Luna to my step brother

Echoes of clicking heels filled the exquisite marble-tiled hallway that led to the VIP suite of the Apollo Hotel as Avery Archer made her way to the most expensive room in the luxurious hotel owned by her father.

Avery's styled, mid-back, wavy, black leather hair bounced off her shoulders as she elegantly followed behind two hotel staff members hurrying along with her with anxious looks on their faces.

Avery wasn't smiling; her stone-cold expression struck fear into the hearts of the two hotel attendants dressed in the fine, neatly ironed red and white uniforms of the hotel.

"Open it," Avery commanded, her long lashes raised to the brunette holding the master key to the suite.

"But ma'am, the policy-" The words seized in the nervous brunette's mouth as she ordered her to open the suite, which a customer, Avery, knew too well, was currently occupied. "Yes, ma'am." The attendant gulped in response after receiving a sharp, chilly glare from Avery.

With trembling hands, the attendant forced open the locked door. Replacing Avery's sounds of clicking heels were loud, hearty moans from the bed at the far end of the vast, luxuriously decorated room.

Avery walked right to the middle of the room, watching from afar as her naked boyfriend roomed between her former classmate's legs.

Their loud moans had drowned out any sound of footsteps from Avery and the fact that the two customers weren't expecting to be disturbed on their joyride made it impossible for them to hear or notice Avery's presence.

Avery walked over to a beautifully crafted vase housing decorative flowers that adorned the glass table situated in the middle of two armrest chairs facing the glass walls for the guest to enjoy the view of the city, lift it high, and drop it to make a sound so loud the guests couldn't help but notice.

Startled, the two disengaged and immediately glanced back to see Avery standing in the middle of the room, forcing the two to drag the bed covers up to their chest, an attempt to hide their unclad bodies.

"If you were going to fuck some other woman, at least try not to do it in my father's hotel, you bastard!" Avery cursed while her carefully lined eyes squinted in disdain as her eyes landed on the woman her boyfriend Desmond was fucking; she couldn't help the disgust that spread through her face.

"Avery," Desmond breathed, his face hardening as he let out an exasperated sigh.

"What the fuck do you think doing Des? did you want to break up with me that badly?" Avery demanded and Desmond gritted.

"Yes... fuck, I'm sick and tired of you restricting every damn thing I do. Dating you...is suffocating, Avery; I'm tired of it. So, yeah...I want to break up-

"Fine...I'm breaking up with you." Avery cut in before Desmond got to finish and Avery watched his eyes widen with shock.

Avery, of course, expected him to be shocked, after all... he had asked to break up twice but Avery had turned him down because she thought she could fix whatever the problem was between them but she never expected he would go as far as cheating on her in a place where she wouldn't help but notice.

Avery had constantly covered up every article and squashed any rumour revealing her problematic relationship.

Her friends and family all believed she was in a perfect relationship and she had intended to keep it that way but her boyfriend walked into a hotel she was in charge of with her old classmate, which she had recently introduced him to at a dinner party they both attended a week ago.

"Well, isn't that what you wanted...so, you can leave now. I'll have my lawyer contact you about every single penny you borrowed from me and never gave back." Desmond paled but Avery, however, was shattering on the inside.

Even if she wore an indifferent look while retaining an intimidating demeanour as she was always taught to do... losing her 3-year-old relationship with Desmond somehow hurt more than she thought it would.

'Would things have been better if I hadn't proposed to him?' Avery thought as her cold, blank eyes moved between the man she cherished and the pathetic woman who was merely used to get what he wanted.

Avery sighed and turned sharply as she felt like her hard exterior might just crumble.

Pausing by the door, Avery voiced, "I hope we never see each other again." Avery concluded before walking out the door, leaving with the two hotel attendants.

With a heart as heavy as stone, Avery returned to her office while passing by gossiping staff who unfortunately had gotten a whiff of what happened to her relationship she had tried so hard to masquerade as perfect.

Avery Archer, 29 years old, daughter of Finn Archer, a multi-billionaire business tycoon and investor; the unfortunate cannery forced to act as an eagle, was someone who had never had a successful love story until Desmond West.

Desmond was her longest relationship and she thought she had finally found the one, but the moment she proposed, trying to evolve their relationship, pulling out a ring on the top floor of their high-class hotel, Desmond demanded a breakup instead, with the same excuse as every other man she's dated: they feel 'suffocated' being with her and thus, another unfortunate end.

"Fuck, I totally forgot Rosie's birthday," Avery mumbled under her breath before hurrying out of her office with her bag and car keys.

