Claimed By My Alpha Stepbrother.

24

SERAPHINA.

I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss. Azriel was still asleep next to me, and I was afraid to move. What if yesterday had just been a dream? What if he woke up today and kept his distance again?

He had said he was scared of hurting me, which was ironic since he was the only reason I was still alive.

His eyes slowly opened, and I quickly shut mine.

"You're awake," he mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep. "No need to pretend that you're not."

I turned slowly and opened my eyes. "How did you know?"

"Your breathing changed." A hint of a smile appeared on his lips. "It wouldn't be that heavy if you were actually asleep."

I laughed as I sat up. "You never cease to amaze me."

He smiled and stood up too, offering me his hand. "Come on, we need to start the day."

I took his hand and let him pull me up, my heart racing with excitement.

We didn't mention the kiss, but he seemed more open now, less distant than before. He still flinched when I leaned in too closely, but he wasn’t avoiding me anymore. There was so much I wanted to talk about but didn't want to scare him into closing off again. So many pestering questions I needed answers to.

It seemed he'd chosen to stop resisting whatever this was between us. Or maybe I was just too irresistible for him to ignore. I chuckled to myself; not that I minded.

"You're not pushing me away today," I said, looking for any sign of a reaction on his face.

He hesitated before popping a red fruit into my mouth. "It's not like I ever wanted to push you away," he replied. "But some things are hard to explain."

"Try me."

"No, little one. Let's leave it for now."

I nodded while chewing the sweet, crunchy fruit that tasted like smaller apples. "So you'll at least stop pushing me away?"

"I'll try not to," he said, reaching out to tuck a damp strand of hair behind my ear. "I promise."

I leaned into his touch, and he didn’t withdraw.

Did this mean we were okay? Well, I'd have to keep an eye on that.

SERAPHINA

We always brought our things with us when we left the hut. We couldn't risk missing any opportunity of being rescued simply because we had to go back and get something. But we—especially me—were starting to get scared. The power bank was dead, and the phone was now on very low battery. If we couldn't get a message out before the phone died, we could be stuck here for the rest of our lives.

So that day, we decided to venture farther than we ever had before.

We walked for hours, pushing through thick undergrowth and climbing over fallen trees. My legs ached, and my throat was dry, but Azriel never slowed down, never complained. He just kept moving, one hand wrapped firmly around mine like he was some kind of machine.

Just when I was about to suggest we turn back, we stumbled upon a clear path with voices coming from the distance and smoke coiling into the air.

My heart hammered against my ribs. "Azriel—"

"I see it," he whispered, pulling me closer. "Stay behind me."

We followed the path cautiously, every instinct screaming at us to run. But as we drew nearer, the voices became clearer—ordinary voices speaking in hushed tones.

A small settlement emerged from the trees. It felt like a dream. Small huts clustered together, smoke rising from cooking fires. Children ran between the structures, their laughter cutting through the humid air. Adults moved about, some tending to gardens, others repairing roofs. And then they saw us.

A woman dropped the basket she was carrying. A man stepped forward, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

He moved closer to us, his hand clenched around a piece of wood.

"Who are you?" His voice was sharp, his eyes daring us to step forward.

We stepped back immediately. Azriel held his hands in the air.

"There was a plane crash," Azriel started slowly, trying to sound harmless. "We're the only survivors. We've been trapped on this island for over a month now. We mean no harm."

The man's expression softened, just slightly. He glanced back at the others, then gestured for us to follow. "Come. You look like you haven't eaten properly in weeks."

Azriel and I sighed in relief and followed.

We had real warm meals that didn’t upset my stomach. They even prepared a warm bath for us, and one of the women helped me with my hair and provided fresh clothes they offered. Most importantly, they had something we truly needed: service.

Although there was no electricity, we managed to send out a message. 'The plane was attacked. We're alive. Phone is dying. Please track our location.' The phone died right after sending the message, leaving us with nothing to do but hope they would find us.

