Not His Type Of Mate
Chapter 20

Nora's POV

"Have a seat," she said, gesturing for me to take my place behind the desk. I held her gaze for a moment before taking my seat.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, curious about what she wanted to talk about. I watched her remain silent for a moment before speaking. "The day Alpha Leo saw you, he acted strangely, but I didn't want to ask until I confirmed my suspicion." She said while I gulped and waited for her to finish, "You are his mate, not your sister." She muttered those words, not as a question, but as a declaration. I remained silent because I didn't know what to say.

I couldn't deny it, and neither could I accept it. "You don't have to say anything about it. It's already clear to me," she spoke and made her way toward me. "I don't know what game Alpha Leo is playing, but I'll advise you to keep your mouth shut. If he doesn't want people to know, then it should remain that way." She advised while I remained silent. "There are things you don't know about Alpha Leo, and I would advise not to get him angry unless you want to disappear from this world with no trace of you." She spoke while I held her gaze, wondering if she was advising me or actually threatening me. "Keep your mouth shut. This is advice." With those words, she left the room, leaving me with so many questions. She knew Alpha Leo and I were mates, but instead of advising me to speak up, she was warning me to keep quiet and allow Alpha Leo to have his way. "She's a bitch," Lolita cursed while I wiped my mind of those thoughts and went back to work. I lost count of time until a knock came on the door, and before I could respond, the door opened, and Vera walked in. She smiled devilishly at me as she made her way toward me. "What do you want?" I asked while getting on my feet.

"Can't I say goodbye to you before I leave?" She asked while raising her eyebrows. I scoffed and shook my head. "Stop putting on a show; no one is here; it's just the two of us," I spoke while holding her gaze. "Oops! Thanks for reminding me; I totally forgot." She chuckled and tried to take the couch, but I stopped her. "This is a private library, and only the royal family is allowed to stay here." She laughed loudly at my words, as if I had just made a silly joke. I stood and watched her laugh her lungs out before she settled down and approached me.

She got to the desk, placed her two hands on the desk, and held my gaze. "If anyone shouldn't be here, then it's definitely you. You seem to forget that I'm the soon-to-be Luna of the pack and also the future mistress of the mansion." She spoke with a triumphant grin while I stared disgustedly. "Very soon, you will lower your head in respect whenever you see me." She chuckled loudly and tried moving away, but I stopped her by holding her arms. "Why?" I asked with anger and pain. "You are my sister, my own sister; why would you do this to me? I cannot do this to you; why can you do this to me?" I asked in tears and saw the victorious grin on her face. She took my hand away from her arm and held my gaze with anger and hatred.

"You still can't remember what you did to me?" She asked while I furrowed my eyebrows, confused,

What are you talking about?" I asked, eager to know what she was referring to because I knew I had never wronged her. "So you don't remember?" She asked angrily. "I don't," I responded. "Well, let me refresh your memory," she said while taking a deep breath. "You have always been Dad's favorite. He loves you and gives you everything."

"That's not true," I objected. "Dad loves all his children equally."

"Really?" she scoffed, shaking her head. "Then can you explain why he gave you the royal badge and not me?" She asked, trying not to raise her voice.

"What badge?" I asked, confused. "Oh, please, don't act like you've forgotten," she spoke while I shook my head in total confusion. "I can't remember," I said.

"You do!" She yelled and took a deep breath, preventing herself from exploding. "We were nine years old," she announced, getting me confused.

I was curious and confused, wondering what a nine-year-old me could have done to make Vera hate me until now.

"Dad came home that day with a royal badge. Our family was among the five families lucky enough to have the royal badge that year," she muttered with hatred-filled eyes. "A daughter of the five families is granted a whole-day tour of the mansion and also has the privilege of dining with the Luna." She spoke while I remained confused.

I remembered Dad bringing home a royal badge when Vera and I were still kids, but I didn't go because of Vera's mistake. If anyone should be upset, it's me, not her.

"He chose you and gave the badge to you without even thinking about it," she said through gritted teeth. "You know he chose me because I was the eldest daughter." I tried to speak, but she cut me off. "Lies! He chose you because he loves you more," she said, while I stood silent and dumbfounded by her words. "I cried and told him I wanted it, but what did he do? He gave it to you, and when I snatched it and tore it by mistake, he locked me up in my room for the whole day." She spoke with gritted teeth while I remained dumbfounded.

I had no idea that Vera had grown up to hate me because of something trivial. If anyone should be angry, it should be me. I had the chance to meet with the then-Luna, but she tore the badge, preventing me from going.

"This is why you hate me?" I asked. "You grew up to hate me over something trivial?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"You may see it as something silly, but it was not for me. Right from that day, I promised myself that I would take whatever was yours, I would never let you have anything, and I won't stop until I see you crawl to me, begging for forgiveness..." She didn't finish her words when the door opened, and Lady Emma walked in. "Lunch is ready," she told Vera, who nodded and flickered a victorious smile at me before leaving with Lady Emma.

