My Fiance is Sleeping With My Step Sister

Chapter 28

The morning started like any other. I thought maybe the unease in my chest from yesterday would fade if I kept moving, but it followed me like a shadow. Devon had been called away early for a council discussion, so I decided to eat with Joey in the dining hall instead of waiting.

The room was buzzing with voices when we walked in. I tried to keep my head down, but it didn’t matter. Every eye seemed to follow me as I sat. Joey ignored them all and piled food on my plate until I had no choice but to laugh.

Halfway through the meal, the same girl from before the one with the smirk stood up again. Her voice carried across the room.

“Luna,” she said, her tone dripping with false sweetness, “we all saw you yesterday on the training ground. Are you planning to burn us all if we don’t bow to you?”

The hall went quiet. My fork froze in mid-air.

Joey was already rising to her feet, fury flashing in her eyes. But before she could speak, I stood. “If you have something to say to me, say it directly. Don’t hide behind your little jokes.”

The girl’s lips curled. “Fine. You’re not strong enough to be Luna. You don’t belong here. Why don’t you prove yourself instead of hiding behind the Alpha and your bodyguard?”

Gasps rippled through the hall. She stepped closer, challenging me openly. My heart hammered. Joey tried to pull me back, but something inside me snapped.

“You want proof?” I asked, my voice shaking. “Then come and take it.”

She lunged first. She was fast, but Joey had drilled me enough that I dodged and struck back. We exchanged blows, the clash of fists and bodies echoing off the walls. The crowd roared around us, some cheering, some shouting for it to stop.

But then it happened. My chest grew hot, unbearably hot, like fire clawing its way out. The girl grabbed my arm, and before I could think, flames erupted along my skin. She screamed, stumbling back, her sleeve catching fire.

“Addy!” Joey shouted, but her voice was far away.

The girl’s terror only fueled the blaze. I felt it surge higher, wild and uncontrollable, spilling from me in waves. My vision blurred with red and orange, the scent of smoke filling the hall. The girl fell to the ground, sobbing, and I knew if I didn’t stop, I would kill her.

Strong arms wrapped around me from behind. Devon’s voice cut through the chaos. “Addy, look at me!”

I thrashed, but his hold was unyielding. “Let it go,” he whispered, his mouth at my ear. “I’m here. You won’t hurt me.”

And somehow, the fire obeyed him. The flames died down until only smoke rose from my skin. My body sagged against his, trembling, my breath coming in harsh gasps.

The hall was silent, everyone staring. Devon’s eyes swept the room like a blade. “Not a word of this leaves here. Do you understand?” His voice was deadly.

“Yes, Alpha,” came the chorus, though fear laced the air.

He carried me out before I could even catch my breath. I buried my face in his chest, ashamed, terrified of myself.

Back in our room, he set me on the bed and crouched in front of me. For the first time, he didn’t try to hide his worry.

“Addy,” he said softly, “how long?”

My throat tightened. “Since before Patricia came. I’ve been feeling it inside me. I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want you to look at me differently.”

His hands cupped my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Listen to me. Nothing, nothing, could ever make me see you as less than mine. Do you understand?”

Tears spilled down my cheeks. “I almost killed her, Devon.”

“But you didn’t,” he said firmly. “Because I was here. And because you’re stronger than you think. You just need control.”

Joey slipped into the room quietly, closing the door behind her. She didn’t look shocked only worried. “She needs training. Real training. If we don’t figure this out, the next time she won’t be able to stop.”

Devon nodded slowly. “Then we keep it between us. No one else knows. Not the council, not the pack. Only us.” He turned back to me. “We’ll train you in secret. I’ll make sure no more outbursts happen.”

I shook my head weakly. “What if I can’t control it?”

“Then we’ll learn together,” he promised. His lips pressed to my forehead. “I won’t let you face this alone.”

For the first time, I believed him. Even if the fire inside me scared me more than anything else ever had, Devon’s arms around me felt like the only place where I wasn’t afraid.