My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 159

Michelle

After coming inside and having showered, there is a text from Kit on my phone.

Kit: Do you want to come to my parent’s place tomorrow in Haven? My sister Kinsley is going to become the new Alpha and hold her speech, but I promise it won’t be only political! There is cake! Lots of it!

My heart flutters. I find it endearing that a huge, bulky demon like Kit loves cake. I quickly type a response.

Me: I wouldn’t miss free cake for all the money in the world. But don’t think I’m doing this for you! There is nothing romantic going on here.

Kit: Then why do I know you’re blushing from simply having read my message? Admit it: you like me, and you’re excited to spend more time with me.

Dang, he already got me all figured out! I sink my teeth into my bottom l*p, thinking of my response. Should I be honest? I begin to type…

Me: You’re actually not that bad, Howler.

Kit: Oh my god, is that a compliment?! I’m print-screening that and putting it on the wall!

I laugh while drying my hair with my towel. Kit is truly something else. He gets excited over the smallest things and I’m starting to fall for that personality trait.

He is sweet… for being a demon.

Me: See you tomorrow.

***

I jump out of my car in front of Kit’s parent’s place, and study the building with huge eyes. Is this place even real? Kit’s parent’s place is beyond impressive—a huge, three-story mansion, like something out of a fairy tale.

I jump out of my car and rush towards the entrance, taking note of all the colorful decorations that line the path. It seems like the entire pack has turned up to witness Kinsley become their new Alpha.

As I walk to the back of the building, I see an arrow sign that points to the back of the house. I gladly follow it, and I’m taken aback by the huge crowd of Howler pack members that are listening to Kinsley as she speaks from the porch.

When I round the corner, Kit spots me and breaks from the crowd. He seems eager and rushes forward, his face lighting up with relief as he gets closer.

“Michelle!” He exclaims, lifting me off the ground and spinning me around in an enthusiastic circle before setting me down. He is super strong and I’m all dizzy. “You came!”

I blush at Kit’s enthusiasm and pull back from him with my nose held up high. “Of course I did,” I reply, feeling my heart flutter when his eyes meet mine.

He grins back before stepping away from me and facing the direction of his sister. “I’m so proud of Kinsley. She is finally stepping up as the Alpha.”

I glance up at Kit, searching his face for any hint of jealousy, but I find none. There is only pride for his sister.

“Okay, so I will give you plus points for being happy for your sister. That’s really sweet of you.”

Kit smiles and then we listen to the rest of Kinsley’s speech. Apparently, her inner wolf has temporarily left her. She smells entirely human, and once she is done talking, the entire Howler family goes to hug her.

The first one up is her boyfriend, who beams with pride before turning away from the stage to let her parents take their turn. Her father wraps his arms around Kinsley and I stare at him, shocked to be in the presence of the demon king.

I really thought he would be… scarier. This man? He acts like an affectionate father, and I smile when Kit is the next person to congratulate Kinsley. He envelopes her in a bone-crushing hug, lifting her off the ground with ease.

“My little sister is finally the Alpha!” Kit exclaims.

“Little?!” Kinsley growls. “We are twins, you dork!”

My eyes bug out of my head when I notice that Kit is transforming into something not human. There is a tail swishing behind him, and large horns protruding out from his skull. His skin has taken a light purple color, and he has shot up two feet to tower over his family members.

Not only that, but two large leather-clad wings stretch behind him, twitching as if testing the air. I stare at them first, then let my eyes fall onto the tattered clothes on his body. They are entirely ripped to shreds by his bulging muscles.

“Kit… can’t… breathe…” Kinsley seems to be choking in her brother’s arms, and Kit grimaces before placing her down. I get the feeling he acted on impulse. Perhaps he shape-shifts based on his emotions?

