Tasting 197

197–She Wants My Stepbrother

Nora:

“Do you really not remember me?” I asked, hoping she might change her answer, but she remained

confident in shaking her head, indicating she had no clue who I was.

“Have we met before?” she asked with a slight frown on her forehead. She looked paler and weaker

than when I had seen her first.

“Yes! I just told you we met at the Alpha King’s mansion,” I tried to jog her memory, though I began

to doubt if I had a memorable face.

“How could I meet you at the pack’s mansion when I’ve never been to one?” She managed a broken

smile, clearly thinking I was mistaken or perhaps a bit crazy.

“You came to meet Alpha King Silas, the pack’s healer,” I explained, stepping closer. Her body

flinched at my proximity, prompting me to step back and maintain a respectful distance for her

comfort.

“I never met him at the mansion,” she lied through her teeth.

I couldn’t tell if she genuinely didn’t remember or if she was intentionally misleading me. It bothered

me deeply. How could neither. of them remember our encounter? Sure, Silas meets patients daily

and might forget one or two, but how could an omega not remember the pack’s mansion?

“How is that possible? I saw you at the mansion. You bumped into me.” I muttered to myself, feeling

perplexed that she seemed so

unaware.

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197–She Wants My Stepbrother

“Why were you at the border? Why did you want to leave werewolf territory?” I knew she must have

been asked these questions before, but I wanted to hear her reasons directly. Why take such a risk

to cross the border?

“I don’t know. I didn’t want to, at least that much I know,” she replied softly, her breathing shallow.

“Why were you there then?” I raised an eyebrow. “Did someone ask you or threaten you to cross the

border?” My questioning gaze was met with a sigh, and she seemed lost in thought before

responding.

“No, not really,” she shook her head, seeming distant. “I just… I know I tried to cross the border,”

she added quietly.

“But–” I started to press further, growing more comfortable with asking deeper questions about why

no one had come to see her or where her family was. Just as I was about to continue, Nash arrived

and called out to me.

“What are you doing here?”

I jumped, feeling caught off guard as if I had been caught stealing from the royal vaults.

“I saw

her and recognized her from–” I paused, unintentionally increasing Nash’s curiosity before adding.

“TV. I thought to ask her why she wanted to leave.”

Now that Nash was here, I couldn’t continue talking to her. I didn’t want to bring up Silas and

potentially cause unnecessary trouble.

“She gives the same answer to every question—she doesn’t know!” Nash summarized, walking

closer to me but keeping his gaze on her.

“We’re looking into her background to see if we can find something.

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197-5 Warts My Stepbrother

So far, she seems okay. No criminal history, no troubled family connections,” Nash clicked his

tongue, studying her intensely as if trying to unravel her mystery.

“Anyway, let’s go home. I’ve told Dad about your injury, and he’s worried.” Nash gently touched my

arm, breaking my focus from the

Woman.

I nodded and followed Nash out of her room. “Dad’s being dramatic,” I joked, but secretly

appreciating Lord Atwood’s concern for me.

“Really? Have you heard yourself earlier?” Now that I was feeling better, Nash was obviously going

to tease me about my earlier dramatics regarding losing too.much blood and dying.

“I was just joking to lighten the mood,” I retorted, and we made our way to his car, where I slid

inside.

“Tell me about this woman. How was she found at the border?” I asked

once Nash had settled into the car and started it up.

“Ryker caught her. She was mumbling something under her breath and acting strange,” he replied.

“What was she saying?” I pressed for more details.

“Something about belonging on the other side–” he paused, a realization dawning on him.

“Sometimes when people commit a crime or feel guilty, they start believing they belong among the

monsters. She might have thought she deserved to be on the other side with the ‘big monsters,”

Nash speculated, describing the woman’s state of mind. regarding the border.

His casual shift to a speculative explanation he seemed confident in was somewhat unsettling. I

leaned back and zoned out for a moment.

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107 She Wants My Stepbrother

My mind was having weird thoughts even when I was trying my best to not think too deeply over

this matter.

When we arrived, I saw Lord Atwood pacing at the entrance, rubbing his palms anxiously.

“Look, Dad, I brought your stepdaughter back from the brink of death.” Nash joked, earning a grunt

and a playful pout from me as I hurried towards Lord Atwood.

“Has he been giving you a hard time too?” Lord Atwood hugged me, waiting for me to complain

about Nash.

“He called me dramatic,” I said as I broke the hug, pouting and giving him a sad look.

“How dare you!” Lord Atwood mock–scolded Nash, who rolled his eyes at both of us with his hands

on his hips.

“Well, you two are dramatic. She didn’t even need stitches,” Nash groaned, but Lord Atwood waved

him off with a dismissive gesture. It was all in good humor.

After that, we sat down for dinner, and Mia arrived to serve us. Silas wasn’t around, but Ryker and

Cain were. Their eyes narrowed at the bandage on my hand, but before they could react, Mia

walked in. Instead of leaving after serving the food, she discreetly moved closer to Lord Atwood as if

she had something important to say. I knew what she was about to bring up, and I couldn’t help but

feel it was a bad

idea.

“May I have a word, Your Highness?” she asked nervously, fidgeting with her fingers.

“Of course, what is it? Do you need something?” Lord Atwood

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responded gently, and she nodded before speaking hesitantly.

“Alpha King Silas.”

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