Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

I blinked, stunned. "Wait.., what?*

I've been trying to reach you for days, Kasmine. You were reading my messages. You left me on 'seen. Over and over."

"No, I didn't." U shook my head. "Claire, I swear... I didn't get anything from you."

Her brow furrowed. "Don't lie to me, please. Don't."

"I am not lying, Claire, I swear," I said honestly. "I'm not making it. I wouldn't have ignored you like that, no matter what. And you know that."

She scoffed and shook her head, blinking more than usual to fight the tears that I saw gathered in her eyes.

Where was all this coming from?

Could this explain why have not received any calls or texts from anyone' for a few days now?

I took a small step closer. "You're my best friend. I'd never do anything to hurt you intentionally."

She looked at me for a long moment as if she were trying to decide she could believe me.

I really hoped she did because I was tired of fighting and running. I just wanted to make peace with everyone so that we could all go back to living our lives and worrying about other things.

I felt a triumphant end so close, and I didn't want anything to ruin

Her lip quivered slightly as she took a deep, calming breath. "You should've come to me. We've been through too much for you to just disappear like that."

"I know," I whispered. "I was scared. Everything was changing. Kester, the bond, my mum, the pack... everything has been a mess. And you... you were the one person I didn't know how to face. I didn't want to hurt you."

"Well, you did," she said calmly. "But maybe now we can move on already."

"I'm sorry, Claire." I reached out, not sure if she'd let me close. "I never wanted this to come between us."

Her breath hitched, but she didn't move away. "Me either."

Claire's warm arms wrapped around me in an instant, and mine around her. We didn't say anything for a while, We just let out tears do the talking.

"I missed you," she whispered against my shoulder.

"I missed you more."

We pulled away slowly, smiling through watery eyes and wiping our cheeks like two little girls caught in the rain. There was relief between us now, and even though it felt too fragile, it was real. It felt like a new beginning.

And for a fleeting second, I believed everything might finally be okay

Until I saw him.

fust

of across the street, by the corner

florist shop, a man i bod,

dressed in black, head down, with a hat shielding most of

But I wished his clothes were the only thing that made my skin But, go.

It wasn't. It was the anet

he

was looking at us

He wore dark shades despite the shadow his hat cast across his face and his posture too still:

My heart skipped.

"Claire," I whispered. "There's a man behi-

My words froze as I caught the shift of his coat and the glint of met

My throat clamped.

"HE HAS A GUN!"

Time shattered instantly.

Claire's expression melted into confusion. I lunged toward her, may heart thundering so loud I could barely hear anything else. I grabbed her arm, ready to shove so we could run or do something.

But then, I heard a deafening crack.

BANG!

My ears rang, and everything stopped.

All I knew was that something warm splattered across my cheek..noveldrama

Claire's wide eyes met mine.

And then, there was silence.

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