Claimed By My Stepbrother novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Camila POV

As I made my way back to the table, I couldn’t help but glance around the room, half- expecting to see Ethan lurking somewhere. But there was no sign of him. Maybe he had left. Maybe I was overthinking everything, letting my paranoia get the best of me.

་

“Hey, you were gone forever,” Tessa said as I slid back into my seat.

“Ran into someone from school,” I said, handing her the soda she’d asked for. “Liam.”

Tessa raised an eyebrow. “Liam? As in, tall, kind of cocky, cute and fashionable, sits in

the back of class Liam?”

“Yeah,” I said, taking a sip of my drink. “He’s… nice, I guess.”

“Hmm,” Tessa said, giving me a look. “Well, that’s interesting.”

“What’s interesting?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.

“Nothing,” she said, smirking. “Just saying, you’re full of surprises tonight.”

I rolled my eyes, letting her have her fun. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the day wasn’t over yet. And as much as I tried to push it away, Ethan’s voice- his word- still lingered in the back of my mind. Mate.

Whatever that meant, whatever he thought it meant, I wasn’t about to let it define

1. me. Not tonight. Not ever.

The night had stretched far longer than I had intended, and the once–vibrant karaoke

bar was winding down. People were filtering out in pairs and groups, leaving behind

empty soda cans and laughter that still echoed faintly in the air. I glanced at my phone

and winced. It was late- really late.

Grabbing my jacket, I mumbled a quick goodbye to Tessa and the others and headed out, eager to avoid any awkward encounters or explanations with Mom about why I was stumbling home after midnight.

But as soon as I stepped out into the cool night air, I froze. Ethan’s car. It was parked

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Chapter 8

right across the street like some ominous sign from the universe. His sleek black car gleamed under the dim streetlights, looking entirely too out of place for this shabby part

of town.

“What the actual hell?” I muttered to myself, pulling my jacket tighter around me. How long had he been here? Was he waiting for me? And why was he even here?

Panic set in as my brain scrambled to figure out what to do. I couldn’t just walk past him- there was no way I would survive another encounter with whatever… weird energy he had unleashed on me earlier.

Okay, think, Camila. You’re smart. You can sneak past him. It’s just a guy, not like he has a third eye or anything.

As casually as possible, I turned on my heel, walking in the opposite direction of his car. My heart hammered in my chest, and I tried to look like I hadn’t even noticed him.

But, as always, the universe had a twisted sense of humor and decided to throw a wrench into my plan.

Just as I stepped off the curb, I felt it. His gaze. That heavy, piercing sensation that burned into my skin, impossible to ignore. I turned my head- against my better judgment- and sure enough, our eyes locked.

“Does he have some kind of radar or something?” I hissed under my breath. “What the

fuck?”

His face was unreadable, but there was something about the way he was watching me that made my stomach flip. Not in a cute, romantic way- more like an oh my God, this

guy’s insane way.

I did the only logical thing I could think of: I broke eye contact and bolted.

Not running, exactly, because that would look too suspicious. But I walked fast. Like, Olympic–level power walking, my arms swinging and everything.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a taxi approaching. Without hesitation, I stepped off the curb and waved it down like my life depended on it.

“Taxi!” I called out, my voice a little too loud in the quiet street. The driver pulled

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Chapter 8

over, and I yanked the door open, sliding in before Ethan could decide to make a move.

“Where to?” the driver asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

I rattled off my address, glancing nervously back at the street. Ethan was still there, leaning against his car, his hands shoved into his pockets. He wasn’t following me- not yet, anyway- but the way he just stood there, watching, was enough to make my skin

crawl.

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