Kendra felt precisely as her sister did—shock and a little bit of fear. Of everything she expected to happen tonight, finding her mate wasn’t one of them, least of all it being her sister.
The Moon Goddess must have a cruel sense of humor. “Hello, little sister,” Kendra greeted, her tone measured as she took in Adira’s appearance. Oh, how she had grown. From the little girl who had once followed her around like a lost puppy to a woman—a striking one at that. Her sister had always been beautiful, but the young woman who stood before her now was breathtaking. This realization unsettled Kendra, and her heart thudded in her chest like a drumbeat. Adira stumbled past her initial shock when Kendra addressed her. Her emerald eyes narrowed as if trying to pierce through her older sister’s calm facade. Was she mocking her? Kendra, who had always kept her at arm’s length, now suddenly called her “sister.” “What are you doing here?” Adira demanded sharply, her voice trembling with anger. She went on the offensive, her walls snapping up before her sister could hurt her again. Her outburst stunned their parents. “Adira!” Their mother’s voice carried a note of reprimand, her expression disapproving. Beside her, their father wore a matching frown. Adira ignored them, her focus locked on Kendra. She hated the way her heart had leaped at the sight of her older sister, the way she still yearned for even a shred of approval. And yet, deep down, she knew better. That approval would never come. She hated that she still loved her sister so fiercely. She hated how much it hurt to know those feelings weren’t returned. Kendra’s impassive gaze didn’t waver as she watched her younger sister. The anger in Adira’s eyes was a mirror to her own guilt. She wanted to apologize for every cruel thing she’d said, every moment she’d pushed Adira away. But looking into those blazing green eyes now, she feared it was too late. Good. Maybe it was better this way. If Adira hated her, then this mate bond would be easier to sever. Adira could reject her and find someone who could give her the love she deserved—someone who wasn’t drowning in regrets and haunted by a past she couldn’t escape. “I’m here to support you,” Kendra said smoothly, arching a brow. “Today is your big day, isn’t it?” Her lips curled into an amused smirk. “I hope you find your mate.” Adira’s fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. “Are you mocking me?” she growled. Kendra’s calm demeanor, her pointed words—it was obvious she already knew they were mates. For her to stand there and say this meant only one thing: Kendra had no intention of honoring their bond. Fine. Adira could play that game, too. She didn’t want someone like Kendra as her mate—a woman who had always looked at her with indifference if not outright disdain. “No, I’m not mocking you,” Kendra said, her voice dropping into a more serious tone. “I do hope you find what you’re looking for.” The words carried a weight neither of them wanted to acknowledge. The air between them grew thick with unspoken emotions. It was suffocating, an invisible storm crackling with tension, but those around them remained oblivious. “Girls, play nice,” their father interjected, his voice strained. “I can’t believe you two haven’t seen each other in years, and now you’re bickering like children,” their mother added, exasperated. She turned to Adira with a disappointed look. “You should be grateful your sister came to support you, not antagonize her.” Adira’s glare deepened as she turned back to Kendra. That ever-present smirk, that infuriatingly composed demeanor—it made her blood boil. “She is not my sister!” Adira yelled, her voice breaking. “And she shouldn’t have come. I don’t want her here!” Her parents’ jaws dropped, stunned into silence. Kendra’s expression didn’t change, but a flicker of something—regret, perhaps—flashed in her blue eyes. She watched Adira storm off, her brows knitting together in concern. For a long moment, Kendra stood rooted in place. Her sister’s words echoed in her mind, sharper than any blade. She sounded so hurt, and Kendra couldn’t ignore the knot of guilt tightening in her chest. Before she knew it, her feet were moving, following the path her sister had taken. Adira had no idea where she was going. All she knew was that she needed to get away. The emotions swirling inside her were too much—anger, longing, and hurt. They tangled together into an unbearable weight pressing down on her chest. By the time the cool night air hit her face, she realized she was outside. But she didn’t stop running. She couldn’t. “Adira!” The sound of her name, spoken with concern, finally broke through the haze clouding her mind. A hand caught her arm, pulling her to a stop. Jake, her boyfriend, stood there, his brow furrowed as he searched her face. