Abandoned for His Late Mate’s Sister

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I've been dating Derek, the Alpha heir of Frosthowl pack, for three years.

He's never marked me, never mentioned marriage.

I know he still can't forget his deceased former mate Vivian, which is why he takes such good care of Vivian's sister Moira.

But I always believed that with time and companionship, he would eventually fall completely in love with me.

Until one day, on my way home, I was attacked by a group of Rogues.

I barely escaped, beaten and severely injured.

I called Derek for help, but he accused me of lying and yelled at me:

"You're my girlfriend. How could any Rogue dare attack you? Are you making up lies just to get my attention?"

"I told you, I won't mark you until Moira finds her mate!"

Then I heard Moira's voice on the other end of the line:

"Derek, I'm done with my shower. Your turn."

Derek snapped "Stop putting on a show, I need to take care of Moira" and hung up.

The pain nearly made me pass out.

I used every ounce of strength I had left to dial emergency services.

Later, the doctor said I needed to be hospitalized for serious injuries.

I called him over a dozen times, but no one answered.

Then I saw Moira post something on social media.

[These condoms are pretty good quality.]

The picture showed several used condoms.

After I recovered and was discharged, since I still hadn't met my destined mate, I agreed to the arranged marriage my parents had set up.

"Yes, the sooner the wedding date, the better."

Mom was shocked and delighted to hear my words.

She'd never approved of Derek, but she knew how deeply I loved him.

If I wasn't completely broken, I would never give up so easily.

Dad was the Alpha of Shadowclaw pack and had never been optimistic about our relationship either. He spoke up.

"Since you've decided to break up, make it clear to Derek."

"Part ways on good terms."

I swallowed the bitterness in my heart and shook my head.

Just last week, while I was hospitalized.

Moira posted on social media.

[A spontaneous trip. This entire journey sponsored by Derek.]

In the photos.

Two suitcases, one black and one pink, side by side.

I recognized it immediately.

That black suitcase was the limited edition celebrity model I'd given Derek for his birthday this year.

I called to confront him.

Derek was dismissive.

"Moira's been feeling down lately. I'm just taking her out to clear her head."

"She's Vivian's sister. I have an obligation to take care of her."

From the other end of the phone.

Moira's voice came through at just the right moment.

"Derek, can you grab me a towel?"

Derek responded smoothly.

Finally, as if to comfort me or justify his actions:

"Clara, if it weren't for you, Vivian wouldn't have died. What I'm doing now is just helping you atone for your sins."

My heart felt like it had been stabbed, the pain suffocating.

Even now, he still stubbornly insists that I was responsible for Vivian's death.

Then why did he even agree to date me?

He's been torturing me for three years!

But all my questions died in my throat before I could voice them.

I stared at the red notification on the screen.

My vision blurred.

Derek was afraid I'd disturb their trip, so he blocked me!

His beta warrior relayed his message to me.

"Tell Clara to stop making a scene. This trip is important for Moira's mental health. She's been emotionally unstable."

"When I get back, I'll propose to her as promised."

But he was wrong.

No one waits in the same place forever.

I thought the family I was arranged to marry into would be suspicious and doubtful about my request.

I never expected.

They seemed more worried I'd back out.

They said if possible, next week would be best.

My parents anxiously asked for my opinion.

Without hesitation, I agreed.

It was just short notice, and there were many things to handle.

After dinner with my parents, I returned to the house where Derek and I had lived for three years.

As soon as I turned the key.

A figure jumped out in front of me.

Blocking me at the door.

"Master, if you have any requests, just tell me, I'll definitely..."

Before she could finish.

Moira, dressed in a bunny girl maid outfit, recognized me.

Or rather.

She realized I wasn't the person she was waiting for.

I looked at the black stockings on her legs, her ultra-short skirt barely covering her private areas.

She was only three years younger than me.

Yet her whole body radiated a youthful vitality that seemed to endlessly mock my dullness and boring nature.

"I'm sorry... Derek insisted I come over."

"If you don't like it, I'll leave right now."

Moira looked innocently guilty as she backed away.

Turning around, she tripped over a suitcase.

