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.

wasn't doing a good job hiding it because he caught on immediately. "Kasmine," he said softly, his warm brown eyes scanning my face. Is everything

smile that I knew didn't reach my eyes. "I'm fine. Jake. Sorry. I'm just..." My voice trailed

the problems she's stirring up

him in

he

"What?" My

I sincerely couldn't tell where I had

expression shifted, his brows rising slightly. "Karina. Your stepsister. Or, well, your brother's stepsister, I guess.” His tone was the kind that

my confusion

idea what you're talking about, Jake. My curiosity piqued, and

forming in my stomach while dread

then maybe you should ask your parents. Or Kester."

said, and before I

It was a box.

that

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Chapter 196

asked, my curiosity spiking, pushing aside the dread lingering

as I stared at the small,

heart was already on edge from our previous conversation, but now it pounded for

flicking between

that

do this on your birthday, make it special, you know? But He exhaled, his shoulders rising and

the way the world suddenly

he lifted the lid of the box, revealing a delicate silver bracelet. Simple, yet stunning. A

it,

with words," he said, his voice lower now, “but this..." He gestured slightly with the box. "This is me

in a sharp

wavered as emotion

already hear the turmoil in my head. "I know your brother is a problem. I know you're technically supposed

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

a secret until then. I'll wait. I'll wait as long as I have

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Chapter 196

My heart clenched painfully.

what if..." I hesitated, licking my lips. "What if I find

when we

certainty in his tone-his absolute

be cautious and careful about the decision I was about to make. But the truth was, nothing

did.

Not Alpha Jaden.

for Kester, it would never end well. We were stepsiblings.