Secret Affair with my bully hockey stepbrother

**Elara Pov**

The hallway smelled like lemon polish and fresh flowers as I walked behind my mother, my old sneakers sinking into the thick cream carpet. Each step felt wrong, like I was walking on something too expensive for my feet. The walls were lined with framed photos of Richard shaking hands with important people. None of them smiled.

My mother turned to me with bright eyes. "Isn't this beautiful, Elara? Just look at this place."

I nodded because I did not know what else to do. My throat was tight. My hands were cold even though the house was warm.

"Richard said Kael is home today," my mother said lightly, but there was something careful in her voice.

I stopped walking. "You did not tell me he would be here."

"I did not want you to worry."

"Worry?" I stared at her. "Mom, he made my life hell for four years. You think I would worry?"

She sighed and touched my arm. "I know, sweetheart. But this is different now. We are family. He will have to accept that."

I pulled away from her. "You do not understand. He will never accept me. He hates me."

"Hate is a strong word."

"It is the right word."

My mother opened her mouth to respond, but a voice cut through the hallway before she could speak.

"Well, well."

I froze. That voice. I knew that voice. It lived in my nightmares, in the back of my mind, in every moment of doubt I had ever had about myself.

I turned slowly.

Kael stood in the doorway of the living room, arms crossed over his chest. He was taller than I remembered. Broader too. Hockey had shaped him into something solid and dangerous. His dark hair was messy, and his jaw was sharp enough to cut glass. But it was his eyes that held me frozen. They were cold and full of something I recognized too well.

Disgust.

"The scholarship girl finally made it to the big house," he said, and there was a smile on his lips that did not reach his eyes. "Guess your mom really knows how to climb the ladder, huh?"

The words hit me like a slap. My face burned, and I wanted to disappear into the floor.

"Kael." Richard appeared behind him, his voice sharp. "That is enough."

Kael shrugged. "Just being honest, Dad. You know how much I value honesty."

"Show some respect," Richard said. "Elara and her mother are part of this family now."

"Family?" Kael laughed, but there was no humor in it. "We are not family. We are strangers living in the same house."

"Kael-"

"It is fine." The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. My voice was quiet, but steady. "He can say whatever he wants. I do not care."

Kael's eyes snapped to me. "Oh, she speaks. I was starting to think you had lost your voice along with your dignity."

I met his stare. "And I was starting to think you had grown up. Clearly, I was wrong."

Something flickered in his eyes. Surprise, maybe. Or anger. He stepped closer, and I caught the faint smell of cologne and something sharp beneath it.

"Careful," he said softly. "You are in my house now. My rules."

"Your house?" I tilted my head. "Last time I checked, it was your father's house. You just live here."

My mother grabbed my arm. "Elara, stop."

Kael's jaw tightened. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us was thick with tension, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I was terrified, but I refused to show it.

Then Richard stepped between us. "Enough. Both of you."

Kael held my gaze for one more second before stepping back. He smiled again, but this time it was darker, more dangerous.

"Welcome to the family, Elara," he said. "I hope you enjoy your stay. However long it lasts."

He walked away, his heavy footsteps echoing through the hallway. The moment he was gone, I felt like I could breathe again. But the damage was already done. My hands were trembling, and there were tears burning behind my eyes.

My mother turned to me. "Why did you provoke him?"

"Provoke him?" I stared at her in disbelief. "He insulted us. He called you a gold digger. And you are blaming me?"

"I am not blaming you. I am just saying that fighting fire with fire will only make things worse."

"Then what should I do, Mom? Sit quietly and let him walk all over me like I did in high school?"

"No." She cupped my face in her hands. "I am asking you to be patient. This is hard for him too."

I pulled away from her. "You always defend everyone except me."

"That is not true."

"Is it not?" The tears spilled over now, hot and angry. "You knew what he did to me. You knew how much I suffered. And you still brought me here. You still made me live under the same roof as him."

My mother's face crumpled. "I did this for us. For our future."

"Your future," I said. "Not mine."

I turned and walked up the grand staircase, my legs unsteady. I found the guest room Richard assigned to me and closed the door. The room was beautiful. It had a large bed with white sheets and a window that overlooked the garden. But I did not see any of it.

I sank onto the floor, pressed my back against the wall, and hugged my knees to my chest. The tears came fast and silent. I cried for the girl I used to be, the one who survived Kael's cruelty once and never thought she would have to face him again. I cried because I was trapped with no where to hide all for the sake of a "Better future" the my Mom had put it.

