Mated Mistaken: Under My Sister's Shadow

"I've reiterated countless times that you will be reunited with your loved ones once you're ready," Marcus asserted firmly as Karen quickly defended herself.

"And when might that be?" she grunted, parrying his sword with her own.

"Excellent move!" he exclaimed, catching his breath. "You have the potential to become a formidable swordswoman if you maintain this level of skill."

Karen knew Marcus was once again avoiding her question and pretending not to understand her. His behavior sometimes annoyed her, and she suspected he was deliberately training her to become more persistent. For eighteen long years, she had endured his frustrating behavior, but she held on to the hope that it would all end today, on her eighteenth birthday.

"I understand, but you still haven't answered my question. When can I finally go outside and see my family?"

"Very soon, but that will be a surprise," Marcus replied slyly, dodging her attack with a swift spin.

"Do I even need this training? I'm a hybrid, after all," Karen exclaimed, tossing her sword into the air.

She caught it effortlessly before launching another powerful strike at Marcus. With expert skill, Marcus deflected her blade, giving her a teasing reply.

"Yes, there may come a time when these skills will be necessary, and you'll be glad you have them."

The intensity of their sword fight increased, and the clang of metal grew louder with every passing moment. Despite Marcus's best efforts, Karen's defense remained strong. Seeing an opening, he swung his sword toward her feet, but Karen leaped over the attack and delivered a swift kick to his face.

Marcus quickly threw his head backward to avoid the blow, but Karen caught him off guard with her next move. She knocked his weapon from his hand before pointing her own blade at his neck.

"Easy, young lady. You wouldn't dare slit your master's throat, would you?" Marcus mused, wearing an unusual grin on his face.

"What if I did? Would you report me to my father?" Karen chuckled, her shoulders rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath.

"Of course not. But I would report you to the Moon Goddess, Selene," Marcus retorted, rising from the floor and dusting off his trousers after Karen lowered her sword.

"She's the only one who can handle you since there is no one in the pack who can match your strength," he added considerably .

"Whatever. You don't always have to remind me that Selene blessed me with greater strength than the others," Karen replied, turning away from him.

As Marcus watched her leave, a wide grin spread across his face. 

"Do you remember what I taught you when you were younger?" he asked, his gaze drifting to his fallen sword.

"A true warrior never turns their back on an enemy, even when they seem defeated in battle."

With that, Marcus stepped on the hilt of his sword, sending it flying back into his hand. He suddenly swung at Karen, thinking she was unaware of his attack and had left herself defenseless.

To his amazement, Karen quickly spun around and used her left hand to block the strike. Her left hand was incredibly strong, and she could defeat anyone in a fight when wielded properly.

"Otherwise, he will strike you down from behind and bring about your downfall. Did I get it right, Master?" Karen smirked, her powerful forest-green eyes shining with intense focus.

"How could I have forgotten that you never let your guard down?" Marcus mused, no longer surprised. "But perhaps you should have dodged my attack instead of breaking my favorite sword. You know, your left hand is like a weapon of mass destruction."

He stared at the shattered remains of his sword before tossing the hilt to the floor.

Karen's eyes returned to their normal color as she finally noticed the damage she had caused. The impact had shattered the sword into several broken pieces, leaving only the hilt in Marcus's hand.

"I'm sorry about that," she apologized sincerely.

Just then, footsteps echoed through the silent hallway, causing Karen and Marcus to turn toward the door. After a few moments, the footsteps stopped, and a shadow appeared in the doorway. The clicking sound of the doorknob was followed by the door creaking open, making Karen curious about who had come to visit her.

"Hello, sister," a sweet feminine voice called from behind as the door opened fully.

Karen was disappointed to see that it was her older sister, Charlotte. She had been the only person from the pack to visit her since she was little.

'Does that mean no one else cares about me except Trainer Marcus and my sister Charlotte?' Karen wondered thoughtfully.

"Did I interrupt something?" Charlotte asked with a dazzling smile.

"Not at all," Marcus replied. "In fact, Karen has improved greatly since I last saw her. She can now control both her wolf and witch powers. And she just demonstrated her strength by breaking my well-crafted sword."

"Okay, I'll leave you girls to catch up. I'll be waiting outside," Marcus said, pointing toward the hallway as he headed for the door.

Charlotte gazed at the shattered pieces of the sword before turning to Karen, whose displeasure was obvious. Assuming Karen regretted destroying her master's sword, Charlotte quickly tried to reassure her.

"Don't worry, Karen. Marcus isn't upset with you," she said, hoping to ease the guilt on her sister's face.

Karen flashed her a smile, but it lacked real happiness. This made Charlotte immediately sense that something deeper was troubling her.

"Happy birthday to my dear Karen! You're finally eighteen!" Charlotte exclaimed, trying to brighten her mood.

Yet even after the birthday greeting, Karen remained unhappy. Seeing that she wasn't pleased, Charlotte decided to ask what was wrong.

"Karen, dear, what's wrong? Aren't you happy that I came to visit you, or are you upset because we haven't talked in a while? It's your birthday, remember?" Charlotte spoke, placing her hands on Karen's slumped shoulders.

Karen pulled away, folded her arms, and walked toward a small window she had used to catch glimpses of the outside world for the past eighteen years.

"How long are you guys going to keep me here? I'm eighteen. I can handle myself and this disastrous power of mine. I just want to see Mom and Dad, feel their touch, and let them hold me tight..." Karen trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

"And just know what it feels like to be loved by your parents and your mate. I just..."

Charlotte smacked her temples in frustration.

"Karen, please, just stop. You've already ruined the surprise with that mood." she frowned, letting out a sigh.

"Anyway, Father has decided to let you meet the pack today. After that, you'll never have to return to this bizarre place again. He has already organized your birthday party and everything needed to make it memorable. And guess what?" Charlotte paused, observing her sister's reaction.

"What?" Karen asked curiously.

"Your mate is going to attend the party!"

"Really?" Karen shrieked, pop-eyed.

"Absolutely. And the best part is that he's the powerful Alpha of the Golden Paw Pack," Charlotte replied delightfully.

"Is that the name of his pack?"

"Yup."

"Wow! I don't know what to feel right now. Do you think he's the right type of guy for me?" Karen asked, worry written all over her face.

"That, you'll have to decide for yourself. Come on, you've got to relax. The party is only eight hours away. I think that's enough time for you to get ready. Maybe things might even turn out differently," Charlotte sneered, wearing a secretive smile.

"What do you mean by that?" Karen questioned, raising her eyebrows suspiciously.

"Uhmm...it's nothing to worry about. I was just saying that he'll definitely like you," Charlotte lied, surprised by her younger sister's perceptiveness.

Karen wasn't quite satisfied with her flimsy response. She could have forced Charlotte to tell her what was going on, but she feared ruining her mood again. The excitement on her face were soon replaced with worry and anxiety. She couldn't wait to meet her parents and her mate. Oh, she especially couldn't wait to meet the last one!

"Dad's Beta will pick you up soon. Before that happens, I'll send the maids to get you ready. You look so pale and stressed out. Enjoy the rest of the day," Charlotte announced, heading toward the door.

As Charlotte's figure disappeared from view, Karen climbed onto her tall bunk bed. She wrapped her arms around a pillow and lost herself in thought, imagining how everyone would treat her as the strongest werewolf in the pack. While Karen eagerly imagined the wonderful moments awaiting her on her first-ever birthday celebration, she had no idea that fate had other plans for her.