[BL]My Stepbrother, My Fated Omega-Chapter 82: Grandma’s sister

Ash looked at Adrian, whose gaze was still locked on Prophetess Annette in disbelief.

"How...how do you know each other?" Ash asked quietly.

Before Adrian could respond, Prophetess Annette stepped closer and gently placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder. A soft smile touched her lips. "You can call me Grandma," she said warmly.

Ash blinked, taken aback. "Grandma?"

Annette sighed lightly, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Don’t look at me like that. Have you forgotten your grandmother’s younger sister, Melissa?"

Ash’s eyes widened as memories came rushing back-thirteen years ago.

...

He had been at the goat shed with his grandmother, helping her feed Matata’s mother. Matata wasn’t born yet.

Ash had been laughing uncontrollably at one of her grandmother’s jokes when a voice echoed from the compound.

"Sister! Sister! Where are you? I’ve come!"

Ash turned to his grandmother, whose expression suddenly darkened.

"Grandma, someone’s calling you," he said softly.

There was a long pause before she finally replied, "Let’s go."

When they reached the yard, a woman stood waiting, smiling brightly.

"Melissa," his grandmother said curtly. "Why have you come?"

"Because I’ve missed you," Melissa replied stepping closer.

"If you truly cared about me," his grandmother said sharply, "you would’ve stayed."

"I can’t," Melissa said, her voice firm. "You know this is my calling."

His grandmother gave a small, bitter laugh. "Calling? You mean witchcraft? Bewitching people?"

Melissa fists clenched at her sides. "I am not a witch! I’m a prophetess, I don’t harm people!"

"Yes, you do," his grandmother shot back.

Anger burned in Melissa’s eyes as golden pheromones burst from her body, the air trembling with energy. His grandmother released her own aura, dark and immense, and turned slightly.

"Bunny, step aside," she warned.

Ash moved back quickly, his heart pounding as the two powers collided, clashing violently in midair. The energy roared between them like a storm. It was the first time Ash had ever seen something like it; power so raw it made the ground tremble.

Moments later, Melissa stumbled back, blood spilling from her lips. His grandmother’s aura overpowered hers completely.

As the golden pheromones light faded, his grandmother walked forward, calm but cold. She gripped Melissa by the neck, her voice low but commanding. "Remember, I’m older than you, which means I’m stronger than you. You can’t defeat me."

Then she released her and turned away, her back straight. "I’ll give you one last chance," she said quietly. "If you step outside this compound again...don’t come back."

After a long silence, Melissa slowly pushed herself up, her face pale but steady. "I’m sorry, Sister," she said softly. "I wish I could stay...but I can’t."

She turned to leave, but his grandmother’s voice cut through the air. "If you’ve chosen to be a witch," she said coldly, "then don’t use the maiden name our late parents gave you. It’s a disgrace to them."

Melissa froze for a heartbeat, her shoulders trembling. Then, without looking back, she walked away, sobbing quietly.

Ash, who had been standing off to the side, noticed something glinting on the ground. It was the golden hairpin Melissa had dropped. Without thinking, he snatched it up and ran after her.

"Ash! Where are you going?" his grandmother called after him.

"She dropped her hairpin!" he shouted over his shoulder. "I’ll give it back and come right back!"

He sprinted across the compound, his small feet kicking up dust. "Auntie! Wait!" he called out, panting.

Melissa stopped mid-step and turned around. Her tear-streaked face softened when she saw the boy running toward her, clutching the hairpin in his hand.

"You dropped this," Ash said breathlessly, holding it out.

Melissa knelt down so their eyes met, her expression gentle. "When did you come here?" she asked, brushing a strand of hay from his hair.

"When I was eight," Ash replied innocently. "My papa wanted to sell me to the Alphas...so my mother brought me here to stay with Grandma."

Melissa’s eyes flickered with sadness. "Oh, I see. For those six years I’ve been abroad, studying medicine. When your mother married Veilyn, she rarely visited while I was at home, and I was away most of the time. That’s why we’ve never met properly."

Ash nodded, watching her curiously.

Melissa smiled faintly. "Now that we’ve met, tell me, what’s your name again?"

"Ash," he said shyly.

She gave a small laugh. "And my name is..." Her voice trailed off. A shadow crossed her face. "No...I’m not supposed to use my maiden name anymore."

After a pause, she looked at him thoughtfully. "Tell me, Ash; what’s girl’s name do you like?"

Ash thought for a moment, then said softly, "Annette."

Melissa’s lips curved into a warm smile. "Then Annette it is."

Ash blinked, a little confused but smiling back.

"Tell me, Ash," she asked gently, "do you think I’m a bad person?"

Ash shook his head without hesitation.

Her eyes softened with relief. "I understand your grandmother’s anger," she murmured. "She sacrificed so much for me to study, expecting great things in return. But instead of becoming what she hoped for, I chose a different path, warning people, foretelling their fates." She gave a quiet laugh. "That’s not what she wanted."

