Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169: 169-In The Cage

Helanie:

"It’s okay, she’s fine. Others have sustained even worse injuries, and they will heal too. She just needs to transition, and—" Kaye had been reassuring me while I sat next to Lucy on the bench. Everyone was taking a little break before it was my team’s turn with Sydney and another team. I have never had friends so I never thought about getting connected to someone so well. But right now, they were more family to me than my own family, if I can still call them that.

"She’s my friend; of course, I am worried about her," I snapped at him for constantly asking me to calm down.

"Okay, I’m sorry, you’re right. I’ll help her transition safely myself, okay?" he asked, kneeling in front of me on the bench. I didn’t notice my friends staring at me. Lucy was barely conscious, and my heart ached for her.

"Okay," I hissed, turning my head to the side.

"You!" he called out to Lamar. "Bring her some juice and sweets. Her turn is next, and she doesn’t seem to be doing too well—" Before Kaye could get an angry glare from me for saying she wasn’t doing well, he realized his mistake and added, "I mean, it will just be good for her."

He then got up once I regained my composure and looked around at the people judging me. I guess I had overreacted, but seeing Lucy tossed around like that just broke my heart.

It was at that moment that I realized no one should be with someone who doesn’t love them enough. A mate is supposed to be a ride-or-die.

Although I would have been upset too if it had been Jenny who got hurt, that wasn’t the part that bothered me. What messed with my head was that Gavin chose Jenny over Lucy. It must have caused Lucy so much pain.

Not only that, but if he could, he would have saved both. But the chances of saving both were 50/50, and he didn’t want to risk Jenny getting hurt.

"I’m here with her. Go get ready for your turn, Helanie," Gavin whispered, and I instantly turned to glare at him. He looked shocked too, but I understood why I was glaring at him.

"Hey, it’s okay," Jenny said, patting my shoulder. I gently placed my hand on the back of hers and removed her hand from my shoulder.

She looked confused, but I wasn’t anymore. I wasn’t foolish enough not to see that something was wrong here.

But my mind was all over the place, also now scared of what would become of me in that cage.

"Okay, let’s go, it’s our turn," Penn said, offering me his hand, but I didn’t take it. I just wasn’t feeling like being around anyone at the moment, except for Lucy, who wasn’t even in her senses to respond to me.

We all walked over to the cages and stood before them.

"Make sure you guys keep her safe, you know. She’s extra baggage for you guys," Sydney called from her cage’s door, looking so confident because she was a strong she-wolf with a high rank.

Lamar and Penn reached the woods before me, but I wasn’t too worried. I already knew which herb I was going to pick.

The minute I reached the woods, I didn’t even need to go deep inside. I had kept the time, place, and location of the herb in my mind—along with its effects. A silver flower called ashpetal. Its petals turn into ash and dust when touching someone, getting absorbed in the skin and causing the victim to feel worms move under their skin.

I had already grabbed my weapon so I was now making my way back. Soon, I realized the others were right behind me as well.

"What did you get?" Penn yelled, reaching me.

"Ashpetal, what about you?" I asked back, feeling my heart race speeding with how fast I was going. I had to keep up with Lamar and Penn. I did not want them to lose because of me.

We have now come back to the cage in only five minutes. Once The cage door opened, my body felt so cold like I had been frozen to my spot. Needles to say, stepping into the cage was like walking into a death trap.

"It is okay, you can do this," Lamar whispered and I nodded my head while the cage opened. I got to see Kaye do it personally for us and while we were stepping in, he gave me a look of confidence, also making a gesture of thumbs up.

I nodded and took a deep breath, entering the cage.