Tasting 182

182–I Wish I Wasn’t Their Stepsister

Nora:

“Nora! Why would you want to hide such good news from anyone?

Don’t you want them to know you’re not someone who doesn’t even have a wolf?” He smiled,

anticipating my excitement at announcing my awakened wolf.

“I don’t see it as that big of a news yet,” I attempted to downplay it. But as a fighter and a boxer,

who praised his strength and wolf, he was not agreeing with me at all.

“And then you will transition and get a rank, don’t you want that?” He queried, probing into why I

didn’t want anyone to know about my wolf. These concerns had driven me to keep her hidden..

“No! She hasn’t even woken up yet. And if I told anyone, they would ask me to transition. I’m not

even sure she is fully awake yet because, didn’t you see, she went into hiding once again?” As I

explained, he nodded thoughtfully.

“Besides, they would ask me to transition before the council, and when I couldn’t, they would think I

lied just like Natalya had lied about her wolf,” I finished, sensing his understanding as he nodded in

agreement.

“Then I will help you awaken her, and then we can tell everyone about your wolf,” he suggested with

a bright smile. He was always up for a challenge. I wished I could give him satisfaction and take off

my ring. and transition before him, but that would be too dangerous for me.

I have learned a lot in these last few weeks. Firstly, I should have never

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Stepaster

let Natalya enter my life when I was keeping so many secrets. And secondly, giving April a chance

even after she had bullied me on multiple occasions was just foolish on my part. It was honestly

clear that she only befriended me to get closer to Ryker. And now she has now achieved her goal.

“What are you thinking about?” Nash asked.

I didn’t want to do it, but after April’s comments and threats, I felt like I shouldn’t just sit on my ass

and do nothing.

“I never knew Natalya got her wolf,” I said, noticing Nash zoning out.

“I mean, she felt the mate bond with Cain, so she must have received. her wolf, right? ” I attempted

to sound nonchalant.

“Maybe her wolf is too weak?” He was confused but trying to give his brother the benefit of the

doubt.

“Strange. Then why would they talk about it so openly?” I shrugged, planting seeds of doubt in his

mind. I just knew they would never challenge Cain’s words hence he was lying so openly about the

mate bond.

“Hmm, I don’t know. I’ll see. Listen, please take care of yourself and-” He paused, and I

straightened my back, asking him, “So after I get her, will you reject me?” I noticed a sudden jolt

from his body. The topic of rejection was sensitive for our kind.

It was because when somebody gets accepted by their fated mate, they become very strong. Even

the babies they make with their fated mates are stronger than ever. However, Nash understood why

I was asking him that question.

“You see, it’s obvious that your father would never accept this

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relationship. And you also mentioned that there’s nothing that could be done. So,” I didn’t want him

to reject me, and neither did I ask for rejection. I just wanted to know what was going on in his head

because he was refusing to openly comment on our mate bond situation.

“Let’s wait for your wolf to wake up first, and then we can see what could be done. For now, go get

your nails done and whatever you girls do before the ball,” he joked, trying to get up, but my hold on

his arm stopped him, and he sat down again. I quickly removed my hand after getting his attention.

“What about you?” I inquired.

“What about me?” I couldn’t explain why my mood shifted so

pleasantly after feeling a mate bond with him, but I was starting to feel like myself again.

“Are you not going to the ball?” I questioned, and he started smiling widely.

“I am,” my heart sank in my chest, and I bet he noticed my smile. fading.

“I’ll be taking care of the security at the ball,” he quickly explained why he would be there.

“Oh!” A sudden sigh of relief escaped my lips, but he tilted his head, as if judging me.

“I wasn’t jealous, I was just curious,” I quickly retorted, lightly slapping

his arm.

“I know. In fact, it will be hard for me to see you with that asshole. And you’ll call me your

stepbrother in front of him,” he huffed, trying to sound playful, but the way he clenched his fists

hinted at some truth

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behind his words.

“It’s alright. It’s not like anything could be done about this mate bond,” I joined him in using a joking

tone.

It was a weird kind of energy when I was around him. The fact that we were able to joke about the

mate bond was exactly what I needed in that moment.

“Right,” he lowered his head, nodding.

“So I’ll leave then,” he scratched the back of his ear, slowly getting up. In fact, he was so deliberate

in getting up that I began to wonder if he was expecting me to stop him..

But I didn’t.

It would only get harder if he stayed around me. I began to feel strangely happy that my third

stepbrother was my mate. There was this weird connection we had formed that made me more

comfortable seeing them as my mates than anyone from the outside.

However, as Nash slammed the door shut after leaving the room, I was shaken back to reality. I

remembered it wasn’t such a good situation. The two mates had already turned their backs on me,

and from the looks of it, Nash didn’t seem to have a plan to accept me either. All because I was

supposed to be their stepsister.

“What if I’m not their stepsister?” Somehow, I found myself wondering

about that too much.

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