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.

Ryker seemed to be in high spirits, and when we returned to our home, he pulled out a thick stack of property deeds from a hidden compartment in his closet. I flipped through them briefly, recognizing several renowned businesses—among them a high-end restaurant frequented by the city’s elite. The annual profits from these establishments alone could sustain multiple packs.

“Luna,” Ryker began, his voice steady but warm, “these are the businesses I’ve quietly built over the years. Only my father knows about them. From now on, they’re yours to manage.”

So, the forty-eight crates of gifts he’d brought during our marking ceremony hadn’t been from his father after all. From that day on, I found myself too busy to bother with the petty squabbles of the Taylor pack. Instead, I dove headfirst into learning the intricacies of managing Ryker’s vast empire.

When Ryker’s father discovered that his mother, Davina, had been deliberately undermining us, he erupted during dinner—a rare display of anger from the typically composed man.

“What pack operates like this? Our society thrives on order and hierarchy. By favoring Omar and his mate, you’re sending a message to everyone that the Taylor pack is in disarray. Is that the legacy you want?”

Davina, a woman who’d grown up in hardship and knew nothing of pack politics, didn’t care about appearances or tradition. All she cared about was ensuring her biological grandson, Omar, didn’t lose out to Ryker, the outsider she’d never accepted.

“Have you lost your mind?” she snapped, her voice sharp and bitter. “You’re defending a rogue while turning your back on your own blood. Don’t forget, you came from me. You have no right to lecture me!”

The room fell silent, the weight of her words pressing down on us all. Ryker’s face remained calm, but I could see the tension in his jaw, his left hand clenched tightly under the table.

I reached over, placing my hand over his, my gaze meeting his in a silent reassurance that he didn’t need to fight this battle. Then, I stepped in to mediate, explaining that I had willingly stepped back from managing the pack’s affairs to focus on Ryker’s businesses and his health.

It wasn’t out of some noble self-sacrifice or a desire to avoid conflict. The truth was, Ryker’s businesses were overwhelming. I spent hours each day poring over ledgers, leaving me no energy to deal with pack politics.

The rumors about Ryker’s supposed weakness, which I’d once dismissed as gossip, turned out to be a carefully crafted façade. Playing the role of the frail Alpha had its advantages—it kept the rogues at bay and allowed us to operate without drawing too much attention.

So, I followed his lead, using “health issues” as an excuse to avoid unnecessary responsibilities. Besides, Ryker wasn’t Davina’s biological grandson, and pushing too hard against her would only invite more trouble. Better to step back gracefully and let her actions speak for themselves.

For now, we had bigger things to focus on.