My Stepbrother Is Mine

Rose: I sit in the wooden chair in my classroom, reading a romantic novel in which the female lead is trying to win the heart of the alpha, when the head teacher, Kora Jerry, walks into the classroom full of adult students at West Hill Academy, a prestigious school for the elites in the West Hills Pack. Kora stands tall, her blonde locks packed into a ponytail. She wears a red top and a black straight skirt with black high-heeled shoes. She is slender, with a full bust and a pair of white spectacles sitting perfectly on the bridge of her nose. “Attention, class!” Kora says. Her voice is loud and silences everyone. Her gaze is as sharp as a sword as she looks over at everyone in the classroom. Penelope Austin, my seatmate, whispers into my ear as she leans closer to me. “Rose, have you heard? I heard Mason Howard, the ice hockey star, is coming to our academy today.” I still. “Are you serious?” I ask Penelope as shock covers my face. “Yes,” she giggles, and before I can ask further, Kora shouts, “Rose! Penelope! You both, stand while I continue speaking.” I gulp hard and stand to my feet, lowering my head as I avoid looking at Kora’s face. Kora clears her throat and continues. “As I was saying before these two cockroaches interfered, you are all aware that West Hill Academy is one of the most prestigious academies in this southeast region. Our academy has won the best noble prize awards and shaped a lot of great heroes and heroines in the world today. Without wasting much of your time, we have a new student from Saint Paul’s Academy transferring here. I want you all to guide him, treat him well, and help him catch up on all the topics that he has missed. One last thing,” Kora says, her voice firm as she looks at all of us in the class. “You girls shouldn’t dare to lust after him.” The class erupts in chaos as everyone murmurs to themselves. “Why did he come here?” “Why did he not continue at Saint Paul’s Academy?” The muttering gets loud to Kora’s ears. Her expression hardens as she says, “West Hill Academy has been sponsored by his family, and it’s a good thing that he finally comes here to join us. Please welcome Mason Howard.” I frown when I watch Mason enter the class. He stands tall, with broad shoulders and high cheekbones; his face resembles most of those models printed on the covers of *Forbes* magazine. The class erupts in a round of applause for him, but I do not clap. Penelope cheers, “Mason is so handsome!” She claps loudly while I see many female students gawking at him. Mason wears a red long-sleeved top that frames his chiseled chest and black trousers that fit his long legs. He wears black boots, carrying a black backpack on his shoulder. He has short black hair that frames his handsome face. His thin lips curl in a handsome smile as the girls cheer for him. “He’s so attractive!” “Oh, moon goddess!” “Wow! I wish I can have him as my boyfriend!” I roll my eyes at the dozens of comments and the girls fawning over Mason as I look away from his attractive face to look at Kora, who says, “That’s enough clapping, everyone. Mason is Alpha Daniel’s son. Though he lives a private life, his father wants him here in our academy, even though Saint Paul’s is sponsored by Alpha Daniel too. Welcome to West Hill Academy, Mason.” “Thank you, Miss Kora. You didn’t need to do the introduction. I can just blend in,” Mason says; his deep, magnetic voice makes my heart race when I hear him speak. Why is my heart reacting to him? I ponder as my brows furrow. Kora, despite being a thirty-year-old single woman who hasn’t found her mate, blushes as she grins at Mason like a young woman in love. Her cheeks flush red, and she lowers her head with respect. “I’m just doing my job, Mason. Welcome once more. You can meet with the class captain, Linda Justin, to enlighten you more.” I look over at Linda, who is sitting in the third row away from me. She is a bully. She is tall and busty, and she blushes and waves her hand in the air for Mason to see her. “Alright, Ma. I will do that,” Mason says. “Sure. I will leave you to blend in. If you need further help, do not forget to ask any student for help. Anyone who bullies you, reach out to me. They will be expelled immediately.” Kora’s voice is as sharp as a blade, and I gulp hard and lower my head as I feel Mason’s gaze on me. “Sure, Ms. Jerry. I will not hesitate to report my bullies to you,” Mason says; his lips curl in a smirk, and Kora nods and turns to leave the class before her sharp gaze lands on me and Penelope standing. “Rose, Penelope. To my office right away,” Kora orders us coldly, and I frown. My arms wrap around my chest, and I undo them. I pick up my novel and turn to return it to my school bag. 'Why must I go with Kora to her office?' I ponder, but I grit my teeth. I bite my bottom lip and cross my arms over my chest again as I walk away from my seat and follow behind Kora, while Penelope, who is anxious, walks along with me. “Do you think we will get expelled for failing to keep quiet while Kora is speaking about Mason? I cannot afford to get expelled because of that new rich kid,” Penelope says as she whispers into my left ear. She is taller, standing close to me as I am of average height. Her eyes are full of fear. “Don’t worry. I doubt that will be the case,” I reply calmly as we follow behind Kora and go up to the teachers’ office. Kora leads Penelope and me to her office on the fifth floor. Her shoes click on the tiled ground as other students greet her. She sashays her hips left and right to our view. I wear a white shirt and purple skirt, the academy uniform, paired with black shoes and white stockings. The skirt falls past my knees, and Penelope wears the same too. Once in her vast office, Kora sits across from us and fixes her gaze on me first. “Rose, I am aware that you got a scholarship from Newman High to join us here in this institution. Why are you behaving headstrong? You know that we discipline any student that we find stubborn here, even if you are an adult.” Right. I am a twenty-year-old girl. “I know, Ma’am,” I say, lowering my head as I am already in my second year, studying business management. “And you, Penelope. Your dad is among the board of directors who work in the Howard Group. Do you want to get kicked out?” “No, Ma’am. Please, we are sorry. I was only excited when I heard that Mason is getting transferred to this academy,” Penelope says. Kora’s expression hardens. “I will let this slide, but I must warn you girls: if I find you guilty of bullying Mason or mocking him for coming to join us here, then you will be expelled.” Penelope trembles and says, “Thank you, Ma’am.” “Not just that; you both should wash the classroom toilet after class today. You can leave,” Kora says, dismissing us. I pout as Penelope and I leave Kora’s office. “That woman is so full of herself. Does she think that she can expel me? As she wishes. I am not washing any toilet. Let’s go back to class, Rose.” Penelope drags my hand and leads me back to our class on the fourth floor of the magnificent five-story building. My heart slams in my chest as I see Mason sitting in my chair, surrounded by many guys in my class.