Bullied By My Alpha Stepbrother

Chapter 73

Jasmine

I went for a run in the woods, ignoring the whine of my wolf as I ran farther away from Hardin, but the last thing I wanted right now was to see him. How could he expect me to just accept him back after everything?

He had even organized a ball to pick a mate because he would rather do that than admit to himself that he could be responsible for my pregnancy, choosing to call me a little whore because it served his purpose of not taking accountability for his actions.

I could not believe that I had gone and fallen for him despite everything, that somewhere along the line, I had stopped hating him and started hoping he was just misunderstood, but if he thought that just because we were mates that I was going to accept him then he had another thing coming.

My wolf whined but I ignored her, changing our course and decided to run towards the house.

If there was an option to go somewhere else, I would have as I was not yet ready to face my parents.

What was mom and Dad going to think, and it was worse that I did not know yet what Hardin had told them.

But there was no other place to go to, aside from the mansion. Nadia would have been a good option, a very good one, if only she was not going to try knowing what was wrong with me, and possibly telling mom that I was at her place if she actually did call to look for me.

I had left Hardin with Lorenzo back in the forest, and I hoped that he was already on his way back home. They would not actually try to kill themself as I had advised right?

“You should not be having those devious thoughts against Hardin,” My wolf snapped, and I shrugged. “Did I have a choice?”

Left with no other option, I realized that heading home was the best decision I could make at that point.

“Face your fears, Jasmine. Face our fears!” That was the advice my wolf kept on giving me and I almost told her to let herself do the talking when I have to face mom and stop with the motivations that I was not ready to buy.

Shifting back, I heaved a sigh of relief and leapt up into the tree to pick the dress that I had kept there, pulling it over my head and breathing in the deep fresh air as I walked back to the mansion.

Luckily I did not meet with any questions from anyone as I walked back to my room, aside from the prying eyes of the servants that felt like it was prickling on me.

They definitely would have heard about my kidnap, but what else did they know? I sighed, and went straight into my room.

I had just come out of the shower when I saw my mother sitting on my bed, her entire stance nervous and I cursed under my breath. How had I forgotten to even lock the door in the first place? Because now, who was going to help me answer the pile of questions that mom must have definitely stocked up for me?

“Jasmine, sweetheart. I miss you so much, I got scared that I might not see you soon and you don’t want to imagine how elated I was when one of the maids informed me that you were back.” She said, her eyes teary as she pulled me in for a hug that made me remain still, not because I did not want it but because I could not face her just yet, knowing that she probably knew everything about what was going on now.

Leading me towards the bed, she helped me sit and placed a tray of fruits in front of me.

“You need to eat. To preserve your strength. Do you know who kidnapped you and why? What about Hardin? I want to know everything, tell me what happened dear, I am so worried.”

“You don’t have to be worried anymore, mom.” With my hands, I wiped the stray tear that had fallen on her cheeks. “I am here now, and I am fine. I think that is the most important thing.”

After sniffling to hold back more of the tears that wanted to fall, while I watched her, “yes you are right,” mom voiced out. “The most important thing right now is that you are fine.” She pulled me into a hug as she spoke.

Pulling out from it, “but how exactly did you get kidnapped?” Her brows were furrowed as she looked at me. “You were supposed to be at the party that night right? And if my memory serves me well, the mansion was well secured. Or were you somewhere else?”

As much as I did not know what to answer yet, her question was a relief to me. For her to be asking questions like that, then she did not know that Hardin was my mate. If she knew, then she would also know of the affairs that I and Hardin had. And certainly she would understand why no one in my state would stay back, smiling and watching Hardin pick another girl as his mate while I was already pregnant for him. At that point, I was not asking for so much like being his Luna or whatever it was, I just needed him to not hurt me more than he had already done.

Because if he had not tried forcing himself on me even with the countless times that I resisted him, then we would not have gotten to the point where I would be pregnant for him.

“You are not saying anything?” Mom’s voice interrupted my thoughts, “What is it? And where had you gone that night?”

I could not tell where and how exactly I had learnt the habit of pretending. But the way I responded to mom’s question even surprised me.

