Chapter 4 4.Bull's Eye

Tabitha's POV

The hallway is cold this late at night, but Evren's voice is colder.

"You shouldn't be here."

I face him fully. He stands a few feet away with water still dripping from the ends of his damp hair. His eyes are unreadable, but I feel the weight in them. There is something in the way he looks at me that is almost accusing.

I take a deep breath and boldly raise my chin up as I equal his piercing gaze. "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd have a little stroll around here."

His eyes flick once toward the portrait behind me, then back to my face. "This isn't a place for wandering."

"It's a hallway. Not a crime scene."

Evren steps closer. His presence is sharp and almost suffocating, it's like the air itself folds around him.

"That's not just a hallway. That's where she is." I can almost freeze to death by the way he is looking at me.

I glance back at the portrait on our side. Corinne Aldair looks so regal. And the glacier look in her eyes definitely resembles the man in front of me.

"I just thought the painting looked fascinating. I didn't mean to pry," I say carefully. My eyes trail at every exquisite brush strokes, "Your mother was beautiful."

Something flicker in his eyes. And it's not amusement. If anything, he looks almost angry. His jaw tightens as if the compliment wounds him instead of honors her. He steps forward slowly and I instinctively back away. Goodness, this man is intimidating.

"You..." He grits his teeth like the words themselves taste foul. "You don't belong in this hallway. You don't belong in this house."

Okay, that's harsh. But what do I expect from him? He's always been the type to hurl ruthless words to others without batting an eye.

"Don't you think it's too late for that? Your father-Alpha Emery already made it clear that me and my mother are here to stay... whether you like it or not." I don't mean to sound entitled but before we came back to this island, I promised myself that I would stand up for myself and my mom... something that I didn't get to do in the past.

Evren's eyes narrow. His jaw clenches so tightly I think he might break a tooth. But I hold my ground. If he thinks I'll cower like I used to, he's wrong. I'm not that girl anymore.

"You think a bed in this house makes you one of us?" he bites out. "You think a ring on your mother's finger makes her Luna?"

I frown. "She never said she wanted that.

"Then why is she pretending? Sitting at that table. Smiling like she earned a seat there. Like she belongs," he snaps. He thrusts a hand toward the portrait behind me, rage burning in his eyes. "And you-you stand there staring at my mother like you have any right, while yours plays house and tries to take her place?"

"My mom isn't pretending anything. She's just trying to survive, same as me. She didn't ask for your approval. And she definitely doesn't need it to smile at a dinner table."

Evren's expression hardens, but I keep going.

"She's kind. She's patient. And she's done nothing but try to be respectful in a house that clearly doesn't want her. If you think that's a crime, then maybe the problem isn't with her. Don't hate a woman who didn't do anything wrong just because you can't stand your father's choices."

His eyes darken, but he doesn't speak. There's a muscle twitching in his jaw like he's biting back something sharp, something angry. I'm sure his mask of indifference will shatter and I'll get a proper lecture. But it doesn't. He just stares at me for a long second. Then, without a word, he turns and walks away.

As soon as he disappears down the hallway, I finally exhale. My legs feel unsteady beneath me, like the floor has shifted somehow. I steady myself against the wall and press a hand to my chest.

Shit, I should've kept my mouth shut... Or maybe not. Screw him and his brothers! I should be proud of holding my ground. For not flinching.

I glance at Corinne Aldair's portrait once again and heaves a frustrated sigh.

Your sons are a pain in the ass, Luna.

**

The days crawl by like a bad dream I can't wake up from. I try to avoid the Aldair brothers as much as I can, not that they make it hard. They've made a sport out of ignoring me and Mom. Meals are quiet when they do bother to show up at all. Most days, they vanish before breakfast and don't return until long after dinner. I don't really mind their absence. In fact, I prefer it. But I worry about my Mom. She tries not to look hurt, but I see it. In the way her smile falters when she sets the table. In the silence that lingers when she asks about them and gets no reply. She's having a hard time and it's all because of my assholes soon-to-be stepbrothers.

This morning, it's no different.

"Tabi, Could you go fetch the boys from the range? I thought maybe if we all sat together for lunch today..."

Her voice trails off, as if she already knows it's a lost cause. I bite the inside of my cheek. I hate the idea. But I hate seeing her disappointed even more.

"Alright. I'll get them," I mutter.

I already know it's a bad idea before I march out of the mansion. But I convinced myself to at least try for my mom.

The shooting range is tucked deep within the estate's massive grounds. I follow the gravel path until the trees thin and the air fills with sharp gunfire. I spot them immediately. The four brothers, guns in hand, lined up like they're preparing for war. Beside them are Wyatt, Rye, Ian, and Wilson-friends of the Aldair brothers and fellow members of the Crystal Ridge pack. They were my schoolmates too, back in high school. Not as cruel as the quadruplets, but far from saints. And by the looks of them now, they've grown into men who train like killers.

