Forbidden Mate- A Step-brother Romance - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

~APOLLO~
I am pissed. Boiling with rage.
Lana never wore things like that. . . Ever.
Why did she suddenly decide that she liked such styles? Now that she walked around showing off her body like that I was losing the little bit of self-control I had around her. The one thing I hated more than anything else was the thought of another man looking at her beautiful body. I was always pleased that only I got to see her like that.
Now, that wasn't the case. I fucking hated to see any man looking at my mate. I almost lost my mind at the beach house when another man tried talking to her in front of me.
It doesn't help that she claims she plans on going out with this random asshole dressed in that manner.
How would I react if I saw her openly flirting with someone on a fucking date?
Who the fuck did she meet at my party? I knew multiple men were looking at her, and a few even approached her before I realized she was there.
But who could have arranged to meet up with her? Who would be crazy enough to go against my wishes? I made sure to announce to everyone that she was off-limits.
Who was she talking about?
Damn it.
Who was it?
"Apollo." The woman in my bed whispers. "Aren't you coming to bed with me?"
Fuck.
She was meant to be my distraction, but right now, nothing can distract me from the rage I feel inside.
I could not even consider kissing this random woman now that Lana was possibly out meeting another man.
My mind raced with the thought of his hands on my mate.
I couldn't stay here. I would not be able to rest peacefully as long as she was out there and I was not around to keep an eye on her.
"I have something important to do," I tell the woman before me. I couldn't even remember her name at this point.
I was only interested in getting to Lana's side.
I told myself that I was only doing this for her protection when even I knew that was a big fucking lie.
Her eyes widen, "what do you mean?" she demands. "I was so looking forward to today! You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day. I've been practicing—"
I didn't care about her right now. I didn't care about her at all. She was brought here so I could forget about my need to claim Lana. There was no use continuing this conversation.
"I'm leaving," I tell her. "You can see yourself out."
She looks shocked as she watches me leave.
I didn't know where Lana was, but I would search the entire town until I found her. She couldn't have gotten far.
"Where are you going?" My father asks me as I'm about to exit the front door. I am sure he is worried that I will disappear again after not coming home for the past few days.
I did not have time for this. Another man could be flirting with my mate while we spoke!
"For a drive," I answer him. I was impatient. The longer I took, the harder it would be to find my mate.
"Your mother called." He says suddenly before I have a chance to rush out the door.
Oh fuck. Not this.
It was never a good thing when my mother called my father. It was usually to complain about me.
"What did she call for?" I ask him. I was running out of time, but anything considering my mother, couldn't exactly wait. She always took things too far.
"Something about a dinner that she wants you to attend." He answers me. "She went on and on about it for over an hour. You should go if it means she will stop calling my phone."
I frown, "the two of you spoke for over an hour?"
I was aware of their rocky history after the difficult divorce; their interactions often resembled a tense standoff rather than a friendly conversation. It was difficult even to imagine them speaking for over an hour without it ending in an argument.
He shrugs, "Well, it wasn't really an hour, but it definitely felt like it. Long story short, you should do whatever she wants you to do if it means she will stop bothering us about it. If you don't, I'll never hear the end of it."
Mother hated to call my father for any favors. It meant she was desperate to get me back home to meet Jada.
I knew damn well meeting Jada would only speed up everything that my mother had planned for my life. That was why I kept trying my hardest to postpone it.
I sigh, "I'll see what I can do."
He frowns and takes a few seconds to study me. "Something has been going on with you these past few days. Your mother mentioned it to me, but I really never paid attention to your behavior until now. Is there something going on in your life that you want to talk to me about?"
Seriously? It was already difficult having my mother on my back about this, and now she has included my father as well.
I groan, "Not this again."
He puts his hands up in the air in a defensive stance. "I don't mean to pry into your personal life; I'm just concerned. You know that I'm nothing like your mother. I give you your space and let you do whatever you wish. The only thing I ever forced you to do was that river thing. Other than that, I have let you live your life."
I nod, "I know, but I would rather you drop this topic."
He sighs, "What am I supposed to tell your mother?"
Weren't they divorced now? He shouldn't have to answer to her. However, I knew damn well if my father ignored her calls, things would get heated. I knew why he wasn't dismissing her.
"You can tell mom that everything is fine," I assure him. "I've just been busy these few days. That's all."
He nods, "I can tell you are impatient for this drive. You can go now, but please try to come home today. I worry about you also, even if I don't show it enough."
I nod.
I don't wait for him to change his mind as I rush out the door and head straight to my truck.
Hopefully, I can still find my mate. If it becomes difficult, I will have no choice but to use her scent to track her.