Almost simultaneously, a figure rushed out from behind me.

Catching her protectively beneath him.

After confirming Moira wasn't hurt.

Derek immediately turned on me with harsh accusations.

"Clara! Can't you be more tolerant?!"

"Moira is still just a child. How could you lay a hand on her?"

I watched this performance with cold eyes.

"A child? A twenty-year-old child?"

"Derek, what kind of child wears an outfit like that in someone else's home?"

"She clearly lacks discipline! No manners!"

"Slap!"

Derek raised his hand and struck me across the face.

"Have you made enough of a scene? Clara, not everyone is like you, born into wealth with no worries about food or shelter!"

Moira seized the opportunity to start crying.

"Yes... I'm sorry, I really have no manners..."

"But when I was born, my parents were already dead... no one taught me these things..."

"The only person who was willing to teach me, my sister... she's dead now too..."

She buried herself in Derek's arms, her whole body trembling with sobs.

The look she gave me carried barely concealed hatred.

"Moira, none of this is your fault. This has nothing to do with you..."

Derek looked down at her with pity, instinctively reaching to wipe her tears.

His hand froze in mid-air.

As if he'd just noticed what Moira was wearing.

"Why are you dressed like this..."

Before he could finish, Derek's Adam's apple bobbed.

The desire in his eyes was completely unconcealed.

Moira was clearly pleased with his reaction.

She lowered her head shyly.

"I have to attend a party tomorrow night. This is just a performance costume."

"If you don't like it, I'll take it off right now!"

As she spoke, Moira actually started to undress.

Derek quickly stopped her.

Their hands clasped together, palm to palm.

I had clearly become an outsider.

"Since it's for a performance, there's nothing wrong with it."

Derek shot me a pointed look.

"Only people with dirty minds see everything as dirty!"

I laughed mockingly.

Watching Moira's little schemes.

I only felt that my three years of effort had been worthless.

Since Vivian died, although I became his official girlfriend, for these three years, he never marked me.

I thought time would fade everything.

That one day, I would find my way into his heart.

But reality kept slapping me in the face.

One Vivian left.

Another Moira arrived.

Yet in his world, I was still just an accessory girlfriend.

I tried to take our relationship further.

I even bought the clothes my best friend recommended to please him.

But he pushed me away every time.

Looking at me with growing disgust.

I thought I wasn't charming enough.

So I specifically took ballet lessons.

But in the end, even this flexibility didn't win Derek's special attention.

On the contrary, all these attempts to please him became "scheming" and "cheap tricks" in my boyfriend's vocabulary.

Now.

Moira only needed to have a face fifty percent similar to her sister's to easily move this supposedly ascetic man.

All my efforts seemed like a joke in this moment.

It turned out it wasn't that I wasn't good enough.

I just wasn't the person he held dear in his heart.

"I think I should go back to my rental apartment."

Moira pushed Derek away.

She turned and started packing her suitcase.

Several photos slipped out at just the right moment.

Beach photos.

From the background, they appeared to be taken on a Hawaiian beach.

The poses were intimate, the gazes affectionate.

And in Derek's locked cabinet in his study, there was an identical photo album.

Same location, same outfits, similar person.

Derek used this method to repeatedly relive his past with Vivian.

But I'd begged Derek for so long.

Wanting him to take me to the beach just fifty kilometers away each summer, but he always made excuses.

Derek snatched up the photos, treasuring them as he put them away.

"It's so late, you can't get into your apartment anyway. Just sleep here tonight!"

Moira looked at me anxiously.

"Why are you looking at her! This is my home. I can let whoever I want stay here!"

I looked at Derek calmly.

"Yes. This is your home."

I should be the one to leave.

Besides, I never planned to come back anyway.

Walking past them both, I went straight to the bedroom to get my things.

Derek grabbed me.

"You sleep in the guest room. Moira likes watching the sunrise in the morning."

Just for some sunlight.

"Fine."

Derek seemed surprised I'd be so generous.

His cold expression finally softened slightly.

His tone carried a rare hint of regret.

"I shouldn't have hit you."

