My Sister's Mate

Tonight, my sister Julia is getting engaged to the most powerful Alpha in the region. And I’m supposed to smile about it. The grand hall gleams under silver and crimson banners, the Blackthorn pack’s colors casting an air of power over the celebration. Crystal chandeliers hang from the high ceiling, their light reflecting off the polished marble floor. Everything about tonight screams perfection, exactly how Julia likes it. I linger near the edges of the room, tucked behind a column, where the shadows blur my presence. It’s safer here. Easier. When you’re the weaker sister, blending into the background becomes a survival skill. The hall buzzes with anticipation, the air heavy with expectation. Alpha Kieran Hale, ruthless, powerful, and untouchable, is about to bind himself to my sister in a sacred mate bond. A bond that is supposed to be permanent. Unbreakable. I should be happy for her. But my heart pounds harder with every breath. “You’re squeezing that poor glass like it insulted you,” Lena’s voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts. She appears at my side, a teasing smile on her face. “Relax, Ava. It’s just an engagement ceremony. Not an execution.” I loosen my grip on the delicate wine glass and force a laugh. “Easy for you to say. You’re not related to perfection incarnate.” “True,” Lena admits, her lips twitching. “But think of the bright side, when the ceremony’s over, you can stop pretending to care.” A warm hand slips around my arm, drawing me into a soft embrace. “Don’t listen to her,” Selene murmurs, her voice smooth as honey. “Julia’s your sister. Tonight is a big moment for your family. It’s okay to feel a little overwhelmed.” I glance at Selene, my heart softening at her kindness. She’s been a constant source of support, always sweet, always on my side. With her chestnut, brown hair cascading in soft waves and those warm hazel eyes, she’s the picture of quiet loyalty. “I’m fine,” I lie. “You always say that,” Selene chides gently, giving my arm a squeeze. “But you don’t have to be fine all the time. Lena and I are here, remember?” Lena snorts softly, though there’s no malice in it. “You’re too soft on her, Sel. She’s tougher than she looks.” “Not everyone deals with feelings by punching things,” Selene shoots back, rolling her eyes. Lena flashes a grin. “Hey, if it works, it works.” Their banter is a welcome distraction, but my chest still feels tight. Lena twirls her glass between her fingers, eyeing the swirling crimson liquid with mild disinterest. "I’m just saying, if Kieran was about to put a ring, or whatever wolves do, on my finger, I’d be halfway to the border by now." Selene gasps, smacking Lena’s arm playfully. "Don’t be ridiculous. Kieran’s a perfectly respectable Alpha. Julia’s lucky." "Lucky?" Lena scoffs, arching a brow. "He looks like the type who writes love letters in blood." I bite back a laugh, but Selene shakes her head, exasperated. "He’s not that scary. He’s serious, there’s a difference." "He’s ‘I could snap your neck without blinking’ serious," Lena counters. She tilts her head, thoughtful. "Actually, I bet he doesn’t blink. At all." I giggle softly, warmth unfurling in my chest despite the tension gnawing at my ribs. Selene sighs, but there’s a glimmer of affection in her gaze as she watches us. "You two are impossible," she says. "Not everything is a joke." "Maybe not," Lena says, her grin widening. "But it helps when your entire pack treats you like a ghost." She gives me a meaningful glance, and my smile falters. Selene nudges Lena with her elbow. "Ava’s not invisible to us, so stop it." "Relax," Lena says with a wink. "I’m just keeping her grounded. If I’m not here to remind her how amazing she is, who will?" My throat tightens. I open my mouth to respond, but Lena presses on, her tone growing softer. "Look, Ava. I know tonight is weird. But it’s not the end of the world. You don’t need to be like Julia, and you sure as hell don’t need Kieran’s approval to matter." "You’re enough," Selene adds quietly. Her voice is warm, soothing. "You’ve always been enough, Ava." My heart swells at their words, but the knot in my stomach refuses to loosen. I know they mean well, but being enough doesn’t stop the ache. It doesn’t silence the part of me that wonders what it would feel like to be seen, really seen. By him. Lena watches me closely, her teasing fading into something more serious. "You’re thinking too hard again," she murmurs. "Come on, Ava. Let’s make a bet." I blink at her. "A bet?" She smirks. "Yeah. I