Tasting 81

81-My Loving Stepbrother

Nora:

“Huh? Natalya, you know what kind of paintings he does, right?” I couldn’t just come out and tell her

I’m not comfortable taking her to my mate and having him undress her to draw her naked, could I?

Nope! I was not okay with it. Even though I decided not to escalate things with my mates, I’d still be

uncomfortable doing that.

“I’m aware of it, Nora. Alpha King in’s art is famous everywhere. And it’s not like being stripped

naked before the alpha king is that bad of a thing,” she shyly lowered her head while I kept glaring

at her.

“Natalya! If you think he would fall for you or anything after he sees you naked, forget about it.

That’s not how he works,” I noticed how harsh my tone was, so I had to tone it down before she

suspected something was wrong. “Besides, why do you want to be painted naked?” I forced a smile

onto my lips, attempting to ease up the environment.

“I just do. It’s been a dream. I want him to paint me naked in his studio. And as you said, it’s not like

he would do something when seeing me naked. So what’s the issue? Can’t you do that much for

your friend?” she pouted, somewhat forcing me to go to Cain and ask him to strip my friend of her

clothes and paint her in a seductive way.

“Natalya-,” I sighed.

“Why? Why are you so opposed to the idea, Nora? I’m your friend. Friends do favors for each other.

I’m willing to stand with you throughout your taboo relationship, but you can’t even request your

stepbrother a favor for me?” she childishly stomped her foot and folded her arms over her chest.

But I was deeply bothered by her comment. “Hey! Quit talking about that kiss. And it’s not a taboo

relationship, it’s not even a relationship,” I hissed, not joking or casting her smiles.

“Okay, okay!” she winked at me and then made a gesture to her lips, indicating she had zipped her

lips into a tight line. I freaking hated how she was using that to make me ask Cain for her. But did I

have a choice now?

“Fine. I will go talk to him, but Natalya, don’t exaggerate what happened,” I warned her and noticed

that she scoffed a little.

“Okay, as if two lips didn’t meet, but fine,” her hands dropped dramatically. At this point, I reckoned

the more I stopped her from talking about it, the more she kept bringing it up. It was annoying, to be

honest.

“Anyway, I will speak to Cain after dinner. Let’s go have lunch,” it was so sad that I brought her to

my home, gave her a place to stay, and now she was in hold of my secret. And it wasn’t that she

was genuinely trying to warn me. I got a weird feeling from her. Almost like she was using that

secret over my head now.

We joined everyone for lunch for the first time. My stepfather and stepbrothers had been waiting for

me. The minute I sat down, Lord Atwood started filling my plate with food. He would always make

me sit with him and help me with food. Natalya leaned over my ear and whispered, “See! This is

why I think it’s a `bad idea. He loves you so much; please don’t break his trust.” I

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was shocked.

I had to elbow her to straighten her back and glare at her with a frown on my forehead. When I

looked away, I saw Ryker glaring at Natalya before looking my way and softening his stare.

“Natalya! How are you?” Lord Atwood asked her, gesturing for her to serve herself.

“I’m feeling much better. But the bullying has gotten worse in school. The combat classes started,

and the team Nora picked for us is not very fond of me,” Natalya outright lied, making me sigh and

lean back in my chair. The change in her was drastic, or maybe she was always that way and the

reason I didn’t figure it out sooner was that I never go. spend a lot of time with her

under the same roof.

“Why? What team did you two choose?” Lord Atwood questioned.

“Team Brody!” she rolled her eyes, going for a spoonful of lasagna.

“Why would you two go for him when you have Ryker on the other team?” Nash cleared his throat

and hunched over the table, trying to intimidate me with his gaze.

“I think,” before Natalya could proceed, Ryker slammed his hand down and started laughing a little.

“I think she’s forgetting that my team doesn’t like her either,” his comment prompted my eyes to go

wide and a gasp from Natalya. She didn’t think she would get confronted, did she?

“It’s simple. Everyone thinks her lies were bad. Nora was only

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listening to her request when she teamed up with Brody. Otherwise, Nora was going to sign up for

my team,” he took a deep breath and smiled when saying my name.

“I know. She is the bestest friend and always gets in trouble because of me,” it was as if when the

eyes fell on her, she realized her actions were being scrutinized now.

“It’s okay, my child. Mistakes happen. And I’m sure you will never repeat your mistakes, especially

when it comes to Nora. I will not allow anyone to do her wrong, whether it is you or my sons,” the

fact that Lord Atwood made such a huge statement and held my hand gave me so much strength

but also guilt.

“That’s what I want for her. I h o she never gets in trouble and Moses your support,” Natalya’s smile

was genuine, so I didn’t

know if it was a remark or her genuine concern for me.

“Who told you she will get in trouble and lose my support? I will get in trouble with her because I will

stay on her side, whether right or wrong,” my chest swelled with contentment as Lord Atwood

smiled at me and continued, “If she is bad, I am her dad.”

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