Was I being selfish for not wanting any of this even if it meant hurting my Mother? I didn't know. But what I knew was the fact that I wanted to get out of here. Quick and as soon as I can, If possible.

The first day at a new school is always the worst.

I stood in front of the mirror in my room and stared at my reflection. I had chosen a simple grey sweater and black jeans, nothing too flashy. My dark hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, and my face was pale from a restless night's sleep. I looked tired. I felt worse.

A knock on my door made me turn.

"Come in," I said.

My mother stepped inside, already dressed in a cream blouse and tailored pants. She looked like she belonged in this world. I did not.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Like I am about to walk into a lion's den."

She frowned. "It is just a school, Elara. A very good school. You are smart. You will be fine."

I wanted to laugh. She made it sound so simple. But she did not understand. She had never been the new girl in a place where everyone already knew each other. She had never been the poor kid surrounded by wealth.

"Is Kael going to be there?" I asked.

"Probably most likely to be. He is a student too, you know."

I closed my eyes for a moment. "Great."

"Elara, you cannot avoid him forever. This is your home now. He is your brother too. You both have to find a way to coexist."

"Coexist." I opened my eyes and looked at her. "He humiliated me in front of his father on my first day here. What do you think he will do at school? My brother, my foot." I rolled my eyes, defiantly folding my arms over my chest.

Mother sighed and walked over to me. She placed her hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eye. "You are stronger than you think. You survived him once. You can survive him again."

I wanted to believe her. I really did. But the fear in my chest was too loud.

"Just promise me you will try," she said softly.

I nodded because I did not know what else to do.

****

The school was enormous.

Richard's driver dropped me off at the front gates, and I stood there for a long moment, staring up at the stone building. It looked more like a castle than a school, with tall windows and ivy crawling up the walls. Students walked past me in small groups, their laughter and chatter filling the air. They all looked so confident, so sure of their place in the world.

I clutched the strap of my bag and walked inside.

The main hallway was crowded and loud. Lockers slammed, shoes squeaked against the polished floor, and voices echoed off the high ceilings. I kept my head down and tried to find the administrative office. I needed my schedule.

"Hey, new girl."

I stopped walking. A girl with shiny blonde hair and a perfect smile stepped in front of me. She was flanked by two other girls who looked at me like I was something stuck to the bottom of their shoes.

"I am Tessa," the blonde girl said. "And you are Elara, right? Kael's new stepsister?"

I swallowed. "How do you know that?"

Tessa laughed, a light, airy sound that felt fake. "Everyone knows. Kael told us all about you."

My stomach dropped. "What did he say?"

She tilted her head, pretending to think. "Oh, just that you are a charity case. That your mother trapped his father into marriage. That you think you are better than everyone else even though you have nothing."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I could feel my face heating up, could feel the eyes of other students turning toward me. They were watching, waiting to see how I would react.

"That is not true," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Really?" Tessa stepped closer, her smile turning cold. "Because Kael does not usually lie. And he made it pretty clear that you are not welcome here."

I wanted to run. I wanted to disappear. But I had promised my mother I would try, and I was not going to let this girl see me break.

"You know what?" I said, forcing my voice to steady. "I do not care what Kael said. I do not care what you think. I am here to learn, not to make friends."

I stepped around her and continued walking, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Behind me, I heard Tessa laugh again.

"Good luck with that," she called. "You are going to need it."

I did not look back.

The rest of the day was a blur of classrooms and unfamiliar faces. I kept my head down and tried to focus on my classes, but it was impossible. Every whisper felt like it was about me. Every laugh felt like it was aimed at my back. I felt like a mouse trapped in a cage full of cats.

By lunchtime, I was exhausted. I found a quiet corner in the cafeteria and sat alone, picking at a sandwich I had no appetite for. I told myself it would get better. I told myself I just needed time to adjust. But deep down, I knew the truth. This school was Kael's territory. And he would not stop until he had driven me out.

A tray slammed down across from me.

I looked up and saw a girl with dark skin and curly hair smiling at me. She had a friendly face and kind eyes, and for a moment, I thought I was imagining her.

"You look like you need a friend," she said. "I am Mia."

I blinked. "Elara."

