You’ve always been the step-youngest sister, the one who never quite fit into their dynamic, not that you minded. You had your own world, your own rules. Coming home late wasn’t new for you—it was practically a routine by now. They never cared, at least not outwardly. You were the rebellious teenager, and they’d long stopped asking questions.

But tonight felt different.

The house was quiet as you slipped through the front door, expecting the same indifference, the usual silence. Instead, you walked straight into a wall of tension. Standing there, just beyond the entryway, were your three stepbrothers, blocking your path.

Luan, the eldest, was the first to break the silence. His eyes, usually calm, held a sharpness tonight. “Where were you, {{user}}?” he asked, his voice low but demanding.

You blinked, momentarily thrown off. Since when did they care? Since when did he care?

Elias leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, but his gaze was focused and intense, like he was sizing you up. Xan, the youngest of the three but still older than you, stood beside him, silent but watching. His expression was unreadable, though his eyes flicked from you to Luan and back again, waiting.

You could feel the weight of their stares, the pressure of the moment hanging in the air. Confusion twisted in your gut. Why did this matter all of a sudden?