Regardless of which, he is looking at me now with his glowing, yellow eyes, and I swallow. I can’t help but feel intimidated by him. He is unnaturally tall. Like, I thought he was tall at six-foot-something, but now? Dude has grown beyond human size and is peering down at me from what must be eight feet of height. It’s overwhelming.

“Oh shit…” Kit swears and moves his hand to palm his neck while smiling sheepishly. “This isn’t good. I got too excited and transformed,” he looks around. No one from the crowd is paying us attention, and yet he grabs my hand and pulls me away. “Come, let’s go somewhere more private. The forest is a good place for me to calm down.”

I stare at his hand. It’s engulfing mine, and my throat goes dry when I then lift my chin to come face-to-face with Kit’s broad, muscular back.

Demon boy is ripped.

“We should be alone over here,” Kit says once we are behind some bushes and far away from the crowd. He releases my hand, and when I create some distance between us, a sad look crosses his face. “Are you afraid of me?”

“Um…” I start and Kit looks down at me with those glowing eyes of his.

“What is it?” he asks softly.

I’m momentarily lost in thought before I can bring myself to answer him. “It’s just… you look so different.”

“I can change back,” he says in a low tone, and then a laugh escapes him, but I have a feeling its one that hides his inner pain. It doesn’t sound happy. “This might be my true form, but yeah… you don’t have to like it. I know that I must seem hideous in a human’s eyes.”

His words take me by surprise, and I shake my head quickly in response. “No, I don’t think you’re hideous at all!” I protest. “You actually look really impressive.”

He seems somewhat taken aback by my response, but a hint of a smile appears on his face nonetheless. “Thank you.”

An awkward silence settles over us, and I swallow. Kit isn’t changing back, and I get the feeling it’s because he can’t. His tail is pendling back and forth between his legs, but he seems reluctant to meet my eyes.

It’s almost as if he is afraid of frightening me, which makes me feel bad. Demons are scary, but this is Kit—my mate—I have to let him know that I trust him.

Determination fills me, and I step forward, grabbing Kit’s wing to feel the leather-like texture between my hands. It feels like touching the wings of a bat—a very large one, and I gasp.

“They are amazing!”

Kit blinks down at me, probably stunned by me approaching him, but when I continue to stroke his velvety-smooth wings, he laughs. “You like them?”

“They’re beautiful,” I whisper, and Kit smiles softly in response. His body relaxes and I notice his tail is wagging. Is that a sign of him being excited?

“I’m glad,” Kit says, showing me a glimpse of sharp, pointy canine teeth. “Maybe one day you will be able to touch me in my demon form without almost wetting yourself.”

His words knock the winds out of my sails, and I immediately realize him with a gasp. “I’m not close to wetting myself!”

He grins down at me from his more than impressive height, amused. “Please, I would be able to hear your heartbeat from a mile away.”

“You would not!”

“Would too.”

“No!”

“Yes, I would,” he chuckles. “It doesn’t bother me, though. I didn’t expect you not to be afraid since everyone seems to fear me.”

Guilt pierces me like an arrow. “Maybe I would get used to it if we spent more time together?”

“Probably,” his attention travels to the sky above us. “We can spend more time together after I return home. I’m going to help my sister find her inner wolf in the magical realm. She needs me since her powers are gone.”

“Oh,” my stomach sinks. “You’re leaving?”

“Yes,” he hesitates briefly, then adds, “If you’re not busy, you could come with us?”

I grimace. “I can’t. There have been a lot of demon attacks on our territory and my pack needs me.”

Kit frowns. “No worries, I understand. You take care of your own first.” He moves in closer and looks down at me. His eyes are filled with an emotion that I can’t identify, but it makes my heart beat faster.

Though, eventually, I can’t remain silent. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

His lips curl upwards. “Just memorizing your face in case we won’t be seeing each other for a while. You’re beautiful by the way. That dress really suits you.”

I blush. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he grins. “Now, I believe someone was promised to eat free cake. So, shall we head inside?”

My lips form a smile. “Sure.”