"I know." Mia sat down and unwrapped a granola bar. "Everyone is talking about you. The new girl who stood up to Tessa in the hallway."

I winced. "I did not stand up to her. I just walked away."

"That is standing up to her." Mia grinned. "Trust me. Most people just bow their heads and let Tessa walk all over them. You did not."

"She is that bad?"

"Worse. She is Kael's ex-girlfriend, and she thinks she owns this school. But she does not. She just has a big mouth and too much money."

I stared at Mia, surprised by her bluntness. "Why are you being nice to me? You do not even know me."

Mia shrugged. "Because I know what it feels like to be the outsider. My family is not rich like everyone else here. I am on scholarship too."

Relief washed over me, so strong it almost brought tears to my eyes. For the first time since I arrived, I did not feel completely alone.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

"Don't thank me yet." Mia leaned forward. "You have Kael Blackwood living in your house. That means you are in the middle of a war zone. And from what I hear, he has already marked you as his target."

"He has been my target since high school," I said. "This is nothing new."

Mia's eyes widened. "Wait, you knew him before?"

I nodded. "We went to the same school. He made my life hell."

"And now you live with him?" Mia shook her head. "That is some twisted fate."

"Tell me about it."

We sat in silence for a moment. Then Mia reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

"Well, you are not alone anymore," she said. "I have your back."

I squeezed back, and for the first time all day, I smiled.

Maybe I could survive this after all, I thought to myself hopefully.

By the time the final bell rang at three o'clock in the afternoon, I walked out of the school building with my head down, eager to get home and hide in my room. But the moment I stepped outside, I heard a familiar voice, cold and mocking.

"There she is."

I looked up. Kael was leaning against the stone wall near the front gates, surrounded by a group of his teammates. They were all tall and broad, dressed in matching hockey jackets. And they were all looking at me.

I kept walking.

"Hey, stepsister," Kael called. "Where are you going? We were just talking about you."

I did not stop, nor did I look back. But then one of the guys stepped in front of me, blocking my path. He was big, with a shaved head and a smirk that made my skin crawl.

"Kael asked you a question," he said.

I stared at him. "And I did not answer. That should tell you something."

The guy laughed. "Feisty. I like that."

Kael appeared beside him, hands in his pockets. His eyes roamed over my face, and I saw the familiar glint of cruelty there. The vulnerability from last night was gone. In its place was the boy I remembered, the one who thrived on making me feel small.

"Relax, Carter," Kael said. "She is not worth the trouble."

I flinched at the words, but I did not let the hurt show on my face.

"You know what?" I said. "You are right. I am not worth your trouble. So why don't you leave me alone?"

Kael smiled, slow and dangerous. "Because watching you squirm is entertaining."

The guys around him laughed. My face burned, and I could feel the tears threatening to spill. But I refused to cry in front of them. I refused to give them that satisfaction.

"Enjoy the show," I said. "Because it is the last one you will get."

I stepped around Carter and walked away, my legs shaking with every step. I could feel their eyes on my back, could hear their laughter following me down the street. But I did not stop. I did not look back.

I kept walking until I reached the car waiting for me at the curb. I climbed inside and slammed the door shut. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, but I did not meet his eyes.

"Take me home," I whispered.

He nodded and pulled away from the school.

I stared out the window, watching the building grow smaller and smaller. My hands were trembling in my lap, and my throat was tight with unshed tears. I survived the first day. But I knew it was only the beginning.

Kael was not done with me yet. Despite acting all tough-headed and stubborn, I knew deep down that I was scared of what he would do next. Kael wasn't the type to be messed with. He'd done worse to me in high school than this.

The house was quiet when I got home, so I went straight to my room and locked the door behind me. I slumped to the floor with my back against the bed and finally let the tears fall. I cried silently, tears rolling down my cheeks.

I hated him. I hated Kael Blackwood with every part of my soul. He had no right to treat me this way. He had no right to make me feel small and worthless. But he did, and the worst part was that I let him because I couldn't do anything about it.

A soft knock on my door made me lift my head.

"Elara?" It was my mother's voice. "Are you okay? I heard you come in."

I wiped my face quickly. "I am fine."

"You do not sound fine."

"Mom, please. Just leave me alone."

There was a long pause. Then she said, "Okay. But I am here if you need me."

I listened to her footsteps hesitantly fade down the hallway. Part of me wanted to run after her and tell her everything. But what was the point? She would only tell me to be patient. She would only ask me to understand Kael's side. And I was tired of understanding. I was tired of being the bigger person.

