The entire house was shrouded in darkness, with the thunderstorm illuminating parts of it. I watched a dark figure enter and close the door behind him.
The light flickered on, illuminating Emmet’s face, and my breath hitched. He was drenched from the rain, and the first thing he did upon entering was start unbuttoning his wet shirt.
He flicked on the side table lamp and casually placed his phone down while opening his shirt with one hand.
I wanted to make my presence known, but I was stunned as he took off his shirt, revealing his chiseled physique.
He was incredibly muscular, adorned with tattoos that didn’t cover his entire body. A large tattoo of a sword ran down the center of his chest, and there was something written along his ribs.
“Oh!” The moment he finally noticed me, I gasped and quickly looked away.
This was going to be awkward now.
Norman:
“I heard what happened at the examination grounds.” Her blue eyes shifted toward me as she held the teacup with grace. Even after everything that had transpired, she maintained her poise. Her posture was always upright, and her demeanor was stern.
“Two candidates committed a crime and then lied to Maximus McQuoid,” I used the words the others had been employing when discussing that incident.
“Hm, and you got them expelled?” She tilted her head, her eyes questioning.
“Arrested! We cannot allow such dangerous creatures to roam freely,” I replied, refusing to take the teacup that her royal beta had been holding for me.
Mr. Larry Taboida had been friends with her since childhood. But when my mother left the pack, he was left behind. Now that my mother was back in her pack and serving as alpha queen, she had hired him to work for her.
“Norman! Who is the victim, and why isn’t she in the hospital, but rather in the farmhouse that you brothers share?” I knew my mother would bring it up. She had information on all of us; her trusted men kept an eye on us, but we never confronted her about it.
It was a mother worried about her sons, right?
“Since you know she is staying at our farmhouse, I’m sure you must know who she is,” I replied, shaking my head. Mr. Larry pulled his hand back, but my mother grabbed the teacup and offered it to me herself this time.
Her light blue dress looked like a summer breeze, and her hair flowed in the wind coming through the window.
I had been informed by Mr. Larry that my mother wanted to see me, so I had to leave everything behind and hurry over. She had called for Kaye too, so I knew what she wanted to discuss with us.
“Ursula’s daughter? I heard she came to stay with you for a while but then left, and now she’s participating in the academy?” There was a bitterness in her tone; I knew she wouldn’t want her in our academy.
“She wouldn’t pass the tests. There’s no need to worry.” I accepted the teacup and noticed my mother watching me drink from it.
“Yet she is in the farmhouse. Anyway, I didn’t bring you here to talk about some useless creature or a gold digger’s daughter. I’m here to make a suggestion.” She straightened her back, playing with the black diamond on her finger. It was a rare gem, just like my mother-she was rare too.
“Hi, I’m sorry I’m late!” That’s when Kaye barged in, anxious and flustered. I hated how my mother’s presence made him feel. He was always on edge around her, constantly worried about doing something wrong. It wasn’t just the big things; even a cough from him would upset her.
“It’s nothing new,” my mother said with a bright smile, attempting to play it off, but her comment must have stung Kaye.
“It’s alright. You’ve been really helpful these past few days.” I quickly defended him, but my mother’s eye roll was disheartening.
“Mom! I left the minute you called-” Kaye had a smile on his lips as he turned to Lady Darcy Katz, but she was so imposing that she didn’t even acknowledge him and instead interrupted.
“Release the two students.” She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other and watching us for a reaction.
“Huh? Sydney and Lamar? They have committed a heinous crime. If they are given a chance today, they will do it again, thinking they’re invincible.” Kaye looked so passionate when discussing what was right that it honestly made me feel guilty for not doing the same.
“Oh! Kaye has decided to start focusing on the right things and not play in the grass anymore?” My mother’s comment made Larry turn toward us and laugh along with her.
“They are treasures, not some grass,” I stated loudly, wiping the smile off Larry’s face.
“Whatever.” My mother used a rough tone. “But release those two. You don’t have any proof. Besides, do you know who Sydney’s father is? He is a royal beta of the Blood Hunters’ pack and also the biggest investor in my jewelry company.” My mother’s eyes lingered on Kaye, who looked incredibly uncomfortable hearing her demand for Sydney and Lamar’s release from custody.
“Mom! The victim is awake and-” I watched Kaye trying to explain, but my mother shook her head.
“So? Make her go back to sleep then.” Her words sent a shudder through Kaye’s body right in front of my eyes and I felt a little pain in my heart.
“You’re not going to cause so much trouble for the sake of that rogue, wolfless slut, are you? Do you know the alpha of the Blood Hunters’ pack has been putting so much pressure on us? And by the way, must I remind you of the rules? Rogues that are not part of the academy are pretty much vulnerable and not the responsibility of anyone. Even if she dies, Lamar and Sydney cannot be held accountable.”
I was struck with shock when my mother explained that rule to us. The rogues who are not part of our mansion or academy do not fall under any rules. They are rogues, and they have no security or protection. I knew the rule, I just forgot about it.
I wanted to defend my brother Kaye, but it was a significant rule, and if the alpha of the Blood Hunters’ pack defended his beta’s daughter, we would be called out for breaking it.
“So, I hope you don’t want the alpha and the royal beta to send their warriors after this rogue girl. Because there will be no rule that will keep her safe from their wrath. So silently withdraw the charges and avoid embarrassing yourself and me,” my mother said, looking straight into Kaye’s eyes. I knew she was taking control of him.
Kaye would rather commit a crime himself than upset our mother. The shocking part was that even though I didn’t like Helanie at all, I felt a sense of wrongness in that moment when Kaye sighed and gave up.
Helanie:
“I’m sorry,” I said, turning around to give him some privacy as he pulled another shirt from the bag he carried with him. Just a few days ago I was deeply hated by these brothers. But now they were taking turns taking care of me? Or was it because they felt guilty or responsible for someone from the shelter attacking the other candidate?
“Did I wake you up? Sorry, I didn’t realize I was being so loud,” he murmured softly in his deep, raspy voice.
“No, it’s fine. I… I haven’t been able to fall back asleep since waking up from a nightmare,” I admitted, waiting for him to finish changing.
He stepped up behind me, gently tapped two fingers on my shoulder, then walked past. That was his casual way of letting me know he was done.
I turned around just in time to see him untie his hair and give it a quick shake, freeing the loose strands.
“Then let me make you something to eat; you must be starving,” he offered, heading to the kitchen and pulling out some bread.
I walked over slowly, taking a seat at the counter while he cracked some eggs and began whisking them.
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