I slumped in my seat as her words buzzed in my head. It was shocking that Vera hated me for an event for which I wasn't at fault, an event that happened when we were just nine. "She's a terrible person," my wolf cursed while I sighed and relaxed my head on the seat's headrest. After composing myself, I returned to work until the day was over.

I got home and met Mother in the kitchen, preparing dinner. "Good evening, Mom," I greeted her at the door, but she glared my way and went back to cutting the vegetables without responding to my greeting.

I wanted to ignore her and go up to my room, but I had questions that were bothering me. "Mother!" I called as I stepped into the kitchen. "I have something to ask you...." Before I could complete my sentence, she cut me off. "I don't have an answer to give. As you can see, I'm really busy," she responded as if she was already irritated by my presence.

"Why do you hate me?" I asked, standing before her. "I met Vera at the mansion and asked her the same question, and she was kind enough to give me a reason. A reason that's so silly and ridiculous, and I believe you'll also have a reason for hating me this way. So, tell me, Mom, why do you hate me so much?"

"Did you almost lose your life while giving birth to me, and Vera's birth was easier? Did I insult you when I was little? Did I take something that was yours, or am I not your daughter?" I asked, half in tears, waiting for an answer from her, but she didn't say a word. She ignored my presence and continued cutting the vegetables. With a deep sigh, I composed myself and left the kitchen.

While I went to my room, I thought of my relationship with my mother. As long as I remember, she never let me get close to her.

While she taught Vera everything she needed to know as a woman, I learned from the internet and others. She didn't let me be with her in the kitchen, and she didn't teach me how to make meals, but I was clever enough to enroll in a catering school. Mother did not cease to show me that she hated me, and I was curious to know what I did to her because, for all I could remember, I had done nothing to her. I grew up as an obedient girl; there was nothing my mother asked me to do that I didn't obey. She asked me to give up so many things for Vera, and I obeyed just to see if she would love me, but she didn't.

"Maybe you should stop trying," Lolita advised, and I knew she was right. Maybe it's time I let everything be. With a sigh, I entered my room, took a bath, and talked to Maxwell for a while. I told him about the recent happenings, and as usual, he encouraged me. That night, I didn't have dinner because I had no appetite.

The next day was a lecture-free and work-free day. With that, I stayed in my room all day and wrote a few chapters of my book, talked to Dora over the phone, and went to bed. The following day, the alarm on my phone woke me up. I turned it off with a groan and got out of bed. I said my morning prayers, did my morning exercises, and took a cold shower. "What should we wear?" I asked Lolita as I stood before my closet. Most of my clothes were worn out, and I knew I needed to go shopping, but I'll do that once I get my first paycheck.

After several minutes of searching my closet, I decided to pick a pair of black jeans and a blue peplum dress. I dressed up, tried my hair, and let it loose on my shoulders. I applied light makeup to my face and stared at myself again in the mirror before leaving the room. I got downstairs and met everyone already at the table. "Good morning, Dad," I greeted him as I made my way to my seat. "Good morning, Mom," I greeted her, but as usual, she didn't respond.

I stared at Vera, who eyed at me and continued eating. We all dined in silence until Vera broke the silence. "His mother loves and admires me," she said, looking my way. "She also wishes we get married soon." She spoke happily, and Mother joined in, "Of course, which woman wouldn't want someone as beautiful as you as their daughter-in-law?" she said, also looking my way.

Without being told, I knew they were about to mock me, and I wouldn't sit and listen. "Thanks for the meal," I said as I picked up my plate, washed it in the kitchen sink, and left the house. I decided to take a walk to the mansion to clear my head. After a twenty- minute walk, I arrived at the mansion gate, knocked, and the gate opened.

I greeted the security I met on my way to the main building, and they all responded, but something was strange. There was a peculiar atmosphere in the mansion, and I couldn't place it. When I got into the mansion, I noticed every servant was busy, and I wanted to ask what was happening but decided to ignore it. Maybe they were expecting a visitor.

Where is Lady Emma?" I asked a maid I met on my way to the stairs.

"She went out, but the library is open," she responded and hurriedly walked away.

I was surprised as to why Lady Emma would leave the library open, but I shrugged my shoulders and climbed the stairs. I reached the library door, held the doorknob, and pushed the door open. I got in and closed the door behind me.

I turned and noticed a figure standing with its back to me. As I approached, I realized it was a man dressed in a well-tailored blue suit.

I knew this man was not Alpha Leo. He was so different from him.

"Excuse me," I said tentatively, "who are you? This library is meant only for the Royal family."

The man turned around slowly, and I gasped as I recognized him as the Hybrid King, the one I met a few days ago.