Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60: 60-The Divine Beauty Of My Stepsister

Kaye:

"Helanie! Your wounds need to be cleaned, and you need a bath to help with your fever." I watched her stand hesitantly by the bed, hugging herself tightly and looking reluctant.

"I—" Her voice held a quiet hesitation, her gaze fixed on the ground as if she wasn’t really present. It felt as though only her body was here.

I walked over and, without touching her hand or arm, gestured toward the bathroom and started in that direction. As I neared the door, she slowly began to follow, her hand rubbing her elbow, eyes still cast downward. I’d never seen anyone with such pure innocence.

My brother’s words echoed in my mind.

No! She was nothing like her mother.

In fact, she seemed different from any other she-wolf.

Once she entered the bathroom, I gave her privacy to undress and settle into the bath. After a few minutes, when I stepped inside, I saw she hadn’t fully undressed—she sat in the water, wearing only her bra and underwear. I understood she wasn’t comfortable being fully exposed around me, and I respected that.

I sat beside her, holding the washcloth gently in my hand, pressing the warm cloth over her bruised back with the lightest touch.

My heart sank as I worked, even without direct contact. There was something so haunting about Helanie. She barely moved, her gaze fixed somewhere far away, distant.

She hadn’t said much since I’d insisted on helping her with the bath.

"Let me know if it hurts," I murmured, but she didn’t respond.

I moved to her shoulder, careful around a particularly dark bruise. Her skin felt warm beneath my touch, and for a moment, I almost forgot why I was here—lost in the quiet sound of water, the faint scent of lavender, and the soft rhythm of her breathing. _{fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com}

She was so distinct, her scent almost intoxicating, comforting in an inexplicable way. In her presence, I didn’t feel the usual weight to keep up appearances.

Realizing I’d zoned out, I forced myself back to reality, focusing on wringing out the washcloth.

However, there was something on her back I couldn’t look away from—circular burn marks scattered across her skin.

The pinkish scars seemed to be healing, but they were unmistakably from cigarette burns.

The moment I let the washcloth slip into the water and gently touched one of the marks, I felt Helanie’s body shudder. That small, startled movement told me she’d just come back to the present, from wherever she’d been lost.

"That will be it. Thank you for your help," she said quickly, almost pulling away, her voice laced with urgency.

"I’m almost done," I replied softly, though I could sense her unease.

"No! It’s fine. I can manage myself," she insisted, reaching for the washcloth that had slipped into the tub.