"Hey, Avery, you're here!" Roslyn cried out in excitement, leaving the three-person group she was cooped with as Avery walked into the open courtyard of Roselyn's father's mansion, where she was holding her birthday party.

Even though she hated loud places, was still battling with break-up emotions and had tonnes of other things on her schedule, Roslyn's birthday party was something she still couldn't afford to miss or her friend might just kill her and bury her in their backyard.

Avery watched Rosie bounce over in her chin-length bob, raven-black hair, and spooky Gothic makeup that somehow managed to go well with the shimmering champagne-gold short dress she had on.

"Happy birthday, Roslyn," Avery beamed as she met Roslyn in a brief hug.

"Thanks, Avy, and I got your text about Desmond. Seriously, I never liked him. He was awful...you were always too good for him." Rosie said and Avery chuckled; she knew it was Roslyn's way of comforting her, even though she used to always encourage her relationship with Desmond.

"Yeah, I know," Avery muttered with a gentle smile, a smile she could only ever show Rosie since she knew the real her, behind the cold-bitch mask and nonchalant demeanour.

"Hey...that's enough with the bad energy. Forget all about him...this party isn't ending until morning. We've made rooms available upstairs for people that want to conk out but...we're getting you drunk all night and who knows, maybe you might just get lucky tonight. My big brother and little brother have shit tonnes of people over; that makes me wonder whose birthday it is really but maybe that might not be so bad." Rosie winked, bringing her over to the bar situated at the end of their luxurious courtyard.

"Not in the mood, Rosie. If it wasn't your birthday, I'd be home, getting ice cream and crying myself to bed. Like I've always done after a breakup, then wake up and forget it never happened-

"Des doesn't deserve your tears. I hate to say it but I totally saw this coming; he was horrible; you were the blind one." Rosie interjected and Avery rolled her eyes as she pulled her a seat before grabbing them both some cocktails.

"I honestly don't get it," Avery cut in. "Why exactly does he want to break up with me? We were doing pretty good. I'm pretty, I make good money, and my relationship with my dad might be whack because of his mistress but I still have a good background. What exactly is the problem?" Avery complained, feeling a burning sensation in her throat as if the tears she'd been struggling to hold back were ready to spill.

"Thinking you are the problem is a problem, although you can be a little bit too much. I mean, you literally show up at every damn place he's at but it's not your fault this time." Rosie made clear and Avery frowned.

"What's wrong with that? I just want to be with him; besides, it's to prevent this from ever happening, although it still happened" Avery frowned, her insecurities hidden in her gentle, innocent voice, and Rosie replied with an exasperated sigh while they both rolled around their olive pick in their cocktails before emptying the content at a go.

"That hits the spot," Avy exclaimed.

"You never give him space, Avy; that's a big problem. We've been through this a lot of times, Avy; guys don't like that... you seriously need to tune it down." Rosie advised.

"But I keep him satisfied; we have great sex... I give him whatever he wanted. I've done everything I can possibly think of to make him happy."

"You're just not getting it." Rosie paused. "Is it just me or has that guy been staring at you since you walked in here?" Rosie paused, forcing Avy to turn in the direction of the chuckling group at another corner of the elaborately decorated courtyard.

She was already used to the attention she always received due to being her father's daughter but people attending Rosie's birthday party were people of the same social group; seeing her shouldn't be something new, and they all preferred not to approach her since her attitude made her seem unapproachable.

"He looks young," Avy furrowed as her eyes met with the guy who continued staring at her despite turning back to look at him.

Even though his group of friends was laughing and chatting so loudly, the background music sounded non-existent; his eyes seemed glued to her.

"Who cares about that these days? I think he likes you," Rosie smirked.

"Not now, Rosie. Look, I just came to wish you...have a couple of drinks and head home." Avery laid down her plans as she turned away from the guy but Rosie didn't like her plan very much.

"You're kidding, right? it's my birthday and you're just gonna go after some drinks... hold on, he's walking over," Rosie said while Avy was ordering a new drink.

"No, he's not," Avy said, rolling her olive pick in her drink again but she noticed there was no response from Roslyn this time.

"Rosie" She turned to her side and noticed it was empty.

'Where the hell did she go?' Avy wondered before she jolted as electricity seeped through the exposed skin of her armless shoulders from a single touch of an unfamiliar yet familiar guy.

"Mate," she heard him mumble.

"Do I know you?" Avery asked, switching her tone almost instantly to a cold, assertive one as she turned.

