Stepbrother Alphas

The Claim Begins

The lock clicked like a gunshot, trapping me alone with him.

"What the hell is your family crest doing at my crime scene, Avery?" Damien's voice cut through the heavy air of his private quarters, low and sharp enough to draw blood. He stood inches away, his broad frame blocking any escape toward the door. Those dark eyes pinned me in place, demanding answers I didn't have.

I backed up a step, my pulse racing. "I don't know what you're talking about. Let me out of here, Damien. This is insane."

"Insane?" He laughed once, harshly. "Your crest was carved right into the wall above the body. Blood still wet. You expect me to believe that's a coincidence?" He closed the distance again, his hand catching my wrist before I could retreat further. His grip was firm, not painful, but it sent a wave of heat straight up my arm. "Talk. Now."

I yanked against him, breath coming fast. "I said I don't know! My family hasn't used that crest in years. It's old history, buried. Why would I put it at a murder scene? You're grabbing at straws because you can't handle not controlling everything."

His thumb pressed against my pulse point, feeling it jump. "Control? Sweetheart, if I wanted control you'd already be singing. Strip off that jacket. Slowly."

My eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." His tone dropped, rougher now. "You came back from that scene with blood on your sleeve. It could be yours. Could be evidence. I'm checking you myself."

I glared at him, heart slamming, but something in his stare made my skin prickle. "This is your interrogation? Feeling me up in your locked room?"

"Call it what you want." He released my wrist only to tug the jacket down my shoulders himself. His fingers brushed my collarbone, deliberate. "Lift your arms."

I did, barely, cheeks burning as the fabric slid away. Cool air hit my skin through my thin top. "Happy now? No wounds. See?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped closer, so close I caught the scent of him, something dark and expensive mixed with raw tension. His hands moved to my shoulders, sliding down my arms with careful pressure. "Turn around."

"Damien"

"Turn." His breath ghosted my ear. "Or I'll do it for you."

I spun, facing the heavy wooden panelling of his quarters. His palms pressed flat against my back, tracing my spine through the fabric. Every touch lingered a beat too long, probing for injuries that weren't there but awakening nerves I wished stayed quiet.

"Nothing here," he murmured, voice thicker. "But you tensed when I touched your ribs. What happened?"

"Nothing happened," I shot back, though my voice wavered. "Maybe I bruised it falling earlier. You're making this into something it's not."

His fingers slipped under the hem of my top, warm against bare skin. "Am I?" He pushed the fabric higher, exposing my midriff. One hand splayed across my stomach, holding me still while the other checked my side. "Breathe in."

I sucked in a sharp breath. The contact sent sparks racing across my nerves. "This isn't checking for injuries. This is... something else."

"Tell me to stop then." His lips were close to my neck now, not quite touching. "Say the words, Avery, and I drop my hands."

I opened my mouth but the protest died. His touch shifted, thumbs circling slowly over my ribs, then lower, mapping every curve with focused intent. Heat pooled low in my belly despite myself.

"See?" he whispered. "Your body's not lying even if your mouth is. Why the crest? Who are you protecting?"

"I'm not protecting anyone," I gasped as his hand drifted higher, brushing the underside of my breast through lace. "Damien, damn it. This isn't fair."

"Fair?" He turned me to face him again, eyes blazing. "Fair was me finding my man's throat cut and your mark stamped over it. Fair is you giving me straight answers instead of these half-truths." His fingers hooked under my chin, tilting my face up. "Talk to me while I finish checking."

I met his gaze, defiant even as my skin flushed hotter. "I already told you everything I know. The crest was retired after my grandfather died. We don't use it. Someone's setting me up, or you, or both of us. Happy?"

"Not even close." His hand slid back down, palm flat against my waist, pulling me flush against him. The hard line of his body pressed into mine, undeniable. "Your heart's racing. Scared? Or something else?"

"Both," I admitted through clenched teeth. "You're insane if you think seducing answers out of me works."

He smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "It's not seduction. It's a necessity. And it's working." His mouth hovered near mine. "Last chance. Why was it there?"

"I. Don't. Know." Each word came out breathy as his fingers traced the waistband of my pants, checking my hips, then thighs. The interrogation had completely derailed into this charged examination that left me dizzy.

A loud bang shattered the moment. The door crashed open, wood splintering around the lock. Jax stormed in, chest heaving, eyes wild with fury.

"Get your f*****g hands off her," Jax snarled, crossing the room in two strides. He grabbed Damien's shoulder and yanked him back. "Now."

Damien released me but didn't step away, his expression turning lethal. "This is my territory, Jax. Walk out before I make you."

"Your territory?" Jax laughed bitterly, shoving between us. He cupped my face with both hands, searching my eyes. "You okay? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine," I said quickly, though my skin still tingled everywhere Damien had touched. "He thinks my family crest was at the scene. Locked me in here to question me."

Jax's jaw tightened. "And questioning involves stripping her half naked? Bullshit." He turned on Damien, fists clenched. "She belongs in my bed tonight, not playing your twisted games."

Damien's eyes narrowed. "She belongs where I say she belongs until I get answers. Back off."

"Make me." Jax stepped closer, tension crackling between them like live wires. "Avery isn't your suspect to manhandle. She's under my protection."

"Protection?" Damien's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Like you protected her at the scene? Where were you when that crest showed up?"

I pushed between them, hands on both their chests. "Enough! Both of you. Fighting won't fix this. I don't know why the crest was there, okay? Someone's playing us. But locking me up and pawing at me isn't helping, Damien."

Damien's gaze dropped to where my hand pressed against him, then flicked to Jax. "She was responding, Jax. Don't pretend you didn't see."

Jax's eyes flashed. "I saw you taking advantage. Avery, come with me. Right now. My room. My bed. No more of this."

"She's not going anywhere," Damien growled. "Not until she explains."

I threw my hands up. "I can't explain what I don't understand! Let me go, both of you. Or keep arguing while whoever did this gets away."

Jax grabbed my hand, tugging me toward the broken door. "She's coming with me. End of discussion."

Damien blocked the way, his shoulder bumping Jax's. "Try it. See what happens."

"Stop!" I snapped, yanking free. My heart still pounded from Damien's touches, from the sudden chaos. "You both claim to want answers, but you're too busy marking territory. The crest might be a message to me, or to you two idiots. But I'm not staying locked up while you fight over who gets me tonight."

Damien's stare burned into me. "Then talk. Here. Now. Without him interrupting."

Jax pulled me closer to his side. "She talks when she's safe. With me. After I make sure she's actually uninjured, not just groped."

"I checked her," Damien said flatly. "No wounds. Just secrets."

I exhaled sharply. "I have no secrets about this. My family crest hasn't been used since I was a kid. It's probably a setup to drive a wedge between... whatever this is." I gestured between the three of us. "And it's working."

Jax's arm slid around my waist possessively. "Then come with me. Let me take care of you properly. No interrogations. Just us."

Damien stepped forward, voice low and intense. "She stays. We finish this conversation. My way."

I looked from one to the other, heat still lingering on my skin, adrenaline pumping. "Neither of you decides where I sleep tonight. But if you want my help figuring this out, stop treating me like a suspect or a prize."

The room fell into charged silence, broken only by heavy breathing. Jax's grip tightened. Damien's eyes never left mine. Tension hung thick, ready to snap again at any second.

"Decide fast," I said, voice steady despite everything. "Because I'm walking out that door in thirty seconds, with or without either of you."