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice gentle. Adira stared at him, unable to find the words. How could she explain what she was feeling? How could she tell him that her mate—the person fate had chosen for her—was her older sister? He’d think she was insane. Instead, she threw herself into Jake’s arms, her body trembling as the tears finally came. She clung to him like a lifeline, the sobs wracking her small frame. Jake’s heart broke at the sight of her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “I’m here, Dira,” he murmured, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside him. “Please don’t cry.” He hated seeing her like this—vulnerable, hurting. Whoever had caused this, he wanted to make them pay. Adira buried her face in his chest, the scent of him grounding her. Jake was familiar. Safe. If she stayed with him, she wouldn’t have to face the chaos Kendra’s presence had unleashed inside her. She tightened her grip on his suit as though holding onto him could keep her heart from shattering. Kendra stepped outside the hotel, her blue eyes scanning the dimly lit street. Worry churned in her gut as she searched for her sister. Then she saw them—a pair of shadows under the soft glow of a street lamp. As she moved closer, she recognized Adira in the arms of a man—her boyfriend. Kendra froze, her chest tightening at the sight. She told herself it was for the best. Jake would be good to her sister, better than she ever could be. He could offer Adira the kind of love and stability she deserved. But the jealousy simmering beneath her calm exterior told a different story. Her hands curled into fists at her sides as she stood there, watching. She tried to convince herself she was doing the right thing by stepping back and letting Adira go. But every second she spent looking at them felt like a knife twisting in her chest. When she couldn’t bear it any longer, Kendra turned and walked away. There was no reason for her to stay. Adira felt Jake’s hand gently stroke her back, his warmth seeping into her as she calmed. The tears slowed, but the ache in her chest remained. “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?” Jake asked softly, pulling back just enough to look at her. She shook her head, unable to meet his gaze. “It’s nothing,” she whispered, though the words tasted like a lie. Jake frowned but didn’t press her. “You don’t have to go through whatever this is alone,” he said. “I’m here for you. Always.” Adira managed a weak smile, though her heart wasn’t in it. “Thank you, Jake.” But as she leaned into his embrace, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was irrevocably broken inside her—and that no amount of comfort could fix it. From the shadows of the hotel, Kendra watched them one last time before disappearing into the night. Are you okay to go back?” Jake asked softly, his voice steady but tinged with worry as he noticed Adira’s breathing had evened out. Adira looked up at him, her lips curving into a shaky smile as she nodded. “Yeah,” she said, her voice still a little hoarse but more composed. Jake studied her for a moment, his eyes searching hers, but he didn’t press her further. He simply gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, and together, they began walking back toward the hotel. The quiet between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words. Jake kept glancing at her from the corner of his eye, as if waiting for her to say something. But Adira stayed silent, her mind a tangled mess of thoughts she couldn’t untangle, let alone voice. As they neared the hotel’s entrance, Adira’s gaze caught on a shadow moving in the distance. The figure had a familiar gait, a striking resemblance to Kendra. Her steps faltered. The shadow slipped away, disappearing around a corner before she could be sure it was her sister. Adira’s chest tightened as she stared in the direction the figure had gone, her heart warring with emotions she didn’t want to feel. Pain. Anger. Longing. Why did Kendra have to come tonight? Why did her presence always shake her so completely? “Adira,” Jake’s voice broke through her thoughts. She didn’t respond, her focus still fixed on the empty space where the shadow had been. “Adira,” Jake called again, firmer this time. Blinking, she turned to him, her expression distant. “Are you okay?” he asked, his brow furrowed, his concern deepening. “I’m fine,” she said quickly, though her voice lacked conviction, and her eyes seemed lost. Jake didn’t believe her. He could feel the tension radiating off her, the weight of something she wasn’t sharing. But he decided not to push her—not here, not now. Instead, he nodded and reached for her hand again, leading her inside. The moment they stepped back into the event hall, they were surrounded by a flurry of voices and movement. Adira’s friends, a lively group of young women and men, spotted her immediately and rushed over, their excitement palpable. “Adira!” one of them cried, throwing her arms around her. “Where did you disappear to? We’ve been looking for you!” Another chimed in, “You missed the first announcement! We thought you’d be front and center tonight!” Adira managed a weak smile as they crowded around her, their infectious energy overwhelming her fragile calm. She was grateful for the distraction, even if it felt a bit suffocating. “Have you found your mate yet?” someone asked, their tone teasing but eager. All eyes turned to Adira, their anticipation clear. She hesitated, her heart sinking. The question, meant to be lighthearted, hit her like a blow. “No,” she said quietly, her voice steady but hollow.Jake stood like a protective shadow beside Adira, his broad frame stiffening at the mention of mates. His heart pounded with dread, an ache settling in his chest. He had meant every word when he’d told himself there was no one else for him except Adira. He had loved her since they were kids, a tender bond that had grown and deepened over the years. What had once been innocent childhood affection had transformed into a love so profound it frightened him. As the question about Adira’s mate hung in the air, Jake held his breath, his muscles coiled tight. He hadn’t found his mate yet, and, secretly, he was glad. It meant he didn’t have to wrestle with guilt for desiring Adira with every fiber of his being. When she finally answered, a tidal wave of relief crashed over him. The world felt brighter and lighter, like the moon was smiling down on him. He fought the urge to leap into the air and whoop joyfully, but he couldn’t contain the grin that broke across his face. “Hey, Jake, what’s
