Chapter 138: Between Love and Duty.

Alessandro’s POV
I stood there, watching his back disappear down the hall, his words ringing in my ear like a curse.
“If I can’t have her… no one can.”
It chilled me more than I wanted to admit. That wasn’t just anger it was obsession.
Dangerous obsession.
Gabriel came to stand beside me, arms crossed, eyes on the same hallway.
“You think he meant that?” he asked quietly.
“I don’t know,” I replied, my voice low.
“But if he did… then we may have more to worry about than just Father’s poisoning.”
Rafael joined us, his face grim.
“So now we have a potential traitor and a jealous brother spiraling out of control.
Great.”
I sighed, rubbing a hand through my hair.
“We need to be careful. Leonardo’s not thinking straight and if someone is pulling strings behind the scenes, they might be using him.”
“You think he’s involved in the poisoning?” Gabriel asked.
“I don’t know,” I said again, but this time with more weight.
“But we can’t rule him out.”
There was a heavy silence between us before Rafael spoke again.
“Then we find out who brought those papers to Father’s office. Someone covered their scent.
Wore gloves.
That takes planning.”
“Right,” I nodded.
“And someone who knew how to avoid being detected.”
“We should start with the guards,” Gabriel added.
“See who had access that day.”
“And Aurora,” I said suddenly, thinking of her.
“If someone’s targeting me or those close to me she could be in danger.”
Gabriel’s brow lifted.
“Then you should check on her,” Rafael said, his tone sharper now.
“Make sure she’s safe. Where is she, anyway?”
“She went for classes,” I replied.
“She texted me earlier.
Said she’d be in lectures until later today.
I was planning to go pick her up… maybe spend some time with her before all of this happened.”
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, the weight of the moment settling in again.
Gabriel gave me a look, one brow raised.
“Oh my god… so you guys are like officially dating now?”
I glanced at him, uncertain whether to confirm it.
But the answer was already written on my face.
“I guess… yeah,” I admitted quietly.
“It just… happened.”
Gabriel let out a low whistle.
“Wow. And here I thought this week couldn’t get more dramatic.”
Rafael shook his head with a dry chuckle.
“You better hope Leonardo doesn’t find out about that anytime soon.
He’s already walking around like a ticking time bomb.”
“I know,” I said, my voice heavy.
“But I’m not going to hide her like she’s some secret. Not anymore.”
There was a beat of silence between us before Gabriel spoke again, more serious now.
“Then protect her, Alessandro. Because if someone’s targeting you or this pack she might end up caught in the crossfire.”
“I will,” I said, my jaw tightening.
“Whatever it takes.”
Rafael stayed quiet for a moment, then looked at me, his face expressionless.
“And what if Father finds out about you and Aurora?” he asked finally, his voice low but direct.
“What then, Alessandro?”
I turned to him slowly, caught off guard by the question.
“What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean,” Rafael replied.
“You’ve seen the way he’s been lately. Tense. Distrustful. You think he’ll approve of you being with our step sister?”
Gabriel stayed quiet, his eyes shifting between us.
I exhaled, my voice firm.
“I don’t care what he thinks. I’m not ashamed of how I feel about her.”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” Rafael countered, his tone firmer now.

“I know you care about her, Alessandro. But you also know what happened between her and Leonardo.
You saw how Father reacted how furious he was, how quickly he shut it down.
He didn’t even give her a chance to explain.”
I looked away, jaw tightening.
Rafael stepped closer.
“And what if it happens with you?
What if Father tells you to end it to choose the pack over her?
Will you do what Leonardo did and walk away?”
The question hit me hard.
I stared at the floor for a moment, the weight of it pressing down on my chest.
“No,” I said finally, my voice quiet but resolute.

“I won’t make the same mistake he did. I won’t abandon her.”
Gabriel spoke up beside us, softer than before.
“Even if it costs you everything?”
I looked at both of them my brothers and nodded slowly.

“Yes. Even if it costs me everything.”
Rafael let out a scoff, folding his arms across his chest.

“It’s easier said than done, Alessandro.”

He turned his head slightly, eyes furrowed.

“I mean… Leonardo said the exact same thing. And look how that turned out.”
I stayed silent, letting him speak.
“He told Aurora he’d love her no matter what. That he’d protect her against anyone even Father.
But when it really mattered? He didn’t.
He chose duty. He chose silence. He let her stand alone while he stood behind pride and tradition.”

Rafael paused, then added,
“Over and over again, he put the pack before her. Until she broke. Until her heart moved on… to you.”
His eyes locked with mine.
“So what makes you think you’re any different?
What makes you think you won’t end up doing the same thing when it really counts, Alessandro?”
I held Rafael’s gaze, feeling the weight of his words settle heavily in my chest.
“I’m not him,” I said finally, my voice low but steady.
“I’m not Leonardo.”
“But you’re still Father’s son,” Rafael replied, not unkindly.
“And that means sooner or later, you’ll have to choose too. Between love… and legacy.”
I looked away for a moment, jaw tight.
“I’ve already made my choice,” I said quietly.
“I choose her. Every time.
I won’t let what happened to her with Leonardo happen again.
I won’t let her feel abandoned… not by me.”
Gabriel stepped in, his voice softer.
“Then you better be ready to fight for it, brother.
Because this… this isn’t just about love anymore. It’s about survival.”
I nodded, my mind already spinning.
“She deserves better than broken promises,” I said.
“She deserves someone who won’t make her feel like a mistake.”
Rafael’s expression softened just slightly, but his arms stayed crossed.
“Then prove it. Not to us,” he said, “but to her.”
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out quickly.
A message from Aurora.
“Hey… Class just ended early. I’m heading home now. Miss you.”
My heart clenched.
“I need to go,” I said, already turning.
“I want to make sure she gets here safe.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Text us when you’re with her. And keep your eyes open.”
Rafael called after me as I walked away,
“And Alessandro… don’t break her. If you do, she won’t survive it a second time.”
I didn’t answer.
I just picked up my pace, one thought pounding in my head louder than the rest.
Not this time.

Not her.

Not again.
Ensnared by My Stepbrothers' Realm
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