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My Sister Stole My Mate, And I Let Her

206 Chapter 206 NOT A CARDBOARD CUTOUT · Nov 02, 2026

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Chapter List (549)

Page number / 11

201 201 Chapter 201 CANDLELIGHT AND NOSTALGIA 2026-11-02
202 202 Chapter 202 HOT COALS 2026-11-02
203 203 Chapter 203 A PIECE OF THE MOON 2026-11-02
204 204 Chapter 204 LOCKWOODS AND CARTRIDGES 2026-11-02
205 205 Chapter 205 PUP WHISPERER 2026-11-02
206 206 Chapter 206 NOT A CARDBOARD CUTOUT 2026-11-02
207 207 Chapter 207 HEAD OVER HEELS 2026-11-02
208 208 Chapter 208 SUCKER FOR JEWELRY 2026-11-02
209 209 Chapter 209 WRITER’S BLOCK 2026-11-02
210 210 Chapter 210 A PERSONAL TOUCH 2026-11-02
211 211 Chapter 211 PERFECT TIMING 2026-11-02
212 212 Chapter 212 CHARM ON THE ICE 2026-11-02
213 213 Chapter 213 SO CLOSE 2026-11-02
214 214 Chapter 214 HEARTBREAKINGLY HONEST 2026-11-02
215 215 Chapter 215 MAN AND WOLF 2026-11-02
216 216 Chapter 216 STRONG ROOTS 2026-11-02
217 217 Chapter 217 HALF-SHIFT ANOMALY 2026-11-02
218 218 Chapter 218 A Quick Note Please Skip If Paying! 2026-11-02
219 219 Chapter 219 BLANK SPACE 2026-11-02
220 220 Chapter 220 ORDINARY 2026-11-02
221 221 Chapter 221 CHILDHOOD RESENTMENTS 2026-11-02
222 222 Chapter 222 PROPHECIES BE DAMNED 2026-11-02
223 223 Chapter 223 STAY WITH ME 2026-11-02
224 224 Chapter 224 MOON GODDESS 2026-11-02
225 225 Chapter 225 STEAM AND ICE 2026-11-02
226 226 Chapter 226 GO BACK 2026-11-02
227 227 Chapter 227 THE BOND 2026-11-02
228 228 Chapter 228 TIME 2026-11-02
229 229 Chapter 229 HAPPY BIRTHDAY 2026-11-02
230 230 Chapter 230 SHEER 2026-11-02
231 231 Chapter 231 A NOBLE SENTIMENT 2026-11-02
232 232 Chapter 232 SAFE SPACE 2026-11-02
233 233 Chapter 233 SHAMELESS 2026-11-02
234 234 Chapter 234 THE HEIR CEREMONY 2026-11-02
235 235 Chapter 235 ASHAR’S BLESSING 2026-11-02
236 236 Chapter 236 TAKE CARE OF YOU 2026-11-02
237 237 Chapter 237 INSECURITY 2026-11-02
238 238 Chapter 238 YOU’RE MINE 2026-11-02
239 239 Chapter 239 YOURS 2026-11-02
240 240 Chapter 240 SIMPLY EXISTING 2026-11-02
241 241 Chapter 241 MONSTERS OUT THERE 2026-11-02
242 242 Chapter 242 ONE PIECE 2026-11-02
243 243 Chapter 243 TAWDRY CLICHÉS 2026-11-02
244 244 Chapter 244 COSMIC LUCK 2026-11-02
245 245 Chapter 245 BEAUTIFUL TORTURE 2026-11-02
246 246 Chapter 246 A DIFFERENT BEAST 2026-11-02
247 247 Chapter 247 THE HALL OF MEMORIES 2026-11-02
248 248 Chapter 248 THE SAME PATH 2026-11-02
249 249 Chapter 249 MOONLIGHT ALLEY 2026-11-02
250 250 Chapter 250 THE TALISMAN 2026-11-02

206: Chapter 206 NOT A CARDBOARD CUTOUT 206: Chapter 206 NOT A CARDBOARD CUTOUT SERAPHINA’S POV

Lunch went better than I’d expected—shockingly so, actually.