Kendra’s heart thundered against her chest, fueled by a tempest of emotions—anger, jealousy, disgust—swirling into a volatile storm as she stormed toward her car. This was what she wanted. It was what she’d told herself she wanted: for her sister to find someone worthy, someone better, and it didn’t get much better than the Beta’s son. Jake was polite, dependable, and annoyingly handsome—everything their Pack could hope for in a mate. She’d known him since he was a kid and watched him grow into a man. It would be him if she had to pick anyone for her sister. So why did she feel like ramming her fist through the nearest wall? Her jaw clenched as she yanked open the car door and slid behind the wheel. She slammed it shut with enough force to make the entire car shudder, then started the engine. The tires screeched as she sped off into the night, the engine's roar a poor mask for the roar inside her head. She wasn’t just trying to escape her feelings; she was fleeing them like a prey an
The tension swirling inside Kendra increased as she watched the scene before her flatly. She didn't feel any fear at the thought that she just walked into a trap; if anything, she felt more excitement. She was itching for a good fight tonight. Trix stirred at the presence of so many hostile individuals, her presence simmering beneath the surface, ready to lend her human help if she needed it. One of the men in the room, their leader, responded to Jonas's words, a sly smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he praised Jonas for a job well done. “Good work,” he said, his tone carrying the false warmth of a predator playing with its prey. A few days ago, they had tracked the young wolf down at a dump of a club where he was up in his nose with drugs and high as a kite. They apprehended him before he could escape, and in exchange for his life, he was to give up the one who had been killing rogues these past few months. Kendra’s vigilante parade has caught the attention of the r
Adira's mother’s hand flew to her mouth, her expression tightening with worry. Jake stepped forward, his easy demeanor replaced by concern as he glanced between Adira and her parents. “Where is she?” her father asked again, his tone firm. “Did she say where she was?” Adira shook her head, struggling to steady her breathing. “No… she just said ‘help,’ and then the line went dead.” Her father’s jaw clenched, his mind already racing. “We need to find her,” he said, turning to Jake. “Alert the patrols. We’ll go out and search for her.” Jake nodded immediately, stepping away to carry out the Alpha’s orders. Adira stood frozen for a moment, her hand clutching the phone like a lifeline. The fear in Kendra’s voice echoed in her ears, cutting through the lingering tension from earlier. Kendra was never the one to ask for help. She charged into the fray, facing danger head-on without hesitation. For her to call Adira now, to sound so… broken—it was unlike her. She shook herself
Adira turned to bury her face into Jake’s chest as she sobbed heavily, both father and boyfriend helpless on how to console the little blonde. They understood how much she cared for her sister, but to Adira, losing Kendra would be more than losing her sister; she would be losing her mate, and despite how much she protests against the mate bond, she doesn't want to lose her sister. The mere thought of it paralyzes her with fear. ”Honey, we have to go,” their father said urgently when one of the paramedics informed him from the doorway that they were ready to go. ”I want to go with them,” Adira said in a firm voice, disentangling herself from Jake’s arms. She used her hand to wipe her eyes clean. Her father opened his mouth to argue, but Adira was already moving, letting him know his opinion didn't matter. He could order her to do his bidding as the Alpha, but her father felt it unnecessarily. They all matched out of the diner, but before they left, Adira’s father in
Meredith broke the silence in the car a few minutes into their drive home. She couldn't hold her piece any longer. “Why the fuck does Adira’s mum think you guys are mates?!” Meredith demanded, her tone high-pitched and annoyed, laced with jealousy. She sat at the back of Jake’s car with Nate and Dylan, slender arms folded against her chest, leg crossed at the knees, while she glared at Jake and Adira. She hated the fact that everyone thought of them as mates when they were not, and this made it difficult for her to pursue Jake. Why the fuck couldn't Adira have found her mate, she hissed in her mind while she waited for a response. Jake looked at Adira, who sat beside him as he drove. He smiled when he noticed the blonde was asleep. “Give it a rest, Meredith,” Dylan whispered to the red-haired beside him. The Luna’s words had shocked him as well, but he knew how much his best friend liked the little blonde, so if they wanted to pretend to be mates, he didn't mind, though he wo
