KASMINE.

 

I decided to prepare breakfast for us to eat. It was a weekend, and Kester said he’d be home all day. I thought it wise to prepare his favorite meal.

 

“Breakfast is served,” I said with a grin when he came down the stairs.

 

He was casually dressed in a way I hadn’t seen him in a long time. Whenever he visited home, he was always formally dressed, as expected, as the Alpha.

 

Seeing him in his grey sweatpants and black singlet made me remember those days when he still lived with us back at home.

 

He looked gorgeous, I must say.

 

His short, black hair was neatly combed with just a few careless strands falling just above the crease of his brows.

 

His lick-worthy Adam’s apple bobbed when his pink lips curved into a small smile.

 

“Mine,” He called, and I couldn’t help the warmth that spread across my cheeks at the way he called me – so intentional, so personal.

 

“You know you’ll have to stop calling me that soon, right?” I teased, knowing he hated to hear that.

 

A small frown appeared on his face, but it disappeared instantly, replaced by a scoff, “Why?” He asked, taking a seat.

 

“You’ll be getting married soon. How do you think June would feel when you call me that?” I served our meal and sat down to eat, but I noticed his countenance had turned sour. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

 

He leaned back in his seat, slowly fondling with the fork in his hand while staring into nothing. His grip on the fork was tightened, and it got me… Worried.

 

“Kes?” I called cautiously, wondering if I had gone too far with my jokes.

 

Kes had always had a history of anger. He’s always had a little bit of a temper problem, but dad helped him fix it with the help of therapy and support.

 

But that didn’t mean the possibility of him snapping at any moment should be ruled out.

 

“Kes?” I called a little firmer this time, and he slowly shifted his gaze toward me, “What’s wrong?” My heart was already racing. He got me scared.

 

“Nothing, Mine. Let’s eat.” He said so calmly that it scared me. His countenance returned to normal as if everything was fine.

 

I was tempted to insist on knowing what had just happened, but for the sake of peace and my sanity, I kept quiet, and we ate the rest of the meal quietly.

 

Every time I attempted to trust him again, he just… Goes off and… And scares me.

 

Right now, sitting in the sitting room and watching a movie with him left me a bit uncomfortable. He didn’t let me return to my room after breakfast. He insisted we watched a movie he’d been dying to watch together.

 

The movie pulled me in only half-heartedly as my thoughts swirled around the man sitting beside me.

 

I reluctantly sat back and watched with him while he placed my legs on his thighs, fondling and massaging them – something that used to seem normal to me once upon a time… But not anymore. I was as uncomfortable as fuck.

 

He was so engrossed in the movie that he seemed to have forgotten I was sitting right next to him. Sometimes, I wonder what goes on in his mind. He always seemed so detached and deep in thought.

 

I shifted slightly on the couch, my legs still draped over his lap as he massaged my calves with firm, intentional motions. I wanted to be anywhere but here, trapped in this heated tension. Moreover, it was already 11:00 am. I had promised to call Jake and it was already time. He would be waiting for my call already.

 

Poor Jake.

 

I was able to talk with him last night, and we spoke at length. I can’t deny the feelings blossoming between us already. It warms my heart.

 

Jake is a great guy. He’s everything I need in a man. I impatiently awaited the day he would officially ask me to be his girlfriend. I won’t hesitate to say yes.

 

My attention snapped back to the TV screen when the scene shifted — a couple locked in a slow, heated kiss. They were in a dimly lit bedroom, and I was certain what would happen next in the scene.

 

My breath caught in my throat, and every sweet thought about Jake came to a screeching halt. Heat rose to my cheeks, and I glanced at Kester, hoping he wasn’t paying attention. But he was.

 

In fact, the kind of attention he paid to the scene made my heart race.

 

I swallowed hard when the man ripped off the woman’s dress, sweeping her off the floor in his muscular arms, and made his way to the bed.

 

No. I couldn’t watch such a scene with my big brother.

 

I looked away from the TV screen, trying to pull my legs from Kester’s lap, but his hand tightened around my ankle, holding me in place.

 

“Relax,” he said softly, turning his gaze to meet mine, his voice almost soothing but laced with something darker. “It’s just a movie, Mine.”

 

That name again.

 

The way he said it was enough to send a shiver down my spine. I laughed nervously, my voice cracking. “I know. It’s just… uhm… I need to use the bathroom.” I lied, but he only smiled.

 

“Lies.” He said. His forest green eyes were now a darker shade of green. I could see the tension on his face. He was holding something back.

 

His fingers resumed their slow movements, tracing small circles along the skin of my legs. “You’re too tense,” he murmured, his gaze almost boring a hole in my face. “You should learn to let go.”

 

The heat in my face spread to the rest of my body. I stared blankly at the coffee table, refusing to meet his eyes. The scene on the screen grew more intimate, with the sounds of ragged breathing, muffled groans, and ecstatic moans filling the room.

 

No… I couldn’t.

 

I tried to shift again, determined to get my legs off his lap, but in my nervous fumbling, the heel of my foot brushed against something hard beneath his briefs.

 

I froze.

 

What…?

 

My heart thundered in my chest as realization dawned on me. The way his body stiffened immediately told me all I needed to know.

 

He was hard.

 

My gaze snapped immediately, and I looked up at him in shock, my eyes locking onto his lustful ones.

 

“Kasmine…” He growled, his eyes changing into a blinding shade of red.

 

It was his wolf.

 

“Kester!” I shrieked, pulling my legs away from him with every bit of strength I could muster, running up the stairs like my life depended on it.