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Ian Reign sighed as he silenced his mother's incoming call for the third time while he stood around with his group of friends at a party hosted by his friend's older sister, Roselyn.

Ian Reign, future pack leader and grandson of Alpha Marcus Reign, a respectable but secluded pack outside Hilton City, was forced to visit after his not-so-likeable father's lung disease got worse and according to his mom, he might never recover.

Ian had only seen his father a few times because of his nature; after all, he was born a werewolf and his father was a human who didn't exactly understand how their world works.

At least that's what his grandfather told him about his father.

It wasn't until recently that Ian found out the real reason behind his parents leaving him with his grandfather in the pack while they lived together in the city and for the first time, his father wanted him to visit for Christmas.

Ian wondered why he suddenly wanted to spend Christmas together after abandoning his son for 22 years and when he shows up in the pack to see him, he only ever stays a few days at most.

Ian arrived in Hilton, lodged at a hotel, and contacted Derick, his best friend he met in college.

They were both sophomores at the same college, studying business, and Derick grew up in Hilton but only visited home during Christmas, and since he already promised he would contact him once he visited, he just had to tell him, though he didn't know he would drag him to his older sister's birthday party on his first day in town.

"Are you going to pick that or what?" Derick asked as his mom called again.

"I know what she's gonna say; it's just better if I don't." Ian frowned but accidentally picked up the call right as he was about to return the phone to his pocket. "Shit!" He mumbled before eventually excusing himself from his group to pick up his call.

The background music wasn't exactly loud enough to disturb his calls but he'd rather not let his mother guess where he was.

"Ian! What on earth are you doing? Why do you keep ignoring my calls and what do you mean by you're staying at a hotel when you have a perfectly good home to stay in? Eloise half-screamed over the phone and Ian sighed.

He was about to come up with an excuse when a lady walked past him with a strong floral scent that had his wolf jumping excitedly in his head.

Ian could smell the sweet scent of Jasmine on her, even though the perfume she was wearing was chocolate of some kind but her natural Jasmine scent overpowered her perfume and as she strides straight and elegantly into the courtyard after letting the attendants help her off her expensive fur coat that covered her armless body-hug dress, Ian almost lost control of his wolf.

"It's our mate." Storm growled at him and Ian let out an exasperated sigh.

"Relax, Storm... I know...she's ours" Ian agreed with his wolf, who was ready to take control and hold the lady back.

"Mom...I'm going to call you back.

"Ian!" Eloise fumed.

"It's important; I think I might have found my mate." With that, Ian dropped his call and hurried after the woman as she walked into the courtyard after dropping her gift.

Ian returned to his friends, who were mainly his classmates that lived in Hilton that Derick also invited over and a couple of Derick's childhood friends he wasn't familiar with.

"Ian!" Derick's loud call had Ian's attention turning right back at Derick.

"What?" Ian blinked in surprise, wondering why he was calling him so loudly when he was practically right next to him.

"You're like a million miles away. You okay bro? I asked if you've finally talked to your mom? She's not asking you to leave yet, is she? 'Cause this party isn't ending until morning," Derick told him while playfully smacking him.

"Yeah, yeah... we talked. Who's that though?" Ian had to ask, as he couldn't keep his eyes off the lady who was now talking to another lady whom Derick introduced to him as his sister.

"Oh, that's Avery Archer. She's my sister's best friend. They've literally been together since childhood; not sure how she did it since Avery well... she's a little scary; even when I was younger, I literally used to run away from her. But hold on a minute." Derick stopped, tracing Ian's persistent gaze.

"Why are you suddenly interested in her...please don't tell me she caught your eye or something, because there are tonnes of other girls you can possibly pick from at this party. I mean, look at those three over here." Derick tried to divert his attention but Ian's mind was too concentrated on Avery.

"I'm going to go talk to her," Ian decided out of nowhere, as he'd been eavesdropping on Avery's conversation with Rosie and he just felt it was the right time to approach Avery.

"What? No...Ian... no, don't do it. Derick tried to stop him but Ian was quite determined, walking across the courtyard to meet Avery, who was a little too invested in her drinks.

Ian watched as Rosie immediately stood when he got closer, giving them some space as if on cue.

Ian gulped as he reached for her shoulder as her overwhelming scent clouded his senses and while he could feel his body heating up from the scent alone, touching her brought a feeling so intense his wolf seized control for a second.

His alpha wolf has always been stronger than him, stubborn and annoying as hell but he's never been so restless.

With a single touch, Storm's emotion rushed at him like a whirling tornado; he was full of excitement, anxiety, and desire all in one... he wanted to claim her.

