Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 422

Chapter 422: 422-I Met Another One Of Them
Helanie:

Lamar had taken Jenny to her pack after asking for leave from the professors. He actually told Penn about Lucy’s statement, and together they decided to drop the idea of taking her tests. I guess they were putting too much faith in Lucy’s words. But honestly, I wouldn’t take any risks either.

However, I had to go to the library to research the alphas whose names I had acquired last night.

I was walking when I heard someone approaching from behind. It was a car. I turned and looked straight ahead, avoiding Salem.

“You’re going somewhere?” she asked, rolling down the window and driving slowly beside me.

“Yes, the library,” I responded, hoping she’d get the hint to keep driving.

She continued driving next to me at a slow pace, making me feel a little uncomfortable.

“Which library? I can drop you there,” she offered, making me glance inside the car briefly. She was alone. But could she be trusted?

I needed a ride, and V. Lec was quite far.

I looked around, debating whether to accept her help, and then finally gave up on overthinking. I walked around the car and sat in the passenger seat with her.

Her car smelled like roses. She started the car, and silence filled the space before she finally spoke.

“I’m sorry,” she uttered, keeping her eyes on the road.

“For what?” I asked.

“For everything I did wrong to you,” she admitted. “For thinking the world revolved around me and my sister. For believing our actions only affected us and not others. I was a bitch, and I know it would be hard to believe that I’ve changed—” she paused. “But I won’t lie to you. When the consequences of my actions made my second-chance mate refuse to even give me a chance, that’s when I realized—wow! So this is what it feels like to be hurt. I mean, it still sounds selfish that I only figured this out after I was hurt, but I’m trying to be a better person.”

She was pouring her heart out, and I listened in silence.

“I know you are Gavin’s second-chance mate,” I said, shifting in my seat to start a conversation about them.

“I knew he told you. I could tell,” she replied.

“Is he—I mean—I’ve seen his name pop up on Lucy’s phone a few times. Is he talking to her—” That must have been so hard for her to ask me. She danced around the words for a while before finally forming a full sentence.

“He doesn’t respond to your texts?” I felt guilty for not telling her the truth about Lucy and Gavin’s messed-up new relationship. And that kind of put me in the same situation Jenny was in when she was supposed to tell Lucy what was going on with Gavin. But I guess the only difference was that I wasn’t directly involved.

“We talk a little, but I’m kind of scared to ask him that question.” She made me turn my head toward her.

“Why are you scared?” I asked.

“He gets angry a little too easily,” she admitted.

“Ask him that question, and if he gets angry, let me know. Lamar and I will kick his ass,” I said. I just didn’t like Gavin doing the same thing to her that he had done to Lucy. When will he learn?

But somehow, my open statement cheered her up. She turned her head to me once again.

“No wonder people befriend you and are afraid to lose you,” she said. It sounded like a compliment, which was nice because Sydney and Salem were usually their own biggest fans.

“I’m being honest. I don’t think you should be afraid of asking any questions. A mate should be able to tell her mate everything,” I said as I leaned back in my seat, recalling the kiss I had shared with Emmet.

If that was the case, why haven’t I told him anything yet?

“Just drop me here. I’ll stretch my legs a little,” I told her, making her stop a little before the library so she wouldn’t insist on coming with me. I had to do this research alone.

“Have a good day. If you want me to pick you up, just text me. I’ll be around,” she waved her hand, saying goodbye.

I wouldn’t bother her again. I walked all the way to the end of the road, took a left, and finally, the library came into view. It was a large, vintage-style building with lanterns hanging from the front porch. It felt like I had stepped back in time.

I entered the library, got a card, gave a small nod to the silent librarian behind the desk, and then made my way straight to the packs and information section. I had my phone in hand with the names of the alphas Kaidon had given me.

I sat down after grabbing a thick book on alphas and packs and started skimming through it. My heart pounded in my chest.

I looked for Alpha Velsh first—there were quite a few with that name, but none of them looked like someone from that night.

I closed my eyes, trying to remember their faces. Some were blurry, but I knew the moment I saw them again, I would recognize them. This is how I knew Penn wasn’t one of them. And my heart told me Penn wasn’t involved in Lamar’s sister’s case either.

However, none of the names Kaidon gave me matched the faces from that night. I was shocked. But there were also a lot of pages missing, including records on Kaidon, Rayden, Altan, and even more young alphas. I guessed the book would be updated after the new alpha battle was over.

Then my eyes landed on one picture. It was placed separately, and instantly, my heart sank in my chest.

“That was—,” I gasped, but someone else finished the sentence for me.

“Me? That was me that night. You still remember me, don’t you?”