Adira quickly sat up in her bed, heart racing, her blonde hair disheveled from sleep. Her sleep last night was a restless one, filled with nightmares of the past events and losing her sister. Adira swept her slender fingers through her blonde hair, willing her heart to stop pounding, as she affirmed to herself that her sister would be alright. She got down from her queen-size bed, her tiny feet slipping into her bedroom slippers—pink, thick foam slippers with the big ears of a cat on top of them. She moved into her bathroom, turned on the tap, and bent over to splash water on her face. The chilled water helped jog her to a full wakefulness. She raised her wet face to look at the mirror nailed to the wall above her, her hands pressed on the cool white surface of the sink. She stared at her reflection in silence. Her green eyes looked sad and tired. She didn't like what she saw in the mirror and felt slightly bothered, so she walked away. Before she entered the shower s
“Mum! What’s happening?” Adira cried, her voice trembling with fear as her wide eyes locked onto her sister’s writhing body. Her mother turned to respond, but something incredible unfolded before the words could escape her lips. Her sister suddenly stilled, as if Adira’s voice alone had quelled the storm within her. Everyone froze, a shocked look on their faces. “What happened?” Adira’s father asked, his voice carrying the question that echoed in everyone’s mind. Everyone looked clueless, including Adira. She was unaware that her sister's wolf responded to her voice. “Mum, what happened?” Adira repeated, her voice laced with worry as her eyes locked onto her mother. Her sister might be calm now, but she didn't look out of danger. “Your sister has been poisoned with silver,” her mother said grimly. “Her wolf is trying to purge it from her system.” Adira gasped, her eyes widening. Silver poisoning is as dangerous to wolves as it is to humans, only worse with wolves as
When Kendra and Adira arrived at the Pack house, they found a group of their people gathered in the front yard, most of them sad. They stepped down from the car and approached the crowd, confused. The tense, mournful atmosphere made the two women feel anxious, though Kendra was better at hiding her feelings. The brunette lightly touched her sister’s back to get her attention. The blonde looked at her, her green eyes filled with questions. Kendra wanted to pull her into her arms and assure her that everything was going to be alright, but she didn’t even know what was going on. She needed to find answers. “I need to find our father,” she said to the blonde, her voice soft. Adira nods. “I will go find my friends.” The sisters exchanged tender looks before parting ways. Kendra walked into the Pack house, where she knew their parents would be, while Adira waded through the crowd of onlookers looking for her friends. It didn’t take long for her to find them, or
Kendra climbed on top of her queen-sized bed, the purple dildo between her legs dangling as she moved. She knelt beside Adira’s prone figure and watched her closely, her eyes searching for any hint of nervousness. Despite not finding such expression in the green eyes that watched her hungrily, the brunette still wanted to confirm with words that her sister was not nervous about what she was going to do. This is new territory for both of them, and Kendra would like the blonde to be comfortable with it before she proceeds. “Are you nervous?” She questions softly, her voice tinged with love and tenderness. Adira quickly shakes her head. She was, but she was trying to be brave for her sister. She didn’t want her sister to think she was not adventurous in bed. Kendra laughs softly, seeing through Adira’s response. “It is perfectly okay to be nervous,” she reassures the blonde. Adira blushes at being called out, but opens her arms to receive her sister as she leans over h
“Wow! Your house is beautiful,” Adira comments as Kendra leads her into her apartment. “Thank you,” Kendra responds in a husky tone, a smoldering look in her eyes as she cages Adira in. It took Adira a second to understand what was going on. “What are you doing, Ken?” She asks, puzzled as her sister moves in her direction, a type of look in her eyes. Kendra doesn’t think what she wants to do needs an explanation. It is all in her eyes. She smirks at her sister as she closes the gap between them. Adira’s green eyes widened slightly as she got what was about to happen. Even as her body reacts with desire to the lust burning in her sister’s eyes, she steps back from Kendra, like a prey trying to escape the predator in the jungle. Kendra's eyes grew hungrier at the cat and mouse game. She continues to move until her sister’s back hits the wall. You have nowhere else to, she purrs in a sexy drawl that draws a shiver from Adira. Adira says nothing, but instead star