"Mate" His lips moved without his control, which took a minute to regain.

Then Avery finally turned with a gaze so icy, it made him freeze or maybe it was just her incredible voice.

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'I must be imagining it.' Avery concluded as the slight glint she thought she saw in the guy's eyes vanished as fast as it came.

"Sorry, you're just really pretty. I couldn't help myself.

The guy said, flashing his perfect set of dimples that would normally have Avery floored if he didn't look so young and strangely reminded her of her cousin's brother.

"Well, thanks," Avery replied indifferently while returning to her drink, emptying her cup, and ordering another one.

Although many people avoided her because of her cold, unapproachable demeanour, there were still many people who'd looked past her hard exterior and approached her nonetheless because of her background, so she has grown used to the flattery and immune to their bullshit.

Avery Archer was known by her not-so-favourite nickname, Apollo's Witch, given to her by her staff and co-workers because of her nature, someone who hardly smiles... unimpressed and also unforgiving to people who crossed her or at least that's who they thought she was; only a few people truly knew her after all.

So she wondered which category of people the strange, cute guy belonged to.

And somehow, she found herself wishing it were none.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" He asked politely, and before Avery could say anything, she saw the guy's group of friends shaking their heads and crossing their hands as if disapproving of him coming over to her.

Avery slowly turned back to the guy, whose innocent and rather charming smile remained unaltered.

His full, wavy, dark brown hair hid his bushy, thick brows that outlined his square face.

A perfect aquiline nose trends to his oval lips that made his strong, prominent, well-defined jawline.

Apart from his adorable, perfect set of dimples, his athletic build and height that was nowhere below 6 ft made him stand out amongst the party crowd but Avery was sure the fact that he was brave enough to approach her while every other person avoided her like a plague made him stand out a little bit more.

He was a guy whose face contrasted with his perfect masculine frame.

Avery was convinced she wouldn't believe his face belonged to his body if she were looking at him from behind; although he is a handsome guy, Avery would rather refer to him as cute.

"Sure, but I think your friends want you back with them," Avery told him, thinking the guy hadn't noticed her friends signalling him away from her.

"Just ignore them," the guy suggested with a warm smile, flashing his yet adorable set of dimples as he took the empty seat next to her that Roslyn had vacated.

"I'm Ian, by the way," Ian introduced, bringing forward his hand for a handshake.

"Cute name. Well, Ian...you know who I am, so I'm not sure I need to have myself reintroduced." Avery replied as she took his hand and she felt it again, a subtle jolt, from him... a sensation she's never felt from anyone before; there wasn't even friction. What's the cause of the electricity? She wondered before flinching hard as she glanced into Ian's sea-green eyes.

"Um...not really; I haven't been around town much. I apologise, Ian said innocently.

Now she understands why his group of friends kept acting that way.

They all seem to know her or at least have heard of her, and for someone new to the region, it was right they warned him off, yet he still came to her.

Avery found his obliviousness intriguing and, more importantly, she wasn't mistaken this time.

Avery could swear his eyes were crimson for a second, but now they're back to being green. It's weird and strangely intriguing.

"I'm Avery, and your eyes... it feels like they glow," Avery pointed out as she pulled her hands away. "Sorry, never mind that. I probably saw it wrong." Avery shrugged, not wanting to come out as a weird woman talking about glowing eyes.

"Oh, they do that...when I'm excited, Ian replied before drawing his seat closer to Avery.

"Really?"Avery's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yeah...it's kind of like a genetic condition... I got it from my grandfather... passed through my mother. You wanna see?" Ian asked almost as if he could sense the interest in Avery's eyes.

"Yeah...I'd love that...never knew there was a genetic condition that could cause that." Avery smiled, fascinated by Ian's eyes as well as his gentle effort to flirt with her.

"Really? I'd love to show you too, but I kinda need to be 'excited' to show you again... a kiss should do." Ian said with a playful smirk, outlining his lips.

"Nice tr,y but I'm not going to kiss you if that's what you're asking." Avery snickered, finding his forwardness refreshing.

"I'm being serious. You never know until you try," Ian said, flashing those precious dimples again that strangely had Avery feeling a twinge in her lower belly.

'What the hell is wrong with you, Avery? You just broke up with Desmond and he's a boy that's obviously younger than you; Avery mentally scolded herself as Ian's sharp, round eyes that felt like an evergreen forest were buried under a deep sea and stared intensely at her in a way that made her feel like the thigh-length brown body-hug dress she had on was gone and was just sitting there in just her matching lacy underwear.