Once the twins’ earlier chaos had settled, the atmosphere loosened.

My mother and Sarah engaged in a gentle, yet enthusiastic, discussion about garden herbs, while Devin, Maxwell, and Ethan exchanged polite small talk about pack politics.

Daniel, ever the little diplomat, tried his best to win the twins over—showing them how to fold napkins into wolf shapes and tossing in a playful imitation of a pup’s howl that drew a few reluctant smirks.

I took it as a good sign.

By the time plates were cleared and the last of the pumpkin tarts disappeared, laughter had replaced the tension that had crept in with Maxwell and the twins’ arrival.

Maya stretched back in her chair, letting out a satisfied sigh.

“That was divine, Mrs.

L, thank you.”

Smile lines spread in the corners of my mother’s eyes as she smiled at Maya.

“Thank you, dear.

I’ll give your compliments to the chef.”

As my mother ushered Devin and Sarah toward the sitting room for coffee and Ethan leaned in to whisper something to Maxwell, Maya touched my arm lightly.

“Come with me?”

I blinked.

“Where?”

“Anywhere but here,” she said with a grin.

“I’ve already heard Ethan’s childhood stories a thousand times.

I want to hear yours.”

The mischief and curiosity in her eyes were so familiar, so Maya, that it overshadowed my innate instinct to recoil whenever my childhood was mentioned.

I hesitated for only a moment, glancing toward Daniel, who was busy helping my mother arrange teacups.

He caught my look and gave me a little thumbs-up before turning back to his task, and that tiny gesture made my heart swell.

“All right,” I said softly.

“Come on.”

We slipped out of the dining hall and into the quieter east corridor.

Afternoon light poured through tall windows, scattering honey-gold patterns across the marble floors.

“Gods,” Maya breathed, eyes wide as she ran her hand along the wall, her head tilting back to take in the corridor’s height.

“This place is massive.

I still can’t believe you grew up here.”

I exhaled.

“Yeah.

Sometimes, neither than I.”

She gave me a knowing look, a tenderness in her eyes that bordered on pity.

“Was it hard?

Because of the whole ‘no wolf’ thing?”

My laughter wasn’t so much bitter as resigned.

“It was whatever.”

Maya stepped closer and intertwined our fingers as we walked up the grand staircase to the second floor.

I instinctively leaned into her, my favorite peppy golden retriever companion.

“So,” she began, her soft tone curious, “how did your trip to the famously elusive Shadowveil go?”

My lips tugged up into a smile as we stepped onto the landing.

“Amazing.

They were so welcoming.

I got to join their Blue Moon festival, and later, their pack run.” I turned to her, my hand rising.

“Also—I partially Shifted.”

Her mouth opened, but I slapped my hand over it before she could let out the scream.

The muffled sound vibrated against my palm as her eyes bulged like they were going to pop out of their sockets.

I laughed softly.

“It was just my fingers into claws and some fur,” I clarified.

“But…yeah.”

Maya’s eyes sparkled.

She tried to say something, but my hand still stifled the sound.

I arched a brow.

“Promise you won’t scream and spill my secret to the Lockwood/Cartridge household?”

Her chest heaving, she gave a grudging nod.

When I dropped my hand, she gasped and threw her arms around me.

“I can’t fucking believe it!” she whisper-yelled.

She pulled back and took my hands in hers, staring at them as if they presently sprouted claws and fur.

“That’s amazing.

Monumental.

Fantastic…”

“Ow!” My eyes widened as I rubbed my shoulder where she’d just hit me.

“What was that for?”

“For going on a spiritual awakening or whatever the fuck and making me miss such a milestone in your life.”

I laughed, rolling my eyes.

“I’m…sorry?”

She sniffed.

“You have to make it up to me.”

I wrapped my arms around her.

“That wasn’t the last time.

I fully intend to Shift, and I promise you’ll be there.”

“You hear that, Alina?” Maya poked a finger at my chest.

“Don’t you dare surface if I’m not around.”

Alina’s amusement hummed through me.

