CHAPTER 662: 662-THE MATES THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND

Helanie:

"If I knew you would definitely go, I would’ve taken off and not let Emmet do it," Norman grunted while sitting on the bed, watching me pack my bag.

"You’re against the idea of me spending time with Emmet? Isn’t that why you’re so against me leaving for the Vicious Bane pack?" Now that he said he would’ve gone with me if Emmet wasn’t, I was sure something had happened between the brothers, and they were trying to stop me from spending time with Emmet.

"Well, since you asked, I’ll be direct too," he said firmly. "We’ve decided—me and Maximus—that we don’t want too much sharing. It can be you, me, Maximus and Kaye." He finished, making my eyes go wide.

"When did you two decide that, and why wasn’t I part of that conversation?" I felt annoyed that they were making decisions for me. They were happy to have their mate, but now they were trying to make exceptions.

"We did sometime yesterday. That’s not the point. The point is, we’ve made a decision," Norman grunted, getting up from the bed. "And we’re also planning to ask Emmet to stay behind and let us go with you."

"That’s not my place to get involved in. You two can talk to your brother and decide who can come with me. But as for the mate thing, Emmet and I will decide what we want to do," I said firmly, realizing it would be unfair to both me and Emmet to be controlled while the others got to enjoy being fated mates.

"How would you feel if I went out and spent time with someone you didn’t want me to be around?" Norman had to throw that in my face, and my jaw clenched.

"He’s not just someone, he’s my mate. And if you had a problem with me being with my mates, you should’ve told me earlier. You were the one who made me believe you were okay with it. I asked you so many times, Norman. So many times. You can’t throw that in my face like I’m cheating on you when you’re the one asking me to do something," I grunted, because they had started something I never wanted to be part of in the first place. I didn’t want fingers pointed at me.

"Oh, I’m not saying I have a problem with you and your mates. I just have an issue with Emmet. His lover is back. Why are you two making a mess now?" he groaned, but stood towering over me.

"Then let him make a decision," I grunted, feeling a deep anger inside me.

"You are seriously making me crazy! Can you ever just listen to me?" he threw a fist in the air, causing me to stare him down. "Sorry. I’m just annoyed with you." With that, he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

He was always like this. But this time, I didn’t understand his rivalry with his brother. There’s no way this is how Norman would usually react. He was stern and stubborn, that much I knew about him. But I also knew he isn’t someone who would do something unfair.

Then why only with Emmet?

I had to find out what was going on. I packed my bags and went downstairs. I had already told him to discuss it with his brother. Whoever decided to take leave from the academy could come with me.

Emmet was sitting on the couch with his arms spread, his bags near his feet, while Norman and Maximus looked upset.

"Why can’t you let one of us go?" Norman asked again, and I realized they were arguing. I had never seen Norman argue with his brothers before, so it was new to me. And I hated the sight of it. I would have stayed back, but Vani needed me, and I knew she wouldn’t leave her pack at any cost.

"Because I’ve made up my mind. I think I know what’s going on in the pack, I might be of help. My knowledge ca—" Emmet was speaking calmly, trying to make his brothers understand, when Maximus’s grunt cut him off.

"Then give us your knowledge and let us go. Don’t use that as an excuse to spend time with her," he snapped.

It was the timing for me. The moment Maximus said that, Azura walked into the living room and heard it. She stopped in her tracks, and all of us turned to look at her. Emmet straightened his back and blinked very casually.

"You’re leaving?" she asked in a soft murmur.

"I have to. My brothers are kind of busy, so someone has to go," Emmet lied, making me narrow my eyes at him, then look at Azura.

"Actually, we—" Maximus was about to step in, probably to call out Emmet’s bluff, when I stepped in.

"They have to prepare the students for the finals, and then many students are changing classes, so they have that work. And then the whole upcoming trip—there’s a lot, and they need to be there," I said.

I watched Norman clench his jaw and look away, probably upset that I didn’t let them catch Emmet in a lie. At the same time, Maximus pressed his lips into a tight line since he couldn’t go against me anymore either.

"When will you return?" Azura asked softly.

"Soon. I can’t leave my mate alone there and return alone," Emmet said, slipping the word mate in again, almost like a gentle reminder to her that I was his mate.

I had noticed Emmet since the beginning. He was a quiet guy, but once he started talking, he would rarely hold back.

"Oh, I’ll wait for you then," she said, ignoring everything else he had said. She completely avoided responding to me and gave Emmet a weak smile.

"Please come back soon. Know that someone has fought death for you," she added again, more quietly than ever.

Once she walked away, I noticed Norman and Maximus shared a disappointed glance with me. I didn’t like the dynamic between the brothers now. If it was because of me, then maybe I deserve to be punished for it.

I thought they were okay with the sharing thing. I didn’t know there would be rules in a game full of rules.