"Tempting but no, I'm not kissing you," Avery made clear in the same playful tone before turning back to her drink, taking a sip before placing the glass back on the bar table.

"That's too bad; I really wanted to show you again."

The subtle disappointment hidden in Ian's tone tempted Avery further, and when she turned back, she felt her heart drop into the farthest pit of her stomach in fright as Ian's face was so close, she almost ended up kissing him without actually meaning to.

Avery froze as a waft of his cool, citrussy cologne travelled down her nostrils and tied her stomach in knots, and when Ian inched a bit closer, he almost closed the distance between their lips, then she heard Rose clear her throat.

'Shit, what the hell am I doing? I was here to wish Rosie not to get it on with some teenage boy oozing sexual masculinity, Avery thought before biting back a silent curse since Rosie suddenly interrupted the moment.

"Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt, but..." Rosie appeared out of nowhere, giving the two a forced smile as she drew closer, and Avery instantly put some distance between her and Ian.

"No, you didn't. Nothing was going on." Avery anxiously explained.

"Yeah...I know that. It's as clear as day. Anyway, Desmond's here and I think he already saw you. I'm sorry, Avy, I had no idea you two were going to break up today, so I already sent him the invitation, and I haven't had the time to get him off the guest list," Rosie explained as Avery's expression changed almost instantly.

"It's not your fault, Rosie; I'm fine... it's not like we have to see each other or anything," Avery assured, but that was before she caught Desmond laughing loudly with a small group since everyone at the party just hung around people they knew, talking, chatting, drinking, and eating.

Avery's eyes grew colder as she met Desmond's eyes, and then he smirked after Avery's eyes landed on the girl Desmond had his hands around her waist.

It was the same person he had caught him fucking.

"That fucking bastard." Roslyn noticed it too.

"It's fine...I can't let him get to me. I'll be okay, Rosie. I mean it." Avery lied since people have started to gossip, wondering why they weren't together and who Desmond was hanging with.

Avery felt her insides burning, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"So that's your ex?" Avery was reminded of Ian's presence after his words. "He looks like a douchebag, no offence," Ian added and Roslyn couldn't hold back her laugh; the comment, however, just surprised Avery.

"None taken; I literally said the same thing," Rosie concurred, earning a haughty look from Avery.

"You deserve so much better," Ian commented, forcing Avery to look into his yet captivating eyes.

"Um...I need to go find Johnny; you guys have fun... Bye," Rosie said, winking at Avery before disappearing into the crowd.

"I mean it...you're far too good to be with someone like him." Ian's elaborate compliment had warmth creeping into her face.

"If you're still vying for that kiss, you're not getting it." Avery laughed softly, embarrassed by his random comments and intense gaze that made her feel like he really wanted her.

"Damn, I got caught," Ian said with a boyish grin.

"What are you doing here, Ian? I'm sure there's a line of ladies hoping to talk to you...I mean, you've got the looks," Avery said after her eyes caught the random group of girls, each holding a glass of champagne and looking in Ian's direction; most seem around his age, and yet he chose to flirt with a hag like her.

'Well, people do tell me I look younger than my age.' Avery thought to herself.

"Maybe because I chose to sit with the person who stood out the most among all the ladies. I mean... have you seen you?" Ian asked, and Avery laughed.

"That's so cheesy," Avery grinned.

"At least it does its job, you laughed... you're prettier when you smile," Ian added right before Avery caught Desmond staring in her direction as well.

"That kiss...I think you just earned it." Avery grinned, dragging Ian by the collar of his expensive-looking jacket until their lips almost touched.

She only wanted to tease him a little, to hide her embarrassment, but when she saw the tips of his ears redden, she kissed him on a whim, taking his lips for a brief moment.

Avery could feel it better this time, the electricity encased in his touch, a slight spark that had her skin tingling and more than that, his lips were warm as well as his skin.

Weird...she thought as she pulled her lips away, then she raised her eyes; she saw it...a vivid, deep, rich, vibrant red orb.

"They do glow," Avery mumbled to herself as she continued to stare, amused by how beautiful his pupils were and watched as that colour slowly faded in them into the pool of green in his eyes.

"Yeah...that was...incredible. Can I do it again?" Ian asked, reluctant to draw away from Avery, who had a mischievous smile on her face.

Avery's attention from Ian was, however, stolen when Desmond suddenly appeared looking terribly furious. "What the fuck?" Desmond fumed, and Avery turned in his direction.

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