Bound to My Sister's Mate

8.

Ava’s POV

The day felt like it would never end. The ceremony for Luna’s marriage to Jack was a blur—too much for me to process, too much to handle. But now, it was my turn. My stomach churned with every step I took toward the altar, and my heart pounded in my chest as I stood beside Liam.

The air was heavy, thick with the weight of unspoken words and emotions that neither of us dared to voice. I could feel his anger radiating off him, even from where I stood. His jaw was clenched, his body tense as he stood beside me like a man who was forced into something he didn’t want.

The crowd around us was hushed, watching expectantly as the Alpha leader stepped forward, his voice echoing in the clearing.

“Ava Martin, Liam of the Rhyden Pack,” Rowan began, his voice commanding the attention of all those present. “You are here today, bound by fate and the decisions of your family. Do you both stand here willingly to accept each other’s bond, to share a life together?”

I wanted to say no. I wanted to scream that this wasn’t what I wanted, that this wasn’t what Liam wanted, either. But I couldn’t. My mother’s glare from the sidelines was sharp enough to pierce through me, and I couldn’t bring myself to disappoint her any more than I already had.

Liam’s gaze flicked to me briefly, his expression unreadable. I could feel the intensity of his emotions, the hate, the bitterness, all directed at me. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself.

“Yes,” I said, my voice a little shaky but firm enough to carry through the air.

“Yes,” Liam repeated, his voice flat, devoid of any emotion.

Rowan nodded solemnly, continuing with the ceremony. “Then, by the power vested in me, I bind you both in the vows of your union. Do you, Ava, take Liam as your mate, to love and honor him for the rest of your days?”

I looked over at Liam again, his eyes burning into mine, and I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of unease. How could I love someone who clearly hated me? How could I stand here, knowing what he truly felt?

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words stuck in my throat. What was the right answer? Was there even a right answer anymore?

I glanced to my father, standing behind Liam. He gave me a tight smile, trying to offer some kind of reassurance, but his eyes were filled with worry. His hand rested on Liam’s shoulder, a silent gesture of support.

“Ava,” my father murmured, leaning in so only I could hear. “You can always turn back. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

I froze, my eyes widening at his words. For a brief moment, I wanted to take his offer. I wanted to run, to stop everything before it went any further. But then I saw my mother’s glare again, her face a mask of disapproval and anger. I could already hear her harsh words echoing in my mind.

“It’s fine,” I whispered back, my voice trembling, but resolute. “I’ll do it.”

My father’s expression faltered for a moment, as if he were about to say something more, but then he simply nodded.

Rowan cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him. “And Liam, do you take Ava as your mate, to protect and cherish her, to walk beside her through all the challenges life brings?”

Liam’s gaze flicked to mine, and for a second, I could’ve sworn I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—maybe regret, maybe something darker—but it was gone as quickly as it came.

“Yes,” Liam said, his voice still empty of any real emotion.

The ceremony continued, and I found myself lost in the words, my thoughts distant. When it was finally time to exchange rings, I barely registered the small silver band placed in my hand. I barely felt the weight of it as I slid it onto Liam’s finger.

And then came the moment that would change everything.

Rowan looked at us both, his gaze final. “Then, I pronounce you mates. You may now kiss your bride.”

I barely had time to react before Liam grabbed me by the shoulders, his fingers digging into my skin as he pulled me toward him. His lips crashed onto mine, furious and demanding, not the tender kiss of a loving mate but one of anger, of frustration, of something far more complicated.

I felt my heart race, my face flushing under the pressure of his kiss. It was rough, and I could taste the bitterness on his lips. He wasn’t kissing me because he loved me; he was kissing me because he had no choice, because he was trapped in this life that had been chosen for him.

His hands were on my back now, pulling me closer, and I could feel the fire in his touch, the heat radiating between us. I could barely breathe, his kiss leaving me dizzy and disoriented. I wanted to pull away, to stop it, but I couldn’t. My body was frozen, caught in the tension, in the storm of emotions that swirled between us.

When he finally broke away, I gasped for air, my lips tingling from the intensity of the kiss. I looked up at him, my cheeks burning, and saw the same stormy expression on his face.

Liam’s eyes were dark, angry, but there was something else there, something I couldn’t quite place. He didn’t say anything, and neither did I. We stood there, side by side, as the crowd erupted into applause.

But all I could think about was how this was all wrong. How nothing felt right.

And how, no matter what I did, I was trapped in this life with him, just as much as he was trapped with me.

Ava’s POV

The applause from the ceremony was still ringing in my ears as Liam pulled me away from the crowd, his grip tight on my arm. My heart was racing, my thoughts a whirlwind, but I couldn’t make sense of any of it. The weight of his touch felt suffocating, his fingers digging into my skin as he led me away from the others, into the shadows of the trees.

“Ava,” Liam's voice was low, cold, like a slap to my face. He stopped abruptly, turning to face me. His eyes, usually dark and unreadable, were now filled with a burning anger that took me off guard.

“You don’t get it, do you?” His words were sharp, each one cutting through me like a knife. “I will never love you. Not now, not ever.”

I felt my chest tighten, my breath catching in my throat. “Liam, please—”

“No,” he interrupted, his voice growing more venomous. “I don't care about your pleas. You’re nothing more than Luna’s shadow. That’s all you’ve ever been, and that’s all you’ll ever be.”

His words were like ice, freezing my blood in my veins. I stood there, in the quiet of the trees, staring at him as his words sunk in. Luna’s shadow. Was that all I was to him? I wasn’t even Ava in his eyes. I was just the second-best choice, the one who had to step in because he had no other option.

I blinked rapidly, trying to fight back the tears threatening to spill. My chest was tight, like it was caving in on itself. “I’m more than that, Liam,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’ll prove it to you. I’m not just Luna’s shadow. I’m me, Ava. I’m someone who has a life of her own. I can be more than you think.”

He laughed, a bitter sound that made my heart crack. It was cold, hollow, as if he was already tired of hearing my words. “You don’t need to prove anything to me, Ava,” he spat, taking a step closer, his presence looming over me like a storm about to break. “You’ll never be more than a wife in front of everyone else. You’ll play the part, and you’ll play it well. But behind closed doors? Behind closed doors, you’ll be nothing. You’ll be just a woman who’s married to a man who doesn’t give a damn about her.”

My heart shattered with his words. It was like a cruel punch to the gut, and I felt the air leave my lungs. I wanted to scream, to argue, to make him understand. But nothing came out. What was the point? His words had already carved a place in my soul, a dark spot I couldn’t erase. I wasn’t his wife. Not really. I was just a figure to keep up appearances, to make everything look perfect on the outside while everything rotted beneath the surface.