Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: 52-Wrapped Around Her Finger

Norman:

“Well, I guess this time the Moon Goddess really wants you to stop bothering us,” I said, pressing down on the gas. It was a long drive ahead, but I knew her injuries weren’t life-threatening.

I had already arranged for doctors and nurses to be ready upon our arrival. Our family farmhouse was a beautiful place, rich with greenery and memories. After hours on the road, I finally pulled up to the house.

The ambulance, along with a team of medical staff, was already there.

“Take her inside,” I instructed, adjusting my shirt. It was 8 a.m., and I hadn’t slept a wink all night. Still, the serene morning weather was refreshing. I took a deep breath, letting myself relax for a moment as I watched the paramedics lift her onto a stretcher.

She looked so defeated, so alone. My small smile faded as I recalled the sound of her pained breathing, her voice heavy with sorrow.

“Ugh!” I muttered, turning away and trying to clear my mind.

“Take good care of her. I’ll check in later, alright? If anything urgent comes up, call me,” I told the doctor. He nodded, but before I could leave, he added, “Your brother has been calling non-stop. Should I update Maximus McQuoid on her condition?”

A wave of tension settled over me. My brother had been so worried that he’d contacted everyone involved here.

“Only if he calls again,” I said firmly. “But don’t reach out to him yourself. Let him rest.” With that, I headed back to my car, anxious to be on time for the test at the ground.

This entire mess would be dealt with without dragging our academy’s reputation through the mud. And I wouldn’t let anyone question my brother’s decisions.

Once I was back in the car and on the road again, my phone rang. It was Maximus. Hearing about his constant worry for Helanie filled me with frustration. If she weren’t in our lives, my brother would be free of all this stress.

“Yes, Maximus, she’s fine. I have the best doctors here, and they’re taking good care of her. They said she’s lost blood, but not enough to be fatal. You were fast to find her, and that saved her. It’s just that, without an active wolf, she can’t heal on her own. Don’t worry; she’s in good hands,” I assured him in one breath, hoping he’d feel some relief.

After a few more minutes of reassuring him, he finally ended the call. It was a miracle she could still move as she did after such a terrible fall. Her injuries weren’t life-threatening, but the pain she must be in… it would be unbearable for most.

But why did we even care?

There are countless people who suffer daily. We can’t grieve for them all.

Once I reached the mansion, I took a quick shower and put on a clean white shirt before heading to the training grounds. My brothers were already there, preparing to start the test. When I arrived, I saw the candidates standing in a line. They greeted me with a respectful bow, then sat as I gestured for them to take their seats.

“Is there a problem, Lucy?” I asked, noticing the girl with short hair glancing up from her table, looking tense.

Our exam was set up in an open-air area for all the candidates from this shelter. Today, it was their turn to be tested.

“It’s just that… one of us left last night,” she murmured, her expression somber.

Was she talking about Helanie? I thought no one here even liked her.

“Well, whoever is gone is gone. You should focus on your own test and stay competitive,” I told her, making it clear that I was disappointed in her distraction.

“Does that mean,” Salem asked confidently, raising her head, “that because one of us left, the candidate with the lowest score still passes?” She wasn’t wrong. The rule stated that only five candidates from each shelter could advance, meaning one would typically be disqualified. But with Helanie gone, they were all technically guaranteed a spot in the academy. We were still holding the test to assess their abilities, though.

I knew all the candidates well; I had examined them thoroughly before this.

“Exactly,” I replied, giving her an approving nod. Salem’s posture straightened with pride.

Since only one student fails each round, they should be grateful Helanie left.

Just then, Emmet and Maximus arrived, looking refreshed—until their eyes landed on the empty seat. Maximus already knew what had happened, but Emmet seemed confused.

“Where’s Helanie?” Emmet asked, stepping closer and whispering in my ear.

“She left,” I said, keeping the truth from him to avoid stirring up more concern over that rogue.

“Huh. What do you mean, ‘she left’?” Emmet questioned, his expression shifting to disappointment, just as I’d expected.

“I’ll explain everything after the exam,” I assured him with a steady look. I’d have to tell him sooner or later—otherwise, he’d think I was hiding something from him.

“But—” Emmet began, only to be gently pushed back by Maximus, who was well aware of the situation’s seriousness.

“Helanie won’t be here today. Let’s get through this, and afterward, I’ll fill you in on everything that happened,” Maximus said, trying to calm Emmet. Even so, Emmet began pacing back and forth, radiating such intense frustration that I started to worry about him.

“Where’s Kaye?” I asked, looking around for the others. Emmet and Maximus were already here, but Kaye was nowhere in sight.

It didn’t take long for him to arrive, though he came with trouble trailing right behind him. Dressed in a large black overcoat with the collar turned up, he walked over with a fierce energy, a group of warriors following closely behind. The anger in his eyes was unmistakable, and I sensed he was about to make a drastic move.

“I’m here,” Kaye announced, his voice tight with anger. “And I’m here to arrest two despicable candidates who committed a crime last night.”