Chased By My Possessive Stepbrother

The cursed bride

Chapter 4

Eleanor POV

The next thing I was aware of, I was in my room. The wedding gown I had worn with so much joy now sits in a neat fold on the sofa. The veil that showed my smile had been removed, and the decorations that filled my space had been taken down.

There was no wedding, not anymore. Hot tears traveled down my cheeks as I curled into a ball and sobbed. The door creaked open, and a familiar scent caught my nose.

It was Stephen. He approached my bed and knelt beside it, carefully reaching out. But I didn't move. I couldn't.

“Ellie,” he mumbled. “You're not alone anymore. You have me now, I’ll always be by your side to protect you.” I squeezed my eyes shut, giving way to the fresh tears.

Stephen’s words weren’t enough, and they will never be. The man I loved, the man that was once mine, was gone. And nothing could ever bring him back. Stephen's warm hands pulled me up and drew me into his warm embrace, but I barely reacted. I was too numb.

“You scared me, Ellie. You fainted and were unconscious for hours,” Stephen said, cupping my cheek.

I looked past him. The grief was too loud for me to hear him. Just then, the door creaked open, and Helen, my father's wife and Stephen's mother. No. The woman who had stolen my mother's place walked in.

She crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed. “I knew this would happen,” she said, her voice void of any emotion.

I turned my head slightly. “What?”

“It's a bad omen for a bride to lose her groom on her wedding day, Eleanor.” She grimaced, then continued. "My intuition was correct. You are cursed, Eleanor.”

My soul cracked. Cursed? Was I really cursed?

Why would she call me that when my whole world had just collapsed? I clenched the bedspread, my nails digging into the soft fabric, but I had no strength to argue.

Because deep down, there was a part of me that wondered if she was right. Perhaps I was cursed; if not, why would my mate die on our wedding day? Or why will my mother abandon me? With these thoughts I retreated back into my shell, accepting my cruel fate.

***********

Weeks passed in a blur of mourning. Jayden's funeral was held at the SilverMoon pack. Every one of them howled into the night, swearing vengeance on their Alpha killers.

Alpha Marcus vowed to find those responsible and bring them to justice. And so he did.

One of the rogues had been captured, beaten, interrogated, and threatened to confess. And when he did, his confession changed everything:

“We were paid to kill Alpha Jayden, but we don't know who gave us the assignment. In our line of work, we don’t show our faces and don’t ask to know our clients before we pick up a job. So all the client did was give us the money and tell us what to do.” The rogues had explained much to everyone disdained.

Alpha Marcus called me into his study that afternoon; his gaze was heavy with grief. His son's death is so painful for him, just as it was for me.

“Eleanor,” he began softly. “Do you think or know anyone that might have wanted Jayden dead?”

I was stunned. “No. Not at all. Jayden didn't have any enemies that I know of. He was nice and loved by everyone. Why would someone want him dead? How could…”

Alpha Marcus interrupted me, looking straight into my eyes in pain. “But he was murdered. Eleanor, are you sure Jayden didn't have any enemies in particular? You can let yourself think about it.”

His gaze was so terrifying that I looked down immediately. I braced myself and answered as confidently as I could. I also want to bring Jayden killer to justice. “Jayden didn't. Helen, my stepmother, loved him. My father also cherished and respected him and ….”

My voice trails off as I remember something. ‘Oh my God!’ I scream inside as Jayden's voice echoes in my head with memories flashing frantically.

“Your brother is always watching us, Eleanor. I'm not comfortable with him around.”

“Does your brother hate me? It seems he doesn’t want us together.”

“Your brother keeps telling me he doesn't want us together.”

Stephen! My soul groans at the thought. I shook my head. It couldn’t be him. Stephen was everything but a killer. He is my own brother, my protector, the one who swore to make me happy. He wouldn’t be.

“Eleanor.” The warm call of my name brought me back from the turmoil I was fighting within myself. I slowly met Alpha Marcus' gaze and saw the worried expression laced on his wrinkled face.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I swallowed hard, forcing the thought away, and nodded. “I’m fine, just lost in thought at the possibility that someone might have wished Jayden dead.” I said softly.

Alpha Marcus gave me a sympathetic look. “I'm sorry, I… don't know anyone who might have wanted to hurt Jayden.” I continued.

“It's alright, my dear. You can get some rest now.” Alpha Marcus said.

As I left his studies, I felt anxious as my stomach turned to the possibility of: ‘What if…’

I shook my head in denial, knowing nursing such wistful thoughts might be dangerous. I'd get my answer when I returned to our pack. I concluded by giving it all my will to shut it out of my head.

On my way back home that evening, I was lost in a swirl of emotion. I was not doing my best to kill those thoughts.

Stephen was dear to me. Yes, he is. I told myself.

‘Was he?’ A voice whispered to my soul, and I froze midway.

“Step…hen.” His name escapes my lips as hot tears threaten to escape.

The memories of how he lurked too closely, how he was always around me. The way his touch lingered on me for too long. All the mates he had rejected, claiming his mate was far away, and he was waiting for her.

“No. That couldn’t be me.” He is my brother.

I refuse to believe it, but I will when I figure out the truth. And if I find out he betrayed me… I swear, I wouldn't hesitate to kill him. I thought with fiery eyes.

A rainstorm began the moment I arrived at our pack, but I ignored the wind rattling the windows as I made my way to Stephen's bedroom on getting home. I know I won’t be finding any peace until I get my answer. I didn't care to knock and entered his room without permission.

“Ellie,” he said, surprised, and rose to his feet. “You're back.”

“Of course, I am,” I retorted harshly. “Did you expect me not to?” I lashed out, not knowing what had come over me. ‘What if I was wrong? That would be a disaster.’ But there is no harm in giving it a shot.

“No. It's not like that. I wouldn’t. I want you here. Home is where you belong.” He smiled. “I'm glad you're here. For a second, I feared you wouldn't move on.”

“Move on? Excuse me?” I frowned my brow. How was he expecting me to move on this soon? I had lost the love of my life for God sake who had just been buried.

“Move on?” I repeated. “Jayden was my mate! He was my future. I'd spend my entire life waiting for him, loving him, and you want me to move on from that after what? 3 weeks?”

Stephen sighed in exhaustion. “Ellie, I don't want to see you in pain. I…”

I cut him off. “Did you have anything to do with Jayden's death?” Stephen didn't move or so much as flinch. But I did flinch at the possibility of truth and betrayal. Stephen's cold, stone gaze was killing me, and everything felt so surreal, and in that single moment, I knew my answer.

“Speak!” I screamed amidst the sound of the pouring rain.

Stephen exhaled softly, then smiled. “I killed Jayden because I love you, Eleanor.” He finally admitted to my worst fear.