Page 41 of Step Brother Bear

“Two things can be true.”

Neither of us has told the truth, still tiptoeing around what we both know. There’s no point in covering for him anymore, though. It can’t get any worse. “So you sent him away just because he was a bear, because he was different?”

“Just because he was a bear? Isabella, he’s a violent animal! He attacked your boyfriend!”

“Lewis is not my boyfriend, and Derek is not a violent animal.”

She steps toward me, examining. “What has gotten into you? You hate Derek.”

“Not anymore.”

Her eyes widen. “Isabella, please don’t tell me you’re a part of all of this.”

“Did you know I was his mate?”

“What?! What are you talking about? Isabella, he’s your brother!”

I’m guessing the bear bit is as far as she knows, because her face reads genuine horror. She’s always been a good actress, but there’s no point in lying to each other now. “He’s not my brother.”

She grabs my arm, her fingers pushing into my skin. “Is there something going on between you two?”

I pull back from her grasp and cross my arms. “Yes.”

She shakes her head, stepping back. “Isabella, no.”

“Yes.”

Her eyes flick over me. “What did he do to you?”

“Nothing! God, I love him, Mom.” I’ve never said this out loud, not even to myself, but as the words come out, they feel right. I’m not a bear-shifter, but the tether between us is tight enough for me to recognize.

“You love him like a brother.”

I shake my head. “You know that’s not true.”

She pulls at her hair. “No.”

“Yes!” I turn toward the front door, ready to go back to the hunting shack and tell Derek how I feel, to tell him we’re running away together, but Mom grabs my arm and swings me around.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“To Derek.”

She smirks. I’ve never liked my mom. Maybe I’ve hated her if I admit the truth to myself, but right now, her eyes look more villainous than ever before. “Your stepfather will beat you there.”

“He doesn’t know where he is.” I say it mostly to convince myself.

She laughs and crosses her arms over her chest. “You think he doesn’t know about his secret shack in the woods? Darrell always kept a watchful eye on his son. I never let him go as far as he wanted with his punishments, but it seems that it’s time I let him do what needs to be done.”

My blood turns cold. “What are you talking about?”

She shrugs, turning and pouring herself a glass of wine, resting on the kitchen counter. “Derek won’t be a problem for us anymore, for any of us.”

She’s being cryptic, but from her icy demeanor to the knowing dread slowly suffocating me, I know what she’s implying. I could spend more time questioning, but I can’t stand in this house another second. I charge toward the door, urgency pushing me forward.

“You’re wasting your time.”

Before I spring into the car, I address her, for one last time. “Mom, fuck you, and I hope everyone finds out your daughter is fucking her stepbrother and I hope it completely ruins your career.” I slam the door in her face, not without missing her completely mortified gasp. I’ve never been more proud of myself.