Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 512

Chapter 512: 512-Slut Shaming Much?
Helanie:

“But that wouldn’t change anything. She won’t receive any special treatment. It’s not even my decision—Helanie wants to stay in the hostel during weekdays and finish her academy like everyone else, under the same rules,” Norman had given a whole speech about the mistrial and how he felt the mate bond with me.

I could tell the students were shocked and in disbelief. It’s not every day that a student marries their professor—especially an RVS professor. But he said it was important to be open about it, because it wasn’t something taboo.

“Now, just because she won’t be receiving any extra favors doesn’t mean any of you get to pick on her,” Maximus added, his eyes landing on Sydney.

I hadn’t looked her way since I arrived. I knew she was looking for a moment alone with me.

“Now, please head back to your classes. Emmet will be taking the juniors, and I’ll meet the seniors at the training ground in a minute,” Norman then announced the schedule for the day, and everyone started to scatter.

My friends and I had briefly met before we were called to the ground. Penn had been awfully quiet—and he was actually the one I hadn’t seen since morning. But now we were all heading to the breakfast hall together.

“So, you married Norman—the one who wasn’t your mate?” Lamar elbowed me, laughing a little while I pouted.

“Norman—he’s so big and like, beastly. How was the first night?” Salem joined in from the other side, walking beside me and giggling until she told me what she imagined our relationship was like.

“Umm, no—we’re not married like that,” I turned to her and whispered. The other students walked ahead while our group stayed behind.

“You must’ve planned this before the wedding day. Is that why you were so chill about marrying Kaidon? Because you knew you wouldn’t actually end up with him?”

Penn gently pushed Lamar and Gavin aside to come stand right in front of me.

Oh shoot!

I forgot I had told them I had a plan.

“No, we had… someone else in mind. But then that someone just ghosted,” I shut up quickly, feeling weird talking about Emmet like he was some stranger.

But I couldn’t tell Penn about me being mated to all the rogue brothers—not yet.

Or maybe I will. But the others shouldn’t know. I can’t deal with Charlotte and Kesha right now.

“But Norman was supposed to marry Jessica. I heard she took pills the moment she found out he married you, and they had to pump her stomach,” Penn said, and my jaw hit the floor.

I couldn’t believe she tried to end her life—and the moment she was okay, she ran to check on us and didn’t even tell us what she’d been through.

“That’s not a problem. I had a talk with her—she’s cool. She understands I had no other choice. Besides, I told her I’ll reject her groom next full moon,” I shrugged, feeling way more relaxed knowing I’d cleared things up with Jessica.

Thank goodness I told her the truth—that the marriage was only to keep me safe.

“So, you and Norman are not—” Penn continued to bombard me with questions, but Lamar finally caught on and realized he was making me uncomfortable.

“Hey, let’s not interrogate her. We’re her friends—we should try to understand why she made that choice. Anyway, let’s go have breakfast. We’ve got our Helanie back,” Lamar said, hugging me from the side. Gavin joined in from the other side, and Salem wrapped her arms around all of us with difficulty. Penn finally gave in and hugged us too.

As we entered the café together, I knew right away that the troublemaker was waiting for me.

Not everyone—just Sydney.

She stood with her arms folded, and the moment she saw me, she sprinted in my direction. Her sister stepped ahead to block her, but Sydney pointed at her, signaling for her to move.

“Not today, Salem. And it’s really sad that you’re standing with her when your sister is heartbroken,” she pointed at her chest, tears starting to build in her eyes.

Salem slowly stepped to the side, but I still had Gavin and Lamar by my side—and Penn looked ready to jump in if Sydney tried anything.

But I would defend myself.

Even if I didn’t have my wolf, I could still fight. I’ve taken combat classes, and with more training—and maybe if I force my wolf to awaken—I might just get lucky and beat Darius.

I have to.

“Is it true? Did you and my mate—?” Her voice trembled, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Yeah. I didn’t know you were dating him or that you were mates,” I replied honestly, and the look on her face was intense—anger, betrayal, her breathing all over the place.

“Did you two… fuck?” she asked, and I stared her down.

“No. Your coward of an alpha mate left me at the subway for those beast alphas to steal my first time,” I snapped, and a crowd began to gather around us.

“Oh please—don’t give me that bullshit. I know about your pheromones. You must’ve used them to seduce my Altan. And if not him, how many mates are you planning to steal before you settle down?”

She had those wild eyes—the kind that told me she wouldn’t rest until she hurt me in a way I couldn’t recover from.

“Everyone—” she stepped back, spreading her arms to get everyone’s attention, “this slut Helanie right here not only tried to steal my mate, but she’s the reason Professor Norman’s wedding got canceled. I bet she used her pheromones—or begged him to save her—but at the end of the day, she ruined someone else’s perfect day.”

As she hissed her words, the crowd gasped, hands flying to mouths in shock.

That’s when Lamar took a deep breath and stepped forward.

“Does your alpha mate know you’ve been fucking me and the others behind his back? So, who exactly is the slut here?”