When He Rejected Me for My Sister, I Mated His Alpha Brother

“Sister.”

Mikayla called out to me as we stepped out of Davina’s house, her voice low to avoid prying ears. The night air was cool, and the faint scent of rosemary—her mate’s scent—lingered around her, a reminder of the bond she now shared with Omar. But her tone was anything but warm.

“Do you know why Davina dislikes Ryker so much? Or why she wants you to step aside and let me take the Luna position?”

Her voice dripped with mockery, and for a moment, I was transported back to our childhood. The memory of her as a little girl, trailing after me, begging for the candies I’d bought, flashed through my mind. She had been sweet then, innocent. But the years and the manipulations of her mother, Valerie, had turned her into someone I barely recognized.

“Enlighten me, sister,” I replied, my voice steady despite the unease creeping into my chest.

Her lips curled into a sly smile. “Because Ryker isn’t a Taylor by blood. He’s a stray, picked up by Davina out of pity. A rogue with no lineage, no claim to the Alpha title. And you, Iliana, married a man with no real standing in this pack.”

So, she had learned the truth from Omar. I wasn’t surprised. The Taylors had kept Ryker’s origins a closely guarded secret, but secrets had a way of unraveling. Still, her words didn’t shake me as she might have hoped.

“Does it matter?” I asked, my voice calm. “From the moment I first saw Ryker, I knew he was my mate. His lineage, his title—none of that changes who he is to me.”

Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the flicker of irritation in her gaze. “You’re so naive, Iliana. Always have been. But I wonder—do you really love him? Or are you just clinging to the idea of being Luna?”

I tilted my head, studying her. “And what about you, Mikayla? Do you love Omar? Or is it his status as the Beta, his place in the pack hierarchy, that drew you to him?”

Her face flushed, and she sputtered, “Of course I love him!”

“Do you?” I pressed, my tone light but laced with challenge. “Because I remember how eager you were to secure this match. How convenient it was that you just happened to fall into the lake that day, needing Omar to rescue you. Odd, isn’t it? You, who’s always been such a strong swimmer.”

Her expression froze, and I knew I’d struck a nerve. The truth was, I’d known about her little scheme for years. The servants who’d served my mother had whispered the details to me long ago, but I’d kept it to myself, unwilling to stir up more drama. Until now.

“You’re lying,” she hissed, but there was no conviction in her voice.

“The truth has a way of coming out, Mikayla,” I said softly. “You can’t hide it forever.”

I turned to leave, but as I did, I caught sight of Ryker and Omar standing in the shadows, their presence unmistakable. How long had they been there? Judging by the tension in Omar’s shoulders and the cold glint in Ryker’s eyes, they’d heard every word.

Ryker’s expression was unreadable, his lips curving into that faint, almost imperceptible smile he wore when he was calculating his next move. Omar, on the other hand, looked furious. His jaw was clenched, his fists tight at his sides. Without a word, he turned and stormed off, leaving Mikayla standing there, her face pale.

I didn’t wait for her to respond. Instead, I walked away, the weight of the night’s revelations settling heavily on my shoulders. But I didn’t look back.