𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐒 (𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐜 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲) 𓈒ㅤׂ 𝜗𝜚

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎

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┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ˚★⋆｡˚ ⋆

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┊ ┊ ★⋆

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★⋆ ┊ . ˚

˚★

"𝐢 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭."

The dinner plates had been cleared, and the atmosphere shifted as laughter and light chatter filled the room. Yet, I could still feel the silent tension between the two brothers.

The clatter of cutlery and the murmur of conversation surrounded me as I tried to process the tension at the table. The atmosphere had shifted from a simple dinner to a battlefield of words, and I was caught in the crossfire.

As the main course was cleared away, Mrs. Pierce stood up, raising her glass for a toast. "To new beginnings!" she declared, her smile radiant as she looked around the table. Everyone joined in, glasses clinking and laughter filling the room, but I felt an underlying weight in the air.

I stole a glance at Ajax, who was confident per usual. Yet, Castiel remained on the periphery, his demeanor almost brooding as he observed the scene with a mixture of disdain and amusement. Despite the sharp words exchanged earlier, I found myself inexplicably drawn to him.

"Y/n," Angeline whispered, breaking my reverie. "You're really going to let that dickhead Ajax charm you? I know you're better than that."

"I'm not," I insisted, but even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice.

"Good. Because I'd rather you be with someone who respects you," she said, casting a wary glance toward Ajax.

Before I could say anything, Castiel leaned forward slightly, his voice low enough for only me to hear. "You know he's not really interested in you, right? It's all just a game."

"What do you care?" I shot back, feeling the heat of the conversation. "You're just as much a part of this charade as he is."

His expression shifted, and for a moment, I thought I saw something vulnerable behind his guarded facade. "I don't play games. I just call them as I see them."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my curiosity piqued despite myself.

"It means you should be wary of someone who flashes a smile but has a reputation for playing with hearts," he said, his gaze steady. "People like Ajax thrive on distraction. You deserve better."

I opened my mouth to retort but was interrupted by Ajax's voice rising above the chatter. "Y/n! Join me in the lounge, will you?"

I felt both Ajax and Castiel's eyes on me, waiting for my answer. Castiel's expression darkened slightly, and I felt an unexpected urge to defy him. "Sure, why not?" I replied, standing up with a forced smile. We walked down the long hallway to the lounge on the right-hand side near the end.

Sitting on the red velvet sofa was a younger girl, about Ajax's age with raven-colored hair, and a brown-haired boy with glasses. The girl's intense gaze fell on me and I waved awkwardly. "Y/n, these are my siblings: Virginia and Nevian." The boy also started to look up, seemingly acknowledging my presence.

"Nice to meet you both," I said, trying to mask my discomfort. Virginia raised an eyebrow, her serious expression eerily mirroring Castiel's, while Nevian offered a shy nod, adjusting his glasses.

Virginia's lip twitched, although not quite a smile, her expression not helping the tension that had settled around us. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," she said.

I nodded in response, "Jeez, I guess they're not too big on friendliness here."  I thought. Nevian adjusted his glasses, giving me a more serious nod. "Just be careful. Ajax has a way of wrapping people around his finger." His tone was almost foreboding, and I couldn't help but glance back at Ajax, who was leaning against the doorframe with that familiar, charming grin.

"Don't listen to him," Ajax said, striding over and dropping onto the sofa beside me. "He's just jealous he doesn't have my magnetic personality." He winked, and I felt a strange mixture of irritation and attraction.

Virginia rolled her eyes. "Just because you can charm a room doesn't mean you're not a pain in the arse, Ajax."

He chuckled, completely unfazed. "Takes one to know one, Ginny." The tension in the room faded slightly, replaced by the distant thrum of a lively argument. I felt a flicker of doubt about my decision to join Ajax here. As much as I wanted to dismiss Castiel's warnings, there was something unsettling about Ajax's charm, a feeling that he was always one step away from a punchline at someone else's expense.

"So, Y/n," Ajax said, leaning closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "What do you think of our family? Quite the circus, huh?"

I hesitated. "It's... lively."

"That's one way to put it," Virginia chimed in, her cold expression never wavering. "But it's also a lot to handle. Ajax might seem fun, but he has a habit of making things more complicated than they need to be."

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Ajax interjected. "What's wrong with a little excitement? Life's too short to play it safe." His gaze locked onto mine, and I felt the weight of his intensity.

"You think everything's a game, don't you?" I asked, unable to keep the accusation out of my voice.

Ajax raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Only when it comes to boring people. But you? You seem different."

Virginia leaned forward, a knowing glimmer in her eyes. "Just be careful, Y/n. It's easy to get swept up in his charm."

Suddenly, Castiel appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, his expression stern. "Is this a party, or are we just plotting our next move in the grand game of life?"

Ajax rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Cas. You're ruining the vibe."

"You mean your little distraction," Castiel shot back, eyes flicking to me. There was a tension in his voice that made my heart race.

I felt torn. On one hand, Ajax's carefree attitude drew me in; on the other, Castiel's serious demeanor was a stark reminder of the reality I was trying to ignore.

"Y/n," Castiel continued, his tone softening slightly, "think about what you really want. Not what he wants from you."

The room fell silent, and I could feel the weight of everyone's gaze resting on me. I took a deep breath, my mind racing with questions and uncertainty. Who did I want to be in this chaotic mix? What did I really want?

"I want to figure it out," I finally said, my voice steadier than I felt. "And maybe you guys should just let me."

Ajax grinned, clearly entertained. "Now that's the spirit! Welcome to the chaos, Y/n. It only gets better from here."

But as he spoke, I caught Castiel's eyes lingering on me, an unspoken challenge in them. I realized then that whatever path I chose, would be anything but straightforward. The dinner had been just the beginning, and I was standing at a crossroads—one that could lead to excitement or heartache.