bet you Kieran doesn’t smile once tonight. Not even a twitch." Selene huffs a laugh. "That’s a terrible bet. Of course, he won’t smile. He’s practically allergic to emotion." "You’re both terrible," I say, trying to fight a smile. "And you love us for it," Lena quips, clinking her glass lightly against mine. Despite the heavy weight on my chest, I laugh softly. They’re right. Whatever happens tonight, at least I’m not alone. "Okay," I say, tilting my head in mock seriousness. "What do I get if he does smile?" Lena hums, considering. "If he smiles, I’ll sneak you out of the next boring pack event. No questions asked." "And if he doesn’t?" "You have to sit through one of Elder Thomas’s lectures with me," she says with a wicked grin. I groan. "You’re evil." Selene giggles, shaking her head. "She really is." For a moment, the tension eases, the weight on my shoulders lifting beneath their playful warmth. But it doesn’t last, not when my gaze drifts across the hall and lands on him. Kieran’s focus remains fixed straight ahead, his expression a perfect mask of detachment. Even when his Beta, Sebastian, leans in to murmur something, he doesn’t react. His jaw tightens, a flicker of tension that no one else seems to notice. No one except me. It’s ridiculous. He doesn’t even know I exist. Why would he? I’m nothing compared to Julia. Weak. Invisible. The girl no one looks at twice. And yet… For a fleeting second, his head turns, just enough for his eyes to sweep over the crowd. And when his gaze brushes against mine, everything inside me stills. It’s brief. Barely a heartbeat. But I feel it, a pull deep in my bones, something primal and impossible to ignore. No. No, I’m imagining things. “Ava?” Selene’s voice pulls me back, her brow furrowed in concern. “Are you okay?” I force a smile. “I’m fine. Just… distracted.” Selene squeezes my hand, her warmth soothing the rising anxiety. “If it gets too much, just say the word. Lena and I will sneak you out through the kitchens.” Lena grins. “I’m always down to escape awkward family functions.” My heart swells with gratitude. Whatever happens tonight, at least I’m not alone. A hush falls over the crowd as my father, Elder Elias, steps onto the dais. His presence radiates authority, his silvered hair and piercing gaze making him every inch the formidable leader. “Tonight,” he begins, his voice steady, “we witness a union that will strengthen our packs for generations to come.” The crowd shifts with anticipation. All eyes turn toward Julia, who stands poised beside our father, glowing with the confidence of someone who knows the world belongs to her. “This is it,” Lena whispers. The officiating Elder steps forward, lifting the ceremonial dagger. His voice is clear and solemn. “Alpha Kieran Hale, do you accept Julia Sinclair as your bonded mate and Luna?” Julia’s smile is radiant, her hand gracefully brushing the dagger’s hilt. This is her moment, everything she’s ever wanted. Kieran steps forward. His fingers wrap around the dagger’s hilt. He opens his mouth to speak, And the world shifts. “Ava.” The single word crashes through the hall like thunder. I freeze. For a heartbeat, no one moves. The air grows heavy, thick with disbelief. My pulse hammers in my ears, drowning out everything else. Did he… did he just say my name? Julia’s fingers curl tightly into her gown. But her smile never wavers. “I meant Julia,” Kieran says, his voice cold and controlled. But it’s a lie. I feel it in my bones. Julia’s smile doesn’t falter, if anything, it sharpens. The kind of smile that doesn’t touch her eyes. The kind she uses when she’s about to destroy someone. "Well," she says smoothly, her voice light as air, "I suppose my dear sister has finally managed to steal some attention tonight." Laughter trickles through the room, uneasy but forced. My stomach knots. She’s playing it off, pretending it’s nothing. But I know better. Julia doesn’t forget. Julia doesn’t forgive. My father steps forward, clearing his throat. "A slip of the tongue, surely," he says, casting me a warning glance. "Let us proceed." Kieran nods stiffly. His expression has returned to that unreadable mask, but his hands are clenched tight enough that his knuckles are white. Selene’s arm wraps around me protectively. “It’s okay,” she murmurs. “It was just a mistake.” A mistake. But mistakes don’t make your heart race. And mistakes don’t make you feel claimed. The way Kieran looks at me? It feels like anything but. And in that moment, I realize the truth: Something is very, very wrong.