Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

KASMINE.

I got worse as the sun went down. At first, I thought I felt this sick because it was just a few more hours left for Kester to seal his fate with another woman. But as the clock ticked away, I realized it wasn't just emotional.

It was physical, too.

By the time I finished getting dressed for the occasion, my hands were trembling. My vision swam in and out of focus. Every little movement I made felt like wading through wet concrete.

Claire had offered to stop by. She said she'd braid my hair and fix my lashes just the way I liked. But I told her we'd meet at the venue instead. I hadn't seen her since our last conversation about Kester-and after everything she told me... I didn't know how to face her.

Didn't know how to face myself.

Didn't even know what I was still angry about... I was exhausted..

The moment I stepped into the car, the motion made it worse. My stomach twisted. My hands turned clammy. My head pulsed behind my eyes like a second heartbeat.

Something was wrong.

On our way to the venue, I decided that the driver should take me to Medix Hospital to get myself checked. Perhaps I needed some medicine to feel better. My big day is in five days. I wanted to be at my best.

I had also carried along the two birth control pills I had left, intending to stop by the hospital close to the house and get a refill after the party, but I could just get it from Medix instead.

"The results will be out in two hours, ma'am. And the pills would arrive in another one hour. We're trying to restock on that. Would you like to wait for it?" The doctor said after taking some samples from me to run a series of tests. Although I didn't pay attention to the list of tests she had mentioned that she'd like to carry out after examining and asking me some questions.

I was too dizzy and lightheaded to even listen.

All I wanted was to feel better.

"Examine the pills and give me the exact same ones I've been using, I said, leaving the unlabelled bottle on her desk She didn't need to ask why it had no label. She already knew. She was once a young girl who lived with her parents, right?

"Of course, ma'am."

"Can the results be sent to my email?" I asked, "I need to be at my brother's engagement party."

A smile spread across the doctor's face, "Of course, ma'am. Extend my warm wishes to the Alpha," she added kindly.

It took longer than I had anticipated, but I was still on time. Maybe just a few minutes late.

"Step on it," I told

driver, and he picked up speed.

My mind went blank. Empty of anger. Empty of longing. Empty of tears.

I wasn't going to the engagement with old feelings. No more heartbreak. No more

questions. Just... me. And the new wall I had built

inside me.

I had steeled myself for this moment, and I was ready to face it.

The hall buzzed with energy as I stepped in. The event had already started with

the Master of the Ceremony introducing dignitaries to the audience.

Then I saw Claire. stood not too from the entrance, half-tucked behi one of the floral pillars, arms folded like she wasn't

sure she wanted to be here at all.

Her expression was that of open relief when our eyes finally met.noveldrama

She darted forward like she'd just spotted a lifeboat in the middle of a shipwreck.

"Girl! I've been waiting all evening," she breathed, wrapping her arms around me like I'd just returned from a warzone. "What took you so long?"

If someone had seen us in that moment, they'd probably assume I'd been rescued from Mars.

I managed a soft laugh, more for her sake than mine. "I just took a little detour," I said, leading her to an empty table somewhere around the forefront of the hall.

I could feel Kester's eyes bore holes in my forehead. He shouldn't be looking at another woman in that manner. His focus and attention should be on his wife-to- be. Isn't it?

I did all I could to ignore him. Didn't even meet his stare because the wide grin June had on her face while sitting beside him and holding his arm so possessively made the nausea I felt grow even worse.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not jealous of June. I wasn't even jealous of how

extremely beautiful she looked tonight. I'm just...

"I wish she'd drop down dead this minute," Claire's evil words yanked me out of my own decent thoughts.

"What?" I asked, shocked and hoping I didn't hear her correctly.

*June. I wish she just died already." She repeated with an eye roll.

If only she knew that June wasn't even her actual contender. Poor Claire.

"Don't say that, Claire," I said quietly, more tired than angry.

She opened her mouth to respond, but I didn't give her the chance. Excuse me," I murmured, standing up abruptly.

Her brows pinched. "Wait, are you mad at me?"

I paused, giving her a small, strained smile over my shoulder. "Not in a million

years. I just... need to use the convenience. I'll be right back."

And before she could say another word, I turned and walked away.

I heard a round of applause from the stage thundering behind me, but I didn't look back.

I rinsed my mouth after trying and failing to throw up. I've been feeling nauseous

all day. This was a new symptom added to the numerous ones I'd been experiencing for days now.

It's been about an hour and twenty minutes since I left the hospital I've never been this eager to get something like I was to get the

test results.

My phone beeped, and I hurrie ly unlocked it to see if it was from the hospital, but

it wasn't. I stared at the screen for a second tonger, hoping it would morph into something from the hospital. Something that would finally put me out of this weird, dragging misery. But it didn't.

It was a text from Jake.