Then she looked at Ash again, a playful light in her eyes. "Would you like to see some magic?"

Ash’s face lit up. "Yes!" he said eagerly.

Smiling, Melissa cupped the golden hairpin between her palms, rubbing her hands gently together. A faint glow shimmered between her fingers. When she opened her hands, the pin had transformed into a small, glowing golden navel ornament.

Ash gasped. "It turned into golden navel jewel!"

Melissa chuckled softly. "It’s a gift for you. Because you’re the first person who believed in me."

She gently lifted his small shirt. "Close your eyes," she said kindly.

Ash obeyed. She touched the ornament to his belly, pinning it in place with a faint golden light. He didn’t feel any pain, only warmth.

"Let it stay with you," she whispered. "The only person who can remove it...is your mate."

Ash nodded, eyes still closed.

From afar, his grandmother’s voice called again. "Ash!"

Melissa stood, brushing the dust from her skirt. "I have to go," she said softly. Then she smiled down at him. "And Ash...I’m not your auntie. I’m also your grandma."

She stepped back, her voice calm and resolute. "And thank you...for giving me a name. From today onward, I’ll be known as Prophetess Annette."

She turned and began walking away, her figure fading into the sunlight.

Ash stood there, clutching his stomach where the golden light still glimmered faintly, watching until she disappeared from sight.

...

Ash blinked, pulling himself from the memory. A faint smile touched his lips as he looked at Annette, who was watching him quietly.

"Grandma," he said softly, stepping closer. "I remember now."

Before she could respond, he fell into her arms. Annette hugged him tightly, her eyes warm. Adrian and Lucien watched in confusion, unsure what was happening.

"You’ve grown up so handsomely," Annette said, brushing his hair lightly.

Still in her arms, Ash murmured, "Your scent...it’s like Grandma’s."

Annette chuckled. "Of course. We came from the same womb."

Her gaze moved to Lucien. She let go of Ash and walked toward him, sniffing slightly.

"I smell our kind within you," she said. "How is that possible?"

Without thinking, Ash said, "He’s my mate."

Annette froze, looking between the two in surprise. Then she noticed Aster trying to move away. Her tone turned sharp.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Aster stammered, "I- I wasn’t..."

"Don’t think I didn’t see you," she cut in coldly. "You haven’t changed, still the same as before. You were one reason your mother thought I was a witch. But at least before she died, she came to believe in me."

Turning to Adrian, she added, "Because you told her the story, how I sealed your fractured core years ago , and how I sent you back to Ash to get healed. The way you described me and my hut’s location, she knew it was me. She had been watching me closely from afar."

Lucien, who had been quiet for a long while, teased lightly, "So, you knew their future? Can you tell me mine too?"

Annette looked at him quietly. "I already feel negative energy within you," she said. "I’m curious about it myself."

She reached out to touch his hand, but Ash interrupted. "Grandma, we’ve been standing here too long. Aren’t you tired of those heels?"

Annette looked down, then gave a small laugh. "You’re right. Let’s go inside."

She turned to Aster once more. "And if you ever try to sell your mother’s house again, I’ll deal with you personally."

Aster lowered his head without a word.

Annette walked toward the house, followed by Ash, Adrian, and Lucien.

...

Ash and Adrian sat quietly in the living room while Annette and Lucien were in one of the rooms. Inside, candles burned softly between them, casting a warm glow. Both sat cross-legged on a mat, the air calm but heavy.

"Give me your hands," Annette said.

Lucien obeyed, extending his hands.

"Close your eyes and focus," she instructed. "I want you to see what your future holds."

Lucien nodded and did as told. Annette closed her eyes too, her grip firm around his.

For a moment, the room was still, then Lucien began to tremble. His expression twisted as if seeing something he didn’t understand. Annette’s grip tightened, her eyes still closed.

The energy in the room grew stronger. The candles flickered, then went out. The windows burst open with a sudden gust, and a thin line of blood ran from Lucien’s nose.

Both gasped and pulled their hands apart, breathing heavily.

Annette spoke first, her voice low. "Did you see it?"

Lucien nodded slowly, his face pale. "I’m going to be killed..." he whispered.

Ash’s voice came from the doorway. "By who?"

Lucien turned sharply. Ash and Adrian stood there, having felt the strange energy and rushed in.

"I didn’t see the killer." Lucien said weakly.

Adrian sighed, stepping forward. He took Lucien’s hand and helped him stand. "Sorry," he said, looking at Annette. "But I’m not going to believe that. Stop scaring him."

Ash moved beside Lucien, supporting him. "Grandma, I think we should go," he said quietly.

They turned and walked out of the room, leaving Annette standing alone.

She stayed silent for a moment, her eyes thoughtful, before murmuring under her breath,

"Your sister..."