Maya cupped my cheeks.

“My beautiful caterpillar-turned-butterfly.”

My eyes watered.

“I’m not there yet.”

She smiled.

“But you’re well on your way.”

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

Then she looped her arm through mine.

“Now, show me the infamous Seraphina Lockwood childhood lair.”

I laughed, pulling her along.

The corridor still seemed small, but it somehow didn’t feel as suffocating.

Maya stopped to coo at Ethan’s portrait, even taking a picture on her phone.

When we reached my bedroom door, the earlier trepidation I felt with Paxton was nowhere to be found.

It was exactly like the last time.

Except, it looked like it had been recently cleaned.

The scent of lemon cleaner mingled with lavender.

Maya stepped inside and turned in a slow circle.

“This.

Is.

So.

Fucking.

Cute.”

I rolled my eyes as she trailed her fingers over every surface, just like I’d done last time I was here.

“It’s okay.”

“It’s adorable.

All that’s missing is a life-size cardboard cutout of your teenage crush.”

I snorted.

She turned to me, her eyes narrowed.

“Seraphina, is there a life-size cardboard cutout of Kieran in this room?”

My eyes widened.

“What the hell—no!”

She crossed her arms, head tilted as she regarded me carefully.

My cheeks heated under her scrutiny.

“Maya, stop looking at me like that.”

Her lips twitched, and she pointed her thumb over her shoulder.

“There’s a sketchpad in that bookshelf over there.

I’m going to open it.”

I frowned, my gaze following the direction she pointed to.

It was a testament to her keen senses that she’d noticed the sketchpad wedged between two old textbooks, and when I noticed it too, a barrage of memories slammed into me.

My eyes widened.

“No, don’t—”

But Maya was already across the room, and before I could catch up to her, she had flipped the sketchpad open.

“They’re just old doodles, Maya,” I said, reaching for it.

“You don’t need to—”

She sidestepped, holding the pad just out of reach.

Her eyes lit up.

“Oh, what’s this?”

She turned to me.

“Not a cardboard cutout, but somehow, even better.”

My stomach twisted with an odd mixture of dread and nostalgia before the page came into focus.

And then it did, and I forgot to breathe for a moment.

The sketch was rough—drawn in pencil, faintly smudged from years of handling.

The profile was turned slightly, as though he’d been caught unaware.

Because he had.

Because I’d drawn it from memory, and my memories of Kieran included me watching from afar while he completely disregarded my existence.

“I don’t know why I kept that,” I said quickly, reaching for it.

“I should throw it away.”

Maya danced back out of reach, holding it to the light.

“Are you kidding?

This is beautiful.

You captured him like—like something entrancing.

Something you couldn’t look away from.”

I hesitated, my throat tightening.

“Maybe that’s because, back then, I couldn’t.”

Her gaze softened.

“You loved him even then, didn’t you?”

The words hovered in the space between us, heavy but gentle.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the portrait in her hands.

“Love’s a complicated word,” I murmured.

She came to sit beside me, careful not to wrinkle the drawing.

“Complicated, maybe.

But true?”

I gave a weak shrug.

“It’s—”

“Don’t you dare say it’s whatever.”

I sighed.

I turned my gaze toward the sketch, tracing the faint curve of pencil shading around Kieran’s eyes.

The curve of his jaw, the quiet intensity in his eyes, the barely-there smile tugging at his lips.

I was a writer, not an artist, but I remember feeling that words were inadequate, insufficient to capture what I wanted to express.

Things that weren’t tangible—his steadiness, maybe, or the inescapable pull in his voice when he spoke.

Or the way the world seemed to slow and speed up at the same time when he so much as looked in my direction.

Maya’s voice broke the silence.

“What drew you to him first?

Do you remember?”

I turned away, toward my desk.

For a second, I saw my younger self at that desk again—shorn hair tangled, sleeves smudged with charcoal, trying to draw a boy who made her feel something beyond loneliness.

“I don’t remember,” I said softly.

I think—I could be wrong, but I think that was the first time I ever lied outright to Maya.

Because I remembered.

Every single detail.

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