My Alpha Mate Chose My Sister

The hum of the expensive engine was a steady, soothing vibration against my back, a stark contrast to the chaotic pounding of my own heart. Stormi was asleep in the backseat, her breathing finally deep and even, thanks to Chase’s aura suppressing her pain. But as the car hit a bump, she let out a sharp, high-pitched whimper that cut through me like a knife.

"Pull over," I said, my hand instinctively reaching back to find her leg.

Chase didn't argue. He didn't demand to know why, or tell me we didn't have time. The car slowed immediately, gravel crunching under the tires as he eased us onto the shoulder.

"Is she okay?" his deep voice rumbled from the driver's seat.

" The pain meds are wearing off," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt. I opened the door, and the cool, damp air of the Pacific Northwest hit my face. It smelled of wet asphalt, pine needles, and—faintly, to the left—running water. "I need to find some willow bark. I can smell a creek nearby."

Chase was at my side in an instant. "I'll help you."

I navigated the uneven terrain with my cane, but mostly I followed the scent of the water. My blindness had always been Caleb's greatest shame, but out here, in the wild, it was just another way of seeing. I ran my hands over the rough bark of the trees until I found the familiar, slightly bitter scent of white willow. Peeling a strip off with my pocket knife, I mashed it with a smooth stone I found by the water, mixing it with a little water from my canteen.

When I returned to the car and coaxed Stormi to drink the bitter liquid, Chase watched me in silence. I could feel the weight of his gaze—heavy, but not oppressive.

"You're not just a healer in name, are you?" he asked quietly as I settled back into the front seat. "Most pack doctors just rely on their wolf energy. You actually know the earth."

"My mother taught me," I said, wiping my hands on my skirt. "When you can't see the wound, you have to understand the body. And the earth provides, if you know how to ask."

Chase started the car again, merging back onto the highway. "Caleb is a fool," he muttered, the growl in his voice vibrating through the small space. "He threw away a queen to play house with a plastic doll."

"Why are you really helping us, Chase?" I asked, turning my face toward his voice. "It can't just be because you hate him."

"It's not just hate," Chase admitted, his tone turning grim. "I'm an Enforcer for the Council. I've been tracking Caleb's finances for six months. The Blood Moon Pack is broke, Ava. He's been funneling money to rogue factions in exchange for them leaving his borders alone. He's paying for peace because he's too weak to enforce it."

My breath hitched. "That's treason."

"It is," Chase confirmed. "And when I prove it, he'll hang. But until then, I'm getting you as far away from the blast zone as possible."

We arrived in Seattle territory just as the sun was beginning to warm the air. Chase drove us straight to the Silver Rain Pack house. The energy here was different—lighter, cleaner. It didn't taste like fear.

I was terrified to meet Alpha Marcus Grey, but when Chase introduced us, the Alpha didn't sneer at my cane. He took my hand firmly.

"Chase tells me you're a gifted herbalist," Marcus said, his voice sounding like a man who smiled often. "My warriors rely too much on quick healing and not enough on proper recovery. If you can set up a clinic that focuses on holistic care, you have a place here. No one will touch you or your daughter."

For the first time in my life, a man in power was offering me a contract, not a command. "I won't let you down, Alpha Grey," I whispered.

***

Three years later.

The bell above the door chimed, cutting through the quiet hum of the clinic. The air inside was thick with the calming scents of dried lavender, chamomile, and the sharp, antiseptic tang of tea tree oil.

"Mom! Uncle Chase is here!"

Stormi’s voice rang out from the back room, followed by the thundering of feet. At eight years old, she was a force of nature—loud, happy, and completely unafraid.

I smiled, capping the jar of salve I had been mixing. "Don't tackle him, Stormi. He's probably wearing a suit."

"Too late," Chase’s deep chuckle filled the room, sending a familiar shiver down my spine. I heard the *whoosh* of air as he swung her up into his arms. "Gotcha, you little rascal. Have you been practicing your shielding?"

"Yes!" Stormi giggled. "I can hide my scent from Mom for almost a whole minute!"

"Impressive," Chase said, setting her down. His footsteps approached the counter where I stood. The scent of him—rain, cedar, and that unique, electric Lycan power—washed over me, instantly making my inner wolf perk up. She had been awake for a year now, a white wolf who loved him as much as I was starting to fear I did.

"Coffee," he said softly, placing a warm paper cup near my hand. "Two sugars, one pump of hazelnut."

"You spoil me," I said, wrapping my fingers around the cup. I turned my face up to him, sensing he was leaning over the counter. He was close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his chest.

"I try," he murmured. The playful tone was gone, replaced by that heavy, intense gravity that had been growing between us for months. "How was the clinic today?"

"Busy," I said, my heart rate picking up. "Three rogues with silver burns, and a Delta with a sprained ankle. The Silver Rain wolves are finally starting to trust the 'blind witch' on the corner."

"They respect you, Ava," Chase corrected gently. His hand brushed mine on the counter, his thumb tracing the knuckles. It was a small touch, but it felt like a lightning strike. "Everyone respects you. You built this from nothing."

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to lean into his touch. Three years of safety, of his constant, unwavering support. He had been the father Stormi deserved and the partner I never thought I’d have. But I hadn't let him mark me. I hadn't let myself believe it could be real.

"I had help," I whispered.

"You had a ride," Chase said, his voice dropping an octave, rough with suppressed emotion. "The rest? The magic? That's all you, Ava. It's always been you."