Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 499

Chapter 499: 499-The Angry Bride
Helanie:

I was in a different kind of zone all this time. I just wanted to blink and have time pass.

The next thing I knew, I was sitting in his car, looking out the window. I had been let down again. And this time, by the man who was my mate, the love I thought was all I needed to forget about my challenge to the Moon Goddess.

“Helanie, let’s eat something,” I heard his voice again, and I clenched my jaw. My anger wasn’t directed at him, but the person I was really mad at wasn’t around at the moment.

So, I was kind of annoyed with all the brothers.

And then there was Norman’s fiancée, Jessica.

How would she feel about all this? I can’t be the kind of woman who takes someone else’s man.

“Tell me something,” I turned to him and saw him sit up straighter.

“Sure,” he replied, half-distracted, like he was worried about what I might ask.

“Did you hear from him?” I asked, my eyes silently warning him about what would happen if he didn’t answer honestly.

“I haven’t. I’m sure there’s a good reason he couldn’t come,” Norman said, his tone flat. I hated how he could hide everything without giving anything away.

“You’re such a liar,” I hissed and turned my back to him again.

“Okay, listen, I don’t want to do this right now, but don’t tell anyone that we lied about the mate bond—” he started, but I turned to him and groaned. His eyebrows drew together, and then his eyes narrowed at me.

“What are you mad at me for?” he mumbled. “I’m just saying, if anyone finds out and they complain—”

As he kept talking, I looked him up and down, then scoffed.

He followed my gaze and then shook his head at my reaction.

“I’m surprised your throat still works after all that scoffing,” he groaned.

“Just make sure—” he continued with the same lecture, and I rolled my eyes, throwing myself back in the seat, arms crossed.

“I heard you for the first time. You know what? If you were this annoying to your brothers—always reminding them what to do and what not to do—maybe this wouldn’t have happened,” I said, gesturing between us, meaning the whole wedding mess.

He sighed and looked out the window.

“Emmet is not irresponsible,” he said.

“Yeah, sure. Emmet, say thanks to your brother for backing you up—oh wait, Emmet’s not here,” I snapped, throwing a small fit in the car and kicking the driver’s seat.

“Sorry,” I quickly realized I was making things harder for the poor driver and sat up straight to avoid doing it again.

“You’ll get to reject me at the next full moon. Just calm down now. That part was important,” Norman said in a calm and respectful tone.

“And by then, Jessica will have cursed me with maggots on my grave,” I sighed.

“Is that what this is about?” I heard his tone shift, and I turned to him again.

“Norman, there are certain things I really hate people for. One of them is stealing someone else’s mate or fiancé,” I groaned.

“That’s a good quality, but weren’t you going to marry Kaye if I hadn’t stepped in?”

I don’t know why he thought that was the right time to point out my hypocrisy, but sure enough, it made me even more mad.

You see, Emmet would never do that. He knew when I was too annoyed and just saying dumb things. He’d let me vent without interrupting.

But this big oaf in front of me—just looking at his face was making my anxiety worse.

“And now I’m his wife,” I said my thoughts out loud, and Norman groaned loudly.

“I wouldn’t have been stealing Kesha’s mate because he was my mate in the first place,” I hissed at Norman, now sitting on the seat with my legs folded under me, towering over him.

“And that makes it okay to break the promise you made to the Moon Goddess—”

He stopped when I gasped, and that finally shut him up.

“Oh Norman, if you don’t shut up—I will literally murder you,” I screamed, waving my hands at his neck like I was about to strangle him. He didn’t move but just looked at my hands with raised eyebrows.

After he didn’t say a word, I calmed down and sank back into my seat.

“I was just pointing out that you broke the promise because it was Emmet, who you loved. So marrying that mate would’ve been justified—”

As he went on, I turned and gave him a tired look, and he finally stopped talking.

Does he not know when to quit? Does he always have to be right?

After a while, I couldn’t take it anymore. I buried my face in my hands and started crying. Even if this was meant to be a punishment, Emmet had made me believe this day would become a blessing for our love. All the days I had waited for this night, I’d prepared so much in my head to say to Emmet.

I was so happy. Even when everyone else thought I had lost, I believed I’d actually win—I’d gain my love, and together we’d fight for justice for me.

I felt a small nudge on my arm and looked up to see Norman holding out a handkerchief, nudging me gently with the back of his hand to get my attention. He was looking the other way. I quickly grabbed the handkerchief and started wiping my cheeks.

Thankfully, he didn’t say another word for the rest of the car ride.

After hours and hours, we finally arrived—just as the sun was starting to rise.

I didn’t want to face anyone, but what else could I do?

I got out and stared at the mansion. Tears welled up in my eyes again.

I was suddenly so emotional that day.

The mark hurt so much, too.

“Let’s go,” Norman said, walking me quietly toward his bedroom.

His bedroom!

Crap, all this chaos made me forget…

Now we’d be sharing a bedroom?