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.

caught on immediately. "Kasmine," he said softly, his warm brown eyes scanning

"I'm fine. Jake. Sorry. I'm just..." My voice trailed off, lost somewhere

she's stirring up in the pack?"

him in

was he

blinked, my head tilting slightly. "What?" My brows

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

Or, well, your brother's stepsister, I guess.” His tone

confusion

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

forming in my stomach while dread curled around

you should ask your

back slightly, studying my reaction. "They'll explain it better." He said, and before I could. protest, he had brought out something

It was a box.

Elegant. The kind of thing that looked both expensive and

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Chapter 196

asked, my curiosity spiking, pushing aside the dread lingering at the edges of my

slightly as I stared at the small, elegant box in Jake's

our previous conversation,

I breathed, my eyes flicking between the box and his

a small, nervous smile-one that barely masked

he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck, a habit of his when he was unsure of himself. "I planned to do this on your birthday, make

at the way the world suddenly seemed to shrink down to

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

stared at it, my

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 waiting for the right time,

sucked in a

voice wavered as emotion

if he could already hear the turmoil in my head. "I know your brother is a problem. I know

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

then. I'll wait. I'll

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Chapter 196

My heart clenched painfully.

"What if I

cross that bridge when we get there,"

tone-his absolute faith in us-made my

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

did.

Not Alpha Jaden.

thought I might be feeling for Kester, it