With a very bright smile on my face, “Oh mom, I remember!” I shrieked, “how did I not mention it to you since?”

Her eyes were filled with interest as she continued listening to me and my lies – my escape from reality. Maybe it was not a lie, as everything I planned to tell her was true, but I knew quite well that it was not the answer that her question deserved.

“Okay? I’m listening,” she said, and I continued.

“Finally, I was able to shift that night, and in excitement, I went for a run.” Mom’s face curved into a smile immediately, and I was glad that my half truth, at least till the heartbreaking news of I and Hardin’s affairs came open, she was going to be so happy.

“Wow! Bless the moon goddess, this is great news. It makes more sense now. You were kidnapped when you went running?”

“Yes Mom,” I nodded. But the weight that ran through my mind at that point, could not let me stay happy for long as my face fell into a frown again.

“What is it? Are you sure that you are really fine?” She probed again.

I had no idea how I was feeling if I was being sincere. From finding out I was pregnant to being rejected by Hardin who had not bothered to think for a second that he was responsible, to watching him go ahead with the ball to find his mate, to finally shifting into my wolf and getting kidnapped by Lorenzo who I had truly believed was my friend and would not harm me, and now anticipating how Mom and Russo will feel about everything when they found out?

Who was I lying to? I was not okay, but I could not tell Mom.

I nodded, “I am fine. I am just really stressed out.” And she reached out to run a hand through my hair. “You should rest then.”

“I will.”

That’s true, Hardin,” she mentioned as she made to leave, and I felt my heart skip. “He should be back, have you gone to thank him? He was so terrified when he came to tell us that you were missing. He even asked that the ball be canceled so he could go look for you. He is so sweet and caring, I think you should go thank him now.”

I resisted the urge to scoff loud enough to mom’s hearing but internally, I rolled my eyes.

“Okay, I will make sure to thank him. Can I rest now?”

“You should just go now,” Mom tried to query, but I was the last person in the mood for it at that moment.

“Honestly, mum, I think that we should have this conversation of me thanking him another time. I just went through so much stress, and you know it. I am really tired now.” I interjected and when she wanted to speak, I shook my head.

“Please mum, can you allow me to rest now?”Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

I hated that her face fell because of me but I was hurting. Nothing about this would ever be convenient for me.

“I love you, Jasmine.” She whispered, rising to her feet and placing a kiss on my forehead before she left the room. Following her to the door, I locked it and went back to lie on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

My phone rang minutes later and I saw that it was from my best friend, Nadia and that she had left a dozen messages already. Feeling bad for not responding did not stop me from turning off my phone and I hoped she would understand.

I didn’t know how long I stared at the ceiling but I must have dozed off because a sound coming from my balcony caused me to wake up.

Wondering what could be making that sound, I took slow steps outside and when I peered down, I saw Hardin standing there about to throw another stone up.

His hand paused mid air when our eyes met and he dropped the stones to the ground, dusting his hands on his jeans and stared up at me.

“What the fuck do you want, Hardin?” I snapped, less than pleased to see him there even though my wolf was happy that our mate was near.

“Hi, Jasmine. Can we talk please?” He answered, his voice small and nervous and my eyes widened at how his usual arrogance seemed to have vanished.

It made me scoff. “What? Why are you suddenly being careful and polite now? No irritation and curse words for me today? Am I no longer a whore?”

His eyes widened at my reply and I waited for him to lose his mind, for him to get angry like he always did, since being rash was always his first response to everything.

The last thing I expected to see was his face become pale in shame and he looked away from me, clearing his throat before he spoke again.

“I am so sorry for everything, Jasmine. Please, I need you to believe me. I just need a chance to prove it to you.”

“Are you truly sorry for hurting me? Or you are sorry just because you know now that I am your mate? You know what? Don’t answer that. I’m going back to sleep and please do not throw stones on my balcony anymore. Good night.” And before he could speak, I went back inside.

The Hardin that I knew would have demanded that I listen or even found a way to breach my personal space and I watched the door anxiously, but he never came.

Breathing out in relief, I closed my eyes to sleep as I definitely needed strength for the whole drama that I was sure would unfold soon.