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.
