Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: 44-Maybe I Did It

Helanie:

I wasn’t sure how long I had been running. Time had blurred, and the pain in my chest struck me sharply. At least, I assumed it was my lungs—it was hard to tell anymore. My whole torso burned, forcing me to slow down. I could hear my muscles cry for help. My bones were cracking too. At one point, my mouth was so dry that I stopped entirely just to lick my lips to moisten them.

Not that I had been moving quickly to begin with. I just needed a break, a moment to catch my breath. Winning? That hope had already slipped away. Now, all I wanted was to finish. Just cross the finish line and make it to the meeting point.

I sank to the ground, my legs trembling beneath me. Each breath escaped in ragged gasps as I tilted my head back, stretching my neck. A single raindrop splashed on my face. I wasn’t sure if it was a blessing or a curse. Rain would only make things more difficult. The ground would turn slick, and the cold would creep in. Still, it had been over an hour already, and I should have covered most of the distance. But I hadn’t even reached three miles yet. Three miles. My heart sank.

I felt so weak. I had never been active, never trained for something like this. Doing chores around the house wasn’t remotely the same as actual physical exertion. What was I thinking? After a few more deep breaths, I forced myself to stand. I couldn’t stay here forever. I had to keep moving.

The race had started late because the other candidates from different shelters had to be examined first. I had no idea how many of them had passed or how many had been disqualified. What if… what if I was the only one left? The thought crept into my mind like a shadow, filling me with a deep sense of dread. What if I failed too? What if I was the last one standing, and I couldn’t even finish?

The weight of it all made my chest feel even tighter, as if I were being crushed from the inside. I wanted to collapse. I wanted to scream. My legs felt like they might give out at any second, and it didn’t help that the world was growing darker. The night seemed to be swallowing me whole, and with it, every ounce of hope I had left.

Could I even make it twenty miles by midnight? Doubt swirled in my mind. The dark path ahead felt like it was closing in on me. Fear gnawed at me. I wasn’t the only one who would be terrified—many would give up simply because of the shadows lurking in the woods. This race was as much a test of courage as it was of endurance.

I glanced down at the red smoke bomb they’d given me. It was my escape, my signal to quit if things became too overwhelming. My fingers hovered over it, tempted to pull the pin and end this nightmare. But then I shook my head, withdrawing my hand as the memory of their smug faces resurfaced. The ones who had laughed, doubted me, said I wouldn’t make it.

“I can’t give up,” I muttered through gritted teeth. Frustration, anger—it all surged inside me, driving me forward. I wasn’t going to let them win. Not like this.

By the time I was back on my feet, I was already drenched in sweat, though the rain quickly washed it away. Moving was a struggle, but I kept going. Finally, after many long hours, I could see the finish line. Lanterns lit the path, and warriors stood beside the brothers, holding umbrellas over their heads. I took a deep breath and lifted my gaze, seeing the area ahead deserted. The others must have been sent back to the shelter. The brothers were standing just outside the shelter’s grounds—the same place they had used to lecture us earlier that morning.

I reached the finish line and collapsed onto my knees, wheezing like crazy. The crowd remained silent as Norman stepped forward, crouching beside me. The warrior shifted the umbrella, ensuring the rain didn’t dare touch the rogue king’s son.

“And you think you deserve to be part of the academy?” Norman asked, lifting my chin so I had to meet his gaze.

“I finished,” I corrected him, breathless.

“Last! You failed. That’s not finishing,” he sneered, wrinkling his nose in disgust. His aura was menacing, his narrowed eyes drilling into mine, daring me to challenge him. In that moment, I felt a surge of anger, not just at him, but at myself—for not winning this race.

“It was only twenty miles. Even those who finish last don’t take this long. This has never happened before until now—you’ve set a new low,” Norman continued, while his brothers stood silently behind him. I kept glaring into his eyes, refusing to look away.

Just then, Emmet finished a phone call and walked over. “Helanie! That was impressive. I’m glad you didn’t give up. Keep pushing forward, you have potential.” His words hit my ears like music.

I glanced from Norman to Emmet, noticing the prideful smile on Emmet’s face.

Norman clicked his tongue in irritation, took a deep breath, and then walked off toward Maximus and Kaye. Emmet was different from them.

“But I failed,” I said, sitting up, my back straight. I watched as Emmet gestured to the warrior to hold the umbrella over my head instead. He didn’t care that his suit was getting soaked, which wasn’t ideal since the heavy rain instantly drenched him, making his white shirt almost see-through. He had tossed his coat aside earlier, so now I could practically see the outline of his muscles. There were tattoos on his body, but I couldn’t make them out clearly.

“You still have three more tests to go. Besides, the ones who finished last from other groups are in the same position as you. So, if you pass the next tests—and hopefully excel in one or two—you’re in,” he reassured me, his tone surprisingly kind. His deep, heavy voice might make someone think he was harsh, but he wasn’t.

“Just head inside and rest. Tomorrow is the intelligence test, and I’m sure you’ll pass with flying colors.” He didn’t even look at me as he spoke; his eyes were fixed on the sky above.

He was kind, a different kind of kind. I wasn’t even sure if he realized how much his words meant to me.

“Really?” I asked, and he nodded, a warm smile spreading across his face.

“Just have faith in yourself. Look at what you accomplished today. It was a tough challenge, and you did it. I’m sure you can achieve anything if you put your heart into it,” he said, gently pressing a finger toward my chest. He didn’t actually touch me, but it felt like his words had reached my heart.

Then, without another word, he stood and walked away to rejoin his brothers. But I continued to watch him, wondering why I felt an odd connection with him—a mate bond, perhaps?

And then my gaze shifted to Kaye, who quickly looked away, almost as if he had been caught watching me.