Kendra’s cheeks burned from the hot slap she received from Kamara. She raised her hand to rub her throbbing cheek, her eyes cast downwards, while Kamara stood before her, panting from fury. Kamara can’t believe she raised a hand on someone. She isn’t a violent person, but seeing her dark-haired girlfriend kissing another woman, a girl, for that matter, breaks something inside her, and she wants to lash out. Kendra raises her face to stare into Kamara’s furious brown eyes. “I will give you that because I deserve it, but don’t ever raise your hand to me again,” Kendra warned seriously, even though her expression remained calm. Kamara felt bad, but her fury burned higher when Kendra acted as if she was doing her a favour instead of apologizing. The brunette scoffed, a sound full of mockery and anger, before she turned and walked back to her desk. She didn’t have the words to explain the emotions churning inside her right now. Kendra sighed, feeling like she was handling
Kendra has been so caught up in handling the issues that she forgot about Kamara, her girlfriend and work colleague. She and Kamara have been dating for six months now. Nothing serious, at least on Kendra’s part, though the brunette might have a different idea. She and Kamara met on a case. The lawyer was working on a high-profile case and needed a paralegal to help her since hers was on maternity leave. The partners tasked Kendra to help the Latino woman. The first moment they met, Kendra felt attracted to the attractive lawyer, and one night while working late, she took a shot. She didn’t believe she would score because the lawyer had appeared straight, but when she kissed the brunette by her desk that night, she shocked her by reciprocating. Kendra fucked her on her desk that night, and laterwards, the brunette admitted to being attracted to Kendra as well. It was supposed to be a one-night thing, but they found themselves fucking each time they were within two
“You know, not saying anything to me isn’t going to help you. It is just you wasting my time and yours, more yours than mine. At least I get paid either way,” the therapist jokes, but Kendra watches her flatly. The older woman's smile dries off her face, and she writes something down. She crosses her legs and uncrosses them. She has been a therapist for twenty years, and in all her years of practice, no client has disconcerted her like the young woman in front of her. She usually has the power in the room, but right now, she feels like a rat under a microscope. Those icy blue eyes sure burn like a laser beam. Kender smirked inwardly, watching the therapist squirm. The woman fights so hard to appear in control that she looks as if she has a stick up her ass. “You know I don’t bite, right?” She smirked at the auburn-haired woman. “That is not what I have heard,” the older woman blurts out, then blushes when she realizes how her words sounded. The younger woman across
As Kendra predicted, Adira arrived at school late. The school corridors were empty of students except for the blonde. She makes her way to her locker, picks up her books, and heads off to her first period. There is a spring to her step and a happy glow that wasn’t there a few days ago. Anyone looking closely could spot that there is something different about the blonde. Meredith spots this difference as soon as Adira sits beside her as usual. The beach blonde narrows her eyes at her best friend and asks. “What is going on with you?” Meredith kept her voice low to avoid attracting the attention of the teacher droning on in front of the class. Adira plays the dumb card. She looks at her best friend blankly and retorts, “What do you mean?” Her voice was low as well. Meredith didn’t speak immediately, her grey eyes searching the blonde’s green ones as if looking for something. She felt in her gut that there was something different about the blonde, but
Kendra heard their mother long before she walked into her room. She has always been a light sleeper. As a warrior and a hunter, she trained herself to sleep with one eye open, ever ready for anything, even when asleep. The first thing that changed was her breathing before she opened her eyes. Her mother was just outside their door. Kendra moved her hand along the back of the young woman plastered against her side, soothing her back to sleep when the blonde grumbled as if disturbed by her nightmares. She felt her mother hesitate at her door before the older woman turned the handle and walked in. Kendra held her eyes closed and waited for the older woman’s reaction to the sight of her sister in her bed, plastered against her nakedness. She didn’t react like she had something to hide. Her sister sleeping beside her is all innocent, even though it is not unless they make it not so. Luna Grace doesn’t know how to interpret the sight before her. The s
While watching their Mother interact with her sister, Adira stares longingly, wishing things were different. She wants to be in her sister’s arms to assure herself she is alright, but she can’t because no one knows that she is her mate. When Kendra looks at her, Adira’s heart skips and her green eyes soften with tenderness as she silently coveys her feelings to the brunette. The stare lasts a brief second before Kendra looks away. She tries to rise from the couch, uncaring about her nakedness, when two warriors storm into the living room wearing urgent expressions, forcing her back to the sofa to hear what has the warriors looking like their houses are on fire. The warriors stop short to pay respect to the Luna and then ask after the Alpha when they don’t see his tall frame in the living. "He is in his office," Luna Grace directs, and they turn to leave, but Kendra speaks, stopping them in their tracks. "What is the