Tasting
Chapter 172

172–Took My Place

Nora:

Watching April again after she changed sides was hard. Made two friends and none of them turned out to be honest or loyal to me.

“Hello Nora, where have you been?” Her taunting tone made her position clear. She was against me too.

“I expected that from Natalya, but I should have been more certain about you. Since your track record has been so messy from the start,” I hissed, acknowledging my fault in befriending those who had shown they could get messy if they didn’t get what they wanted. Not to

mention, these girls have shown interest in my brothers so many times. I just turned a blind eye to it.

“Really, what did I do? Did I ask your crush not to speak to you? Did I forbid him from ever falling for you? No! I didn’t. But you know who did?” she hissed back, her eyes showing the anger she had been holding for me. “You did. You knew I liked Ryker, but you decided to ruin it for me. I don’t understand why. I was starting to like you. Boy, I was wrong about you. You are the real snake here, Nora,” she added, folding her arms across her chest. Natalya walked up to her and stood

beside her.

“But it’s all over now. I bet everyone knows your true colors. They might not say it out loud, but they see the real you,” April made me aware of the secretly passing glances my way.

“They are just afraid of your stepbrothers and stepfather. The day you lose that title, you are done,” her threats were scary. The idea of losing my stepfather’s support was indeed threatening.

172 Took My Place

“As for Natalya, I’ve decided to have her move in with me. We’ll be roomies from now on,” April cheered, clapping her hands as she delivered the news.

“Thank you so much,” Natalya replied, holding April’s hand and

giggling. They seemed insincere, but just imagine them living together. They would surely conspire to disrupt my peace. All they would do is gossip about me and scheme against me.

“Maybe we could double date too,” April suggested, furrowing my brow. I didn’t exactly know who April was referring to, nor did I want to ask. But I knew whatever they were saying in front of me was well rehearsed to provoke a reaction from me or deliver some news.

However, I kept my calm and decided to walk away from them. But April wasn’t finished yet.

“And by the way, if you think I’ll let you date my cousin, you’re wrong. You tried to ruin my happiness, so I’ll make sure I ruin yours in the worst way possible that you’ll think twice about ever dating anyone again,” she said, her tone serious now, with Natalya no longer smiling.

Their threats were serious, and I was certain they meant harm to me. I turned around again and hurried away. Everything they said put me on high alert. I couldn’t stay silent about these threats. Somebody needed to know what these two were up to. Of course, Cain wouldn’t care or believe me. He wanted revenge and he took it.

“Nash!” I exclaimed aloud. I don’t know why, but his name popped into my mind. He was always keen on justice, always on the side of what was right.

“Maybe he will believe me. I was determined to talk to him about April. As for Natalya, Cain would defend her, so there was no way I could say anything about her right now without any proof. Otherwise, I

172–Took My Place

would end up looking like the jealous stepsister who doesn’t want her stepbrother to date her ex–friend.

Throughout class, I couldn’t help but notice April and Natalya sitting together, whispering and occasionally turning their heads to laugh at me. It was hard to concentrate with so much pressure on my heart and mind, but somehow I made it through the day.

Once the bell rang, I didn’t even go back to my locker; instead, I hurried towards the exit. I wanted to get away from these toxic people. I could still avoid Natalya when she comes home; I’ll just confine myself to my bedroom then.

Then there was Nash, Ryker, and Silas, who wouldn’t allow her to annoy me at my own home.

As I stood outside, I wondered who would come to give me a ride. I hadn’t spoken to Ryker since that day, so I didn’t even know where he stood. In fact, it was odd that for the first time, he didn’t try to climb up my balcony to talk or pursue me, showing he wasn’t on Cain’s side.

The fact that my mate didn’t come to comfort me when my other mate betrayed me should have been a big warning.

While I was thinking about all that, I saw Ryker pull up on his bike. Even though I was angry with him, seeing him come to pick me up gave me a little hope in my heart. But I had to keep up the facade of being upset with him.

“Ryker!” I attempted to sound grumpy when deep down, I was relieved. to see my mate. Now that Cain had betrayed me, I wished I had rejected him and accepted Ryker like he had always asked from me.

“Hey, why are you here? Why didn’t Dad send a driver to pick me up?” I pouted, folding my arms over my chest. I was so used to him always.

172–Took My Place

trying to chase after me that I didn’t realize there was a change in his body language.

He took off his helmet and rested his arm on it in his lap. After taking a deep breath, he spoke, “I’m not here for you. Dad did send a driver to pick you up.”

My frown deepened. “Then who are you here for?” It was starting to weigh heavily on my heart because deep down, I could sense what was happening.

He glanced steadily behind me and then smiled. That’s when April rushed over to grab a helmet from his hands.