and knocked again, harder this time.

Nothing.

I was just about to give up when I heard something strange from inside the room.

A thud.

I froze.

Another sound followed immediately after. Low. Rough.

My stomach tightened uneasily. "Azriel?" I called carefully.

No response.

Another loud thud came from inside the room.

Fear prickled at the back of my neck. What if something had happened to him?

I started banging harder against the door. "Azriel?"

Still nothing.

Mom and Alistair's room was all the way at the other end of the hall. The master bedroom. Far from the rest of the rooms because Mom liked her privacy and hated noise disturbances.

Usually, I appreciated it because it meant I didn't have to hear them having s*x.

Right now, though, it just made me scared.

A strange sound came again. Almost like a growl. The hairs on my arms stood immediately.

Did an animal get into his room? Is he being attacked by it?

"Hello?" My voice usually came out high-pitched whenever I yelled so it sounded weak. "Azriel?"

I was seconds away from running to get help when a displeased voice finally answered behind the closed door. "...What?"

I blinked. So he heard me. Was he seriously ignoring me on purpose?

"It's Seraphina," I called back.

"I know."

Okay. What the hell?

I frowned at the door. If he was mad, the least he could do was open it and act mad to my face.

"I just..." I swallowed awkwardly. "Are you okay? Heard crashing sound and—"

"I'm fine."

"Oh."

My shoulders fell. I shouldn't have panicked that much. "I wanted to apologize," I blurted out, trying to remain brave and not change my mind and walk away.

He didn't respond. Rather, I could hear him panting like he'd run a marathon.

"For dinner," I added quickly. "And when you greeted me earlier. I'm sorry I made things awkward."

Nothing. I pursed my lips together tightly.

"Mom thought I was uncomfortable around you," I admitted. "And... she wasn't wrong. I think it'll just take me a while to get used to all of this. To you. Is that okay?"

Shuffling came from inside the room. Then— "Seraphina."

My pulse spiked. The way he said my name sent a cold and electric shock down my spine. Because it sounded familiar. Nothing like the way he'd called it in the dining room.

This voice was rougher. Lower. Dangerous. The exact same voice that had murmured filthy things against my skin in Vegas while his hands explored every inch of my body.

"Yeah?" I managed.

"You should go to bed."

My brows pulled together.

Okay. Confirmed. He hated me and didn't care about my stupid apology.

"Look, I really wasn't trying to be rude earlier—"

"You need to leave," he snapped.

What the hell was going on in there?

"Azriel..." My voice softened. "Are you okay?" I asked again.

Something slammed violently against the wall inside the room. I jumped. A curse followed immediately afterward. Then breathing. Heavy breathing. My chest tightened uneasily.

"Azriel, open the door."

No response.

"You're scaring me," I cried. "Do you want me to call your dad?"

I heard more shuffling and banging, and then the door flew open.

My breath caught. Azriel stood barefoot in the doorway wearing only a pair of dark sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his hips. His chest rose and fell heavily, muscles tense beneath skin still dripping with water. His room was a mess. Almost turned upside down.

But that wasn't what shocked me. It was his face. His expression. The same one from that night in Vegas. Eyes that held restrained hunger and desire. Like he was starving for something he couldn't have. The exact same eyes that had looked down at me in that Vegas room.

Oh my God.

I wasn't crazy.

I wasn't imagining things. I had been right all along yet his acting made me think I was crazy.

He was the guy from Vegas. My Stepbrother was the guy that f****d me senseless and ditched me the next morning. And, I'm supposed to act normal and live under the same roof with him?