“I’m certain he didn’t come here to make you back down, especially since he brought the papers. Did he propose some kind of deal? Was there any chance he thought that if he somehow made Maximus lose-” he trailed off when he saw my frown.
“You think-I won because I offered your brother something?” I finally understood what he was insinuating.
He gave my robe a quick glance, almost as if to confirm my question, then adjusted his shirt and responded, “It wouldn’t be your fault. You didn’t have a choice. I’m not blaming you-“
“Oh heavens! You think I slept with your brother to win this round of the test? You actually think I would sleep with my stepbrother and then accept the card to officially be called his stepsister?” I covered my face in frustration, realizing just how far Kaye was taking this.
“Then explain how you could have beaten Maximus! And then-Norman coming here after hours with these papers for a signature? And he leaves his coat…his phone with your chat open, and he was looking into your background-” Kaye couldn’t seem to finish a single thought, jumping from one point to the next.
“Oh no! That’s why his girlfriend thought-” Kaye frowned, pacing anxiously as he muttered, “Norman and you-“
At that, I felt a surge of anger. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Your brother and I hate each other. Do you want to know why he came here?” I was done playing along. I could piece things together just as well, and I was ready to prove I had no interest in that jerk of a man he calls his brother.
Kaye turned to face me, his eyes sharp and demanding answers.
“He came here because he wanted me to sign Emmet’s card quickly and officially become your stepsister. He hates that you and Emmet care about me and probably thinks I’ll end up sleeping with one of you-just like you thought I slept with him to get admitted in the first place. Norman wasn’t even close to Maximus in the ground. I won because I used my brain, not my body. And your brother left in such a hurry because he found it inappropriate to be here with me in a bathrobe,” I snapped, watching his expression soften slightly.
“That makes sense, too,” he muttered under his breath.
“He’d want you as our stepsister rather than…” Kaye stopped mid-sentence, lost in thought. I didn’t know what was going on between him and his brother, but I hated even the thought of being in a situation where I’d have to deal with Norman in that way.
Now that his suspicions seemed to settle, Kaye turned to me, and his eyes widened slightly when he saw the anger still lingering in my gaze.
“I am-I don’t know. I just saw you in a robe, then my brother’s coat, and it’s… unlike him to visit someone so…,” he grimaced, and I noticed how anxious he looked. He could barely get his words out. He was all over the place, stuttering and fidgety.
“It’s okay. It’s not like you really know me, or I know you. I just hope you’ll ask me directly next time instead of jumping to conclusions. I’m not perfect, Kaye, but I know my boundaries. My stepbrothers are where I draw the line.” The moment I said that, his face went pale.
I don’t know much about men or how they react to certain things, but his expression was so conflicted.
“So, you’ve accepted us as your brothers?” There was a hint of sadness in his voice.
But I was sure of my answer. “I have.”
He gave a slight nod, stepping back. “Alright then, sis! Congratulations.”
His tone was dripping with sarcasm, and I couldn’t understand why he’d be upset that I accepted him as my stepbrother. Was he doing all this for some other reason? Did he not want me to see him as a sibling?
“Kaye-the thing is-” I felt an urge to explain why I had to accept him as my stepbrother, but why did I feel that way? It wasn’t like any other relationship could happen between us.
“No! I understand. Thank you for clearing things up. I’ll be on my way, and I’ll leave these here. Just sign them.” He wouldn’t even look me in the eye as he turned, grabbed his brother’s belongings, and dashed out of the room.
The moment he was out of sight, I felt a wave of nausea. I barely made it to the bathroom before I started throwing up.
Helanie:
After he left and I threw up, I went to bed to rest. Honestly, I wasn’t feeling well. My head was pounding, and everything around me seemed to spin.
The thought of being accused once again of something I didn’t do had taken a toll on me. On top of that, the embarrassment of accidentally flashing Norman and finding out what people back at the pack had been saying about me just added to the mix.
The next day felt different. I refused to sit around doing nothing. I needed a job. Emmet had covered my admission fees and other expenses, but he couldn’t pay for everything. I didn’t want anyone to feel like I was using them or that I relied on their money.
“Hello, I was looking for a job and heard that this pack doesn’t require any specific qualifications for hiring–” I tried to speak softly to the woman behind the counter.
It was a small caf?, and I felt surprisingly comfortable there. The moment I stepped in, I just knew I could work here.
However, while she was all smiles with the other customers, her expression changed the moment she looked at me, hardening.
“A rogue?” she raised an eyebrow. She appeared to be in her late forties, with piercing blue eyes and short, curly blonde hair.
“Yes,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “I saw the ad, and it said even rogues are welcome to work here.”
I didn’t want to anger her, but something in her energy felt off, almost like she was silently judging me.
“How old are you?” she asked, and I straightened my posture before replying.
“Eighteen.”
“Why are you a rogue?” For someone whose ad welcomed rogues, she was asking some pretty tough questions.
“Umm–my father didn’t want me after he divorced my mother,” I explained, noticing her head tilt slightly.
“Where is your mother?” She tapped her fingers on the counter, making me feel anxious, as if I were being evaluated. I noticed her name tag, Benita, and then took a deep breath.
“She moved on and wanted me to start my own life. Anyway, I’ve been accepted into the Vortex Academy,” I added quickly, noticing her expression shift. There was now a hint of respect on her face.
“Oh, why didn’t you say that before? Welcome aboard,” she said, quickly removing the plank to let me in.
“So, what can you do?” she asked, placing a hand on my back and giving it a quick pat.
“Um, pretty much anything. I can bake really well,” I replied, glancing at the menu. It was full of baked goods, and I had done a lot of baking back when I lived with my father.
“Great! But can you manage time? No offense, but we don’t usually get a red-jacket holder coming here to ask for work.”
“If you’re a rogue, how did you manage the admission fee? That academy isn’t cheap,” she continued, and I felt my chest tighten.
“It was just luck, I guess,” I lied, noticing her look a little dissatisfied.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply