Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 186

Chapter 186: 186-The Quick Peck

Helanie:

Lamar and I had such a beautiful talk on the balcony. He fed me well, and I couldn’t believe I laughed even after facing that alpha. It was Lamar’s effect and also the good news Maximus gave me about my accomplishments. So, I guess everyone was seeing my strength except for myself. We fell asleep after gossiping about everyone and woke up for the first class with Maximus.

We were in the woods, wearing red tracksuits for the first lesson.

“What do you guys think is the worst weapon in my opinion?” he asked as he strode in front of the four lines he had made for us. Sydney and I were at the front of the two lines in the middle. Penn and Hans were at the front of the lines at the corners.

“Me!” Sydney held her hand up to answer the question.

Her sister had been very quiet ever since she was punished to do my chores. I didn’t make her do anything yesterday because I was feeling low myself. But in the morning, Lamar and Lucy kept bothering me, asking me to call Salem to the room to order her around and have her drop our beds.

I didn’t call her.

I wanted to stay away from that negative energy, but I believed my friends’ minions would make it happen after our class.

“Sure, go ahead,” Maximus stopped before the two of us. His eyes would land on me, and a smirk would try to appear before he used his professional look and changed his attitude.

“Something that can instantly kill,” she stated, and I heard everyone gasp as if they agreed with her.

“Do you all agree with her?” Maximus asked, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was doing this on purpose.

As everyone nodded, I watched him tilt his head and question me through his eyes.

“What about you, Helanie? What do you think?” he asked me, since I didn’t fall for his trap. He wanted to play hero by giving me a chance to grab the opportunity and answer his question correctly.

Once I didn’t, he called me out in front of everyone.

“No,” I answered because I knew what kind of weapon was his favorite.

“Interesting! Why not?” he placed his hands on his waist, smiling because now I was headed the right way—the way he had chosen for me.

“You like a weapon that would cause a slow and painful death,” I replied as I remembered how amazed he was with the itching.

A much wider smile covered his lips as he nodded at my response.

“That is true, class! Meet Helanie,” I was shocked when he said my name as if they didn’t know me already. “She has proven herself over and over again. But this time, she has actually caught the eye of the council. They are interested in her future at the academy. And it is a huge achievement for our academy in years. We have surely trained many skillful warriors and alphas who fought against the blue-jacketed hoodlums and took the crowns of the alpha kings, but her case is different. She doesn’t have a wolf, but her strength and intelligence are so far above everything that you can only imagine what will happen when her wolf wakes up.”

His praise for me caused my cheeks to feel a strange warmth. I felt Lucy pinching my back, secretly teasing me, while Lamar whistled.

“Now, I will let you guys wander around and discuss things before we start the target practice,” the mention of what class he was taking caused my heart to skip a beat.

Missing a target!

I would never.

I needed to be perfect at hitting the target.

“Everyone, you are free to choose whatever means and weapons you want for this class,” he stepped away from the big table he had set up in the woods for us to choose a weapon from.

Everyone leapt to their feet to grab their weapons. Sydney chose a gun with silver bullets, others chose swords and different things, but I waited for my turn. I was in no rush. I had my eyes on this weapon ever since I had seen it in Maximus’ hands—the itchy herb and the deadly arrow. I wanted to be perfect at it.

As I was about to grab the weapon, I found Lamar reaching for it. My hand withdrew, and I guess he noticed.

“It’s okay. You can have it this time,” he smiled, picking up a simple bow and arrow.

Of course, I didn’t get the itchy herb because Maximus only wanted us to learn, so I grabbed the golden arrow while Lamar grabbed a long bow, and I held the compound bow.

Everyone started shooting at different targets, making sure there was a good distance between each other’s targets because some of us had really bad aim—especially me. Never having held a weapon did this to me.

“Here, let me help you.” Well, Maximus stole the chance and adjusted his body behind mine. He made me correct my posture and pull the bowstring. The wheel rotated, giving me a strange strength in my body.

“Keep your eye on your aim and the reason in your mind why you are shooting at your target,” he whispered in my ear, his lips brushing against my earlobe.

Suddenly, the enthusiasm of learning shifted to his touch. I felt so meek when his big arms were wrapped around mine as he held the compound bow with me.

“Focus! On me, Helanie. Just me,” he continued, making me nervously glance around to make sure nobody was watching us.

“And then—release!” he whispered, letting the bowstring go. The arrow pierced through the air, catching my full attention. The moment Maximus’ lips touched my cheek, I let out a yelp.

I turned, and my arrow hit the target.

“What are you doing?” I wasn’t mad at him. I felt much more comfortable, and that bewildered me. He was not my mate; that was Pheromones. So why wasn’t I angry at him for kissing me?

“You taste so good,” he winked, walking away while I stood in my spot awkwardly.

But before he could disappear entirely, he added, “I can give you private lessons if you want.”

He wanted to use that chance to flirt with me, but I saw it as an opportunity to perfect my aim.

So I shocked him when I agreed, “Thank you, that would mean a lot.”