My Mate Fell For My Sister

I stood in the living room of the Skye pack's old den, my voice steady as steel. "Richard, I want to break the bond with Nathaniel."

Richard froze, caught off guard. "What's this all about? The binding ceremony's right around the corner, isn't it?"

I lowered my eyes, hiding the bitterness pooling there. "Nathaniel and I aren't meant for each other. It's better we don't hold each other back. My mom's getting out soon, and I want to take her away, spend real time with her."

Seeing my resolve, Richard sighed. "Alright. I'll arrange plane tickets. Your mom's out in two weeks, and you can leave then."

A voice cut through from behind me. "Who's leaving?"

My body stiffened. Before Richard could answer, I spun around, forcing a casual tone. "No one. Why are you back?"

Nathaniel didn't press. "Heard you were here. Came to pick you up."

Richard insisted we stay for dinner. At the table, Nathaniel piled food on my plate like always, his habits flawless-picking me up, serving me food. It's why I fooled myself into thinking he cared.

Halfway through, he brought up the ceremony. "Dad, the binding's still on for two weeks. Make sure the guests know."

Richard blinked, glancing between us. "Didn't Sylvia tell you? She wants to break the bond."

His words drowned in Nathaniel's phone ringing. He answered, and I, sitting right beside him, heard every word.

"Nathaniel, Lila's burning up but won't leave work. Come talk some sense into her!"

He gripped the phone, voice tight with urgency. "Keep an eye on her. I'm on my way."

Hanging up, he turned to Richard. "What'd you say, Dad?"

Before Richard could repeat himself, Nathaniel waved it off. "Tell me later. I've got something urgent." He stood, chair scraping loudly, and strode out, abandoning his usual manners.

Watching his back, my heart felt crushed by an invisible grip, a dull ache spreading.

After leaving the Skye den, I headed to the prison. Holding the visitor's phone, I looked through the glass at my mom, Clara, her face worn and weary. My nose stung, but I held back tears.

Her eyes lit up, hands pressing the phone tight to her ear. "Sylvia, all these years-have the Skyes, Nathaniel, treated you well?"

I tugged my sleeve over my scars, forcing a smile. "Real good, Mom. Don't worry."

Relieved, she smiled. "Your binding ceremony's soon, right? Shame I can't be there."

"We're not getting bound," I said, keeping my face light. "He doesn't love me. Mom, when you're out, let's leave this place, okay? Just you and me."

Her eyes welled up, voice breaking. "Okay, sweetheart. Whatever you want."

Back at my empty house, it'd been a month and a half since I'd last been here. The familiar rooms felt foreign now, like I didn't belong. I went upstairs, packing only what was truly mine. The gifts from Nathaniel and the Skyes? I left them behind. They were never really mine to keep.

That night, Nathaniel didn't come home. He showed up the next afternoon with a stylist and makeup artist in tow. "There's a healer's gala tonight. I'm taking you to meet some folks."

He never hesitated to show me off as the Skye pack's future she-wolf, but it was all duty-nothing more.

When I was ready, I reached for the passenger door of his car, but it wouldn't budge.

Nathaniel, behind the wheel, spoke up. "We're picking up Lila. She gets carsick. Take the back."

My hand tightened on the handle. Did he forget I get carsick too? I gave a bitter smile, said nothing, and slid into the back seat.

When Lila got in, her first words were, "Nathaniel, thanks for staying with me all night. I wouldn't have recovered so fast without you."

His eyes softened, a fond smile breaking through as he ruffled her hair. "Glad you're better. Take care of yourself-you're too fragile."

The sight burned my eyes. Lila, as if just noticing me, gasped. "Sylvia's here? I shouldn't take the front-let me move."

"No, stay," Nathaniel said, starting the car.

My carsickness hit hard. Halfway there, I was swallowing bile, but we made it to the venue before I lost it completely. I clung to Nathaniel's arm as we entered, Lila trailing close behind.

At the gala, he introduced me to some big names in the healer world, but it was perfunctory. His real focus was parading Lila to the top wolves, leaving me as an afterthought. The carsickness lingered, making me queasy. I couldn't stay. I told Nathaniel I was hitting the restroom and slipped out.

After half an hour outside, I took a deep breath and headed back. At the entrance, I froze. Nathaniel was guiding a flushed, unsteady Lila upstairs, her breathing uneven. His voice was low, strained. "Lila, hang on, we're almost there."

My heart lurched. I followed, trailing them to a room on the upper floor. They disappeared inside.