My Stepbrother’s Secret Mate Chapter 07

My Stepbrother’s Secret Mate Chapter 07

The next day, Theodore sent me an invitation to Blackspine Pack’s Moonlight Ball.

I was about to say I didn’t own a gown and had no business showing up at something that formal, but Theodore had already thought of that too. Along with the invitation, he sent me a red evening dress. It was

as beautiful as fire.

When I put it on, I looked prettier in the mirror than I ever had before.

I made my way to Blackspine Pack. Tall cedars grew everywhere there, and in the summer, their green looked especially rich.

All around me, werewolves in elegant formalwear carried flowers as they headed toward the pack’s central keep.

Holding up my skirt carefully, I walked to the spot where Theodore and I had agreed to meet.

I was looking down when someone suddenly tapped my shoulder.

I jumped and turned around.

It was Ivan.

My brother leaned in with a grin and tilted his head at me. “Valencia, you look gorgeous tonight. Every

bastard who said those things about you last night should see you now…”

I could tell he was injured, so I asked with concern, “You never came home last night. Did something happen

to you?”

His expression suddenly fell. “I think Xander might actually be a bastard… but never mind him. How did you

even get into the keep? You can’t get into this ball without an invitation.”

I shrugged. “Theodore sent me one.”

“Theodore?” my brother asked nervously. “Are you two really together?”

“No. I think we’re just… friends?” I said, unsure.

Ivan said, “Either way, I need to talk to Theodore. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

He started toward Theodore. I was about to stop him when someone grabbed my arm hard.

I turned around and snapped, “Let go of me, Xander. Want another slap?”

He frowned deeply. “I never said we were over, so you’re still my girlfriend.”

I laughed in disbelief. “A werewolf only gets one mate. The second you chose Pallavi, we were done. Stop disgusting me.”

“Valencia, I’m serious. Do you even know Theodore? How can you be so sure he isn’t just messing around

with you?”

I yanked my arm out of his grip. “Not everyone is like you.”

When he realized I wouldn’t give in, he grew desperate and suddenly stepped closer.

“Valencia, I was wrong. I’ve done a lot of thinking these past few days, and I know I was unbelievably wrong.

Can you forgive me? Please? Just give me one more chance…”

He kept getting closer, and I had to shove both hands against his chest just to hold him back.

My face burned. “Xander, you bastard, get away from me!”

Just as his lips were about to touch me, a cold, intimidating figure lunged in and ripped Xander away with

enough force to send him stumbling. It was Theodore. He pulled me behind him. The pressure radiating off

him was terrifying, and his eyes were cold as ice.

Xander staggered, steadied himself, and glared at him with one hand over his face. “You hit me?”

“You’re just a pup.” Theodore’s voice held no warmth at all. His fingers fisted in Xander’s collar, his gaze

sharp as a blade. “First, Valencia and I are serious. You don’t get to run your mouth about us. Second, who

the hell do you think you are touching what’s mine? Third, you disrespected her just now, and you’re going to

pay for it.”

Before the last word had even finished leaving his mouth, he drove another punch into Xander’s face, harder

than the first. Xander went down hard, landing on the floor with blood at the corner of his mouth.

“You’re lying!” Xander roared resentfully. “She used to love me. How could she ever be serious about you?”

Theodore lowered his eyes and looked down at him from above, every word dripping with scorn and

certainty. “Love you? She’s just grateful she finally got away from a selfish, obsessive piece of trash like you. You don’t even know how to respect her, and you think you get to talk about love?”

Beside us, Ivan’s eyes had already gone red. He charged forward and kicked Xander hard in the side, shouting, “What did you just say? Say it again if you dare. I treated you like a friend, and you had the nerve to lay hands on Valencia and slander her too?”

Crushed under both their fury, Xander curled in on himself. The obsession in his eyes slowly gave way to

fear.

Theodore let go of him, turned, and pulled me into his arms. His palm moved gently over my back, and his

voice softened instantly. “Don’t be scared. I’m here.”

My brother rushed in and started beating Xander, his face twisted into a savagery I had never seen before.

And suddenly, I felt safe.

Not just safe, but protected in the way only real family could protect me.

In the end, the whole mess sent Xander to the hospital.

After that farce, I had no desire to stay at the ball. I walked out to the garden beyond the keep and sat quietly

on a swing.

Two minutes after Theodore finished making the rounds with his guests inside, he came out to keep me

company.

By then, the weather had already turned.

Dark clouds rolled in, and a cold wind rushed through the garden.

He looked at my thin dress, took off his suit jacket, and draped it over my shoulders.

I glanced past him and said, “Alpha, you probably have a lot to deal with. I’m fine. You don’t have to stay with

me.”

He smiled gently. “There’s nothing that urgent. Right now, the most important thing is making you feel better.”

I groaned. “Are all the wolves in Blackspine Pack this good at flirting?”

He said, “I’m sorry if I reminded you of someone else. Is there any way I can apologize?”

I smiled a little. “Apologize with your pack’s mead.”

Theodore immediately went back into the ballroom and returned with two bottles of mead, which were said

to have been brewed personally by one of the pack elders.

I only drank a little.

Theodore drank an entire bottle by himself.

He seemed a little drunk after that, looking at me with deep affection in his eyes.

I asked, “Are you still sober?”

He nodded. “I’ve never been more clearheaded.”

But then his expression changed, suddenly turning almost boyish, and he spoke to me in an aggrieved tone.

“Valencia, did you really forget me?”

“Didn’t you say you’d wait for me to come back for you?”

“I found you again, so how did you become someone else’s girlfriend? And Xander, of all people. That fragile-hearted Xander was never good enough for you.”

“Valencia, I missed you so much.”

“Why didn’t you wait for me?”

“Why don’t you remember me?”