My Mate Fell For My Sister

When I came to, a group of Nathaniel's interns surrounded me, Lila among them. I propped myself up. "What are you all doing here?"

A plain-looking wolf spoke up. "Nathaniel said to use you as a teaching case. Told us to come ahead."

Another elbowed him. "Why explain to her? She's just leeching off the Skye pack's debt. Doesn't deserve our respect."

My face paled. Before, I'd have brushed it off. But now? They were right. I was the chain binding Nathaniel, trapping him because of my mom's sacrifice.

"If it weren't for her, Nathaniel could chase his true mate," another said, glancing at Lila pointedly.

Lila's cheeks flushed, and my heart took another hit. Someone clapped their hands. "Bet her mom took the fall just to secure her pup a bond with Nathaniel. Their kind could never claw their way up to a pack like the Skyes otherwise."

The others chimed in. "Yeah, makes sense. Mother and daughter, both schemers. Her mom's the worst, playing martyr for status."

My fists clenched. They could tear into me-I'd take it. But my mom? She took the blame out of gratitude, not for some payoff. Their words grew venomous, and I couldn't let them slander her. I stood, arm raised to slap the loudest one.

Lila, catching Nathaniel's approach in her peripheral vision, stepped in front of the wolf. My hand landed on her cheek with a sharp crack. I froze.

Nathaniel stormed in, pulling Lila into his arms and shoving me back. "Sylvia, what the hell are you doing?" he growled.

I flinched, stunned. He'd never spoken to me like that. He didn't meet my eyes, just led Lila out to treat her cheek, his gaze full of worry.

Ten minutes later, he returned. His first words: "Go apologize to Lila."

I turned my head, silent.

"You've been too spoiled," he said, voice hard.

My body stiffened, eyes burning as I looked at him. "They said I was holding you hostage with my mom's sacrifice. Said she only took the fall to bind me to your pack. I wasn't aiming for Lila-she stepped in front of my swing!"

His eyes didn't soften. "And they're wrong?"

My breath caught, pupils shrinking. Disbelief and grief flooded me. Of course, that's what he thought all along. Why else would he sabotage our bond thirty-three times? Why else call me a duty?

I dropped my gaze, a bitter smile twisting my lips. "Fine. I'll apologize."

Dragging my battered body, I followed him to his office. Inside, Lila sat alone in his chair. I remembered when I wanted to wait for him there after hours. He'd refused, saying, "My office holds sensitive pack records. No one stays alone."

Yet Lila could. A wolf's principles only hold for those he doesn't love. I swallowed the dense pain in my chest and stepped forward. "I'm sorry, Lila. I didn't mean to hit you."

Lila gasped, hand to her mouth. "Mrs. Skye?"

Nathaniel touched her head, frowning. "We're not bound yet. You don't need to call her that."

He never corrected others who called me Mrs. Skye. But with Lila, he did. Didn't want his true mate saying it, did he? Bitterness flashed in my eyes.

Lila nodded sweetly. "Sylvia, don't feel too bad. I forgive you."

Her gracious act made Nathaniel ease up. "Go rest," he told me.

My nails dug into my palms. I turned to leave, but someone passing by bumped me. I crashed to the floor, pain exploding, sweat beading. From the office, Nathaniel's voice drifted out, soft and concerned. "Does your face still hurt? Let me put more salve on."

Tears broke free, spilling onto the floor. I clamped my mouth shut to stifle sobs, my shaking shoulders the only sign of my heartbreak.

The next day, Nathaniel went to another pack's healing den for an exchange, taking only Lila. During my week in the hospital, interns kept coming by, saying Nathaniel picked Lila to take her out for fun, to dine at fancy spots, to visit trendy pack landmarks-things he never did with me.

I stayed silent, but my heart felt like it was tearing apart. Finally, a flicker of release passed through me. Nathaniel, I set you free.

The moment I was discharged, I headed to the Skye pack's old den. I was going to break our bond.