Alpha Stepfather Is My Mate!

21. Where Were You?

Olivia's POV

I pulled my dress over my head and turned my head away shyly, trying my best not to let Andre see the blush on my face as I stole subtle glances as he buttoned his shirt.

My legs trembled slightly, and I had to lean slightly on the oak tree to balance myself and not fall over.

Suddenly, I felt an arm pull me close and soon, I was squashed against  André's body.

"You were amazing, baby."

I tried not to blush, and I bit my lower lip subtly.

"You should not bite your lower lip, kitten. Unless you're ready for me again."

I saw the smirk on his face, and I immediately put all thoughts of teasing him out of my mind.

He finally let go of me and did his cuffs properly.

I looked around, and suddenly, fear washed over me. If the guards or maids saw us walking out of the garden together, they would suspect something was up. I still wasn't ready to tell anyone that André was my mate.

I was still nervous, and a lot was still going on in my head, and I needed to come to terms with it.

"You look worried, mate. Is there a problem?"

I heard André speak to me gently, and I turned to look at him shyly.

"People are going to stare at us if we leave here together. They might get the wrong impression and..."

"And they will do nothing about it. You are mine, and they had better get used to it. None of them can have you the way I do."

I blushed hard. I loved it when he was dominant and protective. It made me feel giddy in a good way. His deep voice was always beautifully sonorous when he referred to me as his mate, Olivia or Kitten.

"I know, but I'm just not ready for the staring eyes just yet."

I lowered my head as I spoke. I soon felt his finger under my chin as he raised my face up slowly.

"I understand. Luckily, there is a contingency for this."

He took my arm gently and pulled me along. We walked past quite a lot of hedges and flowers. Where was he taking me?

It took a while before we finally came to a stop next to the mansion, but this place seemed very secluded. It was like no one had been here for years.

"What is this? Where are we?"

He smiled and pushed away the low creeping vines, revealing a secret door. My eyes went wide, and my hand went to my mouth.

"It is a secret entrance into the mansion. If we take it, we will go straight to my study, and we can act all sneaky from there."

I smiled shyly and watched as he opened the door. Fear trickled into my nerves as soon as I saw the dark tunnel. I shivered nervously as I looked down the black hole.

I hesitated, but I felt a large, warm hand grasp mine, and when I looked up, I saw André smiling at me with reassurance.

I felt bolder, and I walked in with him, being swallowed by the darkness as he closed the door behind us.

I walked blindly for a while and followed André's lead but kept my arms right before me. I had only just unlocked my wolf; I couldn't even feel my wolf yet besides that night, so my eyesight was nothing like his.

Soon, I could see a faint light seeping in from a distance. André and I quickened our pace and soon arrived at the study door. He gently pushed it open, and we went in.

The light from the room was almost blinding, but my eyes adjusted quickly. The array of books on the shelves was magnificent. I had been at his pack for a while but hadn't been here before.

In the corner of my eye, I caught André smiling at my look of awe.

"If you ever need to read, this place is always available to you. You can use it anytime."

I smiled and slowly walked out together, leaving the gleaming study behind us.

"I was thinking about something."

I turned to André, and he continued to talk.

"I think your room looks plain. I think it is high time that you decorate it to your taste. I want it to be fit for a Luna."

I exhaled deeply. I wasn't ready for all this. I just wanted my room to be normal. I didn't want to draw too much attention to myself. It was still too early for any of this. I was even more scared of the fact that my mother would..."

"Olivia, did you hear what I said?"

I was finally shaken from my thoughts, and I soon realised that we were on the top floor, at the door of my room.

"Oh yes. I... I am sorry."

I opened the door, and we went in together.

"Did you hear what I asked you? I suggested that you decorate your room. It looks too plain."

I looked around at my room. It was simple, but it was still beautiful. I turned to André, and I could see the eagerness on his face for me to buy into the idea.

"It would be nice, but I think we are rushing into this. Let's take this slow. Please."

He sighed and nodded slowly.

"I understand."

He walked up to me and kissed me on the forehead.

"You should rest up, kitten. I have to go and attend to something. I will see you later."

I nodded and watched him leave. My heart flipped in joy and nervousness. He was really eager to tell everyone about me, and deep down, I felt I was hurting him by holding back. I couldn't face the fact that I would have to look my mother in the face and tell her that I was his mate and the new Luna. It was too much change. I wasn't ready for that. I hated her, but I wasn't ready to take it to that level.

I walked to my bed, and just seconds before I was able to climb in, my door busted open. I lost my footing in fright and fell to the hard floor.

"Mom? What are you doing here? Haven't you heard of this thing called knocking?"

She didn't answer and walked up to me angrily.

"Were you in your room last night?"

Looked at her astonished. When did she care about whether I slept in my room or not?

"Why do you care? Are you stalking my sleep now?"

She scoffed and ignored me. I could tell I was testing her patience.

"I came into your room this morning, and you weren't here. Where were you?"

I rolled my eyes.

"I went out for a walk. I have been cooped up in here. I think I deserve some time out of  this prison."

I looked at her again and saw she wasn't listening to me. She had her head up and was sniffing the air.

I gulped. André was in here a few minutes ago. Could she smell him?

"You disgusting girl! I knew it! How dare you?! I know that André was in here. I can smell him."

I tried not to look too concerned, but it weighed heavily on me. Was the cat already out of the bag?

"I have seen how he is with you!" she continued. "You have been seducing him! You whore! You have been seducing your stepfather."

I felt my chest heaving in anger. I wanted to explode and tell her everything that I knew. She was so frustrating. How dare she call me a whore!?

"Really? Well, it's too bad that you seem unable to keep your husband. You are a simply horrid person. And come to think of it–"

I glared at her angrily.

"–is he really my stepfather, or is this some sick game? I see the way he is with you. It seems kind of suspicious to me, don't you think?"

Her eyes grew wide with guilt, but she immediately hid it.

"What! How dare you?!"