Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates-Chapter 699-Only I Love Him

Azura:

I was so glad I came out at the right time to support Emmet. The sad part was that Norman, who loved his brother so much, was suddenly acting up.

I didn’t understand how they could excuse Kaye trying to kill Helanie because of the curse, or that Maximus tried to attack her, and everybody else, even his own brother, but they were still against Emmet just because he did it for someone else.

I guess the real problem was that Helanie and her big ego didn’t like the fact that, for once, she wasn’t the one being prioritized. She didn’t care if the baby died or anything. The only thing that mattered to her was that he did it for me, for someone else. So basically, he chose me over her. Even if it was during the curse, she wouldn’t care.

I had seen right through her the first time I met her. She was an opportunist, dramatic and full of herself. She wanted all the mates for herself. She wanted to be with all of them, but couldn’t even tolerate the thought of her mates thinking about someone else.

In the last few days, I found out how she had somehow convinced Norman to kick out Jessica, the one they had betrayed. They were master manipulators, the two of them, Norman and Helanie.

At that moment, I realized I needed to take Emmet away from these two. And from the others, too. They were just Norman’s tail. They would follow him wherever he went, in whatever direction he picked. So really, they weren’t that important.

But it did sadden me that Helanie tried to spin it like I had just gone to the hospital, and blah blah blah—just making up a story to convince everyone that it was my fault. I didn’t like that woman. And I was so right about her.

And suddenly, when I said Emmet should leave, she jumped back into the whole act, like, oh, now I don’t want to punish Emmet? Then why the hell did she make such a fuss about it? Why did she bring in three of his brothers, all active and ready to attack him?

She was such a hypocrite. She wanted someone else to do her bidding while she kept her hands clean. And now that one of her mates was about to escape her manipulation trap, she was all riled up. So I gave her one more piece of truth.

She looked at me with those eyes that showed she had lost. That’s what it was for her, just about winning.

"It’s true. We felt the mate bond last night," I said determinedly, not lying.

I felt it. I felt every connection last night with Emmet. And I couldn’t thank the Moon Goddess enough for it. I guess it was bound to happen. Helanie couldn’t just have four mates and enjoy the fun. Now let’s see how she accepts their fated mates.

But the look on her face told me she wasn’t happy about it either. She looked completely destroyed, because just like I said–She wasn’t going to be prioritized anymore.

"Brother, what is she saying?" Maximus stepped forward to speak, because of course, Norman had nothing left to say. How could he ask Emmet to stay when he had been all up in his face, grabbing his collar and shaking him like that? Disrespecting him?

Emmett looked down, then slowly nodded.

"It’s true. I felt it," he uttered. And Helanie let out a gasp, stepping back from me.

"Are you sure? Or did you forget?" Kaye started to mutter. The words clearly offended Emmet.

Forgetting is one thing. But now they were basically accusing him of making it all up?

"Come on now," I snapped, my voice rising. "How far are you guys going to go disrespecting him? Every time—every time—he says something, you all ask: did he make it up? Did he forget?" I shook my head. "There’s a fine line between forgetting and going crazy. He forgets, but he’s not crazy. He’s not delusional. He wouldn’t make up stories. But you all, you’re taking advantage of his memory." frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

As I screamed, Norman stepped forward again, fists clenched. That’s when Emmet moved, stepping between us, facing his brother, blocking his path.

Finally! Emmet saw that he needed to take a stand for his other mate, too. It was just a silent battle of glares.

"She’s only defending you because she wants you on her side," Maximus said, pointing at me. The same guy who should have been on his knees, apologizing for killing me, for attacking me that day, was now demonizing me. Again. If it had been Helanie, he wouldn’t have done that.

"Enough," Emmet said sharply, raising his palm to silence Maximus.

Of course Emmet wasn’t a child. He knew who was standing beside him. He realized who had defended him all along.

Did his brothers really think that after accusing him of murder, after painting him like some monster, he would go against me, the only one who believed he wasn’t to blame?

"So, you’re going to leave with her?" Kaye asked, eyeing Emmet.

These brothers didn’t care for him. I had heard stories. Emma told me everything over the last few days. And now they were suddenly concerned?

No. They were just panicking. Because finally, someone was prioritizing Emmet. Someone was about to take him away from all these toxic people. From those who never truly understood him. From those who judged him.

Now, once again, everyone was staring at Emmet, waiting for him to make a decision. He turned toward me, and slowly stretched out his hand.

"You know the rogue community isn’t a safe place," he said, his voice low, steady.

It wasn’t a warning, it was a reminder. A soft echo of what life outside this so-called ’safe place’ could be.

I looked at his hand, then at him, and took it.

"I’m not afraid of danger if you’re with me, Emmet," I said. "I’ve died before, I can die again. But I won’t leave you behind. And I won’t ask or expect you to stay here for the sake of comfort, not when you’re being treated like you’re a danger."

He nodded.

And I knew, he finally understood what I had been trying to say all along. They were all watching him like he was some unpredictable beast. Like he might snap at any moment.

So then why? Why did they want him to stay?

Was it to keep him close, so that if something ever happened again, Goddess forbid, they’d have a convenient monster to point at?

Someone easy to blame?