Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates-Chapter 698-His Fated Mates.

Helanie:

"Azura, even if he did not remember who everyone else was, he knew he was killing someone to bring someone back, didn’t he?" Norman grunted, his fist clenched. This was something I had told him.

"No. The part of him that was human was gone—or almost gone. He was scared of everyone. He thought everyone was out to get him. And because I had angrily cursed him when dying, he only remembered me. So for him, it was like finding someone, or bringing back the only person he could feel a connection with. It was like an animal killing all the other animals just to bring back its own pair. He didn’t understand. He had no compassion, nothing. And he brought me back out of misery, out of the curse, not because he wanted to. He was probably losing his mind being alone. And since he only remembered me, that was the only thing he could do," she argued. Her fists clenched as she walked past Kaye and Maximus to reach Norman.

"And what did you say? It was my fault that I went out? Sure, it was my fault. But your brother attacked me. How are you going to stand here and act so righteous, talking about, ’Oh, Emmet was going to kill a human. Emmet was going to kill someone,’ when you are the one who defends and protects his monster of a brother who killed me?" Azura pointed at her chest and screamed, "You’re a hypocrite, Norman. Just a hypocrite."

That was when I shoved her hand off Norman’s chest, her hand that she was pointing with, and stormed between them.

"Don’t you dare tell my husband that he is not allowed to grieve," I grunted. "As for Maximus, he didn’t know either. He attacked you, just like you said. Emmet had no memory. Maximus has no memory. He attacked you because you came out. And then you survived. You were in the hospital. Nobody knows how you got out and went into that well. So don’t say Maximus killed you. You were killed because you left the hospital out of your own stubbornness. It’s all about you—your stubbornness."

This was the first time we were having a face-off, and I was screaming in her face, pointing at her. She looked at me like she would rip my head off. But I was sure she wouldn’t dare.

"Well then, let’s just admit, the world we live in is a murky one. If Maximus cannot be held accountable for his actions, neither should Emmet be. Or is it only because the one receiving the pain, on the other end of the pole, was you this time?" She looked me in the eye and raised her brow.

"And if it’s still such a problem, and you all cannot see Emmet here, then it’s better that we leave." I was stunned when she said that.

"No, Azura, you will not make a decision for our brother," Maximus came in front and warned her, pointing a finger at her.

She was just watching us all, breathing so hard that her beauty bones were becoming prominent in her neck.

"It is between us brothers. We fight, we argue, but we don’t leave each other." Norman said. He looked her in the eye, hunching down.

"Really? You call this fighting? You’re accusing him of murder. I’ve seen how you all were looking at him. Do you still believe he should stay among you guys?" she retorted, once again putting forward the idea that Emmet should leave.

"You have no right to talk about what he should and shouldn’t do. I am his mate. I will make the decision. And they are his brothers. They will too," I screamed, getting annoyed that she was stepping in between.

Then my eyes moved to Emmet, because I was confused why he wasn’t talking, he seemed zoned out. I could tell from his face that the realization had probably dawned on him: that he might have done it, and forgotten about it, after Norman practically proved that he had the evidence, and that he was the one who had told me to go to the well.

"Fine then. How about Emmet makes this decision?" Azura stepped back and then looked at Emmet. "Emmet, do you still want to stay here where they see you as a threat?"

She phrased it in a way that I was afraid he would make the wrong decision.

"Emmet, tell her you will stay here," Norman demanded, pointing at Azura.

I was watching Emmet’s face, hoping he wouldn’t make some stupid, rash decision. Even though I was angry with him, I still wouldn’t want him gone. Because I know we all have demons we’re fighting. And if he did do it while he had no memory, that gives him at least a little bit of an upper hand.

"If you think I am such a threatening person to you, your mate, your child, why would you want me to stay here?"

That’s when Emmet broke the silence by uttering those words. It felt like he was slowly bending toward Azura’s decision.

And then I remembered how he didn’t want to be with her, but now, he was making the stupid decision of going alone with her, where she would be able to manipulate him.

"Emmet, I am the one who was hurt. And I’m telling you, you can stay here," I uttered so softly that he shook his head very gently.

"Wait, you cannot force him. You accused him of killing your child, you will not make him stay here. If he’s a threat, then he should go!" Azura stormed in, almost in a haste, making sure I didn’t convince Emmet.

I did not want punishment for Emmet. I wanted an apology, an acknowledgment, and help for him. But I guess all that didn’t matter anymore, because she just looked at me as if I was the accuser, not the victim.

I suddenly felt bad, and that part sucked, because I had every right to be upset. But now it seemed like I was the one being punished. Because if he left and she manipulated him, I’d be accused of that too.

"Emmet, as your mate, I’m asking you to stay." I finally played the mate card.

But that’s when a scoff from Azura turned all our attention to her.

"Well then, if that is the term, then he will come with me. Because, Helanie, you’re not the only one who has multiple mates. I am Emmet’s fated mate as well."

She was able to pull the ground from under my feet with that one simple statement.