Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 392

Chapter 392: 392-Wanting Maximus
Charlotte:

“What are you doing?” My mother slapped my arm a little too hard this time to get my attention.

“Ouch?” I winced, throwing a puzzled look at her. I wanted to look my best tonight.

“Why are you wasting your time here? Maximus will be arriving any minute now. Go stand at the door and greet him with the freshly baked lasagna,” my mother motioned for me to get up as she held the baked lasagna in her hands, still wearing oven mitts.

“Umm, I need to look perfect too. Just one last touch-up.” I put on some lip gloss and a little glitter on my neck and chest before getting up.

“I hope he doesn’t ask for the recipe,” I sighed. My mom would bake stuff, and I would take credit for it.

It was all to impress Maximus. I had been putting in so much effort since I was just a teen. We lived in the same mansion, but he hardly noticed me. I wanted him to be my high school boyfriend too, but that didn’t work out either.

He never even looked at me, even though he would check out anything with boobs. It hurt whenever I watched him go out on dates and have fun with other girls.

But I stayed patient because I had manifested ‘us,’ and it finally came true. I was so glad I had asked for his phone that night. I remember vividly how tired he was when he got home, and I asked to use his phone. I had been in his room the entire time he was gone. That’s when I saw Helanie’s message pop up in the notifications.

I quickly asked for his phone, and he gave it to me without checking. I bet he didn’t think I would be crazy enough to go through his messages. I deleted her text, making it look like she played him at the last minute.

He went on with his life, thinking she was going to make their relationship public.

I didn’t like seeing him in pain either because I cared about him a lot, but it had to be done. Otherwise, he would never hate Helanie.

And then I played the master game.

Flashback:

“What are you doing in my home? Don’t you know anyone related to that Ursula isn’t welcome here?” Lady Darcy had such a dark look on her face that I considered turning around and running back home.

Even when I didn’t want to, sometimes humiliation was worth it—especially when it was about Maximus. I could get insulted all day, every day, for him.

“I am not related to that woman. I know I can’t say it out loud because my mother and I have nowhere else to go. But—I promise you, I don’t like homewreckers either.” My confidence and words made her raise an eyebrow. That’s when I knew I had her attention.

“What have you come here for? Definitely not to tell me you hate the hand that’s feeding you. So tell me, what do you want from me?” She sat down, crossed one leg over the other, and gestured for the man beside her to pour her a glass of wine. She didn’t even ask me to sit.

“I’ve come to talk to you about your son.” It was so hard to say it without triggering her. She was way too protective and controlling of her sons. Living in the mansion, I had figured that out a long time ago.

“You better have a very good reason for saying my son’s name,” she scoffed, already threatening me with her harsh glare.

“I know Maximus’ secret.”

The moment I said that, she slammed the glass she had just been handed onto the side table, unfolded her legs, straightened her posture, and shot daggers at me with her eyes.

“I am not threatening or blackmailing you. I just want to tell you another secret of ours too.” I was shaking; having her eyes on me wasn’t easy to handle.

“You better start talking then,” she warned, and I nodded my head anxiously.

“I am his fated mate.”

I watched her face twist in shock before her mouth opened.

“One night—I was in the woods when he came out in his form—” I purposely didn’t say the word ‘lycan.’ I didn’t want the walls to hear. If anyone found out, he could be in danger.

“What are you saying?” Her expression said it all. I knew Maximus must have confided in her, just like he did with his older brother.

Being around him like a buzzing bee worked for me when I eavesdropped on him and Norman’s conversation. One day, Maximus was telling Norman that he thought he had felt a mate bond with someone in the woods. But of course, being a lycan, he couldn’t remember exactly what happened. It seemed like Norman wanted to find out who was in the woods that night.

But since Maximus didn’t remember, I was sure nobody found out. I couldn’t care less. Whoever it was, Maximus might have even killed her and forgotten about it since no one comes across a lycan and survives.

“I am not lying. My mother knows about it, and she has been pushing me to talk to Lord McQuoid. However, I didn’t want to. I told her that if anyone deserves to make a decision for her son, it is Lady Darcy.”

I knew she would never want me to be her daughter-in-law. She had her own ways. She wanted her son’s wife to be from a powerful pack and have a high rank.

“I will take care of him and always obey you.” The moment I noticed the delay in her response, I started to panic.

“You are not the one I want for my son,” she leaned back and hissed, scoffing at me.

I felt a surge of anger at her words.

There would only be one and only one for Maximus, and that was me.