Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates-Chapter 553-The Battle Begins Now.

Helanie:

I showered and got ready in black shorts and a black top for the battle. On top of that, I wore a long white shirt until I reached the battle ring. I was so anxious, constantly licking my lips to moisten them. I had braided my hair to make sure I did not get distracted during the battle.

My heart was pounding hard in my chest. I didn’t eat anything—just had a few slices of freshly cut watermelon.

Nothing could go down my throat in this state.

"Are you mad?" my mother stormed in just as I was about to leave my room to sit in the car with my friends and my husband.

"It’s not a good day for an argument. I don’t want to do this," I said, trying to step away from her, but she came in my way and blocked my path.

"Are you really going to fight him?" she asked, her face twisted with strong emotions of worry.

"Why do you care?" Her facial expression confused me.

"Because you are my—daughter," she said, a very confused look on her face like she didn’t even know what she was saying.

"Oh please, you’re just using this moment to mess with me. I don’t want this today. Nothing you do will break my spirit," I hissed at her, and she calmly placed her hand on her heart.

"You think I would hurt you?" I didn’t know why she was acting so strange all of a sudden.

Maybe she was feeling sorry for me. Or maybe she just wanted to make herself look like a great mother so she could cry and act like a victim when I die today. Because I’ve decided to fight until I’m dead and not surrender.

Surrendering would mean marrying Darius.

"Anyway," she sniffled back the tears and then suddenly jumped at me. I wish I had known she was capable of that. She pressed something against my chest for a moment before I pushed her back.

"What did you do?" I asked her, opening my white shirt and then pulling down the black top to check my skin. freewebnσvel.cѳm

There was something red on my chest, right over my heart.

"What was it?" I asked, quickly focusing on her hand. She was holding something in her palm—a pendant, maybe?

"Best of luck! You’ll come back victorious." As if she hadn’t confused me enough, now she wished me luck and suddenly looked so confident.

"What the hell—" I started, but she had quickly walked out of the room.

"Did you see what she did? Did you feel anything?" I asked Cora.

"Don’t be dramatic. She didn’t kill us. Just go."

However, I found it odd that Cora didn’t want to say anything bad about our mother for all the wrong things she’s done to us. I’d noticed it ever since she woke up, but never got the chance to talk to her since I wanted to finish the battle first—and then deal with our differences.

Taking a deep and heavy breath, I walked out of my room. Outside, the brothers were waiting for me.

"Helanie," Maximus stepped forward, "give it your all."

I gave him a nod, not even able to force a weak smile.

"Focus on his weak spots," Kaye said.

I turned to look at Emmet, and my heart ached. He had his hands in his coat pockets, his eyes silently staring at me.

"Let’s go," Norman said, breaking my eye contact with Emmet.

The ride was hard to sit through. I kept rubbing my palms together and swallowing hard.

"Try not to be stubborn. If it comes to the point where you have to surrender—just do it. We’ll take care of the rest. You won’t be forced to marry that jerk," Norman repeated what everyone’s been telling me this whole time. But I only gave him a nod, not really meaning it. I will fight till my last breath. Either he dies, or I do.

The ring was huge, a circle of dirt and stone. The ground was hard, worn down from all the fights that had taken place here. The crowd sat all around the edge, rising in layers like steps, higher and higher the farther they got.

I took a deep breath and felt someone pat my back, a small push to boost my confidence.

"Victory is just one step away," Norman whispered.

I nodded, taking slow, deep breaths while looking around at the people arriving.

It felt like the whole world was watching—every eye on me, waiting to see who would win. The stands were packed with pack members, shouting, cheering, or silently waiting for blood.

I spotted my family in the crowd.

My stepmother held an umbrella over her head to block the sun—a small fan in her hand to stop the heat from melting her makeup. She wore a yellow dress with red lipstick.

Then there was my stepbrother sitting among his friends, pointing at me and laughing. I knew they didn’t believe I could win this battle.

My father looked indifferent too. No worry on his face, just discomfort from the heat bothering him.

"Hey, make sure you give it your all," Emmet said, making me look into his eyes.

"I want to see you win this battle—for every Helanie who was never able to find justice for herself," he whispered, his hand reaching toward my face, his finger gently touching the tip of my nose.

Even that small touch was enough to melt me. But my attention kept drifting to the crowd.

They were here to watch one of us die.

Then there was Alpha Diaz sitting with Altan, who had his eyes fixed on me like he had only come to see me.

"I don’t want to lose in front of all these people," I murmured, my throat going dry.

"Who said you would lose?" Kaye clearly disapproved of my crazy thoughts.

"You just need to step in. You have no idea how strong your wolf really is," Maximus reassured me, and I started nodding again.

And then... he arrived.

DID – Devil In Disguise.