Forbidden Mate- A Step-brother Romance - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

~LANA~
"They're coming for you one after the next." Isabella teases me.
She didn't realize this was the last thing I wanted. I came here hoping to get a reaction from Apollo. So far, I wasn't even sure where he was. I hate that I can't tell my sister what has been happening between us. I want to be able to talk to someone about my feelings. It was a lot to be dealing with on my own.
Where exactly was Apollo?
I could not get a chance to look around because guys kept introducing themselves to me one after the next.
Maybe he was surrounded by multiple women, preventing me from spotting him.
"This isn't exactly what I want Isabella." I try to tell her, forcing myself to focus on the conversation with my sister.
"I know, I know," she shouts above the music. “You didn't want all of this attention, but I'm just proving to you how attractive you really are. You are the center of attention, just like I always knew you would be."
I didn't think her words would be proven right, in fact, at first I thought she'd only said those words because she was my sister and was only trying to be nice to me. I could tell now that it was the truth since all these men were introducing themselves.
Out of nowhere, a hot sensation washes over me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I can feel the weight of something fixed on me, making my heart race and my body super aware of my surroundings.
Someone's penetrating gaze was following me in any direction that I turned.
I know exactly who it is by the loud pounding of my heart. I try to catch my breath. This is not happening right now.
It was him.
My mate.
He had spotted me, and his eyes were not leaving my side.
I could tell because the hairs behind my neck always rose when he was staring at me. This was not good—it was not good at all.
I had to find a way to escape before he approached me.
Wait.
Why was I reacting like this?
I shouldn't care if I wasn't supposed to be here. I came to this party to get a reaction out of him.
I could not leave before I got what I came here for.
"This one's cute," Isabella whispers next to me. "I think you should give him a chance."
I shoot her a glare. Since we entered the beach house, this was the fifth guy to approach me.
I did not want to give anyone a chance, especially not a man who reeked of alcohol. None of these men interested me. And the only man who interested me just happened to want nothing to do with me.
I wasn't so sure about that last thought now that I could feel his gaze burning into my skin. I dare not to spare him even a glance. I know the direction that he is in but choose not to turn towards him. I would keep pretending that I didn't think he had seen me.
"It is a pleasure to see someone like you at this party, " the stranger says. “I think I've been waiting the entire night to find you."
What?
Did he truly pick up girls with that line? I was so used to Apollo who didn't even need to try to get a girl that I forgot that this was how other men flirted.
"You are fucking hot." He tells me as he leans closer to me. "How come I've never seen you around before? And I know for a fact I've never seen you because I am not one to forget a pretty face like yours.”
I try not to gag at his foul scent. Maybe he should take a shower before he tried his luck with any woman at all.
"Ah—Lana, we may have a problem," Isabella shouts into my ear.
I shoot her a glare. Did she only just realize that we had a problem? This smelly weirdo was trying to make a move on me, and all I wanted to do was get far away from him.
"You think?" I ask her with narrowed eyes. "You wanted us to come here, and look what you have me going through! I need to get away.”
She rolls her eyes and shouts, "I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the person heading our way! If you will just look up you will see what I'm talking about!”
"What?" I shout back as I distance myself from the man before me. Even though I came to get a reaction out of Apollo, I did not want to get mixed up with any of the men inside there. I had my own issues and didn't need this man or any other man to add to them.
"An angry step-brother alert!" She screams.
I freeze. I did not expect Apollo to approach us.
But why was he angry? What could he possibly be pissed about?
Was he angry that we had snuck into his party? I don't see any reason for that to upset him. So what if we weren't invited? We could be here if we wanted to; that should not bother him.
It's not like we were causing a scene with anyone. If anything, we were gaining the most attention right now. The moment that thought entered my head, I realized that maybe that was indeed the problem.
But it wasn't my fault I was getting this attention. I thought no one would even pay me a second look when I came to this party because of the number of beautiful women already here tonight.
It turns out that my sister knew a lot more about men than I knew.
