A Stolen Bond
The thick, polished air of the family room was cut through by the sound of Seraphine’s laugh, perfectly controlled, each note practiced. Their parents smiled, captivated, watching her retell some story about her latest training session. Isla, sitting on the very edge of the sofa, barely let out a breath as she tried to make herself invisible.
“Seraphine has such natural
Across the room, Seraphine tossed her blonde hair back, barely concealing her smirk as she basked in their parents’ praise. Isla’s fingers tightened in her lap, but she kept her head down.
“She trains constantly,” Isla said softly. “Anyone could be good with that much time.”
Her father scoffed. “No, Isla. This takes talent
The sting of his words settled like ice in Isla’s chest, but she swallowed it, turning away. She felt the room grow quieter as Seraphine leaned toward her with a taunting smile.
“Isla, maybe if you stopped daydreaming, you’d actually be decent at something,” Seraphine said. The remark was light, almost harmless in tone, but the glint in her sister’s eyes made it cut deep. Their parents chuckled, the sound brushing off Isla’s discomfort as if it were nothing more than a joke.
“Right, Isla?” Her mother’s voice held that same, distant amusement.
“Right,” Isla murmured, her cheeks heating. She stayed silent after that, as always, even as the conversation moved on without her.
As she sat there, every betrayal flooded her mind, each memory of Seraphine’s cruelty taking on a sharper, more venomous edge. She remembered how Seraphine would sneak into her room late at night, rearranging her things, tearing pages from her journals, and sometimes leaving ugly notes scrawled across the pages: “You’re worthless,””No one will ever want you.”
Isla had spent countless nights crying silently into her pillow, terrified of waking anyone and showing them just how broken Seraphine had made her feel. She’s always been the better daughter, always better at everything.
Seraphine was undeniably beautiful with her striking bone structure and piercing blue eyes that could hold both softness and edge, giving them an undeniable allure. But the similarities between her and Isla faded on closer inspection. Isla’s hair was a pale, almost silver blonde that caught the light like spun moonlight, soft and feathery.
Seraphine, on the other hand, wore a deeper shade—a rich, dirty blonde with hints of gold that seemed to darken when she smirked. The most noticeable difference was the small crescent-shaped birthmark gracing Isla’s left cheek, a delicate and almost whimsical feature that seemed to add to her quiet beauty.
But Seraphine had always found reason to sneer at it, teasing Isla for her “imperfection,” and hinting that the mark somehow proved Isla was less worthy. Seraphine had laughed openly as others mocked Isla’s imperfection and even called her “ugly.”
But later that evening, when Isla slipped away from the family room and headed outside, a twinge of excitement pushed away the numbness in her chest. For days, she’d sensed it—that tugging, magnetic pull that whispered of a fated mate, someone in the Midnight Crest pack who was destined to be hers.really
Her hopes crystallized into something tangible—a future. She could imagine leaving her family behind, escaping the endless comparisons and the weight of never being enough. With her mate, there would be no more half-smiles or dismissive glances. Just acceptance.
She couldn’t help the small, secret smile that spread across her face as she went back inside, holding onto the thought of him like a shield.
But two days later, the entire world came crashing down.
She walked into the pack’s main hall, her heart beating so hard she felt faint. Kael stood across the room—strong, broad-shouldered, the air around him charged with raw energy. Her breath hitched at the sight of him. She knew, instantly. This was him—her fated mate, the warrior who would stand by her side.
But as she took a hesitant step forward, Seraphine’s voice rang out behind him. “Kael! There you are,” she said, sliding her arm through his.
Isla’s pulse stopped. She watched, horrified, as Seraphine leaned close, whispering something that made Kael chuckle softly, his arm coming around her waist, possessive, like she was already his. Isla felt her stomach twist painfully, her throat closing up as she took another step forward, her voice barely a whisper. “Kael?”
He glanced up, the recognition in his eyes flickering for only a moment before his face shifted to polite indifference. “Isla,” he acknowledged, his voice formal, distant.
Seraphine tilted her head, an innocent smile crossing her face. “Oh, Isla
Isla stared, her mind reeling, her heart fracturing with each passing second. She knew Seraphine’s smirk wasn’t for Kael. It was for her—a taunt, a challenge. Seraphine, who already had everything, was taking this too.
Swallowing hard, Isla found her voice. “You…you can’t just—he’s mine.
Seraphine’s smile grew colder, her gaze sharper. “Yours? How could you ever think that?” She gave a soft, derisive laugh, her eyes sweeping over Isla from head to toe. “Did you really think he’d ever want someone like you?”
