Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53: 53-Saving Helanie

Kaye:

After I arrived in my room, a heavy sadness settled over me. I couldn’t quite understand why, but something about this night just felt wrong. I sank into the bathtub, letting countless thoughts swirl through my mind.

"That mate bond... it has to be just something from the dream prison," I murmured to myself, trying to make sense of everything.

"Dammit!" I groaned in frustration.

Every time I closed my eyes, I recalled the words spoken by Helanie in the dream prison. Could it be?

Was she really abused?

Or was it something even worse--assault?

She had said she didn’t want to feel the same way about her body here as she did in the real world. She also mentioned some group of alphas. I sighed heavily and got out of the bathtub. Ever since I returned, I’d started seeing Helanie in a different light. I might have thought she was lying to gain sympathy... if only she was.

But she never spoke about any of this to anyone, not even a hint of abuse. I remember my brothers telling me that when she first arrived, she had been starving for days. And then there was the fact that she didn’t even want to return to her pack.

After drying off, I slipped into black boxers and went straight to bed. Tomorrow was the big exam for the new candidates, and I was the one who had created the test.

I awoke to a dim, gray light filtering through the window--dawn had arrived, though the sun barely broke through the clouds. My body felt weighed down, as if the night itself clung to me, refusing to let go. A dull, deep ache lingered in my chest, but I couldn’t understand why.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad had happened last night. I didn’t remember what, but I knew I’d woken up in the middle of the night with that same strange sadness weighing on me.

I rolled out of bed, yawning and stretching. Burying my face in the sink, I washed up and then paused, my hands gripping the edges as I stared down into the water.

"What is going on?" I groaned in frustration. I hated feeling this way. Before all this dream prison business, I’d been so focused on my goals, determined in my direction. And now, all I could think about was someone who was soon to be my stepsister.

I felt a flash of disgust, but then, just as quickly, I remembered the kiss we’d shared. It had felt so raw, so real.

My mouth was dry, and my muscles felt tight, as if I’d been clenching my fists in my sleep. Whatever had me so tense, I couldn’t quite name it. I slipped on a black coat and decided against a shirt. Wearing just black pants, I studied my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a little messy, and it seemed like it might be time for a change.

"And to impress whom?" I didn’t expect Ye to be so critical. But then again, my wolf was always like that.

"Huh? Why would I impress anyone? You know me. I do what I want. This is just for a change." I shrugged, feeling a stab of annoyance. I hated when anyone questioned my motives.