Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates
Chapter 626-I Will Tell The Good News

Chapter 626: 626-I Will Tell The Good News

Salem:

"Tell me," she insisted, driving fast. We had hours before we’d reach our pack, and just thinking about having to deal with her the whole time was already driving me crazy.

"Why do you want to hurt your own feelings?" I asked, turning to look out the window. The sun was slowly rising, and I was so sleepy. Usually, Gavin and I would be passed out by now and wake up around noon to the smell of his mom cooking. She always had amazing food ready for us.

"So, you’re picking her?" she grunted angrily, flaring her nostrils. I looked away again.

"You’re so dumb," she muttered, clearly annoyed. "She’s gonna go on to live her best life, and she left you stuck with that broke-ass guy."

I closed my eyes and clenched my jaw. I didn’t want to waste my energy on her, not now, especially when I had so much else to stress about. I rested a hand on my stomach, and a small smile crept onto my lips. I couldn’t wait to tell Gavin the news, I was just waiting for the right moment.

"What is that?" she suddenly shouted, pointing at something on me. I turned to see what she was talking about.

"Did he mark you?" Her eyes went wide, completely freaked out by the mark on my neck.

"Yeah, we accepted and marked each other," I groaned. I’d already told Helanie, and she said she’d plan our mating ceremony herself, even pay for it. She also said Gavin would get a good job soon and everything would work out. But I hadn’t told anyone yet that I was pregnant.

"Ugh! Why would you do that? You stupid, dumb bitch! Do you have any idea what Dad will think of you now?"

I didn’t expect her to care this much about my life. She suddenly started screaming, and honestly, I was done.

"Why don’t you mind your own damn business? Did you ever listen to me when I told you not to be a horrible person? Did you ever listen when I said to leave Altan alone because he doesn’t want you and you’re just making yourself look desperate? Then why the hell do you think I should listen to you? At least my mate wants me. At least he loves me."

I couldn’t believe I even had to explain something that basic.

"Oh really? Is that what Helanie told you? Did she ask you to convince me to move on from Altan? Does she laugh at me?" Sydney was getting more and more hostile.

I had no idea why she even came to pick me up. I could’ve just driven my own car. I was seriously regretting it now. But she had insisted, said she wanted to spend some time together as sisters.

Clearly, I should never take her seriously.

"Helanie doesn’t talk about anyone. She’s happy with her life. You should stop dragging her into everything," I said calmly.

The second those words left my mouth, she slammed on the brakes.

"Get out," she demanded.

"What?" I panicked. She looked dead serious.

"I said get the fuck out! Go call Helanie and ask her to come give you a lift!" she screamed, making me look around the area in rising panic.

"You’re leaving me in the middle of the woods?" I asked, glancing at the thick forest on both sides of the road. The trees were tall, too tall,blocking out even the morning sun. This place was known for being dangerous.

"Salem," she snapped, and before I could react, she grabbed my phone from my lap and hurled it out the window with all her strength.

"What the fuck!" I shouted.

"Now go fetch your phone. You’ll have to leave the car anyway," she hissed, leaning over to yank my door open and shove it wide. Then she pushed my shoulder hard, trying to force me out.

"Have you lost your mind? I don’t even know where my phone landed! Don’t you know how dangerous this place is?" I yelled, but I still stepped out, because she was starting to throw punches, and right now, I had to protect myself. More than ever.

"Go ask your pathetic boyfriend or that slut Helanie to come save you!" she sneered, slamming the door shut and starting the engine.

"Sydney! I don’t even know where it is!" I screamed, but she was already speeding off, leaving me behind.

I stood frozen for a second, staring around at the shifting trees, the strange sounds coming from the woods. Dread clawed at my throat.

"Fuck it," I hissed under my breath. I didn’t even have my wolf to protect me, pregnancy took that away. I couldn’t believe she really did this.

"Let me just find my phone. I’ll call Helanie. Shame a twin can’t trust her sister more than her best friend," I muttered to myself, trying not to panic as I walked toward where I thought the phone had landed.

"Ugh, Helanie will be here in no time once I call her. And then I’m cutting Sydney off for good. She fucking put me in danger—"

I kept talking to myself just to stay calm, to drown out the strange hissing sounds in the woods. I crouched down and started brushing aside leaves and rocks, eyes scanning for any sign of my phone.

And then— I saw feet. Not just one pair. Several.

I slowly straightened, my breath caught in my throat. I realized, too late, I had wandered into somewhere I was never supposed to be.

Zharns. All around me. Hissing, their skin gross. I couldn’t move, my limbs frozen in terror, as I turned my eyes left. More of them. Right. Even more. Panic exploded in my head.

I tried to turn and run, but the moment I did, I came face to face with one. It was inches away. I could see everything: its lizard-like face, the grotesque texture of its skin, the black slime dripping from its jaw.

"No!" I screamed as it lunged.

The pain came instantly. Its fangs sank into my cheek, tearing through skin. I hit the ground hard, screaming as I felt flesh being ripped from my face.

More of them swarmed. They were on me. Tearing. Biting. Ripping open my stomach.

"No! Please—I’m with a baby!" I screamed, fighting back, punching, kicking. But there were too many. I could barely move under the weight of them.

They were eating me alive.

They were eating my baby.

I wish I had stayed with Gavin.

I wish I had told him I was pregnant.

I wish—,

Oh, Goddess, I wish.