Mated To My Mafia Alpha Stepbrother

chapter 2

Soon after, I slept on the cozy bed and eventually got awoken by a young lady who asked that I come down for dinner. I walked down with such sleepy mind and eyes, I couldn’t do anything but sit at the table, I thought it was all a dream but here I was sitting in the Velcrose home, dining with them, I watched them use such fancy cutlery, I had never used them.

“Do you need help with that Ariel ?” Damien asked dropping his fork stretching his hands to me “No master Damien, you do not need to help me, I’ll be fine” I answered, I had troubled him enough already “It’s fine Ariel ” he said helping me with my meat, cutting them to little pieces so I could easily have them.

“How is your room Ariel ?” Mr Velcrose asked, his deep voice was quite scary at first but now I felt safe hearing it “It is to my liking, my lord, I have done nothing to deserve such treatment” I said smiling at him “You may not have known what you have done but you have put my heart at rest, something no maiden had ever done, I have searched for a maiden, a daughter who could put my raging heart at ease and your melody was perfect for that, this is the least of it” he said putting chunks of meat in his mouth.

I smiled, in less than a day, my life had suddenly changed, was this fate? Or luck? I had no answer to that, all I could do was cherish the moments I had.

After dinner, I wandered into the garden outside, I heard calm footsteps “Enjoying the view?” Damien’s voice said catching me off guard as I slipped to fall, his hands catching me in the nick of time, his gaze upon my eyes, his gentle hand holding mine and the other around my waist, I couldn’t get my eyes away from his, what was this feeling? My heart raced, my face flushed red, I didn’t want it to end, I wanted time to stop, for a pause, that is all I desire.

My moment of happiness was short lived when Damien let go of my hand after saving me, “Are you okay, Ariel ?” He asked, I could hear his voice in my trance “Yeah, I’m fine” I said adjusting my dress “I’ll be heading to my room, young master” I said not wanting to feel even more embarrassed.

In just a day, I had almost forgotten the children at the orphanage “Tomorrow, I’ll ask Mr Velcrose what arrangements have been made for them” I said to myself jumping to the bed, it sank as I put all my weight on it, engulfing me in it, I hugged the pillow so tight, my eyes had slowly closed, wanting to keep the memories of Damien in my head, his soothing gaze, his beautiful smile, my fragile can’t accept him as a sibling, the more I tried to remember, the faster I got closer to my desired sleep.

The next day, I had woken up too late, it was though my body had become glued to the magnificent bed, it was enchanting, morning had come and I hadn’t noticed fast enough to be awake beforehand.

The maid’s voice had seeped into my self conscious mind, I opened my eyes to see her waiting for me “Lady Ariel , you are needed downstairs, come and have breakfast” the young lady said smiling a little, her eyes were calm, I didn’t know why she addressed me like that, she was older than I was and I’m not truly a daughter of the family “Miss, you need not address me as lady, please casually call me Ariel ” I answered “No my lady, master Velcrose would never let me..” she said shaking her head a little “It’s fine, you address me as Ariel when it’s just the two of us” I said making her feel at ease, I could see her chest bulge, her breathing had become stable.

I took the invitation downstairs and went for breakfast “Good morning, my Lord” I said as my eyes had caught a glimpse of Mr Elliot, in somewhat a royal robe “Good morning, my dear” he said in his calm deepened tone “Good morning everyone” I said walking over to my seat, the food was set before us, Damien hadn’t joined us as he asked that no one disturb his sleep. I suddenly had the urge to see his face.

After breakfast, I strolled past his room, the wooden door that held secrets to what I considered my ‘first love’ I thought to myself, I held up courage and knocked slightly on the door but it already seemed a bit open, I opened the door, his majestic body bare on his bed, his seldom expression, I had the urge to run my fingers through his hair, I held my urges until I saw the cup of tea too close to his bed and noticing his sleep pattern, he could hit the cup if he moved his hand too much.

I gently got closer to the bed side table, picking the cup, I became so mesmerized with his beauty, his light lashes, his little lips, I picked the cup to leave when I felt someone hold me, his hand grabbed mine, he pulled me too close, I was on the bed with him in a swoop, his grasp was quite unintentional yet I felt I could stay with him forever, I got out of his hands and tiptoed till I was out.

My face was flushed red, I buried it in my bed not letting anyone see me in a flustered state. After a while, in the room, I felt alone, bored and tired, I decided to go out for a walk, I had begun to walk around the garden filling my mind with pictures of Damien and his sleeping state, I sat there in the grasses watching the forces of nature work, “How does it feel?” A voice asked from behind “It’s magnificent” I answered, Damien’s face close to mine “I came looking for you in your room” he said sitting down as well “Really, why?” I asked watching him lay down “I thought you were in my room earlier” he said “I’m just kidding m, I think it was a maid, I can be a little extra” he said in a chuckle.

