Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 99

Chapter 99: 99-My Stepbro Says We Are Mates

Helanie:

“What are you thinking about? Don’t worry, I’m not going to abduct you away from your friends,” he said with an awkward smile.

The word abduction hit too close to home, and my body visibly shuddered before I quickly nodded to mask my discomfort.

“What is this about?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt. He narrowed his eyes slightly, studying me, almost as if he were judging my reaction.

“Follow me,” he said softly. He didn’t move, though, waiting for a response from me.

I hesitated, my thoughts swirling with uncertainty. Should I follow him? A part of me wanted to refuse, but my heart whispered that I should hear him out.

“Oh… okay,” I replied, giving in without much resistance this time. He had done so much for me that I felt comfortable following him.

He began walking ahead of me, and I stole a quick glance at the hostel to make sure no one was watching us walk away together.

That’s when I almost tripped from not paying attention to the road. I stumbled straight into Kaye’s back, grabbing onto his coat to stop myself from falling. His strong and mesmerizing cologne hit my nostrils like a truck full of bricks. It was so sudden and out of the blue, but his scent had a sense of calmness to it.

He turned swiftly, his hands reaching out to steady me, but I had already pulled my hands away.

“Did you ask anyone at the hostel about me? Kaye! What if they find it weird that—” I started, my words rushed and anxious. I didn’t want any more complications, so I was trying to be cautious. But somehow, my concern soured his mood.

“Forget the hostel, and screw what they think. If they bother you about this, let me know. I’ll show them what privilege can do,” he snapped, his tone harsh as his jaw clenched tightly.

That’s when I realized something was wrong. Why had he come out of nowhere to talk to me? What could be so important that he couldn’t wait for me to be at the academy?

“I’m not angry with you, I would never use a harsh tone with you,” he quickly added when my silence lingered too long. A forced smile crossed his face as he tried to soften his tone.

“What do you want to talk about?” I asked again, taking a step back.

“It’s… uh… just come with me,” he said, avoiding a proper explanation. Without waiting for my response, he began walking toward his car.

I followed him quietly. When we reached the car, he opened the back door for me, and I slipped in without a word. He got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“I’m guessing you skipped breakfast,” he said after a moment, adjusting the rearview mirror to glance at my expression.

“I wasn’t really hungry,” I replied honestly. I hadn’t had much of an appetite since finding out about the pregnancy.

“You need to take care of yourself. And if you can’t—then I will. And I’m not taking no for an answer,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for debate.

The sudden shift in his mood caught me off guard. His open concern and determination to care for me were… unexpected. Even his words were more open to show emotions and feelings.

“You’ve already done enough, Kaye,” I said, my voice softer now. I hadn’t forgotten all the ways he had helped me.

“That was nothing. You have no idea how I could turn your life into a fairytale,” he said playfully, though something about it felt odd.

The Kaye I knew was kind, yes, but he rarely showed any emotions. He usually kept a calm, almost distant demeanor. But today, he seemed cheerful—almost overly so.

It felt strange, and I wasn’t sure how to respond.

“What’s going on? And where are we going?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“We have this… um, project,” Kaye started. “There’s an abandoned pack we’re preparing for commercial use by rogues. We’re planning to develop malls, playgrounds, parks, and even cafés. In fact, one rogue has already signed up to start a café there. I think it’ll be a good way to offer rogue membership and keep them safe from wild rogues. Anyone working on the land will be given privileges and protection under the law.”

I nodded as he carefully explained the plan. “That sounds amazing,” I said sincerely.

“So, I wanted you to try the café with me,” he added, a smile appearing as he glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

“Why me?” I asked, skepticism creeping into my voice. I’d learned to be cautious about random acts of kindness.

“Helanie, I… need to talk to you about something too. Let’s get to the café first,” he replied. Yet again, his demeanor shifted whenever he brought up the reason behind his visit to me in such early hours.

“I don’t do well with the anxiety of suspense,” I murmured, hoping he’d understand that dragging it out wasn’t helping.

He suddenly pulled the car to a stop in the middle of an empty road, letting out a sigh as he rested his hands on the steering wheel.

“Okay,” he said, “but you need to eat something first. I want you to feel your best—and right now, you seem… down.”

He reached into the dashboard and pulled out an energy bar. Then, without warning, he stepped out of the car and opened the back door for me.

“Here,” he said, handing me the bar.

While I finished eating, he walked around the car, keeping his distance but clearly waiting for me to join him. Finally, I stepped out of the car, determined to press him for answers.

“Tell me now,” I insisted, crossing my arms over my stomach.

He stood in front of me, tall and determined, the faint morning light filtering through the clouds and framing him from behind. His broad shoulders make him look even hotter.

Then, in the softest tone, he said, “We are mates.”