Tasting
Chapter 116

116–Regretting Befriending A Snake

Nora:

“Huh?”

It was as if the world had stopped and everyone had disappeared. There was no noise around me anymore. My ears rang with her words nonstop.

“Do relationships ever mean anything to you? Or do you like stepping over boundaries just for the thrill?” she continued, making my heart sink in my chest.

“You are accusing me of something very serious, Natalya!” Deep down inside, I felt incredibly guilty.

“Oh, am I? Did I not see you share a kiss with Alpha King Ryker?” She moved her shoulders in a sassy way, adjusting her posture and raising her brow.

That cocky look on her face bewildered me. She was never like that before.

“I told you it was just one time,” I whispered, eyeing her for even bringing it up again.

“Oh! Is that so? Then what about Cain? Huh? Let’s talk about Cain,” she tightened her arms over her chest as she questioned me. My heart was now pounding so hard under her scrutiny.

These kinds of accusations could land both brothers and me in hot water.

176–Regretting Befriending A Snake

“Cain? What about him?” I pretended to be clueless, but deep down, I began to recall my interactions with Cain in front of Natalya. I don’t remember us being inappropriate around her.

“Oh, what about Cain?” she mimicked me in a childish tone, rolling her eyes hard.

Looking at her, I realized she wasn’t someone who had been my friend from the very beginning. Every time she wanted something for herself, she would drag me into it or use me to get it.

I was shaken up, watching her as she raised her brow and added, “Why does your brother have your naked painting in his studio?” she asked, and my heart sank in my chest,

She saw my painting?

“Did he make you pose that way or did you select the pose?” she continued, stealing the air from above my head. “Of course, you must. have suggested it. Why?” she scoffed, tapping her foot on the ground.

“What happened? You have no answer,” she shook her head in disbelief, laughing at me in a subdued tone.

“You know what? That’s why he couldn’t paint me. He had someone seducing him, and then that same someone, who was supposed to be my friend, forbade him from painting me,” she hissed, making me gulp

even more.

“I didn’t. I told him to paint you, and he did,” I tried to sound

confident, but ever since she mentioned the painting, I had lost my confidence.

“Oh, is that so? Nora! The first time he denied it, it was because of you. I heard you two talk. Why? Why were you doing all that? Weren’t

116–Regretting Benending A Snake

you already messing around with Alpha King Ryker, whom your forbade from talking to April? Why both brothers, your stepbrothers?” She wrinkled her nose in disgust as she added that label.

“You are taking it all wrong. Cain painted me because–,” I gulped, unable to come up with any more excuses.

“Nora! You know your stepbrother paints explicit images. Then why?” she screamed, making me step back from her.

“Huh! I used to think you were lucky to be loved by everyone so much. Little did I know, it was because of all the stuff you have been giving them at night that you were getting support from them,” she kept going, making me stare at her face with tears in my eyes.

I tried so hard to be friends with her. And this is how she was treating me?

“Do tell me, is Lord Atwood also–” That was it.

The minute she tried to start that rumor, I lost it. I raised my head and shot her an angry glare before I smacked her hard across the face. Her hand landed on her cheek with a yelp escaping her lips.

“I can’t believe I called you my friend. I brought you into my house, my secure place, and you started spying on me and interfering in my personal matters?” I couldn’t believe I never listened to my stepbrothers expressing their disdain for her. They were right to be skeptical of her.

After I stomped my foot, I left the changing room to join the training. That argument ended our friendship. There will be no contact from me to her ever again.

Everyone was already present on the training ground, including Brody and Ryker. The minute I saw them standing before their teams, I

116–Regretting Befriending A Snake.

regretted not signing up for Ryker’s team. I had accepted to be on Brody’s team because I didn’t want Natalya to be alone.

However, as I watched Natalya come out of the school and stand in line, I realized maybe it was the right decision. In order for me to start leaving clues that I’m not into my stepbrothers, I need to stay away from them, especially when I am in public.

“April had to leave early; she can’t attend today’s session,” one of the girls told Ryker, and he nodded his head, but his eyes sneakily traveled to me. Of course, he must be thinking what an idiot I had been to pick Brody’s team to save Natalya from April’s bullying.

Soon the training began, and we started stretching.

Brody helped us with push–ups, and Ryker was taking care of his students‘ postures. I was half absent–mindedly trying my best. Brody never called me out even when I couldn’t do more than five push–ups. My mind had been filled with worry at this point.

“Natalya! Are you good at anything besides lying?” Brody called her out when she struggled to do two push–ups. I felt bad for a few seconds, but then I turned my face to the side. Hoping if I didn’t see it, I wouldn’t feel bad for her.

“I am sorry, but I am really trying,” Natalya whispered under her breath, and again I felt so bad. I guess feeling bad was okay.

After the awkward training ended, everyone left the ground to change, but I stuck around to catch my breath. Ryker and Brody had to discuss the next day’s sessions, while I lingered around for a few seconds. before finally leaving to change.

I actually didn’t want to join Natalya in the changing room after what she had accused me of. I mean, most of it was true except for when she took it too far and added Lord Atwood into the mix.