Mating My Naïve Stepsister

Chapter 2

His soft kiss on my hand “You look quite glamorous, my lady” he said as I looked at him “Thank you my lord” trying to keep my composure.

“Please my lord, come with me” mother said gesturing him into the living room some more “What would Duke Kesper be here for?” I muttered to myself “I just turned 18” I said aloud as I heard my horses close by.

“What are you thinking about? Little one” I heard Domain ask as he got closer with his horse “Well, Duke Kesper is here, didn’t mother tell you about him?” I told him scoffing “Really, I was never told anyways why should that be a problem?” He asked giving his horse to someone else.

“Come on” he said holding my hand while his friend had just gotten there. I looked at our hands clasped together as I held me rather gently until we got to the main living room where our guest was.

“Good morning my lord” Domain addressed Kesper stretching his hand for a shake “Good morning, my good fellow” Kesper said after dropping his cup of tea, shaking his hand.

“Your sister is rather ravishing, I must say” Kesper said almost immediately as I started to walk away, I didn’t want to know why a very adored Duke was doing in our home.

The two men began to speak to each other as mother excused them, I hurried back to my room and stared at the mirror, I just didn’t want to get married, not yet, I dashed out alone to the archery range, I wanted to clear my head.

I shot the first arrow, hitting the middle mark and then fired some more while the servants cleared the arrows “You’re quite the archer, little one” Domain said catching me off guard “I’ve learnt a lot in your absence brother, ohh and what about Lord Kesper?” I asked as he got closer to me “Well, he wishes to take your hand in marriage” I lost my focus and hit the wrong mark.

“What!!” I said dropping my bow “I do not know him, why would I marry him?” I asked almost subconsciously “You want no such marriage?” Brother asked me acting as though he didn’t do something even more suspicious last night.

“It’s not that, I want to marry for love and I also want to train to be better, brother” I said sitting on the grass “You’ll get your garments dirty, Lana” he said smiling at me.

“Well I feel like sitting here like this” I said smiling at him as well “Well, you have to talk to him and understand him then but if you do not want to marry him, you can always tell me, okay” he said kissing my forehead as he headed back inside.

“Come on now, stop looking gloomy, let’s go have breakfast” he said smiling at me as I rushed to hold his hand. His hand was warm and quite warm giving me protection, I walked behind him, admiring him as I clutched his hand tighter with mine.

After we had breakfast, it was time for some studying, I grabbed a book which I had stopped reading for a reason, I opened the pages and remembered that it was more of a romance novel as I heard a knock on my door.

“Hello little one, want to get some fresh air?” Domain asked looking at me “Yes brother, I’ll just put this book away” I answered as he walked in ‘Love and hearts’ it read as he took it from my hands.

“Well, what do you know about romance?” He asked teasingly “Brother” I said trying to get it from him when as he looked deeply into my eyes and held my hand “I’m sure you know a little of it, want me to teach you most of it?” I heard him ask, it was happening all over again but this time, I had no where to run to “Uhmmm.. brother” I stuttered “Yes, little one” his hand gently on my face, his face leaning towards mine as the moment was interrupted as we both heard someone scream, I was relieved a little but felt that if it went further I’d enjoy it, I thought to myself as we both rushed to the kitchen, my jaw dropped, mother was on the floor and Daphne still screaming.

Domain was quick to react as he lifted mother and put her down in her room, Daphne had sent another servant to get the physician as soon as possible.

I was in utter disarray because I had never seen mother in such condition as we he laid on the bed, father walked towards her holding her hand and moments after the physician came to check up on her.

“Mother will be alright” Domain said to me calming my nerves, I retired to my room so that I’ll be back again to stay with mother later on.

Later I had found out that it was poison, wolfs bane to be exact that was given to her, we all became shocked as to who and how would anyone sneak in that substance into our home and even poison mother.

“Brother, what do we do?” I asked Domain as we needed to figure out what was happening and who it was that tried to kill mother.

“For now, you have to be very careful, okay” Domain answered holding me, “I would like to make announcement” I heard him say aloud as everyone were gathered in the living room “As from now henceforth, every food made will be tested by the chef before any member of the family tastes it”

I could hear whispers amongst them “Silence!! Am I understood” Domain asked in a rather louder tone making me shiver a little holding him tightly “Yes sir” They all said immediately.

I sat by mother’s side hoping for rapid recovery as I saw father just looking at her from a distance “She’ll be fine Lana” father said assuring me “This has never happened before father” I said in between sobs.

I finally went to rest in my room as father took over from me watching her, I felt unsafe even in my own home.

No one wanted to have lunch or even dinner and the day ran so swiftly because I decided to sleep through the day until it was evening.

At night, I decided to stroll outside a bit and rest my head in the grass when I felt his hand on mine “It’ll be alright, little one” Domain said from behind me as I looked at him, his staring into mine, he was so calm as though nothing had happened, what do I expect from the leading alpha of the home.

I put my head on his shoulder for support as he watched me, I could not help but feel ambivalent towards him, he was my pillar at most times and at some times he would elude me.

We sat on the same spot for hours, just gazing at the stars until it was too late and I decided to go to bed instead of being in the cold outside.

As I tried to put myself up, Domain was asleep still supporting my head, I sat up looking at him, his peaceful eyelids, his charming lips quiet as ever, his disheveled hair calling unto me to run my fingers through it. I was startled when I saw his eyes open, I pulled back trying to get away “Where are you going?” He asked as held my hand pulling me down on his lap, my face looking up to his.

“Don’t try to avoid me, it’s pointless” I heard him say as I raised up my head “But brother, what do you mean? I’m not avoiding you” I said trying to walk away “Then why do you try to walk away from me?” He asked me looking straight into my eyes, I couldn’t avert his gaze, it was though he wanted to connect with my soul and not just my eyes.

I didn’t want this conversation to go on, yet I found myself drawing closer to him “But brother, you know very well that this is against all ethics and mother is unwell” I said trying to make him understand “But I love you Lana and I have been attracted to you, your smile, your naivety even before I left for Scotland” he said looking at me mildly.

“But how can that be?” We’re of same blood and pack” I asked feeling confused “Should there be any restrictions when it comes to love? I’m willing to overlook whatever will stand in my way” he said looking even more serious.

“I’m going to bed brother, you seem drunk on wine, Goodnight” I said turning away from him “You can keep running away from this conversation” he said making me stop for a while before going to my room in a haste.

“Goodnight brother, you need to rest” I said sternly “You must be under a lot of stress” I said before walking away as I heard swift and heavy footsteps and felt arms around me, I gasped “Even if you do not feel the same, you are mine, we are destined together, I’ve only been controlling my urges because I didn’t want you to feel scared, I love you Lana and it is the moon goddess’ wish for us to be together” he said still holding me.

I could hear my heart beat even faster as I broke off from his hold “Tell me that you have no romantic feelings whatsoever for me” he said now holding my face so close to his, I could feel he heat all over my skin.

I mustered courage as the words left my lips “Brother! This is wrong and unheard of, mother’s on a sick bed and all you can do right now is profess to me? I’m heading to my room” I said in anger.

I walked so swiftly till I got to my room, closing the door behind me as tears began to flow, I wasn’t sure what the reason was, whether if it was because I was sad at the fact that I couldn’t love him the way I wanted or the fact that mother was still unwell, whatever the reason, I cried it away.