Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 124

Chapter 124

KASMINE.

I didn't want to be down here.

God, I really didn't..

Every fiber in me screamed to stay tucked away in the safety of my room, buried under the warmth of silence and solitude. But I threw that choice away the moment I glanced at my phone and saw his name lighting up my screen again.

Jaden.

I'd been ignoring his calls for days-pressing decline like a reflex, almost like breathing. He must've finally gotten the message because he stopped calling and started texting instead.

Persistent bastard.

And maybe whatever deity decided to touch him with a bit of remorse didn't quite finish the job - because despite the fact that he was trying to apologize for how our first date went, he still had that sprinkle of arrogance like a perfume he refused to wash off..

It was... irritating.

And oddly entertaining

But it was a good distraction reading his texts - a stupid, oddly timed, mildly amusing distraction in a world where everything else felt like it was rotting around me - because they made me laugh, even though his texts weren't the kind that made a girl's heart flutter or brought beat to her cheeks.

More like that dry, unimpressed laugh you let slip when someone's trying too hard and failing spectacularly.

Jaden:

> "Okay, I might've been a bit of an ass. Maybe just a teaspoon. Definitely not a cup."

"If we go out again, I promise not to interrogate you like you're applying to be my next suitor."

> "P.S. I wore something decent tonight. No cape. No crown. I promise. See you at dinner."

With the last text, an idea popped up in my head. Wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to show Kester that I was moving on pretty well? At least, judging from the fact that things between us had turned this sour and he was finally getting engaged to June, soon to have a perfect fairytale ending I would never be a part of, it was the best time to move on with my life.

Things between us had rotted past the point of repair, and even if they hadn't, this silence and distance between us was enough to bury anything that had once lived.

But may Selene forbid it that I move on with Jaden. He was nothing more than a means to an end tonight. A temporary distraction dressed in bad apologies and worse arrogance.

Jake fit more into the future I could settle for. Even though he wasn't everything I wanted, I could settle for him. And 1 think I love him, too. Plus, he was now my boyfriend, wasn't he? And who knows? He could turn out to be my mate in a few days.

Jake and I share a good connection... No fireworks, no wild storms, but something close to calm waters. That to count for something. So, being mated to him wouldn't come as a surprise to me.

-25 BONUT

Chapter 124

stomach to flutter, even though it seemed like they were fast asleep or in a coma. They had to learn to flutter whenever I thought about Jake They shouldn't be taught

best I could do for myself would be to gradually take my mind off him and

the food tasteless, Karina's presence disturbing but nothing was as nauseating as

hands wrapped around his made nausea rise to my throat, but I gulped it down with the glass of juice I poured

I checked the time.

8:04 PM.

Jaden. Never on

door swung

arrogance, which seemed to always demand

"Hello, everyone!"

voice rang out, drenched in a cheeriness that was obviously forced and almost theatrical. It grated like lemon

Jaden! We weren't expecting you. What a pleasure!" Dad

you here. Please have a seat," Mum let out a very warm smile as she gestured to the

"Alpha Jaden, welcome..."

"Alpha Jaden..."

"Jaden..."

chant coming from

was genuinely scared they

an altar and sacrifice a goat in his honor while we worship at Jaden's feet? Because what's

someone flipped a switch. Every single face around

my lips at the instant switch in Kester's countenance. The tension in his jaw was a thing of beauty. I was scared for the poor glass he held in his hands. It was one heartbeat away from shattering. "What the fuck are you doing here, Jaden?" Kester asked, and even though he was

Almost didn't

in this damn world wouldn't notice Kester

answered my question, Jaden," Kester took a gulp of his wine, and sometimes I wondered how he managed to drink this much without

Chapter 124

family' dinners?"

short chuckle, though, but it managed to

Hmm. Interesting

up the ladder of my emotional priorities, Jaden could've been a strong contender to replace Kester. He had that ability to pull a reaction out of anyone, especially the one man at this table trying

said, sliding into the seat beside me.

rehearsed his hand slid over mine where rested on the

with a sly smile, eyes flicking to me, "My fiancée here knew I was coming.

I almost choked on my juice,

Fiancée?

Baby?!

Brother-in-law?

him, blinking in disbelief. My heart jumped into

one who'd come prepared to put on a show tonight. Seems like Alpha Jaden had his own

snapped to meet mine, but this time, I didn't look away. I held his gaze for a moment before I spoke, "Ah. Yes. He told me. Sorry, I forgot to mention it to everyone," I turned my attention to the rest of the

alright, Kasmine," Mum chimed in with a delighted smile, her eyes darting between me and Jaden

performance he didn't even know I was on. He kept whispering little nothings to me every now and then- The kind of performance meant for an

I knew they were happy with whatever it was they thought was happening between me and Jaden.

table, June's smile had withered into