The brothers look like they were carved from the same stone as they aimed their guns at the targets in front of them. Their eyes flash molten gold as they fire in perfect sync.

Alpha bloods. The kind born into legacy and trained by blood.

I step closer, arms crossed.

"Lunch is ready."

None of them respond. Reed reloads calmly. Jace doesn't even glance at me. Evren lifts his gun and fires another shot. Luca adjusts his stance like I never spoke at all.

I let out a breath. "Seriously? You're going to keep playing soldier just to avoid eating with us?"

Reed scoffs without looking at me. "I'd lose my appetite sitting next to your mother."

Anger spikes in my chest. I step forward.

"What, you're man enough to shoot those guns but not man enough to share a table with the woman your father wants to marry?"

That gets their attention. Four pairs of eyes snap toward me and they look pissed.

But I don't stop.

"Maybe, you're not as tough as you all look. Maybe you're just a bunch of cowardly kids who hide in the shadows of their father and his guns," I fire off.

Reed's nostrils flare. He grabs a gun off the rack and points it straight at me. My lips part in horror as my body goes rigid. Holy shit. Is he going to shoot me for running my mouth?

"Reed," Wilson warns. "Put it down."

Reed doesn't flinch.

"Tell you what," he says in a mockingly sweet voice. "You stand there and let me shoot an apple off your head. Then I'll consider joining your precious lunch."

"You're insane!" I bluster.

"You wanted to prove something, didn't you?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Reed. That's stupid," Jace says, shaking his head.

Thank you! I almost blurt. Finally, someone's being sane. Reed is a psychopath-

"It's boring. So let's make it more interesting. All four of us should get to shoot. Me, you, Evren, and Luca," Jace continues, grinning from ear to ear.

WHAT?!

"I think that's going too far, Jace," Ian says from the side, stepping forward but Jace completely ignores him.

"Each one of us gets to shoot one apple. If we hit them clean, we show up for your precious lunch," Jace explains enthusiastically as if my life isn't on the line. "But if we miss... then I guess you won't be making it to lunch either. What do you think, guys?"

"Yeah, sounds good. I'm getting tired of these practice dummies, anyway," Luca drawls while reloading his gun.

Evren doesn't speak, but he checks the chamber, clicks off the safety, and raises his gun without hesitation.

They're insane!

Ian shakes his head. "Guys, this is nuts."

Good! I'm not the only one thinking that these brothers have lost their minds!

"Calm your tits, Ian. We're being generous here." Jace throws his friend a warning look which makes the latter back away. Then, Jace turns to me with a glint of dare in his eyes. "I'm giving you the chance to convince us to sit with your mom, Tabby. Show us you've got the guts to stand still while four loaded guns aim at your pretty little head. That should be enough to earn our attention, don't you think?" He tilts his head slightly as his lips stretch into a devious grin. "Prove you want us there so badly. Put your money where your mouth is. Unless, you're just all talk and no guts, our sweet stepsister."

Reed crosses his arms over his chest, waiting for my reaction. Evren and Luca also stare at me as if I am a piece of show they paid to watch in the carnival. I glare at Jace, then at each of them. They are really serious about this! They want to use me as a target dummy to satisfy their sadistic hobbies. Unbelievable.

Reed cocks a brow while playing with his gun-mocking me, as if urging me to be scared, to run away crying like I used to do back in high school.

But not today.

My fingers tremble slightly, but I march across the range. I grab four apples from the basket near the table, and position them as they said. One on my head. One on each shoulder. One balanced in my palm. The four brothers look taken aback by my unexpected bravery-or stupidity. It's too early to tell. They look at me as if I've just grown two heads.

"Oh, look at that spunk. Where have you been hiding that during high school?" Jace taunts. His tone is meant to be derisive but I can detect a hint of shock in the way he's looking at me. As if he doesn't expect me to take his challenge seriously.

Well, joke's on them. If I'm going to be a fool in their eyes regardless of what I do, I'd rather be a brazen fool. At least I'd die with my dignity intact.

Wilson, Wyatt, Ian, and Rye are clearly uncomfortable. But no one stops them. The Aldair brothers exchange meaningful glances as I stand alongside the target dummies.

"What are you waiting for, stepbros? Shoot. Unless you're still waiting for your daddy's instructions on how to use his big boy toys?" I narrow my eyes at them, My legs are a breath away from shaking but I steel my resolve. I refuse to show them any sign of weakness or fear. "Or maybe you're worried you'll actually miss. That would be embarrassing, wouldn't it? Future alphas with perfect aim... too scared to take a shot at a girl holding fruit."