CLAIMED BY MY FIANCE’S STEP BROTHER

CHAPTER 3

DAPHNE POV.

“What are you doing here?” I asked with a frown, trying to move past him, but he blocked my way.

“Came to see you, Daphne,” Lucian said, voice low and rough. “Didn’t particularly enjoy watching you pretend you don’t know me… when just a week ago you were moaning in my bed.”

My cheeks heated up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m sure you’re mistaking me for someone else.”

He let out a short, humorless laugh. “Really? We’re doing this?” His eyes narrowed. “You can keep pretending all you want, but I still remember exactly how those lips feel.” He leaned in like he was going to kiss me. I shoved him back hard.

“You must have had too much to drink at dinner. Now leave me alone and stop pestering me,” I hissed, trying to sound cold and unbothered. I moved for the door, but Lucian caught my arm, spun me around, and pinned me against the wall in one smooth motion.

“You’re a terrible liar, Miss Watson.” His voice dropped even lower. “You don’t fool me. You’re not the kind of girl a man forgets… especially not after the way you begged me that night.”

“Maybe she just looked like me. You’re mistaken.”

“Maybe,” he murmured, almost amused, loosening his grip slightly. “Or maybe I should go tell my dear brother how I spent a very memorable night with a girl who looked exactly like his sweet little virgin bride.” He turned as if to leave. Panic shot through me. I grabbed his wrist and yanked him back, eyes wide.

“What do you want?”

A slow smirk curved his mouth. “There she is. Now you remember.”

I sighed, crossing my arms tightly. “What do you want, Lucian?”

“I want to know why the hell you’re going through with this marriage.” His gaze locked on mine, sharp and unrelenting. “Last time we talked, you were desperate to ruin yourself so no Alpha would take you. Now you’re standing there playing the perfect, meek little virgin. What changed?”

“I changed my mind.”

Lucian didn’t look convinced. His eyes stayed locked on mine, searching for the lie.

I wasn’t about to tell him the truth—that my father would hurt Flora if I didn’t go through with this marriage. And even if I did tell him, I doubted it would change anything. Lucian was a rogue Alpha. No wonder he carried that dangerous aura, the same one rolling off him now as he stood so close to me.

I looked up at him, trying to put as much sincerity and seriousness into my voice as I could muster.

“When I wanted out of the marriage, I had assumed he was an old man. This isn’t the first time my father has tried to marry me off to someone older than me… only this time it was more serious. So I thought if I…” I paused, then forced the words out. “I saw your brother, and I actually think we can make a good marriage.”

Lucian raised a brow. “And you’re sure of that… because of a few minutes of interaction?”

I shrugged. “The heart knows what it wants.”

His expression hardened. “And what are you going to do when Nathan finds out you’re no longer a virgin?”

“I think once he gets to know me, he’ll realize there’s more to me than my… history. He’ll forgive it.”

Lucian shook his head, a condescending smile tugging at his mouth. “I must have been wrong about you. You’re really not as smart as I thought. Do you honestly believe my brother won’t care that you’re no longer a virgin? You’re a pureblood. You of all people should understand how important that is to your kind.” He said the last two words with a clear sneer.

I bit back the urge to curse at him and sighed instead. “Let me handle my own future. You stay out of it.”

Lucian’s smirk widened. “Staying out of things isn’t exactly my strongest trait. You should know that by now… considering my infamous position as a rogue. The permanent stain on the Crystal Pack name.”

He leaned in just a little closer, voice dropping.

“But I can make an exception for you, little daredevil.”

I swallowed. “So…” I forced the words out, trying to keep my voice steady. “Are you going to pretend that night never happened?”

He tilted his head, a slow, dangerous smile curved his mouth.

“No,” he said quietly. “I’m not going to pretend it never happened.”

My stomach dropped.

“But,” he continued, leaning in just enough that I could feel the heat of him, “I’m not going to tell my brother either.” His eyes dropped to my lips for a second before rising again. “It’ll be much more entertaining to watch you play the pure, obedient little virgin every time we’re in the same room… knowing exactly how you sounded when you came apart under me.”

Heat flooded my face. I hated that my body still reacted to his voice.

“You’re disgusting,” I whispered.

Lucian’s smirk only deepened. He reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from my cheek with the back of his fingers, the touch barely there, yet it sent a shiver straight down my spine.

“Maybe,” he murmured. “But you didn’t seem to mind that night.”

For a second neither of us moved. The only sound was my own uneven breathing.

Then, somewhere down the hall, Nathan called my name.

Lucian’s eyes flickered with something dark and amused. He slowly released my wrist and stepped back, putting just enough space between us to look respectable.

“Go on,” he said softly. “Your future husband is waiting.”

I didn’t trust myself to speak. I slipped past him and reached for the door handle with a trembling hand.

“Oh, and Daphne?”

I froze, not turning around.

“Try not to think about me when he kisses you for the first time.”