09: What Can You Do?

SUNSHINE:

My stepbrother's burning gazes continued to burn a hole in my face.

Gritting my teeth I fisted on my palms. They would always doubt what I could do. In their eyes, I was that weak woman who only knew how to follow her ex-mate wherever he went. 

Weak. Pathetic. Disgraceful. Name every degrading word and that would be how my stepbrothers would call me. Yeah. They were that kind of asshole.

"I can do it. Why do you continue giving me that look?"

'Make sure you don't drag me away,' Knoxx stated inside my head. 'If they killed you there, I won't be dragging your dead body here. I will feed them to the scavengers. You hear me, woman?'

A shiver ran down my spine.

I knew this man had no inkling of like in me, but I never knew this would be this intense. 

I sucked in a breath and then pursed my lips. 

‘Asshole,’ I spat.

‘Not the kind of asshole like your mate.’

‘You are my mate. And I also had my ex-mate. Are you referring to the former or the latter?’ 

‘Your ex-mate. What else?’

'No worries, my dear mate. I don't have plans of getting killed. Besides, I also don't think your wolf would stay and do nothing when I am in danger, Brother,' I taunted. 'You're a wolf who will do everything to protect me whether you like it or not. It will always be me rather than your position.'

After knowing we were mates, he easily entered my mind whenever he pleased. Which was kind of irritating to me. There were only a few people that I permitted and he was not included. 

He muttered a curse in my mind.

‘You hate that I am right?’ I taunted. ‘Accept that we are mates even if we like it or not.’

Using the bell, Alpha Ezra rang it, getting our attention.  

"Knoxx will be there to protect her, Benedict. If something happens to my daughter, I will be taking away your position, Knoxx. No harm should befall her. Protect her at all times."

Knoxx stiffened in his seat. 

"Father. The alpha position is not something you will take away whenever you please."

"I agree. Stop any foolish decisions, Father favoring that woman."

“You changed when they came.”

“We no longer know you.”

"Boys!" Alpha Ezra shouted, his voice sounded like thunder. “Stop acting like a spoiled brat this instant!”

All of us flinched at his voice and his son all looked down as if being scolded by their teachers. 

Alpha Ezra stared at them one by one.  "I made my stand clear already. You must all protect Sunshine at all costs and treat her as your sister. Especially you, Knoxx. You should love her."

My heart skipped a beat after hearing the alpha's last statement. 

L-love?  Did he know we are mates? Who told him?

Just as I was about to rebut him, he continued.  "All of you should love her as your sister."

My stepbrothers turned their gazes away. 

Why does their reaction sting like the bite of a bee even though I no longer seek their validation? All I wanted right now was to move on from what happened to my relationship and be happy again. Was that difficult to do?

Slowly, I raised my hand. 

Alpha Ezra watched me. 

“What is it, daughter?”

"Alph Ezra. I do believe that love should always be earned like being respected. I understand my brother's feelings and I did not want to force anything on them."

Alpha Ezra's expression softened. "You are always the understanding type like your Mother. That’s why it was never hard to like you, Sunshine."

The two kissed each other and the rest of us squinted.

The two were embarrassing to watch, but as time went on, I realized nothing was embarrassing about showing affection. Jericho would only touch me when we were in private and would never do it when someone was around. It felt like he was disgusted by it. 

How I wished we had the same relationship. I wished I had the same man who would love me truly and not use me.

Clearing his throat, Knoxx inquired, "When will we start our journey, Father?"

Alpha Ezra wrenched his gaze away from Mother.

“The rogue's conflict is a pressing matter that should be solved as soon as possible. You can start tomorrow."

Tomorrow? That soon? 

"If we succeed, Brother...would you give me the blessing to return to my pack?" I inquired. 

Knoxx scoffed. "You can do whatever you want if we succeed. I don't care what you do with your life."

He never really cared about his mate. Not even giving me sisterly love.

Why was I always paired with assholes again? If these were the kind of mates I would have, I would rather not have anything at all. 

"Fine by me." I pushed my seat and stood. "Please excuse me. I will be going back to my room and preparing the necessary things, Alpha Ezra."

He nodded.

"Don't bring anything that is not important," Knoxx reminded but I no longer had the energy to answer him.

-----------

The sun had barely risen when a servant called me to my room saying Knoxx was already waiting for me outside.

Not wasting any more seconds, I scrambled out of bed grabbed my bag, and hurried away.

Knoxx was surrounded by my other four step-brothers and they instantly glared at me upon seeing me.

"A dress for this trip?" the beta snickered. "You think you will be attending a party? You plan on seducing all the rogues so that they will stop waging war?"

I looked down on my clothes. Yes. I wore a yellow dress but there was a short underneath.

"What's wrong with my clothes?"

"We will be using a horse. A dress is not something you should wear in this situation," Knoxx informed.

I lifted my dress and showed them my shorts and before they could see what was under it, they all looked away, their faces brightened.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"Showing you my shorts," I answered.

"Put your dress down!" Knoxx answered, growling. "Are you out of your mind, woman? Do you think we are not men?"

"I am only saying that there's nothing to be worried about if I wore a dress."

"Any decent woman would never lift her dress around men," Knoxx continued scolding.

"You're not my father who would lecture me."

"Then stop acting immature! You plan on seducing us?"

"Plan? Why would I?" Putting down my dress, I turned sideways. "Never mind. What's the point of explaining if you won't ever listen to me? All of you won't lend me your ears. You already judged me."

"You're full of drama."

"Sensitive."

I glared at each of them, never bothering to hide my annoyance. I had to make this a success or else I would forever deal with these assholes for the rest of my life. 

"Let's go, Brother." I scanned my surroundings. There was no carriage. Except for the two horses at the side. "Where is our lift?"

"Isn't it obvious? We are going there using these horses."

"Horses? Do you mean plural? But I don't know how to ride a horse!"

Well, not entirely true. Back when Father was alive, he let me ride his horse, but he never taught me anything! 

“Don’t you know anything at all?” The beta snapped at me while baring his teeth. 

I smirked. “I know how to fuck. How’s that, Benedict?”