My Alpha Mate Covered for His Adopted Sister

I tried calling him back.

But his phone was already off.

He always did this. Because Susie didn't like noise, his phone was permanently switched off whenever they were together.

A healer stepped out of the operating room.

She spoke urgently. "Both patients have injuries to the heart. Their condition is critical, and we need to operate immediately. Where is the family? We need someone to sign the consent forms."

My fingertips turned white from clenching so hard, and I struggled to hold myself together.

"Can I sign them?"

"Only immediate family can sign."

My throat tightened, and the pen hovered above the forms. Charles and I had been together for five years, but we'd never held a mating ceremony, and he'd never even formed a mate bond with me.

I wasn't officially his mate, which meant I wasn't family to his parents either.

The healer pressed, "Are you or aren't you? Sign quickly. The patients are in critical condition."

When his parents had been brought in, they were drenched in blood, their wolves barely clinging on. It looked like they might not even survive the surgery.

"I'm sorry." I set down the pen. "Give me a moment."

I stepped aside and dialed Charles again. His phone was still off.

I tried Susie's phone.

After several rings, someone finally picked up.

Susie's irritated voice came through. "Why do you keep calling? I already told you, I'm not in the mood."

"Charles is just taking me out to relax. I can't believe you're blowing up our phones over something like this."

Susie's voice trembled like she was about to cry.

Before her tears even started, Charles snatched the phone away. "Selena Hart, what is your problem? I'm just taking Susie out to unwind. She's been timid since she was a kid, and she's never dealt with something like this!"

"Can you stop being so unreasonable?!"

I closed my eyes, my lips trembling, and refused to argue. "Come back right now. The ones Susie shot were your parents! They've lost too much blood and need surgery immediately. You have to come back and sign the consent forms, or it'll be too late!"

The line went silent.

I was about to speak again.

Then Susie let out a scoff before her voice turned sweet. "Selena, even if you're upset that Charles is with me, you shouldn't curse our parents like that.

"They've been so good to you, and this is how you repay them? You're unbelievable."

Susie started crying. The moment her tears fell, Charles's voice hardened.

"What do you want from me, Selena?!

"You just want to trick me into coming back. I know you've never liked Susie. You're vicious, cursing my parents like that.

"If you keep this up, forget about the mating ceremony. I'll make you move out of my estate."

I took a steadying breath.

Charles's tone was final, and I understood.

He didn't believe me, and he wasn't coming back.