My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 174

Michelle

I arrive home during lunch, eyes wide and heart racing. I expect to be met by my parents asking where I’ve been, but I come home to a peaceful mansion.

Dad is drinking coffee with his dad and Sky, and my mom is in the garden with Sky’s wife, Katy. They all seem to be getting along, and I smile.

It will be easy to talk about the visions I’ve had and the other things I know when everyone is gathered. I’m just about to tell my dad we should have a meeting in the kitchen when I feel a tap on my shoulder.

I spin around, eyes settling on Bella. She is smiling at me in a state of excitement. Though it was hard to tell in the dim light. Maybe I’m wrong? Because last time I checked, Bella and I were enemies.

“Hello, sis,” she says and keeps her innocent smile. “How are you this wonderful morning?”

I pause to scan her smiling face. I don’t know why, but Bella, who is normally the picture of mischief and excitement, has a strange aura about her… like she has been touched by something dark and strange.

“Bella…” I say. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes?” She blinks repeatedly and then laughs. “Everything is fantastic, really. I’ve finally met my mate, and he is just WONDERFUL! Like, you wouldn’t even believe it! Jarq is just the best man out there!”

“You met your mate?” This sounds like good news indeed, especially since she doesn’t seem angry at me anymore.

“Yes! That’s what I’m trying to tell you, silly!”

I smile. “What is he like?”

My sister, unable to contain her excitement, quickly reveals her newfound relationship to me. She can’t stop gushing about her mate and how perfect he is for her. I smile at Bella’s enthusiasm, but as Bella describes her mate, a bad feeling settles in my gut. Dread presses over me like a heavyweight, and my heart pounds harder.

What is wrong with me? It’s like my body and instincts are warning me about something—something terrible that Bella’s newfound mate will bring. But how could that be? I haven’t even met the guy yet, and shouldn’t judge!

I shake my head, trying to clear my mind and focus on the moment. I push away the fear and attempt to be supportive of my sister as she continues to talk.

And talk she does.

Bella, seemingly unaware of my struggles, continues to talk about her mate and the wonderful night she spent with him yesterday. I smile and nod in all the right places, but as Bella keeps talking, the fear inside me grows.

And while I know it’s crazy, there is a voice whispering inside my head: “Isn’t it weird that you dream about a dangerous necromancer, and suddenly Bella finds her mate? Is that truly a coincidence, or could it be him?”

The voice makes me feel sick, and I shake my head.

No… no… no… he is not a necromancer. No one can be. I try to tell myself all of this, but the fear doesn’t go away.

“Listen,” I say and step in front of my sister to stand in her way. Bella stops short, her lips parted, and her eyes widen to saucers.

“What is going on?” she asks. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I don’t know if I should tell you this… but I have a bad feeling about your new mate.” I look at my sister and hope she doesn’t take my words the wrong way, but I need to tell her. I still feel that this is my duty as her older sister.

She scoffs, her eyes narrowing and her mouth twisting into a grimace. “Are you kidding me?” She places her hand against my chest, glaring at me. “You’re together with my ex-boyfriend, Michelle. And just because I don’t want Kit any more, you have to, like… spit on my mate and say you have a bad feeling about him? What is this sort of bullshit?”

s**t, what do I do?

“I’m sorry, Bella… I’m just… I’ve been having dreams about a bad necromancer,” only one that I’m aware of, but she doesn’t need to hear the number. “He can raise the dead and make them fight for him, and then you just find your mate all of a sudden. And while I shouldn’t suspect him, that’s just how my stupid head works.”

I glance at Bella, who is gaping at me. Her eyes have turned into saucers, and she grips the wall with a haunted expression on her otherwise pretty face.

“What is it?” I ask.

She swallows thickly. “Jarq is a necromancer. I’m the only person who knows, the only soul he has been brave enough to tell, and now…” she shakes her head. “Shit… do you think he is the one from your nightmares?”

Does she actually believe me?

And damn, is her mate truly a necromancer? Oh my god, that’s wild. But surely he can’t be the same one, right? Not if they are mates!

“What… no… no, he isn’t!” I try to sound reassuring, but even I myself am not sure. But how could I be? It is so crazy… so unlikely… so impossible…

Is it?

I don’t know.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “Maybe he is the one from my nightmares?” s**t. “How many necromancers are there out there anyway?”

“Not many…” Bella wets her lips. “What was the necromancer doing in your dreams?”

“Awakening the dead from their slumber and commanding them to kill me.”

Her face pales. “Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“I need to go,” Bella says and whirls around. Before I can say anything, my sister is already running away and toward the door.

“Bella!” I race after her and throw myself at the door. Once I’m outside, I shout. “Bella, come back! You can’t meet your mate on your own! Not if he is bad!”

As expected, there is no answer from Bella. She has already shape-shifted and left the territory, but her scent lingers in the air. I can still follow her!

“Michelle?” I whip around and find Katy and my mom staring at me with confused faces. “Where did Bella go? Why was she in such a hurry?”

I grimace. “I think Bella might be in danger… would you mind asking dad and Sky to search for her with me?”

“Of course,” my mom looks at Katy. “Your husband wouldn’t mind helping us, would he?”

“No,” Katy smiles and looks at me. “Kit wouldn’t either… Where is he anyway?”

“He went home to watch a football game, but I suppose I can call for him too. We might need him for this.”

My mom is serious. “Just what is happening?”

“Well…” I begin, and then I give her the short version of the story, hoping she will believe me.