Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7: 7-Found My Fated Mate.

Helanie:

"Noooo!" I screamed the moment I felt like he had penetrated me again. My whole body got covered in goosebumps, while my feet felt this pain that was similar to that night. It was like reliving the same night of torture.

"Helanie! Are you seriously doing this right now?" A loud, ear-splitting groan full of frustration made me force my eyes open and stare at the ceiling. I realized I might have been screaming in my sleep again.

"I'm sorry—" I began, steadily getting off the mattress to calm my racing breaths before trying to go back to sleep, but Charlotte was not having it. She was glaring at me from her bed, causing me considerable distress. I wanted to be left alone, or at least not be seen at that moment.

"Get out of my room and only come back when you're sure you won't wake up again," she threw her pillow at me, making me quickly leave the room before she could hurl anything else in my direction.

It was a rather cold night. The storm might be approaching in a day or so, but the wind had already started to pick up. I didn't want to go back into the mansion since the chance of encountering someone awake and getting into trouble seemed high. Instead, I walked out into the exterior walkway, an open corridor with a railing on both sides.

I quickly held my hair as the wind started blowing it into my face, but it was unbearable. However, the view from both sides was so captivating that I hesitated to go inside. The full moon, with its red streaks, looked otherworldly.

I placed my hands on the railing and continued gazing at the moon until I felt I wasn't alone. The sensation of someone's presence grew stronger, and I stepped back from the railing to turn to my right.

My eyes caught sight of a tall man in the distance. He was wearing a black suit, but his tie and white shirt were visibly disheveled. He had something sparkling in his hand—alcohol, I presumed.

Hesitantly, I moved away from the wall as he began to pace in my direction. I wondered if he had seen me in the dark, but a flash of lightning illuminated the corridor, revealing that he was looking directly at me. As his rapid steps approached, I started moving backward to distance myself from him. I didn't know who he was, but the intensity of his presence made me fear he might harm me.

"I was just going back—" For all I knew, he could be a dangerous intruder wandering the mansion's corridors, thinking he wouldn't be caught.

When he got too close, I spun around to run back, but I tripped and fell onto my back, heading towards the small railing. However, instead of falling over the railing and injuring myself, I found myself suspended in midair.

I had been rescued by this stranger, who made me feel tiny in comparison. His strong arms could easily grip my slender waist and break it if he applied pressure. The wind blew my hair onto his striking face, obscuring his features for a few seconds before my hair finally settled away.

The gray in his eyes gleamed, drawing me deeper into his gaze. Despite my past trauma, being held close by such a handsome and tall man made me feel oddly comfortable with this stranger.

He had long, light brown hair that were roughly tied in the back, complemented by gray eyes and thick, black eyebrows. Standing at 6 feet 7 inches, he looked like a giant. There was a tattoo on the left side of his neck, but his intensely intimidating gaze made it difficult for me to focus on its details. His deep-set eyes, combined with full lips and a sharp nose, created a striking and well-suited appearance.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from him until my heart began to race. I frowned, realizing how intently he was observing me, and then it hit me—I wasn't wearing my pendant.