Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 141

Chapter 141: 141-By His Side And I Am On The Wrong Side

Helanie:

"The food they prepare is so good," Jenny said, elbowing me. On my right was Jenny, and on my left was Lucy. The others were also seated around the table having breakfast, while some were lounging on the couches and sofas.

All in all, it was a cozy little setting. Thankfully, Salem and Sydney were too busy impressing their minions with grand stories about their pack and father.

We were all dressed in tracksuits and had grabbed our bags for the first mission of the day. Kaye had informed us early in the morning to get ready for the search for herbs.

I was pretty excited. Not only for the first task but also to see him again. It was odd how he had managed to spark something in my heart with his consistent showcase of care and affection. The kiss we shared last night didn’t make me regret anything. For the first time since that night, a touch didn’t freak me out.

"If Professor Kaye asks you to make teams for the search, can you please pair me with Gavin?" Lucy asked, making me turn my head toward her. I noticed how little she had eaten during the meal. She kept staring at Gavin, her eyes filling with tears whenever her gaze lingered on him. _{frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓}

He seemed unbothered when he wasn’t directly talking to her. But I couldn’t blame him. The betrayal must have been too much for him.

"I will," I reassured her.

After breakfast, we all left the guesthouse and waited in the front garden for Kaye to arrive.

We didn’t have to wait long; Kaye showed up shortly after us. He was wearing a black tracksuit with matching black joggers.

His hair had started growing to the length of his neck lately. They were wet, so I assumed he’d just taken a shower--or maybe he’d used gel.

"Good morning, everyone. I hope you all had a great sleep. Today, we’re starting with an exciting mission: the search for a pink flower known as the ’Flower of Comfort.’

"It’s said to have been used during the times of war when warriors returned to their tents, wounded and filled with despair from missing their mates and pups. The flower brought comfort to their agitated souls. Though the effect was temporary, it was enough to soothe their aching spirits," Kaye spoke passionately about the flower, and I couldn’t help but smile at him.

He was becoming such a ray of hope in my life.

Maybe, if I could trust him, I could share my secrets with him.

However, the thought of my messy secrets instantly spoiled my mood. I looked down, trying to take a breather, when he called my name and stole my attention back.

"Helanie!"

I raised my head, noticing that everyone’s necks had turned toward me.

But what was truly shocking was Kaye’s reaction.

He was staring at her face as if he’d seen a ghost--or like how a toddler looks at their mother after she picks them up from daycare.

"But I thought you found my work useless," he said, sounding so helpless and vulnerable. He seemed to forget he was standing in front of his students and started complaining like a lost child.

"I didn’t find your work useless. I just thought you were unable to make people respect it since you couldn’t even defend it. But after last night, I was so proud of you when your students stood up for you. That’s when I realized my son had achieved something remarkable," she said.

Her words, spoken in such an overly sweet tone, struck me as insincere--a façade, perhaps.

Or maybe it was just my own bias. Having never experienced love like that from either of my parents, I found it hard to believe in any parent’s affection for their children.

Nonetheless, her words were enough for Kaye to happily accept her offer and allow her to tag along.

She made sure she was walking right beside him as we began our journey into the woods.

In fact, she kept talking to him the entire time, taking an interest in everything he did.