Stepbrother by fate Mate by curse

Chapter 1 Life isn’t fair, but somehow, mine found a way to be worse. I learned early on that my mother despised me —not because I was rebellious or cruel, but simply because I wasn’t the daughter she had wanted. She had dreamed of a strong, confident girl, someone who would make a name for herself, a future lawyer with sharp words and an unbreakable will. Instead, she got me —the disappointment. The weak one. The girl with a wolf so pathetic that even shifting was a struggle. Home was hell, but school wasn’t any better. At Ridgewood High, I was a walking target. An omega among stronger wolves, I was too quiet, too fragile, and that was enough to make me a joke. Emily made sure I never forgot it. She wasn’t just beautiful —she was ruthless. The queen of Ridgewood, a girl who ruled through cruelty, ensuring I never had a moment of peace. But her torment grew worse when she discovered the one thing I had that she didn’t: art. I wasn’t strong, I wasn’t fast, but I could draw. It was the only place where I felt safe, where the world melted away and I didn’t feel like the strictly unwanted girl everyone saw me as. But even that wasn’t safe from Emily. She couldn’t stand that teachers praised me more than her. So, she made me suffer for it. The morning started like any other. The blaring shriek of my alarm yanked me from sleep. I dragged myself out of bed before my mother could storm in and remind me how much of a disappointment I was. Breakfast? Nonexistent. It wasn’t that my mom forgot to make food for me. She just didn’t care to. I grabbed my bag and stepped outside, inhaling the sharp morning air. Other students from my neighborhood were already gathered, lost in the latest gossip. I ignored them and flagged down a taxi. The driver—a tired-looking man with weary eyes—barely acknowledged me. “Where to?” he grumbled. “Ridgewood High.” The ride was silent, the only sounds the occasional honk of impatient drivers and the low murmur of a radio. I stared out the window, watching as the city blurred past. Just another day. Just another routine. The taxi pulled up in front of my school, and the second my foot touched the pavement, a voice curled around me like poison. “Hey, sick girl.” I stiffened. Emily. I turned, already bracing for whatever fresh humiliation she had planned. She was leaning lazily against the lockers, her perfectly curled blonde hair cascading over her shoulder. Her usual flock of followers giggled behind her, eager for their morning entertainment. Emily’s lips curled into a mockery of a smile. “I need you to do something for me.” It wasn’t a request. “Emily, please—” I sighed, my voice dull with exhaustion. “Not today. I have a class.” She pouted, her expression dripping with fake sympathy. “Oh no! Did I hurt your feelings?” she mocked. “Poor little omega. Maybe I should remind everyone how you couldn’t even shift during the last full moon?” Laughter erupted around her. My fists curled at my sides. I forced myself to breathe, to keep my face blank. “What do you want?” I asked, already knowing I had no choice. Emily’s grin sharpened. “Go to the front office and pick up the art supplies Miss Porter left for me.” It wasn’t the worst thing she’d made me do, but it wasn’t about convenience. It was about power. I turned without a word, pushing through the growing crowd in the hallway. That’s when I heard it. The low, thunderous growl of an engine, the unmistakable roar of expensive tires against pavement. Two sleek black cars glided into the school parking lot, their tinted windows reflecting the rising sun. Everything about them screamed power. Students whispered in excitement as they turned to watch. “Is that him?” “Oh my god, look at that car!” “He’s here!” I frowned, but I didn’t stop walking. Ridgewood was full of rumors, and I had no interest in another one. I reached the office, grabbed the supplies, and headed back to class. The hallways were even louder now, voices overlapping in frenzied chatter. Whatever was happening had completely distracted them. Good. Maybe I could sneak back to my seat without drawing attention— But the moment I stepped into the classroom, my hope shattered. A crowd had formed, students pressing together in a tight circle. At the center stood Emily, her back to me. Her voice, usually sharp with cruelty, was soft. I hesitated. Something about this was different. I should have waited. I should have stayed back. But I had to do my job. I forced my feet forward and held out the supplies. “Here.” Emily turned to me, her face twisting in anger. And then—she slapped the supplies from my hands. The sound of shattering glass and rolling pencils filled the room. “Are you blind?” she snapped. “Can’t you see I’m talking to someone?” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I should have known this would happen. Then, a deep chuckle rumbled through the room. Only then did I notice him. The guy standing next to Emily was staring at me. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair slightly tousled, and his piercing blue eyes glinted with amusement. He wasn’t just attractive— he was commanding. Dressed in a crisp white shirt and black jeans, he looked like he belonged on a throne rather than in a high school classroom. And I knew exactly who he was. Tyler Don.