Page 2 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

“Micah, that’s not what I?—”

Micah’s head fell back, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter, and when she straightened, her lips were split into a wide smile.

“I can’t believe you actually took me seriously.” She guffawed, another laugh bubbling up as she nudged me with her shoulder.

“Hey,” I protested, then threaded my fingers through Micah’s. “You know status doesn’t matter to me, right?”

Micah’s gaze flickered as she met mine, her smile softening.

“Same here,” she said, squeezing my hand.

A long howl pierced the silence of the night, and Micah jumped, muttering a curse under her breath.

“Fuck, I need to go. I’ve got perimeter duty tonight.”

I straightened as Micah climbed out of my bed, grabbed her boots, and hastily headed for the door.

“Stay safe,” I called out, and Micah turned and smiled at me.

“Tomorrow will go well. So don’t stay up all night worrying, little bride-to-be.”

Sometimes it felt as though Micah could read my thoughts.

Hiding a smile, I chucked a pillow at her. She easily ducked out of the way before closing the door behind her.

I flopped back onto my bed. In that moment, my world was perfect and brimming with potential. Maybe if I’d slept through that night, it would have continued being perfect.

But I couldn’t sleep.

I tossed and turned, restless for no particular reason—maybe Lara’s anxiety was rubbing off on me.

After another hour, I gave up on sleep, threw on a robe, and stepped out of my room and into the chilly night air.

I didn’t realize where I was going until I was in front of the building where the Hawthornes were being housed during their short stay here.

The house where my future mate was staying.

Years ago, when Father announced my engagement to Dylan Hawthorne, alpha heir of the infamous Nightshade Pack, I decided not to like him.

I’d been fully ready to sabotage the engagement—which was just my father’s power-hungry attempt at an alliance—by any means possible. Then I met Dylan. He was charming, witty, surprisingly sensitive, and sweet.

He’d slipped right through my defenses, and I was completely unprepared for that.

Being with him wasn’t exactly magical, but it was comforting and safe—two things I’d never felt in this pack. Slowly, my affection for Dylan had grown into a feeling as close to love as I’d ever have.

Being here this late wasn’t permissible, especially with our bonding ceremony tomorrow, but when had the rules ever stopped me?

Dylan might not be awake, but I wanted to see him.

But then I heard the sounds.

The continuous, almost violent creaking of a bedframe, soft gasps, wet slapping sounds, and almost pained groans.

The sounds of a couple having sex weren’t new to me, despite the fact that I was a virgin.

The fact that those sounds were coming from my fiancé’s room, however, was enough to make my knees buckle.

I tried to deny it. It couldn’t be. Dylan would never?—

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