Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 196

Chapter 196

I blinked rapidly. "What?" I asked with a breathy scoff.

Mum didn't even flinch. "Yes, Kasmine. It was signed and agreed upon when his father helped your father seven years ago. He got us through a major crisis, and in return, a marriage alliance was secured. It is beneficial to us all in the long run."

Her voice was calm and steady as if she were simply reading out a bedtime story. Her words weren't making any sense. None of this was.

"Wait. I was payment? Gratitude? Appreciation?" I counted the words.

I turned to face her fully now, standing close, right in her face. I wanted her to look me in the eye and tell me it was okay to trade my life and future for the pack's 'beneficial

future.

"Don't see it that way, baby." She reached out to touch my arm, but I stepped back. “If this wasn't necessary, it wouldn't have happened."

There wasn't an ounce of regret in her voice. Not a single hint of remorse.

"This isn't happening." I shook my head, the words spilling out before I could even think.

"Kester will never let this happen. He won't. You'll see,

"Kester knows, baby." She said, and I froze. "He was there when it was all agreed upon."

The air in my lungs vanished.

Blood turned to ice.

The world tilted just slightly.

"What?"

***

The perfect day I had been looking forward to crumbled before my eyes, slipping through.

my fingers like sand. And there was nothing I could do to save it.

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Chapter 196

1 sat with Jake in our usual garden, the secluded spot on the school grounds where we

always snuck to. The place where, for a little while, the world didn't exist.

I wanted to be happy to see him. I really did. But my mind was too clouded, and my heart

too heavy.

job hiding it because he caught on immediately. "Kasmine,"

my eyes. "I'm fine. Jake. Sorry. I'm just..." My

about Karina? About the problems she's stirring up in the pack?" He

him in

he

slightly. "What?" My brows

familiar, but I sincerely couldn't tell where I had heard it, but

stepsister, I guess.” His tone was the kind that said,

my confusion

no idea what you're talking about, Jake. My curiosity piqued, and for some reason, my heart began to hammer

my stomach while dread curled around

you don't know, then maybe you should ask your parents. Or

slightly, studying my reaction. "They'll explain it better." He said, and

It was a box.

Elegant. The kind of thing that looked both expensive and carefully

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Chapter 196

there?" I asked, my curiosity spiking, pushing aside the dread lingering at the

my fingers twitching slightly as I

on edge from our previous conversation, but now it

eyes flicking between the box and his

nervous smile-one that

his neck, a habit of his when he was unsure of himself. "I planned to do this on your birthday, make it special, you know? But He exhaled, his shoulders rising and falling. "I can't wait anymore, Kasmine.

world

the box, revealing a delicate silver bracelet. Simple, yet stunning. A small charm in the shape of a crescent moon

it,

how I suck at expressing things with words," he said, his voice lower now, “but this..." He gestured slightly with the box. "This is me saying I want you, Kasmine. Us. No more

in

wavered as emotion surged inside

turmoil in my head. "I know your brother is

own choices. His jaw clenched briefly. "Screw that. I don't care if

I'll wait. I'll

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Chapter 196

My heart clenched painfully.

my lips. "What if I find my mate on

bridge when we get there," he said

absolute faith in

know I should have thought about this longer. I should be cautious and careful about the decision I was about to

did.

Not Alpha Jaden.

might be feeling for Kester, it