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Two Sisters Break the Bonds, Two Brothers Break Down
Two Sisters Break the Bonds, Two Brothers Break Down
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Chapter 1

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Ronan struck a match and reached to relight the candle.

I moved between him and the candleholder.

“So unless my sister admits she's wrong, this ceremony isn't worth continuing?”

“That's not what I meant.”

“Then let her finish.”

Evelyn was still cradling the white roses she'd brought for her husband. “Please don't fight with Ronan because of me.”

“Why did Clara accuse you?”

“She was standing beside Adrian. I asked her to take a seat with the guests.”

My sister pointed to the altar. She was supposed to stand beside her husband so they could recite their vows together.

“That was all I said. She clutched her chest and said I was attacking her.”

“I didn't project my aura.” My sister looked at her husband. “Ask the guests who were standing nearby.”

“They're stronger than she is. They might not have felt it.”

Adrian answered without hesitation, his arm supporting Clara.

I called over the healer on duty. “If she isn't feeling well, let's have her examined first.”

Clara tightened her grip on Adrian's sleeve.

“Please don't crowd me. I'm scared…”

Adrian immediately told the healer to step back.

“She said no. Don't force her.”

“Fine,” I said. “But until we know what happened, don't force Evelyn to admit she hurt her.”

Ronan stepped close and lowered his voice.

“Her father died getting us home. Can't you show a little understanding, just this once?”

I looked at him.

When Clara first moved in, my sister had furnished her room. I'd gone to the barracks to retrieve her father's belongings for her.

When I handed them to Ronan, he'd pulled me into a brief hug. “Thank you for helping me take care of her. Knowing you're here to help takes a weight off my mind.”

Back then, helping him settle Clara in had made me a good mate. Now, because I wouldn't pressure my sister to apologize, I wasn't understanding enough.

“Taking care of her doesn't mean letting her falsely accuse my sister.”

“No one's making false accusations.” Adrian's expression darkened. “Evelyn apologizes, and we put this behind us.”

My sister looked down at the white roses in her arms, the ones she'd chosen herself.

Even when she was showing him how much she loved him, she worried about his feelings.

Yet he could stand in front of all these people and force her to admit to something she hadn't done.

She lifted her head. “And if I refuse?”

He frowned, as though the possibility had never occurred to him.

“Then don't come on tomorrow's visit to the families. Clara can't handle any more distress right now.”

My sister had spent two years looking after the families of fallen warriors.

On the strength of an accusation no one had even investigated, he'd dismissed her with a single sentence.

“Are you asking me as my husband, or giving orders because you're the Alpha King's son?”

Adrian hesitated.

“Don't make this difficult for me.”

My sister lowered her head and set the flowers on the steps.

Then she walked over and blew out the other vow candle.

“Then you can explain it to the families tomorrow.”

Both sons of the Alpha King took a few steps after us as we left.

Clara called out behind them, and Adrian stopped.

When Ronan heard her crying again, he turned back too.

As their footsteps faded, my sister walked faster and faster.

Only when we reached the elevator did she press a hand over her mouth, tears spilling down her face.
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  • Two Sisters Break the Bonds, Two Brothers Break Down   Chapter 11

    My sister was washing cups when I told her about finding Adrian on the street.She turned off the tap, listened, and asked whether he'd arrived at the shelter.I said he had.She turned the water back on.Adrian sent a letter later.There were no flowers. No papers offering to restore her position. No mention of the seat beside his throne.He wrote that he finally understood why she'd remembered the children's names and the families' grief for him. It hadn't been because those things were easy.It had been because she cared. He'd grown used to letting her do the caring for both of them.At the end, he said he was willing to take an ordinary job. He only hoped she might look at him once more.My sister finished the letter, put it in a drawer, and didn't reply.That afternoon, she had another panel to face.Representatives of the families were electing a director for the care center. The term was three years, with annual reviews of its finances and services.Under relationship status, my

  • Two Sisters Break the Bonds, Two Brothers Break Down   Chapter 10

    The announcement that Adrian had lost his eligibility for the throne came a week after the storm.The final report was published alongside it.Beyond the false finding in the notice, the review established that he'd appointed Clara to the assistance program without training. Even after repeated objections from the staff, he'd continued to have her represent the program at events.No one had taken over the care duties left undone, yet the progress reports kept saying everything was on schedule.Investigators found requests from staff for more time. Adrian had written that they should keep to the original schedule and make adjustments after the succession hearing.Those requests predated his submission to the hearing. He'd known the work wasn't finished, but he'd still reported that everything was proceeding normally.The Alpha King removed him from office, and the pack representatives voted to disqualify him from the succession. He was free to find ordinary work, but he would no longer

  • Two Sisters Break the Bonds, Two Brothers Break Down   Chapter 9

    I didn't pass on my first attempt.I still hadn't regained all my strength after the bond severing. On the last stretch of the weighted uphill climb, I missed the cutoff by forty seconds.The examiner handed me my results and said I could apply to retest once my strength was back.I thanked him and booked another attempt.My sister didn't get the empty building right away, either.She had to submit a budget, find qualified healers, and explain to the families what the new care center would be able to offer—and what it couldn't provide yet.At night, we sat at opposite ends of the dining table, working on our plans.Sometimes she'd stop in the middle of writing.Sometimes I'd pass a stack of lumber and the scent of pine would remind me of Ronan.But the next morning, we both got up and went where we needed to be.A month later, I passed the retest. I became an instructor with the Cedar Pack's search-and-rescue team and joined its regular callouts.My sister's center was given the use of

  • Two Sisters Break the Bonds, Two Brothers Break Down   Chapter 8

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  • Two Sisters Break the Bonds, Two Brothers Break Down   Chapter 7

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  • Two Sisters Break the Bonds, Two Brothers Break Down   Chapter 6

    On the day of the hearing, we walked into the hall.The moment Adrian saw my sister, he stood and pulled out the chair beside him.She walked straight to the witness table instead.His hand stayed on the back of the chair. “Evelyn, your seat is here.”My sister set her folder on the witness table.“I'm not here to speak on your behalf.”She took out an official notice announcing her replacement and handed it to the clerk.Now that notice was on the screen for every pack representative to see.My sister inclined her head to the Alpha King and the representatives.“My mate bond with Adrian has been severed. I'm here today to correct this official document signed by Adrian.”My sister described what had happened at the vow renewal, then turned to Adrian. “What evidence did you have that I hurt Clara?”“She was clearly unwell.”“Was there a medical examination?”He glanced at Clara in the audience.“No.”When called upon, the healer who'd been on duty stood and confirmed that an examinatio

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