Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 514

Chapter 514: 514-Everybody Wants A Piece Of Helanie Niles
Helanie:

“That will be it for today. Thank you for taking my class,” Emmet announced, sounding drained. He had been so distant all day that I couldn’t help but worry about him.

But then, every time our eyes met—which was quite a few times—I remembered how my eyes had been glued to the door that night, and he never came.

Emmet grabbed his stuff but didn’t walk out. Instead, he stayed behind, one arm stretched over the podium, watching everyone leave.

“Helanie, a word!” As my friends and I were nearing the door, he called for me.

I stopped while my friends walked ahead, leaving us alone. Now, it was just the two of us in the big, empty classroom.

“Is there a chance we can—ever work things out?” he asked, his eyes not breaking the eye contact. He had put his stuff back onto the podium again.

“Emmet—you have no idea what you did. You left me—ghosted me—I could’ve been married to any one of those men I was afraid of being in a room with. What then?” I complained, getting frustrated every time I thought about that night.

“I get it. And I’m not trying to put blame on my memory issues—but trust me, I don’t remember anything. I’m just sorry that somehow I forgot about you—,” he couldn’t finish because I started talking.

“And remembered Azura. Aren’t you supposed to forget about people when they’re not in front of you or around you? But she hasn’t been around you for years, Emmet. There’s still love—in your heart for her. And I know it’s logical that you still do, but you’re not ready to accept someone else even when you think you are,” I said, my emotions showing in my eyes with tears.

“That’s not true. I know my heart, and I know I’m ready to accept you. I have no clue what might have happened for me to think about her that night—” he put a lot of pressure on himself, struggling to say her name in front of me, but the damage had already been done.

“I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like that. The truth is, you ghosted me when I needed you the most. Just because you forget doesn’t mean it can explain or excuse anything. What makes sense is that you remembered Azura. It helped me realize you will always choose her memories over me,” I put a hand to my chest, and tears started spilling down my face again.

“No, don’t cry—” He came from behind the podium, but I stepped back to create some distance between us.

“Emmet—I’m so sorry, but I don’t think I can do that again. To be in love with you—” As I was talking, I heard him gasp, and my words faded from my mouth.

“You don’t love me anymore?” The way he asked that question made me regret it.

If I didn’t love him, I wouldn’t be hurting so much. But he doesn’t love me, and no matter how many times I say that to him, he refuses to accept it. Even when his actions made it clear that even his dead ex is his priority over me.

“I will stop loving you, I’ve made up my mind,” I cleared my throat and saw him look away.

“Okay, well, I have nothing else to say then,” he started rubbing his face with his hands as I turned and walked past him, then out of the room.

After I left, I couldn’t focus on anything anymore. I had been consumed by memories of Emmet until we were supposed to go home.

It was the weekend, so I’d be returning to the mansion since that was the deal for the married ones.

But I still had some time before I went home because I had to train. Norman was finishing his combat class with the others, so I was sitting next to the trail with Maximus and Kaye. I heard Emmet had left for home already.

Maximus was standing a little farther from me, with one leg on a big rock and holding some grass that he kept shedding.

And then there was Kaye, walking back and forth.

“Hey, sir, may I have a minute with her?” That’s when surprise hit us as Sage and Rudy ran straight to us.

Now that they knew I had married Norman, I didn’t think they would be weirded out by me spending more time alone with the brothers.

“Sure,” Maximus raised his brow, saying it in a very casual way.

I got up and walked away because I didn’t want the brothers to hear us. I had a feeling Rudy would also express his disappointment, and he did.

“Hey,” he said, a soft smile on his lips.

“Hi,” I replied awkwardly. It was my first time meeting them after my whole truth had been made public.

“I’m so sorry for what you went through. You should have told us, we would have always been on your side,” Sage said, and I gave her a nod.

I didn’t doubt them ever. They were always very straightforward and kind to me. But telling my secret to them was not something I had ever thought about.

“Anyway, I heard about your marriage. Helanie—there’s no way you felt the mate bond with Professor Norman that night specifically. You’ve lived with the brothers, so there’s no way that full moon was the only time you felt the mate bond.” However, the minute Rudy started talking about the mate bond issue, my body began to feel goosebumps.

Why the heck was everyone so busy trying to prove the mate bond story wrong?

“But I did—” I tried to argue in the softest tone, but neither of them looked convinced.

“Helanie, the mate bond is not something that is created later. You are born with your mate already decided. So whenever you get in touch with your mate on a full moon, you feel the mate bond. So please, tell him the truth. He has been so restless ever since he found out you’re married. There’s no way you don’t know that he has feelings for you.” Safe stepped forward to defend her friend with the confession of love that he found hard to make now that I was married.

Another one who wanted to marry me?

Was Sydney right that I was just a horrible person trying to steal everyone? Was it some hidden effect of my pheromones?