“My brother’s coming home today” he said watching me as I sat there staring at the ducks “Really, you have a brother, another one” I asked “Yeah, he’s older, Eclipse , he’s been away for too long, I’ve missed him so much” he said smiling at me “You’ll be suprised to see how much we’re alike, you’ll love him” he said just watching me, his ecstasy was contagious, I could feel it, his longing for his brother.

I could only watch him, his reaction, yet I wanted to be around him more than anything, to watch his gleaming eyes, to watch his hand in his hair, his shimmering skin basking in the sun. Later that day, I asked the maid to get me some simple books to be read and while I read, I was called down, the moment had arrived, Eclipse had arrived.

I could see the two brothers reuniting as I walked down the stairs, I could only watch from the stairs not wanting to interrupt when I eventually came down “Eclipse , this is Ariel , she’s the one we’ve been searching for” Damien said smiling “Damien, she really is a beaut” he said “My lady, I am Eclipse Velcrose, please ask what you may if need be” he said turning to me “I gladly oblige, brother” I said smiling.

His smile was quite like Damien, he was right, they looked alike in most scenerios. When the night had come, I walked to the garden in thought of Damien, to find Eclipse sitting in the grass, sky gazing “Oh Eclipse , it’s you” I said on getting there “Were you expecting someone?” He asked “Not really” I said sitting as well “Where did you travel to all this while?, your brother had mentioned you had been away for long” I asked looking at him “Well, North of England” he said turning to me, his calm doe eyes staring into mine “Did anyone ever tell you are much like an Angel, Ariel ?” He asked smiling a little, making me flustered that I turn forward “Not really” I said smiling “Well then, people haven’t had time to experience this special time with you” he said “You are quite gorgeous” he said whispering to my ears, I felt his breath on my neck, his calm voice in my ears, I felt a sensation I had never felt.

I could only keep my head right, I stood up “Calm down Ariel ” Eclipse said, his voice calm as ever “You don’t need to panic” he continued “You shouldn’t have done that” I remarked “I’m sorry, Ariel , you forgive me?” He asked looking calmly at me “How can I be mad at you? You’re my brother now” I said smiling “I’ll head to my room okay, Goodnight” I said tapping him lightly.

Immediately I got to my room, I had thought of Damien making a move on me or better still act like Eclipse towards me, my heart had gone so flustered at Eclipse ’s actions, I only wanted to forget it, to rest, maybe that was all I needed.

The next morning, I woke up as early as I could, I asked Coby, my now little brother to teach me a bit of archery as I had seen him hold the bow and arrow, making match points with his skill. I dressed in a comfy dress, in tight corset and brown leather boots, my hair in a bun.

“You ready Ariel ?” Coby asked as I walked outside “Yeah, let’s do this” I answered with sheer determination. In time, I had held the bow and arrow, actual using the right stance when our little practice was interrupted by Eclipse and Damien as they took out their own bows and arrows with the thought of turning it into a competition.

“You can’t be here” Coby said seeing them both “Why not?” Eclipse asked “I’m trying to teach Ariel ” he said as they had only noticed me just then “Oh Juli..” Damien said as I came closer “What is it?” I asked seeing how he stopped abruptly “It’s nothing, I and Eclipse wanted to have some target practice” Damien said “Coby, you may leave, I’ll show her what she needs to know” Eclipse added “But I was having fun with her” Coby said in an attempt to protest before leaving.

Eclipse walked closer “You’re really stunning this early in the morning” he whispered while putting the bow in my hand, I noticed Damien trying to avert his gaze for some reason, his eyes had become unsteady, his aim as well.

Eclipse hands were over mine, trying to teach me the right stance and way of holding the bow and soon, I shot an arrow “You’re a fast learner” he said smiling “Just as you are a good teacher” I said in response “I think that’s enough for the day” he said smiling “Really? That fast?” I asked smiling at him “Okay then, I’ll go have breakfast, you both better come quickly, father wouldn’t want you both doing that on an empty stomach” I said dropping the bow and arrows at the right places.

I headed to the dining table and had begun to eat after Mr Elliot had left for the royal home, soon after, the boys joined me and had begun eating soon “Where’s father?” Damien asked “Oh, the maid had said he was summoned before the king, that’s where he went” I answered while munching on chunks of food.

“Calm down Ariel , you’ve got a stain on your lips” Eclipse said offering the napkin, he slightly smudged it off “Really?” I asked laughing a little “I hadn’t noticed, I was so hungry this morning” I said “Thank you” I said smiling, looking to Damien, his eyes were darted, angered for some reason “Damien, are you okay?” I asked “Oh yeah, it’s nothing” he answered “Then why haven’t you touched your food?” I asked looking at his eyes become calmer “It’s nothing” he answered. “You sure Damien?” Eclipse asked as well “Yes, I’m fine, I’ll be in my room” he said taking his meal as well.