In Love With My Lycan Step Brother

"I, Orix, alpha of the Beckmore pack, reject you, Lauren, as my mate!"

The weight of those words crashed onto me like an avalanche, forcing me down to my knees. Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the rejection. Love was denied, and with it, my dreams of escaping the life of slavery I had known since childhood were shattered.

I had known deep down that Orix would emerge as the alpha amongst his brothers. Ever since then, I had foolishly believed that becoming his mate would be my ticket to freedom, a chance to rise above my past.

"Why now, Orix?" I managed to choke out between sobs. "It was me all along, Orix. Why now?"

"You are a slave, Lauren," he responded dismissively, bending close to me. "An orphan found and raised by the pack. We cannot form a reasonable lineage with that history."

His words pierced through my heart, sinking it even further. The hatred and truth in his words echoed in my ears. It wasn't just a rejection; it was a betrayal of the love and connection I had believed we shared. The pain of realizing that I was deemed unworthy solely due to my past threatened to consume me.

We stared at each other for a moment, and I maintained eye contact, hoping to ignite some flicker of feeling within him. "You made me see a light," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "You made me believe in it, and we talked about it. We were something."

"And now we are nothing," Orix replied coldly.

His confirmation was yet another blow, causing fresh tears to cascade down my cheeks. Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the rapid beats of my heart. My heart, the only thing that hadn't abandoned me.

I lifted my head, determined not to let everything be lost. My life and my voice were still mine to fight for. "You knew you wouldn't choose me, and yet you made me warm your bed all night?" I confronted him, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and heartbreak.

Orix stood up, his gaze fixed on me. "I am the alpha of the Beckmore pack. I won't tolerate your loose tongue. Say anything else, and you'll pay the price with your tongue," he threatened, his tone cruel.

"Speaking of taking things," Orix continued, smirking. "I took the only thing you had to offer. You were willing to warm my bed all night, and I accepted the gesture."

Laughter erupted from the members of the pack, who had been watching our confrontation unfold. In that moment, I realized that I was surrounded by jeering faces, the object of their mockery.

Orix strutted forward proudly, taking Sansa's hand in his. "I have chosen Sansa to be my mate and together we will rule the pack. The Beckmore pack will thrive under our leadership."

The crowd erupted into cheers, celebrating their beloved alpha's decision. Sansa and I were not friends, nor were we enemies. We were simply two women, both considered beauties by the pack. We shared certain physical traits, such as our blonde hair, average height, and feminine curves. But our faces told a different story, as did our status.

With a heavy heart, I mustered the strength to rise to my feet. I refused to crumble before Orix, his new mate, and the rest of the pack.

In that moment, I made a decision. I would leave the pack, forsaking my membership, and venture into the city to carve out a new life for myself. A life that would be mine to shape, free from the chains of slavery and the pain of rejection.

As I walked away from the camp, leaving the merriment and laughter behind, I felt the weight of the words echoing in my footsteps, slowing my pace. I reached up and unclasped the locket that had symbolized my belonging to the Beckmore pack. With a gentle touch, I removed it from my neck, realizing that it no longer held any meaning for me.

The locket fell into my palm, a bitter reminder of the love and acceptance that had been cruelly taken from me. I glanced back one last time, shedding a tear that held within it a vow. "I will come back for all of you."

My threat was a mere whisper, lacking any real chance of fulfillment. But it was a promise I made to myself, fueled by the need to prove my worth and reclaim the happiness that had been snatched away.

***

After the long walk, I found myself wandering the familiar streets of the city that Orix had shown me in times past.

My heart still carried the weight of my shattered dreams, but the bustling cityscape and its vibrant energy contrasted sharply with the somberness that had settled within me.

I had left with my satchel, containing the pairs of clothes I owned, after leaving behind the ones that Orix had gotten for me.

As I observed the faces passing by, the gleaming luxury cars, and the towering buildings, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and curiosity. It was a life I knew I would have to get used to after spending years in the forest.

In the forest, I was accustomed to towering trees and the wild animals during hunts. But this new environment, so different from what I had known before, would now be my home.

Just as I was immersing myself in the vibrant surroundings, a sleek car pulled up by my side. The suddenness of the encounter filled my heart with unease.

Three imposing figures emerged from the vehicle and swiftly surrounded me. Instinctively, I tried to fight back, but my strength paled in comparison to their superior force.

Within moments, they incapacitated me, sapping my energy with an otherworldly power. I could sense that they were werewolves, and there was something mysterious about them.

With my vision obscured, my senses went into overdrive as I was driven to an unknown location for hours.

I was ushered out and tugged into a lawn, still blindfolded and weakened by their touch. As long as their hands were on me, I couldn't shift or even raise my limbs to fight or defend myself.

Finally, their hands left me and the blindfold was removed. As my eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, I found myself standing in a magnificent mansion. The pristine white interior was such a stark contrast to my previous world of chaos.

A man approached me, his presence commanding. I instinctively retreated, but my feet were halted when he spoke.

"Lauren Witherfield!"

The sound of my name in a stranger's voice caused a stir within me. I had heard the name before, in fleeting memories, but they were only fragments, whispers floating in the recesses of my mind.

"I am your father," the man said, his voice filled with a mix of emotions that I struggled to comprehend. "I am Sean Witherfield. Your mother, Cecilia, ran during the vendetta and took you with her."

I stood there, stunned and overwhelmed by the revelation. I knew deep down that it was the truth, and it hit me with a force I couldn't fully understand.

"You were barely three months old," he added.

I had known nothing of my lineage, only a faint remembrance. I was raised in a world where my identity was shrouded in secrecy and shadows.

The sudden appearance of this man claiming to be my father was like a whirlwind of emotions. I felt a mix of disbelief, hope, and a deep longing for more answers.

"Why now?" I asked, the words echoing in the air. Uncertainty trembled in my voice as I questioned why he was reaching out to me after all these years.

Sean Witherfield's expression softened, and I could see regret in his gaze. "You were part of a pack, my dear. We couldn't find you, and even if we did, we couldn't risk revealing ourselves. The stakes were too high, and your safety was our priority."

I struggled to process the information, torn between the desire for answers and the skepticism that had become my shield against disappointment.

He moved closer, holding out a worn photograph that trembled slightly in his hand. In that captured moment, I caught a glimpse of my parents and a much younger version of myself.

My breath caught in my throat, and tears welled in my eyes as I stared at my mother's picture, feeling a faint remembrance of her.

"I am..." I began, wanting to reveal that I was a werewolf. But in the midst of my tangled thoughts, I failed to realize that Sean Witherfield was one too.

"I am, too," he said gently, completing my unfinished sentence. "Welcome back to Pack Witherfield, your pack, your home." He opened his hands, inviting me into this newfound world.

I wanted to say the word, to call him by what he claimed to be and embrace the destiny he offered. But it felt heavy on my tongue, as if the weight of it all was too much to bear.

Hope had bloomed in my heart when there had been none, and with it came the opportunity for the vengeance I had longed for against the Beckmore pack.

"Father," I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of vulnerability and joy.

As the word slipped from my lips, a floodgate of emotions burst open. Love, confusion, anger, and a newfound sense of belonging surged through me. I wept uncontrollably as I clung to Sean's chest.

He held me tightly, and in that embrace, I felt the undeniable bond between us. "Lauren, my love, I will never leave you. Welcome home, my daughter."