The village even had a satellite phone, although they didn't think it worked because they'd never received a response.

"We just keep it safe," the village head, a kind elderly, green eyed man explained. "In case we're finally able to get through."

We learned a lot about what happened in Millbrook and why the plane was shut down. The terrorists weren't allowing anyone to enter the town. More planes had been shot down from all routes leading into it. Even the government had stopped sending rescue teams. Millbrook had become a fortress under siege, and no one knew how long it would last.

"Most of us here," one of the villagers had sadness in her eyes as she spoke, "are survivors. From the planes, the boats, anything that tried to get through." She paused, her gaze drifting toward the tree line. "Many have left trying to find a way out, but they never returned. We're not sure if they truly found a way out or are just lost out there." She smiled bitterly. "We refuse to believe they're dead."

"Do you think there's any chance of rescue?" Azriel asked, his body tense and alert.

The village head shook his head. "We've long since lost hope. Most of them have been here for over a year now, blending in with us as if they were one of the villagers. I bet their families believe they're already dead. There’s no point in venturing out and making that a reality." He studied us for a moment, something understanding in his gaze. "You're welcome to stay; we have room. Or you can return to wherever you've been hiding and wait it out alone. We locals are very welcoming."

Indeed, they were, sharing the little they had with genuine kindness.

Azriel turned to me. "What do we do?"

I could sense what he was thinking. Staying here could mean never going back home.

But then I remembered the kiss—the way he held me as if I were precious and fragile, the smile he wore for the first time since our crash and the fact he'd finally admitted to be the man that turned my heart and body upside down in Vegas, I didn’t want to leave. Maybe if we weren’t rescued in time, we could try again later. For now, perhaps this situation wasn't so bad after all.

Because I was scared—what if we returned and he shut himself off again? What if he pretended nothing had happened? I wasn’t sure I could handle that a second time. I wasn't being sensible and making a self choice. But, it was what I wanted right now.

"I think it's better if we wait it out here," I said finally. "Besides, we sent our rescue alert from this location. Moving around would make it harder for them to track us down. At least here, we've got real people, shelter, and food."

"How long do you want to wait?" the village head asked, looking at me intently.

How long?

"We can't say right now," I replied, trying to gauge his reaction. "Let’s just hope it won't be too long."

He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Don't worry," Azriel quickly added. "We won't be liabilities."

He nodded and turned towards about fifteen villagers—ten men and five women who remained with us while the others returned to their daily struggle for survival. "We have new arrivals here; let’s be kind to them."

They nodded and shouted, "Welcome!"

"Thank you for having us," Azriel said with a respectful bow. "We won't cause you any trouble."

The village head gestured to a younger girl with dimples and brown hair to guide us to our accommodation.

We stood and she led the way.

She rambled on about how this place had an energy that healed and brought people together, essentially suggesting that it was somewhat magical.

Azriel and I were too tired to match her enthusiasm, so we just followed along, smiling to avoid seeming rude.

Fortunately, we reached our destination in just two minutes, and she showed us to our hut. As she opened the door, she gave us a little tour. Her cheerful demeanor lightened the atmosphere. This place was far better than where we had stayed before, which had holes and patches everywhere. It belonged to someone who had left in search of rescue and had left some belongings behind—clean sheets for us to sleep on, cooking utensils, and other essential items.

"Thank you," Azriel murmured as he led her out once the tour was over, closing the door behind them.

I collapsed onto the bed immediately, letting out a soft moan of relief. It felt soothing, and my back was grateful for it as I ran my hand over the warm duvet. I knew I would sleep well tonight.

"Seraphina." Azriel's voice was barely above a whisper when he returned to me.

"Hmm?"

"I'm glad you're here with me." He stood in the doorway, vulnerability evident in his eyes.

His words surprised me but filled my heart with warmth. I quickly got up and walked over to him, wrapping my arms around him while leaning against his chest since he was much taller than I was. "Me too."

His body relaxed as tension melted away from him.

What would I have done without him here?