Claimed By My Stepbrother novel Chapter 47

Camila POV

I kept walking, the cool night air wrapped around me like a thin, uncomfortable blanket, My arms crossed over my chest, partly because of the chill and partly because I just needed something- anything- to hold onto. The streets were mostly empty, save for the occasional flicker of headlights in the distance and the dim glow of streetlamps lining the sidewalk. The soft hum of the city at night was all around me: the buzz of electricity from a nearby power line, the rustle of leaves blown by a lazy breeze, and somewhere in the shadows, the unmistakable sound of a cat yowling like it had just lost a fight.

I glanced around, half expecting to see glowing eyes peeking out from an alley, but nope. Just the usual urban wildlife: stray cats and the occasional rat scurrying by as if it had somewhere important to be. One of the cats- a scruffy–looking thing with patches of fur missing- paused to watch me as I walked by. Its yellow eyes gleamed in the dim light, unblinking and a little too curious for my liking.

“Yeah, yeah, keep staring, buddy,” I muttered under my breath, quickening my pace.

The cat didn’t move, just kept staring at me like it knew something I didn’t. Great. Even the street animals were judging me now. I rolled my eyes and focused on the cracked pavement beneath my feet. Each step felt heavier than the last.

The distant wail of a siren echoed through the air, faint but distinct. It didn’t make me feel any safer. If anything, it reminded me just how alone I was out here. A few houses along the street still had their porch lights on, casting long shadows across the road. In one of the windows, I spotted a flickering TV screen, some late–night talk show playing to an empty living room.

I rubbed my hands together, trying to warm them up as I continued down the street. Somewhere nearby, another cat let out a low, guttural growl, probably warning off some other poor creature that had wandered too close. The sound sent a shiver down my spine, not because it was scary, but because it reminded me of Ethan’s growl earlier. The way it had sounded so… primal. So not human.

I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. Focus, Camila. Just get to the mansion, pack your stuff, and get the hell out of there. That was the plan.

Up ahead, I could see the familiar outline of the mansion coming into view. The wrought iron gate stood tall and imposing, its black metal gleaming faintly under the streetlights. The sight of it made my stomach twist into knots. Home sweet home. Or, you know, the place where things had officially gone off the rails tonight.

As I got closer, I noticed something weird. The gate was slightly ajar, creaking softly as it swayed in the wind. That wasn’t normal. My mother was always paranoid about keeping it locked. She would freak out if she knew it was open like this. I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering near the gate, before finally pushing it open and stepping through.

The gravel path crunched beneath my sneakers as I made my way toward the front door. Each step echoed in the quiet

night, loud enough to make me feel like I wasn’t alone. I glanced over my shoulder, half–expecting to see someone- or something- following me, but there was nothing. Just shadows and silence.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. My heart pounded in my chest as I reached the door and fumbled for the handle. The sound of my own breathing filled my ears, shallow and uneven.

The door creaked open before I even touched it. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze, staring at the dark hallway beyond. Okay, that was definitely not normal.

1/2

Chapter 47

I took a tentative step Inside, my fingers brushing against the cool wood of the doorframe. The house was quick quiet.

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