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.

adjusted the clasp on the back of my own, my thoughts slid

to go all day.

Kester.

The house felt empty. His

walked around the house, running little errands s no one asked me to

+35 BONUS

eyes that always saw

no matter how badly I wanted to, I couldn't bring myself to

Karina

hell would

where's the man I tore to shreds with my words last right when he tried

Yeah. No.

of the vanity now, nails tapping in

I had pushed him.

I cut him.

leave. To stay

I hadn't meant

to be cruel than to admit

to let him see how badly I wanted

a soft knock on my door. One

it was time.

up. "That's our cue, birthday

the beginning of a 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

her that. The whole thing looked like it belonged in one of those glossy

in all that perfection, I felt

guests I had no idea who they were. All the

family. Nothing's

still

even the fact that her supposed soon-to-be son-in-law was currently behind bars, facing accusations serious enough to stain

I realized something

to mop up the mess. Just try not to be on the other end of the table because, in a minute, they'll move on

older than me. "I put in a lot of effort to make this happen. The least you

already on some shelf. Like was rotting, and she needed to marry me off before the stench hit the wrong nose. Sometimes, I wondered if she even remembered that I was just twenty-one.