My Alpha Stepbrother’s Secret

Chapter 4: Unspoken Wounds (Elara's POV)

Chapter 4: Unspoken Wounds (Elara's POV)

The night air felt suddenly colder as I stood facing Caleb on the deserted hotel patio. His silver eyes narrowed, resembling polished steel in the dim lighting.

"Why are you here?" he demanded, his voice carrying the unmistakable authority of the Gamma wolf. "Are you following me now?"

I forced a smile, though my heart was pounding painfully against my ribs. "Believe it or not, the world doesn't revolve around you, Caleb. I'm here on business."

His gaze flickered to the blue bottle still clutched in my hand. Something dark passed over his features.

"Convenient timing," he said, his tone laced with suspicion.

"Oh yes, I've been hiding in bushes all day waiting for you to bring your date here," I replied, rolling my eyes. "That's exactly how I want to spend my time."

My sarcasm only deepened his scowl. The cigarette between his fingers burned, forgotten momentarily.

"I told her I'm your sister who got exiled for murder," I added deliberately, watching his reaction. "Hope that didn't ruin your evening plans."

His jaw tightened visibly. "We are not family."

The words struck me like physical blows, but I refused to show the pain.

"No? Fifteen years living under the same roof doesn't count for anything?" I challenged.

"It counts for nothing," he replied coldly. "And your crimes are not my concern."

I stared at him, fury and desperation mingling inside me. This was the wolf I had protected, the one I'd sacrificed five years of my life for. The one I had loved quietly, painfully, for longer than I could remember.

"Did you ever care?" I asked, my voice smaller than I intended. "Even once?"

He turned away, taking a long drag from his cigarette. "Your delivery is waiting. I suggest you complete your business and leave."

Something inside me snapped. I stepped forward, snatching the cigarette from between his fingers. Before he could react, I crushed it against my palm.

"What the hell—" he started, but stopped when he saw the burn forming on my skin.

"Did you care about that?" I demanded, showing him my burned hand. "Do you care about anything?"

His reaction was instantaneous and violent. He grabbed my wrist, spinning me around and pinning me against the wall. His body towered over mine, radiating heat and barely contained fury.

"You want to know if I care?" he growled, his face inches from mine. "I care about you staying the hell away from me."

Pain shot through my arm where he gripped it, but I refused to wince. His silver eyes burned into mine, searching for something. Fear, perhaps. Submission.

I gave him neither.

Instead, I softened my expression, deliberately making my voice gentle. "Brother, you're hurting me."

The word 'brother' seemed to jolt him. He released me immediately, stepping back as if burned. His breathing was ragged, his usually composed exterior cracked to reveal something wild beneath.

"I am not your brother," he said, each word precise and cutting. "I never was."

"Then what are you to me, Caleb?" I asked quietly.

He straightened his tie, his mask of cold indifference sliding back into place. "Nothing. I am nothing to you, and you are nothing to me."

He withdrew a silk handkerchief from his pocket, methodically wiping his hands as if my touch had contaminated him.

"Stay away from me, Elara," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "This is the last time I'll tell you."

With that, he threw the handkerchief to the ground, a gesture of pure disgust, and walked away without looking back.

I stood there, rubbing my wrist where his grip had left marks. The blue bottle of contraceptive potion felt heavy in my hand, reminding me why I'd come here in the first place.

My business. The reason I was at this hotel at all.

Collecting myself, I delivered the potion to the correct room, accepted the generous payment, and headed back toward the lobby. As I passed the patio again, something compelled me to stop.

Caleb's discarded handkerchief lay on the ground where he'd thrown it. I should have left it there, just as he'd intended. Instead, I found myself bending to pick it up.

The silk was soft between my fingers, carrying his scent mingled now with mine. My wolf stirred restlessly, responding to the combined scents in a way that made my chest ache.

I tucked the handkerchief into my pocket, a small act of defiance he would never know about.

As I walked back to my cabin through the darkening forest, memories washed over me like waves, pulling me back to a time before exile, before everything shattered between us.

It had been the night before a full moon, seven years ago. My mother, ever the demanding Beta, had pushed me through rigorous training all day. My muscles ached, my spirit felt crushed under the weight of expectations.

Being a Beta's daughter meant never showing weakness, never failing. That night, I couldn't bear to go home and face more of her criticism. Instead, I'd followed Caleb's scent to the training grounds.

I found him there, surrounded by a group of younger wolves he was instructing in combat techniques. His movements were fluid, powerful, mesmerizing. Even then, he commanded respect from those around him.

My presence did not go unnoticed. I saw the moment he caught my scent, his silver eyes finding me immediately in the shadows.

But I wasn't the only one watching him with hungry eyes.

Adriana stood at the edge of the training circle, her gaze fixed on Caleb with an intensity that bordered on obsession. The Nightshade wolf had arrived in our territory weeks earlier, supposedly on a diplomatic mission, but everyone knew the truth. She had fallen instantly in love with Caleb upon meeting him and had been relentlessly pursuing him since.

The gossip had spread through the pack like wildfire—how she followed him, how she tried to catch his attention with increasingly desperate gestures. Her scent carried the unmistakable notes of desire whenever he was near.

Caleb's silver eyes avoided her ardent gaze, his discomfort evident in the tension of his shoulders. When he dismissed the training session, he made his way directly to me, purposefully turning his back on Adriana.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.

I explained my situation, how I couldn't face my mother's criticism tonight, how I needed somewhere else to stay, just for a few hours.

He looked conflicted, glancing around to ensure no one was listening. "Wait here," he finally said. "I'll come find you when I'm done."

I nodded, retreating further into the shadows as he returned to gather his equipment. From my hiding place, I watched Adriana approach him, her body language screaming desperation as she tried to engage him in conversation.

Caleb's responses were curt, dismissive. He moved away from her repeated attempts to touch his arm, his face, his chest. His silver eyes constantly scanned the area, as if seeking escape.

When he finally extracted himself from her presence and found me waiting, the relief on his face was palpable.

"Come on," he said, leading me away from the training grounds. "We can go to my apartment, but just for a little while."

His apartment was small but neat, sparsely furnished with only the essentials. It smelled like him—pine, spice, and something uniquely Caleb that always made my heart race.

"You can't stay long," he warned, pacing the small living area. "I should contact your mother."

"Please don't," I begged. "Just for tonight, Caleb. I can't deal with her right now."

He ran a hand through his dark hair, conflicted. "She's your mother, Elara. And she's the Beta. There will be consequences if she discovers I've hidden you here."

"I'm not asking to move in," I argued. "Just a few hours to catch my breath."

As we left the training grounds together, I felt the weight of someone's stare on my back. Turning, I caught Adriana watching us, her eyes narrowed to slits, her expression a twisted mask of resentment and obsession.

A chill ran down my spine at the pure hatred in her gaze.

"She's mentally ill," I whispered to Caleb, nodding discreetly toward Adriana.

Caleb didn't respond, but his hand pressed lightly against my back, guiding me away faster.

That night had been a rare moment of peace between us, a brief window where the walls he'd built seemed to lower just slightly. We had talked for hours, about nothing important, just daily pack life and training techniques.

For those few hours, it felt like we were truly family, truly connected.

The memory faded as I reached my cabin, leaving me with the hollow ache that always accompanied thoughts of what used to be. The handkerchief in my pocket felt heavier now, weighted with the ghosts of the past and the bitter reality of the present.

Caleb's warning echoed in my mind: "Stay away from me, Elara."

But I had never been good at following orders, especially not his.