CHAPTER 67: 67-HE WANTS TO DATE MY STEPSISTER

Clementine:

"Why did you tell them so soon that I’m your mate?" Haiden had been on my back ever since we got to the guest room. "And why are you looking around like you’ve never been to your bedroom before?" he asked, frowning when he noticed how I was staring around.

It was a beautiful room, to be honest. They had placed flowers in the pots next to our bed. There was a large window that showed a serene view of the mountains outside. It was on the third floor, the alphas’ floor. I had seen this room quite a few times before, but I had never been inside it.

"That’s because it’s not my bedroom," I said, watching him frown.

"Where is your bedroom? Is it too high maintenance for us to stay in it?" Haiden asked.

I gave him an eye roll.

It was actually mentioned by the ringleaders to the pack alphas that the crusaders were supposed to stay in one room, like a dorm, to keep the energy alive if they were visiting any pack together. So they had this big bedroom ready for all of us, with many beds placed around, and still there was free space.

Ian had stopped exploring the balcony, so he came back with a burned-out cigarette in his fingers.

Yorick had gone to shower in the bathroom, while Troy stood in the corner of the room with his hands in his pants pockets, his back leaned against the wall. He was just watching me silently.

"Did you see that broken stair leading up to the attic?" It was Troy who started speaking, and I already knew where he was headed.

Haiden nodded. "Yeah, the only area that contrasts the whole vibe of the mansion."

Haiden grimaced at the fact that the staircase to the attic was so broken, he could probably only imagine how messed up the attic room would be.

"The attic, that used to be her bedroom," Troy said, and Haiden snapped his neck toward me.

"Well, some people don’t deserve luxury," Ian commented, looking unbothered, unlike Haiden.

"That fucking asshole," Haiden said, referring to my father, but I gave him a look because I didn’t want Ian to hear and think something else was going on.

"I hope you’ll remember this and not put her on the spot every time again," Troy said to Haiden, reminding him that I had already told them what my father used to be like to me.

"I honestly forgot," Haiden said. "I’m sorry," he uttered.

I waved him off with a gesture of my hand.

"And why are you so worried that I told my stepsister about us being mates?" I placed my hands on my waist and looked Haiden in the eye.

He started to sulk, avoiding eye contact. That’s how I knew he was hiding something.

Ian took the bed next to the balcony, which was far from mine and Haiden’s bed near the bedroom door.

"Yeah, I was kind of thinking," Haiden muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

At this point, I could tell Ian wasn’t bothered by our conversation, and we were speaking in whispers anyway. Troy had to stroll closer just to hear us, though he never took his hands out of his pockets.

"How is your father’s relationship with Leysa?" Haiden asked, making me turn my head to the side as if trying to find the right words to describe how much my father loved her.

"One could say she’s my father’s heartbeat," I said, noticing the look on Haiden’s face like he had just discovered something important.

"What?" I asked.

"I was thinking, what if I try to trap her instead? She must know all of your father’s secrets. And then I could get closer to your father. You know, it hurts more when someone you love is in pain." It was Haiden’s way of telling me he had changed the plan, that he wanted to use my stepsister’s emotions to break my father as part of his revenge. But I wasn’t satisfied.

"I kind of agree with Haiden, however," Troy said, finally pulling one hand from his pocket to point at Haiden with his thumb, who stood to his right.

"So, is it your final decision or do you want my honest opinion?" I asked Haiden, folding my arms across my chest.

"The way you’re talking—I’d say, maybe give me your opinion," he muttered, sounding a bit skeptical about what I was going to say.

"No," I said in a single word. "I get that your sister and mother were innocent too, but I won’t let you harm another innocent person," I said, looking him directly in the eye.

"Oh come on, Clementine. I’ve seen the look on your sister’s face, she’s the biggest bitch ever. Why do you even care if I destroy her mental peace?" he hissed, giving me the exact reason he had been staring at her.

"No, Haiden. Just because she’s a terrible person to me doesn’t mean we have the right to ruin her life. You know, finding a mate, whether fated or chosen, is a different kind of feeling. Once you get cheated on by your mate, it destroys your whole identity. You do know that, right. She is a terrible, terrible person, I get it. She’s a bitch. But she hasn’t hurt anyone. I’m not letting you do that to my stepsister," I said, trying to make him understand how hypocritical it was to pity his own sister but want to destroy mine.

"I agree with Clementine," Troy added, this time pointing at me with his index finger.

"Can you please just be on one side?" Haiden asked Troy, who only shrugged.

"So no, we’ll stick to our original plan," I said to Haiden, without blinking so he could look me in the eye and know I was serious.

"Fine," he grunted. "But I really wanted to punch her in the face," he said, showing me his fist.

"Yeah, I get it. You wanted to punch me too, so there’s nothing new about it. Everyone related to my father is your enemy, I get it," I said, reminding him that he’d told me the same thing so many times before. It wasn’t anything new.

But then we were called to attend the great dinner with my family. We were all getting ready for the special night, and I found myself staring at my bag, I didn’t have my clothes to wear for the special occasion.