Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 139

KASMINE

It was finally happening

My birthday!!!

The day I'd dreamt of since I was old enough to understand what it meant. The day I would shift for the first time, meet my wolf, and maybe just maybe feel the mate bond that would finally free me from the chains I'd never dared speak of since I turned to my stepbrother.

But why, then, did my heart feel so heavy?

Why did it feel like today-my day-wasn't mine at all?

I was supposed to be excited, giddy even. Months ago, I'd imagined this evening with a smile on my face and hope lighting up my soul.

Instead, my chest ached. There was a tremble in my fingers that no one else could see.

Because stupid, naïve me had gotten entangled. Entangled with the one person I should have run from so much so that today, which was meant to be my happy day, I'd feel sadder than a woman who just lost her mate. No. Not just lost him. Watched him die and had to keep breathing anyway.

"Oh, Selene! You already look breathtaking!" Claire shrieked behind me, shattering the veil of my thoughts.

I offered her a small smile in the mirror, my fingers tightening around the edge of the vanity as the maids. fluttered around me, twisting my hair into a crown I no longer felt worthy to wear.

No matter how sad I felt, I was proud of the woman staring back at me from the mirror.

My gown slid over my skin like water. A long, black silhouette that hugged my curves before spilling down to the floor in waves of satin. It shimmered faintly under the chandelier's light, catching on every edge like it was alive, like it knew it was meant to leave people breathless..

The neckline dipped just enough to tease, framed with delicate embroidery that almost looked like black vines, curling toward the hollow of my throat where my gold necklace sat.

That necklace never leaves my neck. Not even when I didn't want to set eyes on the man who gave it to me. Claire practically bounced behind me, still gushing. "God, I swear, if I was a wolf, I'd mark you myself. You're dangerous, Kasmine!"

I gave a dry laugh. She didn't catch it, though. Claire never did when she was too hyped.

My eyes drifted back to the mirror. Smokey eyeshadow framed my gaze, making it darker than usual, Bold. Beautiful I looked... like the woman everyone expected me to be tonight. Strong Regal. Ready.

But Inside, I was slipping. Slowly and quietly.

the back of my own, my thoughts slid where they had

to go all day.

Kester.

back from Claire's house. The house felt empty. His intimidating presence was nowhere around

time I walked around the house, running little errands s no one asked me to run, my

+35 BONUS

frame, those dangerous eyes that always saw too much. But he was honestly

couldn't bring myself to

Karina

hell

shreds with my words last right when

Yeah. No.

jaw tightening. My fingers toyed with the edge of the vanity now, nails tapping in a rhythm only anxiety could

I had pushed him.

I cut him.

him to leave. To

hell, I hadn't

to be cruel than to admit what I really

see how

a soft knock on my door. One of the guards, probably sent

it was time.

"That's our cue, birthday

fairytale. The hall was a sea of elegance-velvet drapes, floating candles, gold-rimmed everything Dignitaries, nobles, visiting Alphas, Betas, and Lunas-all dressed to the teeth-littered the place like it was some royal gala. Music floated from a live quartet in the corner, spicy food, expensive wine, forced

I'd give her that. The whole thing looked like it belonged in one of

somehow, in all that perfection, I felt like the ugliest mistake in the

being paraded like a prized auction item, introducing me to so many guests I had no idea who they were. All the while, she wore her perfect

family. Nothing's

still

the fact that her supposed soon-to-be son-in-law was

this, I realized

up the mess. Just try not to be

"I put in a lot of effort to make this happen. The least

hit the wrong nose. Sometimes, I wondered if she even remembered that I was just twenty-one. Still figuring