His Brother, My Sin: twins of temptation

Chapter Two

SECOND INSERTION (2)

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Once Since Years Laughter

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Melissa walked downstairs, her bare feet soft against the wooden steps. The aroma of roasted chicken smelled from the kitchen but when she entered the dining room, she froze mid-step.

Her mother stood near the hallway mirror, adjusting the strap of a deep red dress that hugged her figure elegantly. Her makeup was light but flattering and her hair was flowing down her shoulders in waves Melissa had helped curl just last weekend.

Melissa raised a brow, grinning. “Well, well, someone’s clearly not dressed for leftover spaghetti.” She uttered, her voice teasing.

Rose turned with a sheepish laugh, brushing a final curl from her face. “Oh hush, you little rascal.” She said with a side smile. “Can’t a woman look good every once in a while?”

Melissa leaned against the wall with her arms folded. “Mmm-hmm, looking good, smelling expensive…” She drawled, teasing still evident in her tone. “Is this a dinner date or a proposal in disguise?”

“Melissa!” Rose laughed again, a pink flush rising on her cheeks. “Stop being naughty.”

Before Melissa could respond, a sharp car horn blared from outside and they both turned toward the sound.

“Your date is here, mom...” Melissa uttered with a smirk while Rose rolled her eyes as she grabbed her purse. “Go on, rub it in.”

Melissa chuckled and moved to open the door for her mom. “Go meet him. It’s not advisable to keep one’s Alpha waiting, especially when he smells like power and luxury.”

“Sure, sure...” Rose said, smoothing her dress once more. She looked over her shoulder as she stepped outside. “Make sure you go to bed early, alright? I’ll be staying out late.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Melissa said and gave a mock salute.

The door closed behind her mother with a soft click, and silence gently returned to the house. Melissa exhaled as she walked towards the window, the smile slowly slipping from her face.

Melissa stood quietly by the window with her arms folded as she watched her mother step out into the cool evening air. The porch light shone a soft glow on Rose’s elegant figure as she walked toward the sleek black car waiting in the driveway.

Gabriel stepped out the moment he saw her, dressed in a tailored coat and dark slacks that made him look every inch the Alpha he was known to be. Without hesitation, he walked closer to her and took Rose’s hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles with his gaze never leaving her eyes.

Melissa saw her mother give that soft girlish and almost why laugh as a blush crept across her cheeks. It was a laugh Melissa hadn’t heard in years, one that hadn’t been forced or tired, which made a small ache stir in her chest.

She watched as Gabriel muttered some words to her mother and again, Rose gave that same laughter while Gabriel, on the other hand, only smiled.

Gabriel walked around the car, and he opened the door like a gentleman, gesturing for her to hop in and Rose slid in gracefully. He followed, slipping behind the wheel and with a quiet purr, the car backed out of the driveway and disappeared into the night.

Still standing at the window, Melissa let out a sigh. She felt like she was finally at peace, seeing her mother laugh wholeheartedly — is this how it feels to be finally happy?

She remembered the years her mother spent hiding her tears. The late nights, the broken promises, the men who walked away once they realized Rose was an Omega that was considered too low on the social ladder, too weak to be worthy of a lasting bond in pack society.

No wolf wanted to mate an Omega because they were seen as dispensable and invisible — even so, no wolf wanted to be mocked for being with an omega.

Melissa had seen it all, everything. The whispered mockery, the doors slammed in her mother's face and even the women who called her “desperate” behind her back and the men who used her kindness, then discarded her like a forgotten scent.

And now, finally… Gabriel came into her mother's life just like other wolves. But the difference is clear; he's a wealthy Alpha, someone the pack would actually respect.

Still, the voices returned to her head — that same old and ugly echo of every time someone had looked at Melissa and said, “She’s just like her mother, she’ll never amount to anything more.”

Melissa clenched her jaw and drew the window's blinds aggressively as it contributed to her pain. Well, maybe they were right about where she came from. But then again, they were wrong because no one knew where she was going.