Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 296

Chapter 296: 296-Is It A Date?

Helanie:

I stormed into the mansion and straight to my room, avoiding Maximus’s face. I knew I’d ruined his mood—I could tell.

But I didn’t know where he wanted me to go, and if anyone found out about it, they’d start spreading rumors. My mother would lose it and probably kick me out of here.

I needed this place to stay. And after how I acted with Norman, I was sure he’d want the crazy girl gone too.

Staring at my reflection in the bathroom mirror after a shower, I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up. There were moments when I’d talk to myself about that night.

So many scenarios played in my head. In one, I never went out to celebrate my birthday with Altan. In another, I didn’t befriend Altan or accept his proposal. And there was the one where my father arrived in time to fight off the bad alphas.

So many possibilities—but none of them were real. The harsh truth was what I had to live with.

After drying my hair and putting on a blue dress, I stepped out of the bathroom. The practice today had left me drained, and all I wanted was to eat a good meal and rest.

I couldn’t tell if Norman would be ready to train me tomorrow. I might’ve pissed him off, or maybe he thought I was too much trouble.

I sighed, flopping onto my bed and glancing at my phone. Just as I was about to text Lamar to remind him about the academy meeting tomorrow, Maximus’s call lit up my screen.

I answered, thinking I needed to explain more clearly why I couldn’t go out with him earlier.

"Hello—" My words were cut short when I heard him breathing heavily on the other end.

"Maximus, are you okay?" I asked, sitting up, my pulse quickening.

"I got—I got in trouble. Shit! I need you—to come outside, to the road at the first curve. Helanie, I—" he stuttered, his words shaky and scattered.

"Maximus, should I call Norman or Emmet—" I started, but he cut me off with a groan of pain.

"No! I don’t want to be judged. It’s okay if you can’t come. I’ll manage something," he said, his voice trembling.

Before I could respond, the call ended.

He didn’t want Norman to know, likely because his brother was at an important meeting. He didn’t want the others to know either. That meant he was in a really bad situation.

I couldn’t sit here and let him handle it alone. He’d done so much for me. Anytime I needed help, he was there. And even if he hadn’t been, I couldn’t stand the thought of him being in pain.

I slipped on my shoes and sprinted out of the mansion.

It was 6 p.m., and the darkness was setting in quickly, but I didn’t care. The cold air bit at me, and I wasn’t even wearing a sweater—just the knee-length dress from earlier. I walked briskly, holding my phone with the flashlight on as the storm began to roll in.

When I reached the curve he’d mentioned, I saw something red on the road—but no sign of Maximus.