Entangled with her Alpha step-brother

~ARLINA~

The speakers boomed with music that made my head pound. I could barely hear my thoughts and the smell of alcohol and sweat lingering in the air made me want to puke.

A reminder that I shouldn't even be here in the first place. But I had to leave.

My mother and I just moved for the umpteenth time and I desperately needed a break. So I did the dumbest thing ever.

Rather than stay out in bed and recover from the jet lag, I decided to sneak into the club down the street. In my defense, I only intended on taking a scroll and only found it by accident.

I headed to the bar, hoping the alcohol would get me to loosen up a bit.

The bartender barely looked at me when I asked for something “not too strong,” which he apparently interpreted as “make her regret her life choices,” because the drink he slid across the counter burned down my throat like liquid fire.

I winced, coughing.

‘Smooth, Arlina. Real smooth.’

From all indications, this was clearly not going to work. So I threw the last shot down my throat and dropped the bills on the table.

The minute I turned to leave, I collided into something and the next minute, cold liquid splashed all over my chest.

I gasped, stumbling back as the drink soaked into my top. The strong smell of whiskey hit my nose a second later.

“Seriously?” a deep, annoyed voice snapped.

I blinked up and found a tall guy in a tight black T-shirt staring down at the now-empty glass in his hand. His brows were furrowed, irritation etched across every line of his face as those green eyes locked with mine.

‘He does have really beautiful eyes,’ I thought in a daze.

He glared at me like I had thrown myself into him on purpose.

“Great,” he scoffed. “Just great. Can’t you watch where you’re going?”

I stared at him, stunned.

HE was the one who walked into me, but apparently he thought gravity revolved around his ego.

“Did you lose your eyesight as well?” I retorted. “You walked into me, threw your freaking drink all over me and rather than apologize, your shallow mind decided you could get away with it if you're rude enough?”

Time seemed to have slowed at that moment. Even the music sounded distant.

He took a step forward and my body stiffened, my insides twisting in panic. For a brief second, I considered just apologizing and running away.

But my pride wouldn't let me. He was at fault too and if he thought I'd cave in simply because he was tall and had this intimidating aura, then he has another thing coming.

My breath hitched as he towered me. Our bodies were just inches away from colliding.

“You know you're trouble,” his voice was low and husky, which made me painfully realize we were the center of attraction right now. Soft music was playing in the background but no one was dancing. They were all staring at us. “Do you have any idea who I am?”

His aura was intensifying with each passing second. My insides were trembling and knees were seconds away from giving in.

“What does it matter?” I swallowed, forcing myself to regain that confidence as I shoved him out of the way. “Your irritating attitude already says enough about you.”

Just like that, I stormed out of the club. Once the night air hit my face, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Gods, he was so scary back there. He must be someone important to have the whole club focus on us like that back there.

“Snap out of it, Lina. Who cares if he's someone important? You're never going to see him again!”

I decided to sit a little on the street bench and just enjoy the night air before heading back to the hotel.

My eyes fluttered shut and I threw my head back, letting my wander off a little.

It had barely been a few seconds when someone joined me on the bench. And then another. And another.

My eyes flew open and I found myself between four men, two on each side. The pungent smell of alcohol made my insides twists,.not to mention the lust in their eyes as they offered me smiles that made my skin crawl.

I jumped in a second,. hoping to just get away from them but one caught my arm and forced me back into the bench.

Pain shot through my butt but I was more focused on getting away from them. His grip on my wrist tightened as I struggled against him.

“L-Let go of me!” I yelled.

“Hush! There is no need to be in such a hurry, sexy. We just want to have a chat with you. Right boys?” He grinned and the rest of them nodded in agreement.

Boys? These were freaking men in their forties! Even fifties!

My arm was grabbed from the other side while another gripped my thighs.

“Please let go of me…” I pleaded desperately, scanning the street for anyone that could help but it was bare.

Goosebumps broke out on my skin like hives as I realized I was truly alone.

“We're not going to hurt you, sweetheart… we just need five minutes. We'll make it worth it, I promise.”

The words made me cringe so hard. But when he leaned in, trying to kiss me, I forced myself backwards, screaming.

The smiles immediately vanished on their faces and I knew I was done for. They were clearly sick of me now.

However, just at that moment, the headlights of a car flashed as the car approached us. I immediately screamed at the top of my lungs.

“Help! Help!!”

Hands slammed over my mouth but it was too late because the car came to a stop. Tears welled in my eyes, stinging from both dread and relief.

The car opened and all forms of hope vanished when I locked eyes with those beautiful set of green eyes.

At this point, I knew I was really screwed. Cause what are the chances that your potential savior turned out to be the jerk you argued with a few minutes ago.

My eyes pleaded with him for help. I really didn't have a choice now. I didn't even care if he just came to gloat. I'd take it all as long as he got these disgusting perverts away from me.

His hands were tucked in his pocket as he walked over to the bench. The men remained still, staring at him.

“Are you waiting for me to tell you to get your filthy hands off her?” The silky rich baritone caught me off guard.

I blinked rapidly, trying to reconcile this with his tone back at the club. Or was my body reacting to the fact that he was saving me and automatically making everything about him pleasant.

Heck, I could swear this intoxicating scent of Jasmines wasn't there before.

“And who the hell do you think you are?” The one gripping my wrist fired.

Those green eyes hardened as he leaned in. “Should I enlighten you?”

I wasn't sure what he did but there was a shift in the air around him and the hands that gripped me instantly released me. I didn't waste a second before running behind him.

They immediately fell on their knees offering all forms of apologies.

“We didn't mean to do it.”

“We were just messing with her. It's nothing serious.”

“She seduced us.”

“Please spare us. It’ll never happen again.”

“Report yourselves to the Alpha first thing in the morning. Don't make me look for you,” he said plainly, straightening up. “If I do, it is going to be a very horrible experience for you. Now get lost.”

I watched them scramble to their feet and dash off.

This was my cue to leave as well. I suddenly realized I really didn't want him to taunt me or remind me of what happened at the club.

So I retreated slowly, hoping to dash off in a second when his voice stopped me.

“Hurrying somewhere?” His head tilted in my direction and I immediately froze. “I see apologizing is not the only thing difficult for you. You can't show appreciation as well.”

I bit my lip hard, refusing to meet his eyes. At this point, mockery was inevitable so I might as well get it over with. Besides, even if he is a jerk, he did save me.

“Thank you.”

“See, trouble? That wasn't

so hard,” His tone was so light that I had to look up.

My heart fluttered for a second as I caught that breath-taking smile on his face.