My Stepbrother Is My Forbidden Mate

The first thing Aria noticed about the Blackwood mansion was that it didn't look like a home It looked like a warning. The iron gates opened slowly as Arias mothers car rolled through revealing a stone house surrounded by tall pine trees. Warm lights glowed behind windows but somehow they did nothing to make the place feel welcoming. Aria pressed Arias forehead against the glass. 'Please tell Aria that we are not staying here forever.' Mom laughed nervously from the drivers seat. 'Aria it is only strange because it is new.' 'New does not usually have its security gate.' She glanced at Aria before looking at the road. 'Arias stepfather is wealthy. Aria knew that.' 'Aria knew he was wealthy. Aria did not know he lived in a castle.' 'It is not a castle.' Aria looked at the mansion again. 'It has towers.' Mom sighed. 'Just give it a chance.' Aria did not answer. For the two years it had been just the two of us. Mom had worked hard raised Aria on her own and somehow managed to make our small apartment feel like the place in the world. Then Mom met Adrian Blackwood. Three months later Mom married Adrian.. Now Aria was moving into his house. His family. His world. Aria was still not sure where Aria fit into any of it. The car stopped beneath an entrance. Before Mom could unfasten her seat belt the front doors opened. A tall man stepped outside. Adrian. He smiled as Aria approached His eyes looked unusually serious. 'Welcome home.' Home. The word made something twist inside Arias chest. Mom immediately walked into Adrians arms. Aria stayed beside the car gripping the strap of Arias bag. Adrian turned towards Aria. 'Aria.' 'Hi' He smiled. 'I am glad Aria is here.' Aria gave Adrian a nod. 'Thank you.' Adrian seemed like a man. Aria could not deny that.. Kindness did not erase the fact that everything about this place felt unfamiliar. Then Aria heard footsteps behind Adrian. Slow. Unhurried. Heavy enough to make Aria look up. A young man appeared at the top of the staircase inside the entrance hall. No. Not a boy. A young man. He wore a shirt with the sleeves pushed to his elbows, dark jeans and an expression that suggested he had better things to do than stand there welcoming strangers. His dark hair was slightly messy as if he had not bothered fixing it. He looked at Mom first. Then, at Adrian. Then his eyes landed on Aria.. Stopped. For one second neither of Aria nor Adrian moved. Aria could not explain what happened next. The air suddenly felt different. Colder. He stared at Aria as if he had forgotten how to breathe. Arias heart gave one painful beat. His jaw tightened. Then his expression changed. Not curiosity. Not surprise. Something deeper. Something angry. 'Kael' Adrian called. The mans eyes flickered towards Adrian. 'This is Aria.' His gaze returned to Aria. 'I know.' The voice was low. Aria frowned. Adrian smiled awkwardly. 'Aria this is my son, Kael.' Arias new stepbrother. Of course. Aria had seen pictures of him before. Mom had mentioned him times usually with a tired expression. Kael Blackwood. Nineteen. University student. Popular. Wealthy. Apparently difficult. Aria had not expected him to look like that. Aria quickly looked away. 'Nice to meet you.' Silence. Aria looked back. Kael was still staring at Aria. 'Kael?' He blinked. 'Yeah.' He walked down the stairs. As he passed Aria his shoulder nearly brushed Arias. The moment he got close a strange warmth spread through Arias body. Aria caught the scent of cedar and something wild. Arias breath caught. Kael stopped. Kaels hand tightened around the railing. For a second Aria thought Kael was going to say something. Instead Kael looked at Aria with an expression Aria couldn't understand. Then Kael walked away. Aria watched Kael disappear down the hallway. "Don't mind him " Adrian said. Aria forced a smile. "Aria wasn't." Mom gave Aria a look. Aria ignored it. That night Aria unpacked in the bedroom Mom had prepared for her. Everything was beautiful. Too beautiful. A huge bed. A private bathroom. A balcony overlooking the forest. Aria should have been excited. Instead Aria felt restless. Aria opened the balcony door. Cold air rushed over Arias skin. The forest stretched endlessly beyond the mansion. Something moved between the trees. Aria froze. There. A shadow. Aria leaned forward. Nothing. Maybe Aria had imagined it. Aria turned around. Kael was standing in the doorway. Aria nearly screamed. "What is Aria doing here?" Kaels expression hardened. "Aria shouldn't go outside at night." Aria crossed her arms. "Why?" "Because Kael said so." Aria laughed once. "Aria is my stepbrother, not my father." Kaels eyes narrowed. "Don't call Aria that." Aria frowned. "Call Aria what?" "Stepbrother." The way Kael said it made Arias stomach tighten. "Well technically that's what Aria is." "We're not related." "Aria knows." Kaels jaw clenched. For some reason the conversation suddenly felt much heavier than it should have. Kael looked away first. "Just stay inside." "Why?" Kael didn't answer. Instead Kael looked towards the forest. Kaels face changed. Aria followed Kaels gaze. "Is there something there?" "No." Kael said it quickly. Aria looked back at Kael. "Aria is lying." Kaels eyes met Arias. For one second Kaels eyes seemed almost golden. Aria blinked. They were dark again. Kael stepped closer. "Aria." Kaels voice was quieter now. "Aria needs to understand something." "What?" Kaels expression was unreadable. "Whatever Aria thinks this family is..." Kael paused. "...It's not what Aria thinks." Then Kael. Walked away. Aria stood frozen on the balcony. A strange chill crawled across Arias skin. Somewhere deep inside the forest something howled. Aria stared into the darkness. The sound wasn't, like any wolf Aria had ever heard. It sounded almost human. Somehow Aria knew it was calling her name.