Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

KASMINE.

It really ached to know that I was at odds with my parents, especially my mum. But I think it was time.

Time to stop shrinking and apologizing for existing. I had to stop living based on other people's expectations. For once, I wasn't going to be the girl who bowed her head and obeyed.

I was taking my life back.

And I was starting now.

For too long, I had let every other person steer me like a puppet on strings. Every move I made had to be thought about, approved, and sanitized to fit their image of who I was supposed to be.

But not. anymore.

Right how, what I wanted was to help Kester get better, and after that, I'd finally decide on what to do about the fact that we were actually mates.

. Perhaps, before all these would be over, I'd be able to define what I actually feel for him. Love? Fear? Or sympathy?

But for now, none of that mattered.

We drove out of the pack house, the car speeding along the narrow road that led toward the city when something out the window caught my eye.

A familiar figure with bright hair and a

Claire.

pink sweater ducked out of her favorite ice cream joint like she was late for something.noveldrama

"Stop the car," I said to the driver, and he pulled over immediately.

I jumped down, crossing over to the other side of the road.

"Claire!" I called before she got the chance to hop into the cab she had just flagged down.

She stopped and turned in the direction of my voice. She froze when she saw me.

I didn't know how to feel. A cold weight settled in my stomach as I stepped closer to her.

Since the night I found out Kester was my mate, I hadn't seen or heard from her. And now that I was standing in front of her, I realized I had no idea what to say.

She tried to act normal. I could see it in the way she offered a quick smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. Her body was stiff like she was already preparing herself to bolt.

We stared at each other for a moment too long without saying a word. The silence was so heavy that I had to break it myself before it crushed my conscience to pieces.

"Just say it," I said in a very low voice. "Whatever it is you're holding back. Just... say it."

Her mouth parted. She blinked. And then her expression cracked just a little.

"You want me to be honest?" she asked, her voice slightly shaky. "Fine."

She let out a breath, then laughed, not because it was funny, but heute she didn't know what site to do with

the frustration bubbling up. And I understood

"I was hurt Kasmine. I'm still it, I knew I didn't stand a chance with Kester, but to find out he was your ate?

You, of all people? She looked away. That stung. A lot."

I swallowed.

"But, at some point, I told myself that it was the Moon Goddess's choice, not yours. That I didn't have a right to be hurt."

"Claire..."

She kept going as if she hadn't

heard me. Or couldn't stop. "But then you left, she continued, her voice gradually rising. "No texts. No calls. Nothing! You vanished. Like meant nothing to you."

"I..."

"Do you think I'm a bad person, Kasmine?" she asked suddenly.

I froze. "What? No. Of course not."

"Then why did you shut me out?” Her eyes were brimming. “Why didn't you...

Why didn't you just... talk to me?"

"That's not fair,” I said quickly. "Claire..."

"Don't. Don't say you didn't know

how to talk to me. I've been calling you. Messaging. Leaving voice even came to Kester's house

QU

once, but I was told I wasn't allowed in."

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