Chapter 3 Spank Me, Daddy!

"Remember, I've been telling you boys I found a chosen mate? That's her, Rose Blake, and this is her daughter Ember, who is now your stepsister," Lord Blackwood announced, attempting to diffuse the tension.

I cowered behind Mom, unable to meet the furious glares from Lucas and Ethan. My first day in this mansion had already been more than I could handle.

"Dad? What's going on?" A deep voice drew our attention to the doorway.

My breath caught as two more imposing figures entered the living room. The first was incredibly tall with broad shoulders and a slim waist. His muscular physique strained against his office clothes. Behind him stood another young man, equally commanding in presence.

"These are your other brothers, Alexander and Dominic," Lord Blackwood said simply. "Alex runs my business. Dom trains our warriors."

"Who are they, father?" Dominic asked, his amber eyes quickly scanning me. I lowered my eyes when his gaze landed on mine.

When he asked his father that question, Ethan let out a sarcastic laugh.

"That's the bitch father settled on," Ethan couldn't contain himself any longer. His comment was met with a gasp from my mother's lips.

"Ethan!" Lord Blackwood yelled, warning him with a glare.

"It's true. This is the woman taking our mother's place, and that girl over there is our stepsister that our father wants us to protect. Isn't it funny that the first thing she did was accuse Ethan of harassment? She got dad to hit Ethan," Lucas, who I didn't think would react so aggressively, started talking with tears of anger in his eyes.

"I've told you all—I've moved on from your mother. Now Rose is my everything, and you will respect that. I won't force you, though. Anyone who wishes to live with your mother instead is welcome to pack their bags and leave."

All four brothers rose to their feet defiantly, only to freeze when their father added, "And forget about the Alpha King titles."

They sat back down just as quickly as they'd stood. These four commanded everyone's attention as the future Alpha Kings of North, South, East, and West territories.

"Good. Now we'll prepare for a family dinner tonight," Lord Blackwood declared. "Ember, your brothers are very creative and strong. You'll come to love them all." He knew exactly what he was doing—forcing communication—but the timing couldn't have been worse.

The four brothers glanced my way simultaneously, eyebrows raised in perfect unison.

The brothers soon got up and went upstairs. I knew they were having a meeting. My mother and I stayed in the living room while dinner was being prepared. After what felt like hours of silence, the returning housekeeper led me to the guest room where I took a quick shower. By the time I finished, dinner was ready.

The dining room felt overwhelming with its grandeur and formality. I slipped into my chair, keeping my eyes down as the brothers filtered in. Lucas and Ethan sat across from me, while Alexander and Dominic took seats at the far end.

"Alexander, my eldest, manages my business enterprises. He's only twenty but knows exactly what he's doing," Lord Blackwood said proudly. Alexander remained stoic—the only brother who hadn't uttered a single word to us.

"Dominic is also twenty, though his interests differ from his brother's. He occasionally handles business matters but primarily works as a trainer for our warriors and serves as a fitness instructor." Dominic barely touched his salad, his expression deliberately blank.

"Ethan is the youngest of the twins. He's eighteen and loves traveling," Lord Blackwood introduced the one who bullied me at school.

"Lucas attends the same school as you two. He's eighteen but a few minutes older than Ethan and has a passion for motorcycles." Lord Blackwood seemed to hold back when talking about his blue-eyed son.

"Just say it. I have an addiction that irks my father," Lucas scoffed. His eyes flashed a strange color for a second before he lowered his head.

"Anyway," Lord Blackwood continued, ignoring his comment. Mom and I exchanged concerned glances.

"The reason I want you all to be comfortable around each other is that, as council leader, I've been summoned to address matters among the Western packs. Rose and I will depart in the morning. I expect you all to care for your stepsister while we're gone."

Mom's fork clattered against her plate. "What? Richard, we didn't discuss this!"

"It's decided, dear," he replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Mom's face paled. "But she's fragile," she protested, her voice rising slightly. "She's never been anywhere without me. Her wolf is problematic. I need to ensure it doesn't emerge."

I noticed the meaningful looks my stepbrothers exchanged when they realized Mom was uncomfortable leaving me with them.

"It's alright, Mom! We promise to take care of her," Ethan volunteered with false sweetness. "Now that we know she's our stepsister, we'll keep her safe." The look he gave me made my skin crawl.

"And Dominic can train her," Lord Blackwood suggested, making everything infinitely worse.

I began coughing uncontrollably. I'd always slept in Mom's room. How would I possibly sleep alone now?

"Perfect! See how caring my sons are," Lord Blackwood beamed. "Now let's rest. We have an early morning ahead." He rose from his seat, eagerly gesturing for Mom to follow. She gave me a pained look before leaving the dining room with him.

Now I sat awkwardly among my stepbrothers, completely alone.

"You need medicine to control your wolf," Ethan broke the silence. "So how did you feel a mate bond with Noah when your wolf isn't even allowed to come forward?"

My body went rigid. The way he stared at me made me feel like prey being sized up by a predator.

"You didn't tell your mother about the whole mate bond fiasco, did you?" His smile widened as he realized his advantage—he knew something Mom didn't, something that would infuriate her if she discovered I hadn't been taking my pills properly.

I glanced around nervously, noticing all four brothers staring intently at me. A chill ran down my spine as their gazes seemed to penetrate straight through me.

"School is going to be fun now," Ethan smirked. "Make sure you don't get spanked by your daddy," he added, pointing to himself.

My heart sank as I realized what awaited me at West Bay High tomorrow.