I ignored him, pulled out my suitcase and simply packed a few clothes and important items.

Moved directly to the guest room.

As for everything else, I could replace it all.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Derek tried to follow me into the room.

Only to find I'd locked the door.

After knocking a few times.

His voice carried some hesitation, a probing quality.

"Clara, you're not really angry, are you?"

In the past, every time anything involved Moira, we'd fall into cold wars and arguments.

Now seeing me so calm, not crying or making a scene, he seemed uncomfortable.

My tone was mocking.

"No. How could I be? She's just Vivian's sister, not your lover."

The air went silent for two seconds.

Derek sighed with relief.

"Clara, just get through this period. I promise, I will marry you."

Marriage?

I couldn't help but laugh.

Derek, too bad I don't need it anymore.

"Derek!"

Moira's voice suddenly came from the bathroom.

Derek rushed over anxiously.

"What's wrong? Moira? What happened?"

"Moira?"

No matter how Derek called, no more sounds came from inside.

I looked at the semi-transparent bathroom door.

Derek's concern clouded his judgment.

He hadn't noticed the additional shadow by the door at all.

After calling several times with no response.

He hesitated for two seconds.

Then reached out and opened the unlocked door.

Almost the instant the door opened.

That pale white figure threw herself directly onto Derek.

Moira let out a muffled moan, her voice coquettish.

"Derek, that time we had sex, didn't you enjoy it too? Let's do it again. Just pretend I'm Vivian."

"Stop it, you know last time I was drunk..."

Derek tried to push her away, but his hand touched something soft.

His whole body went rigid, at her mercy.

Moira became even more brazen.

Pressing herself entirely against him.

"Why? Am I not as good as Vivian? Not even as good as Clara?"

Derek sighed helplessly, softly comforting her.

"Be good, we'll talk about this tomorrow, okay?"

I looked at the two intertwined shadows on the wall, gave a self-mocking smile, and closed the door again.

The next morning.

When I got up, the house was already empty.

On the dining table, Derek had specifically left macarons.

Next to them was a note he'd left.

[I'm taking Moira back to her apartment first.]

[Wait for me to come back.]

I picked up my suitcase.

Threw the macarons directly into the trash.

Along with the bracelet I'd worn for two years.

This was the only gift Derek had ever given me.

Even though it was just something someone else had casually given to Derek.

I once treasured it like a precious gem.

But now, these things.

Had no value worth cherishing for me.

When I got home, Mom joyfully took the suitcase from my hands.

"We were just discussing booking the wedding venue with Leo."

I looked at the familiar home.

My nose felt sour.

"Is it booked?"

"All set. This afternoon I'll go with you to order your wedding dress. It's so wonderful, you're finally getting married."

As she spoke, Mom's eyes reddened too.

I was the only child in the family.

I'd been showered with love and affection since childhood.

Before meeting Derek, my entire life hadn't encountered a single setback.

Now, for a man like this, I'd let myself become wounded all over.

My parents must hurt even more than I did.

I raised my hand to wipe away her tears.

"Why are you crying? I'm not getting married today."

The bridal shop wasn't far from our house.

Just a ten-minute walk.

As we approached, Mom remembered we hadn't bought invitations yet.

I told her to go buy them first and meet me at the bridal shop.

But before I even entered, I saw a familiar figure.

Moira, wearing a pure white wedding dress, was blissfully leaning against Derek.

The shop assistants were gushing about what a perfect match they made.

Through the mirror, Derek immediately spotted me standing at the entrance.

"Clara, why did you follow us here?"

"Don't misunderstand. I'm taking wedding photos with Moira just to make up for a regret."

I felt nothing inside.

I walked straight into the shop.

Moira saw me and looked livid.

"That's right, Derek just wants to make up for his regret with Vivian."

"It's just wedding photos. I don't even mind being a substitute. Surely you don't mind either?"

Several shop assistants gathered around, clearly enjoying the drama.

I said expressionlessly.

"Of course. Please continue."

I didn't look at them anymore, seriously selecting styles I liked.

But Derek froze.

Looking at my back, he suddenly felt panicked.

"Clara, why would you suddenly come here?"