"This is not good." Isabella gasps. "We are not supposed to be here. He is going to freak out on us."
Wasn't she the one who insisted that we come? She must have known that he would have spotted us at one point tonight.
I slowly turn around just in time to see him close the distance between us. I can barely breathe.
His eyes are not on me, to my disappointment. I am immediately hit with his scent even though that's the last thing I want right now.
"You." He growls as he grabs the stranger by his shirt and shoves him away from me. "I want you out of here. Now."
The guy looks like he is about to snap back until he realizes that Apollo is the person who is throwing him out. I see the second realization and fear hits his features.
He doesn't even bother to respond as he trips his way out of the beach house.
I can feel Isabella's nervousness next to me. She was not making this easier for me. She was supposed to be the braver one between the two of us right now since she is the main one who wished to be here tonight.
Wasn't she the one who said everything would be okay? Why was she suddenly scared?
Once more, Apollo's eyes are not on me. This time, he is glaring at Isabella. "You are too young to be here."
She pouts, "but I wanted to see what it was like. You never invite us to these parties—"
"There is a reason that I don't ever invite you." He says in an angry tone. "You need to get out of here. Wait in the car for Lana. I do not want to have to tell you twice Isabella.”
Her eyes are wide as she looks over at me. I folded my arms stubbornly, letting her know that I was not going anywhere under his command.
Apollo glares at her, prompting her to rush out of the house just like the man from earlier. He knew how to get others to listen to his every demand. I was not scared of him. I would not let him control me.
I try to stay calm and not be intimidated by him when his gaze finally falls on me. For some reason, seeing Apollo this angry turned something on inside of me. I didn't want to admit it, but this side of him was more attractive than I wanted it to be.
"What were you thinking?" he demands. “You are not supposed to be here. I can understand why Isabella would make such a stupid mistake because of her age, but you should have talked her out of it!"
I narrow my eyes, "you are acting like we're out here getting drunk and making out with men!"
"Why are you even here?" he demands. "You never liked attending parties."
His eyes travel down my body, and I shiver under his penetrating gaze. "And what the fuck is this dress? Where are your usual hoodies and sweatpants?"
My eyes widen.
I didn't know how to feel now that he was openly staring at my exposed body.
"Stop doing that." I hiss.
"Doing what?" he says in a heated tone. I could tell that his anger was rising.
"Looking at me." I snap.
As he inhales intensely, his nostrils flare, "You're telling me that you don't have an issue with other men looking at you, but suddenly my eyes on you are bothering you?"
What made him think I had no problem with other men looking at me? And why should that even mean anything to him?
"You made it clear that we have nothing going on between us, " I reminded him. “So then, why are you making such an issue over this? This does not concern you, Apollo. You can continue doing whatever you were doing, and I can enjoy the party in the meantime."
My words make him even angrier.
"This is not the type of place for someone like you." He growls. "Isabella is waiting for you in the car. You need to head back home with her right away."
I narrow my eyes. Who did he think he was bossing me around like this? I did not need him to order me around. I will decide when I leave here tonight.
"I will leave this place when I'm ready to leave," I inform him. “Besides, there are so many men who wish to introduce themselves to me, I think I should at least say hi and not be rude."
I didn't mean those words, but I wanted to hurt him just like he's done to me on so many occasions. But why would that even hurt him? He clarified that he did not care about me in that way.
"Do not play games with me, Lana." He warns. "You do not want to see that side of me. It will not be pretty."
I couldn't believe him.
He claims he doesn't want anything to do with me, but the second I mention another man, he turns into someone else.
I was tired of his foolishness. He would not have his way tonight. I was not one of those other women drooling over him and following him wherever he went.
I push him away from me and make my way through the crowds. I was not leaving this party just because he told me to go. I would enjoy some time at the beach before returning to my car where my sister waited for me.
I could feel Apollo following closely behind me, but I didn't care.
I was not leaving.
He would simply have to deal with it.