Though Madam Zhang and my father had caused some complications, luckily my mother had secured a mate bond for me before she passed.

By both reason and custom, they couldn’t reject it without consequences.

Two months later, on the chosen date, both my stepsister and I entered the Taylor Pack territory as mates.

On the marking night, when I removed the veil covering my face, even someone as composed as Ryker was momentarily stunned.

“The rumors about you, it seems, were all lies.”

Yes.

I wasn’t unattractive at all; those rumors had been entirely fabricated by Madam Zhang.

And Ryker’s appearance was equally shocking—handsome to the point of being otherworldly, breathtakingly beautiful.

With a mate as stunning as him, and the rumors of his aloof and indifferent nature, it was hard not to feel a stirring of mischief.

That night, Ryker didn’t seem inclined to complete the marking, simply tucking me in and telling me to rest.

According to tradition, the new Luna had to rise early the next morning to present herself to the former Luna, Davina Diaz.

But with him so close, the scent of his wolf—cool and intoxicating—made my heart itch like a cat’s claws, and sleep was impossible.

“Why is my mate so restless?”

Ryker noticed my unease, his arm wrapping around my waist as he pulled me into his chest, his voice soothing as if comforting a pup.

To me, it felt like deliberate temptation.

I stammered softly, “Ryker, maybe… maybe we should try?”

His smile was gentle, teasing, “Try what?”

That expression—he knew exactly what I meant!

My lips brushed against his, a quiet answer.

His eyes darkened with desire, his voice husky, “I hope you won’t regret this.”

Regret?

How could I regret a night with someone like him?

An hour later, I lay breathless against his chest, my body drenched in sweat, weakly murmuring, “The rumors about you… they weren’t true either.”

What nonsense about Ryker being physically weak, indifferent, and incapable—who on earth had spread such lies?

“My mate, shall we go again?”

Ryker played with a strand of my hair, his tone playful.

After that round, my body felt like it had been taken apart, and I quickly buried myself under the covers.

“No, no.”

…

The next morning, I endured the soreness and arrived on time to present myself to Davina Diaz.

Davina, Ryker’s grandmother, was in her sixties but still sharp and alert.

However, she clearly didn’t favor Ryker, and by extension, she wasn’t particularly warm toward me either. Her expression was stoic, her gaze fixed on the door, clearly waiting for Omar and Mikayla.

But the couple was late, likely too caught up in their own passion the night before.

Nearly half an hour later, after I’d refilled my tea cup several times, they finally arrived.

Mikayla’s beauty seemed even more radiant than before.

Omar entered, greeting Davina first, but then his gaze lingered on me as I stood to the side, serving.

Noticing his distraction, Ryker’s aura flared subtly, his voice soft but firm, “Omar, come and greet your Luna.”

Hearing the word "sister-in-law," Omar's eyes flickered slightly.

There was confusion, anger.

But in the end, it all turned into resentment, and he could only bow respectfully and say,

"Sister-in-law, blessings to you."

I accepted his greeting, praising him like an elder:

"I’ve long heard of Omar’s extraordinary aura. Seeing you today, it’s clear the rumors are true."

On the surface, it was a compliment, but in truth, it was a jab at him for believing the rumors so easily, for rejecting me and leaving me in disgrace.

It was obvious Omar understood my meaning, his face turning ashen.

"Sister-in-law, please have some tea."

Mikayla quickly interrupted, trying to ease the tension.

We were both sisters and sisters-in-law now.

Since her tea was offered, I couldn’t refuse it in front of everyone.

After drinking the tea, I needed to assert my role as the elder sister-in-law, to offer a few words of guidance.

But Davina, the former Luna, snorted from the side,

"Mikayla seems far more capable than Iliana. From now on, she’ll manage the pack’s affairs."

"As for Iliana, focus on serving your mate. He’s always been frail and needs constant care."

Davina’s words were sharp, stirring trouble with just a few sentences.

Traditionally, the elder brother’s mate held authority over the pack’s affairs.

But now, she wanted to elevate the younger brother’s mate, handing the responsibilities to Mikayla and sidelining me.

Mikayla’s face lit up with joy, and she replied sweetly,

"Thank you, Grandmother."

As a newly mated Luna, I couldn’t defy an elder so openly. I could only nod reluctantly, swallowing the words of guidance I’d prepared for Mikayla back down into my chest.

“Sister.”

Mikayla called out to me as we stepped out of Davina’s house, her voice low to avoid prying ears. The night air was cool, and the faint scent of rosemary—her mate’s scent—lingered around her, a reminder of the bond she now shared with Omar. But her tone was anything but warm.

“Do you know why Davina dislikes Ryker so much? Or why she wants you to step aside and let me take the Luna position?”

Her voice dripped with mockery, and for a moment, I was transported back to our childhood. The memory of her as a little girl, trailing after me, begging for the candies I’d bought, flashed through my mind. She had been sweet then, innocent. But the years and the manipulations of her mother, Valerie, had turned her into someone I barely recognized.

“Enlighten me, sister,” I replied, my voice steady despite the unease creeping into my chest.

Her lips curled into a sly smile. “Because Ryker isn’t a Taylor by blood. He’s a stray, picked up by Davina out of pity. A rogue with no lineage, no claim to the Alpha title. And you, Iliana, married a man with no real standing in this pack.”

So, she had learned the truth from Omar. I wasn’t surprised. The Taylors had kept Ryker’s origins a closely guarded secret, but secrets had a way of unraveling. Still, her words didn’t shake me as she might have hoped.

“Does it matter?” I asked, my voice calm. “From the moment I first saw Ryker, I knew he was my mate. His lineage, his title—none of that changes who he is to me.”

Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the flicker of irritation in her gaze. “You’re so naive, Iliana. Always have been. But I wonder—do you really love him? Or are you just clinging to the idea of being Luna?”

I tilted my head, studying her. “And what about you, Mikayla? Do you love Omar? Or is it his status as the Beta, his place in the pack hierarchy, that drew you to him?”

Her face flushed, and she sputtered, “Of course I love him!”

“Do you?” I pressed, my tone light but laced with challenge. “Because I remember how eager you were to secure this match. How convenient it was that you just happened to fall into the lake that day, needing Omar to rescue you. Odd, isn’t it? You, who’s always been such a strong swimmer.”

Her expression froze, and I knew I’d struck a nerve. The truth was, I’d known about her little scheme for years. The servants who’d served my mother had whispered the details to me long ago, but I’d kept it to myself, unwilling to stir up more drama. Until now.

“You’re lying,” she hissed, but there was no conviction in her voice.

“The truth has a way of coming out, Mikayla,” I said softly. “You can’t hide it forever.”

I turned to leave, but as I did, I caught sight of Ryker and Omar standing in the shadows, their presence unmistakable. How long had they been there? Judging by the tension in Omar’s shoulders and the cold glint in Ryker’s eyes, they’d heard every word.

Ryker’s expression was unreadable, his lips curving into that faint, almost imperceptible smile he wore when he was calculating his next move. Omar, on the other hand, looked furious. His jaw was clenched, his fists tight at his sides. Without a word, he turned and stormed off, leaving Mikayla standing there, her face pale.

I didn’t wait for her to respond. Instead, I walked away, the weight of the night’s revelations settling heavily on my shoulders. But I didn’t look back.