My Alpha Brother Stole My Heart

Rhea’s POV

Jay’s hands slid down my thighs, but instead of heat, all I felt was a restless irritation scratching under my skin. I should’ve pulled away. Instead, I whispered, “Hurry up, Jay,” my voice sharper than I meant.

“Don’t rush me, baby,” he replied, his voice thick with desire.

His kisses became intense, his tongue roaming all over my neck, and I let out a sound closer to a sigh than a moan. My chest tightened. “Jay, just… hurry,” I muttered again, though even I wasn’t sure if it was impatience or just the ache in my chest speaking.

The truth? Lately, nothing he did felt right. I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he wasn’t really mine anymore. That maybe he was slipping away and I just didn’t have proof yet. But walking away felt harder than pretending. Jay and I had been “the couple” since freshman year, and I didn’t know who I was without him.

“Stop complaining, Rhea. Why’d you come here if you didn’t want this? No one’s gonna walk in. We’ve done it a hundred times.” He smirked against my mouth.

The closeness of us in the damp heat of the boys’ locker room felt reckless more than anything else. To be honest, it was stupid, but sneaking kisses here had become our routine more times than I could count.

We never actually crossed any real lines here. It was just kissing, teasing, hands wandering in the rush of being somewhere we shouldn’t. Foolish and teenage, nothing serious. Still, even while his lips were on mine, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

Jay, the golden boy. Captain of the football team. That cocky smirk every girl in school secretly wanted. He was supposed to be mine or at least, that’s what I kept trying to believe. His fingers tightened around my thighs, but instead of stopping there, they slipped higher, bold and insistent, pushing past the line we’d never crossed in here before. The way he moved made it clear, Jay wasn’t satisfied with stolen kisses anymore. He wanted more.

A sharp slam echoed down the row as a locker door banged shut. My eyes flew wide.

“Relax,” he murmured at my ear. “Everyone’s already in class.”

The moment teetered between reckless and empty. I wanted to stop, but if I pulled away, he’d see right through me. So I stayed, hoping maybe, just maybe, he’d remind me why I kept holding on. Then the bell split the air, loud and jarring.

Jay let out a frustrated growl. “Damn it,” he muttered, annoyance flashing across his face.

“Yep,” I laughed, shoving him back gently while fixing my skirt. Guess class wins this time. I grabbed my bag from the bench and tried to smooth my hair with my fingers. Jay tugged on his hoodie, still grinning. “You’re coming to the party tonight, right?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Rhea.” His voice dipped teasingly. “Don’t play with me.”

I turned, forcing a small smile. “Then don’t make me late to class next time.”

He laughed and smacked my hip as I walked out the door. I took the bus home instead of riding with him.

The house smelled of chicken stew when I walked in, Mom’s specialty. I tossed my bag onto the bed, plugged my phone in, and flopped down. Notifications lit up my screen: group chats buzzing about the party, Snap updates, one text from Jay that just said, Round 2 tonight?

I rolled my eyes, but for some reason I still smiled. Maybe I was clinging too hard, but letting go of him felt impossible.

Still, I had homework. If I didn’t finish it, Mom would never let me go out. I set up my algebra notebook and tried scribbling answers, though my phone wouldn’t stop vibrating.

I had just finished the second problem when footsteps creaked on the stairs. A gentle knock, and Mom peeked in. “Hey, sweetheart.”

I looked up. “Yeah, Mom?”

She hesitated, holding the doorframe like the words weighed her down. “Can we talk?”

I dropped my pen slowly. “About what?”

She stepped inside, arms crossed, her expression soft but tense. “By the weekend,” she said finally, “we’re moving.”

I blinked. “Moving?”

“To the Ironclaw Pack.”

I sat up straighter. “You’re kidding.”

She shook her head. “We’ll be living with Darius.”

“Your—your husband?”

“My mate,” she corrected gently.

I stared at her. My chest tightened instantly.

“You said he lived far away.”

“Not too far,” she said quickly. “It’s just across state lines. A day’s drive.”

“So I have to leave my school, my friends… everything? Just like that?”

“That’s not fair, Rhea…”

“No, what’s not fair is pretending this is normal.” My voice shook. “You really expect me to pack up and live with strangers? With his pack?”

Her voice grew firmer. “You know the pack council didn’t give me a choice. After your father—”

“Don’t.” My throat clenched. “Don’t bring Dad into this.”

She swallowed. “He was a Beta. When he died, I lost my place. The council… they didn’t just ask me to remarry, Rhea. They forced me.”

I turned away, breath heavy. “I never wanted you with anyone else. Now you want me to just smile and pretend like we’re a perfect family?”

“You’ll see,” she whispered. “Darius is kind. He’s strong and his son…”

“I don’t care about his son.” My voice cracked more than snapped this time.

She sighed, rubbing her temples. “Just… start packing, alright?”

I stared down at my notebook, but the numbers blurred. I couldn’t think straight.

“Dinner’s at seven,” she said softly, then slipped out of the room.

The silence afterward pressed down like a weight. I shoved the textbook shut and pushed back my chair. I couldn’t sit here and wait for my life to be erased.

If Mom was going to shove me into a new life, then tonight I’d claim my own. No rules, no guilt, just fun.

I opened my closet and pulled out the red bodycon dress Jay liked, the kind that always turned heads. I zipped it up halfway, twisted my curls into a messy bun, swiped on eyeliner and gloss, threw on my leather jacket, and grabbed my boots.

My phone lit up as I snatched it from the bed. Mom’s name blinked on the screen. She was home, so why was she texting me instead of just coming upstairs?