I stayed on the floor for a long time, staring at the wall. The room grew darker as the sun set outside my window. I did not turn on the lights. I just sat there, letting the shadows swallow me.

Then my phone buzzed.

I picked it up and saw a text from an unknown number.

"First day not so fun, huh? Maybe you should pack your bags and leave before things get worse."

My stomach twisted. I did not know how they got my number, but I had a feeling it was connected to Kael. I deleted the message and blocked the number.

A few minutes later, another text came from a different number.

"We do not want you here. Go back to the gutter where you belong."

I blocked that one too. But the messages kept coming, one after another, each one crueler than the last. I finally turned off my phone and threw it across the room. It hit the wall and landed on the carpet with a soft thud.

I buried my face in my hands and took a deep breath. This was high school all over again. The whispers, the laughter, the cruel notes. I had survived it once, but I was older now. I was supposed to be stronger. So why did it still hurt so much?

A loud bang on my door made me jump.

I froze.

Another bang. Harder this time.

I did not move. I did not breathe.

The doorknob rattled. Once. Twice. Then silence.

I waited, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. The seconds stretched into minutes. But nothing happened. No voice. No banging. No footsteps.

He was gone.

I let out a shaky breath and crawled to my bed. I pulled the covers over my head and curled into a ball. I wanted to disappear. I wanted to wake up in my old apartment, in my old room, in my old life. But I knew that was not possible. This was my reality now. And I had to survive it.

The next morning, I woke up with a heaviness in my chest.

I checked my phone and saw more messages from unknown numbers. I did not read them. I just deleted them all and blocked the senders. Then I dragged myself out of bed and got ready for school.

I wore a plain black hoodie and jeans. I did not bother with makeup. I did not want to draw attention to myself. I just wanted to blend in and get through the day.

When I went downstairs, Kael was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in his hand. He did not look at me when I walked in. He just kept scrolling through his phone like I did not exist.

I moved quietly to the fridge and grabbed an apple. I was about to leave when his voice stopped me.

"Richard wants me to drive you to school."

I turned. "What?"

Kael still did not look up from his phone. "He said something about bonding. I told him it was a waste of time."

"Then don't drive me. I can walk."

He glanced at me then, his eyes flat and cold. "And have Richard blame me when you show up late or get lost? No thanks. Be ready in ten minutes."

He walked past me without waiting for an answer. I stood there, gripping my apple, my stomach twisted in knots. The last thing I wanted was to be trapped in a car with him. But I had no choice. Not if I wanted to avoid another fight with Richard.

I grabbed my bag and followed him to the garage.

The car ride was silent. Kael drove with one hand on the wheel, his eyes fixed on the road. He did not speak. He did not look at me. He acted like I was invisible. And honestly, I preferred it that way.

But the silence was heavy. It pressed against my chest and made it hard to breathe. I stared out the window and watched the trees blur past. I counted the seconds until we arrived.

When the school came into view, Kael finally spoke.

"Get out before we reach the gate."

I turned to look at him. "What?"

"You heard me." His jaw was tight. "I do not want anyone seeing us together."

"Then why did you agree to drive me?"

He shot me a look. "Because I had to. Not because I wanted to. Now get out."

I stared at him, my blood boiling. "You are unbelievable."

He did not respond. He just pulled the car to the side of the road and unlocked the doors.

"Out," he said.

I grabbed my bag and opened the door. The moment my feet hit the pavement, he sped off, leaving me standing alone on the sidewalk.

I watched his car disappear through the school gates and felt the familiar sting of humiliation rise in my chest. Students were already milling around the entrance, and a few of them glanced my way. I kept my head down and walked toward the building.

Mia was waiting for me by the front doors. She saw my face and frowned.

"Rough morning?" she asked.

"You have no idea."

She linked her arm through mine and pulled me inside. "Come on. I will walk you to class. And if anyone says anything, I will kick them in the shins."

Despite everything, I smiled. "You would do that?"

"Absolutely." She grinned. "That is what friends are for."

We walked through the crowded hallway together, and for the first time in days, I felt a tiny spark of hope. Maybe I could survive this. Maybe I was not as alone as I thought.

Then I saw Kael at the end of the hall, surrounded by his teammates. He caught my eye for half a second, then looked away like I was nothing.