Chapter 2 The Little Sister
Sienna
I was halfway to the dining area when I caught Dante’s voice, low and clearly not meant for my ears.
“You sure you’re actually going to take care of that brat?”
Sev let out a deep, relaxed chuckle. “If it’s the only way to keep your sister’s life better, I don’t see why not. You’re like a brother to me, Dante, and she’s just like the little sister I never had.”
My jaw clenched so hard I almost cracked a molar. A little fucking sister? Oh, hell no.
I just walked right in the dining room, because if I had to hear another second of their Alpha-bro chat, I was going to lose it.
“Good morning,”
The embarrassment from last night was totally drowned out by how annoying they were being. A brat? A little sister? Seriously?
My eyes locked onto Sev. He was doing the classic ‘Alpha-with-a-paper’ move, sipping coffee and looking intensely serious about whatever world crisis the news was reporting. He’s totally that age, alright.
Then there was Dante, who had the sheer nerve to arch an eyebrow at me. I could already feel my temper rising.
Out of my peripheral, I saw Sev fold the newspaper and set it down. When I looked his way, his smile was instantly blinding, warmer than the morning sun.
“Good morning, princess.” That deep, soft tone melted my insides. My heart actually did a dumb little skip. All I could manage was a silly smile as I sat down right next to Dante.
“You can say ‘princess’ again,” Dante snorted, already ruining my moment. “She’s done nothing but look pretty and party. I mean, come on. A dancing pole isn't going to seduce a man that easily, especially when you’re built like a chopping board.”
I kicked him hard under the table. Thwack! He cursed under his breath, clutching his shin. Totally worth it. Why are brothers biologically programmed to destroy their sister's self-esteem? And, again, I am not that flat. I read an article that said women are still growing until their early twenties!
I gave Dante the fakest, sweetest smile I could manage. “Brother, you really do have the worst mouth. We're eating. Why don’t you try to be more like Sev? He’s a model Alpha.”
“More like Sebastian?” Dante gave Sev a look that was way too knowing. Sev just returned it with a calm, unreadable face. Ugh, their Alpha brotherhood was exhausting.
“As much as I want to hear more of your praise, we do need to talk about your… relocation.” Sebastian turned to me, his focus now 100% on the topic. It was charming how formal he was—very 17th-century prince.
“How do you feel about moving?”
“Yes…” I replied, totally hypnotized. Seriously, that voice.
“He asked how you feel about moving, genius, and you replied with a yes?” Dante muttered.
I blinked twice, pulling myself together. “I said yes, agreeing to talk, dumba—” I forced a cough. “Yes, I would love to, as long as it helps me.”
He flashed that perfect smile. “Excellent. A position at the academy is waiting for you—a two-year course in Health Sciences. You can stay until you graduate. Sound good?”
“Perfect.”
Dante threw his head back and let out a dramatic laugh. “Wow. Can’t believe she caved that fast. Sebastian, just adopt her already. She’s seriously hard to raise.”
Sev let out a low, deep, rich chuckle. It sent that weird, confusing feeling churning in my stomach again.
“I just want to put some serious distance between us, Dante. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a decent, sincere partner while I’m gone.” I gave him a devastatingly bright smile.
His smile died instantly. His expression went serious. I knew I’d gone too far. He did have a lover, but she was definitely not approved by our vacationing parents.
“I—”
“You better pack your things, Sienna. You’re leaving tonight.” That was it. He walked out before I could even apologize.
“Fuck,” I mumbled, staring at his retreating back. The guilt was surely eating me up.
“A mistake, indeed,” Sev commented, making me look back at him. “Especially now that your parents have secured a match for Dante.”
“A… match?” My blood ran cold.
“Yes, an arranged marriage. And since you honor your parents, there’s no way he could refuse.”
My stupid, heavy guilt was absolutely eating me alive while I jammed clothes into my suitcases. I honestly had no clue he was being forced into a marriage. That’s seriously messed up, even for Alpha Pack politics.
Once I finished the packing disaster, I tracked him down. He was out on the balcony, leaning on the railing and puffing a smoke into the late afternoon air.
I spotted an ashtray on a nearby table, grabbed it, and walked straight over, pushing it right in front of him.
“I’m sorry. An arranged marriage in this age is...” I muttered, trailing off.
“You didn’t know,” he replied, taking a long, slow drag. He mashed the cigarette out in the tray, then turned to face me. His eyes were serious, but the anger had finally cooled. “Look, you have a chance to get your shit together, Sienna. You have a real choice to make something of this. Don't waste it.”
I nodded, taking it to heart. He reached out and messed up my hair, the typical big-brother move that means 'I love you, now go away.' “Take care, li'l sis.”
“You too.”
“Looks like I’m the only one seeing you off,” Dante started, walking toward us as the helpers finished cramming the last of my bags into Sev’s ridiculously sleek car. “Julian and Theo are MIA.”
Julian and Theo—my two other older brothers. They’re supposed to be Dante’s co-leaders, but honestly, they’re just as obsessed with having fun and ignoring responsibility as I am. Maybe even more.
“It’s fine,” I waved it off. “They can come visit me anytime. They have zero life commitments.”
Dante actually laughed. “They really do.”
I gave him a quick smile before he opened the passenger door for me. Sev was already behind the wheel, looking ready to go. Dante bent down, resting his arms on the door frame to look past me at Sev.
“Take care of this brat, Sebastian. I’m just warning you, my pack is… chill. Yours is known for being tough.” He said the word tough with a sneaky, knowing smirk.
Sev smirked right back. “Duly noted, Dante.”
“What do you mean ‘tough’?” I demanded, immediately suspicious. What exactly was I signing up for?
Dante just gave me that infuriating, vague smile. “You’ll see.”
And then we were off. The ride was silent, tense, and smelled purely of Sev and expensive leather. I chewed on my lip, nervous at being so close to him.
It wasn't until we pulled up to the enormous, black, iron gates—gates that looked like they belonged on a medieval prison—that I understood exactly what Dante had meant.