Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 552

Chapter 552: 552-Last Night In His Arms.
Helanie:

As the clock struck 12, I began to move around in my bed even more. I had requested everyone not to make a fuss about my birthday. I didn’t want to celebrate this day—at least not until I had defeated Darius. And the chances of that seemed pretty low.

I had made the mistake of checking social media. Some of Darius’s die-hard fans were praising how beastly he had performed in training this week.

There was also a statement from Darius that had trended for a few days:

Darius: I am aware of the gravity of my friends taking the blame. Of them admitting to the heinous crime they committed. However, I stand firm in my innocence. I was not involved. And winning this battle is now an even bigger mission for me, since I have to continue speaking out about my innocence. I am not guilty. I didn’t commit a crime. I sympathize with the victim and I am ready to give her a good life. That is why I have chosen not to kill her. I will fight until my last breath, but I will not kill her. I will marry her to give her a good life, since it is not easy for rape victims to live a normal life. Helanie is traumatized and angry—she wants to punish all men. I am sure I can change her mind and show her that not all men are animals.

“Asshole,” I hissed under my breath, recalling his statement. It boiled my blood to see young girls supporting him. Even some young alphas believed him, since he had made me seem like a man-hater.

“Helanie, why aren’t you asleep already?” Norman almost scared me into screaming. I was so deep in thought that his voice startled me.

As always, he was sitting on the couch, staring at the ceiling. He must have realized I was tossing and turning.

“I can’t sleep,” I groaned.

He got up and walked over to my side of the bed. I sat up so he could sit down too. In a white shirt and shorts, he looked like he had just stepped out of heaven.

‘He does seem—spicy–’

Before Cora could turn this moment into something awkward, I shut her down by speaking to Norman.

“I don’t know what to do. I’m just so restless,” I rubbed my face with my hands. “You know, I first joined the academy for this very battle. But then I began to wonder if they’d just admit to their crime and I wouldn’t need to fight anyone. However, the last one, ugh!” I slapped my forehead a little too hard, so Norman held my hand and gave me a look not to do that again.

Somehow, I’d been so scared and restless that him holding my hand felt like an open invitation. Without a second thought, I scooted closer and rested my face on his chest.

“Hug me,” I groaned when he sat there stiffly.

“Are you sure?” There was hesitation in his voice.

“Norman!” I raised my face and grunted at him. “Don’t take it as something sexual. I just want comfort. If you can’t give it to me, I can go ask my mates.” I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I was just so scared for tomorrow.

All eyes would be on me. And if I lost, Darius would come out victorious—and would marry me.

Ugh!

That was the agreement, and I had foolishly accepted it because I was too cocky at the moment.

However, when Norman quickly wrapped his arms around me to stop me from going after my mates, it changed my mind.

Maybe I can win.

“What if I lose and he marries me?” I whispered against his chest. His natural scent was incredibly intoxicating. Intoxicating in a way that could easily lead to arousal.

I nestled deeper against his chest and closed my eyes. His four heartbeats sounded like a melodic rhythm.

“You won’t. Which is why—I was thinking we shouldn’t reject each other tonight, or tomorrow. Rejection can cause pain, and you don’t need to be dealing with pain before your battle,” he said in a low voice.

“What about after the battle?” I don’t know why I asked that question, but the moment it left my mouth, I bit my tongue.

“Oh,” he uttered, and I raised my head from his chest.

“What about then?” I asked again, this time looking straight into his eyes.

“I mean—you’ll be celebrating. Do you think we’ll even have time to reject each other? And then you’ll be in pain during the celebration. I think you deserve a day without pain tomorrow. Maybe next full moon,” he said, avoiding my gaze.

“Right. I was thinking the same thing,” I replied. I didn’t smile too much, but something about that plan felt comforting. I leaned back into his chest and closed my eyes.

It was wild that I was hugging Norman. That he was the one providing me comfort.

Later, he got into bed, leaning back on the pillows while still holding me, and I slept with my face against his chest.

The anxiety and fear about the battle kept me from focusing on anything else—not even the fact that I was lying on top of Norman.

“Helanie?” Soft whispers tickled my ears, slowly pulling me from sleep.

“Hmm?” I burrowed deeper into the firm surface, even lifting one leg to rest on what I thought was a pillow. But the “pillow” was so hard—it felt like I’d placed my leg on a rock.

“Helanie, it’s time. You don’t want to be late,” I felt a slight nudge and slowly began to wake up.

Placing my hands down, I lifted myself and looked straight into Norman’s eyes.

“Ahh!” I screamed when I realized my leg had been resting on his thigh, my knee bent and touching the very obvious bulge in his shorts—and my hands were on his chest.

“It’s okay,” Norman said, watching me scramble off him.

“Ugh, is it morning already?” I checked the time and felt my heart race like a drum.

“Come on, let’s get ready,” he said.

It reminded me of those school days when I didn’t want to go take an exam because I was afraid I’d fail.

But this—this was so much bigger than that.