My Mate and Brother's Betrayal

20 Want to Meet Her Grant POV

I just stepped out of the shower when a knock sounds on the room door. "Give me a minute," I call out as I grab a fresh pair of underwear and shorts. Once I'm dressed, I push open the door expecting to find Lily, but instead it's Liam. "Hey man, is everything alright?""Everything is fine, but I was hoping we could talk if you had a few minutes," he says. "Of course," I say, stepping aside so he can come in.

He takes a seat on a large chair in the corner and I take a seat on the bed. "This place is something, isn't it" he asks. "It is definitely different from the pack. I've never met elves, but I wasn't expecting this place to be so much like the books we read as pups. What did you want to talk about, Liam, because I'm sure it isn't about how beautiful this place is?"

"I need to know where your head is at. I've noticed the way you are with Lily and I need to know that you won't interfere with her mate bond. I'm not sure what's changed for you, but you definitely seem different" he says. "I'm not sure what you mean about me being different. I've always thought Lily was amazing and strong. She is also beautiful and kind. She is an

amazing warrior and put me on my a** more than once in training."

"I agree with all those things, but you didn't answer my question about interfering with her mate bond over this crush you seemed to have developed. Lily is like my own pup and I will protect her happiness with everything I have in me. So, if you pose a threat to that happiness, you and I will have a problem. She has been through enough with the bulls*t Colton pulled, so tell me now are we going to have a problem, Grant" he asks.

"All I want for Lily is to be happy. I won't do anything to jeopardize her happiness or her bond with her mate. I agreed to come on this mission knowing it would end with Lily finding and

saving her mate. Even if I do have a little crush, it's born of admiration of her strength and

kindness. I know I am not her fated mate. She deserves to be with a man that will love her the

way she deserves to be loved. Colton was an a**hole for hurting her. He doesn't deserve to have her for a mate, he never did."Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

"That much we can agree on. Colton was a good pup. He just made bad choices, but those choices hurt Lily. I hope for his sake he pulls his head out of his a** so his next mate gets the best version of him. Well, enough about Colton. As long as you remember what I've said, we won't have any problems," Liam says as he stands. "We won't have any problems. I'm here to

make sure Lily gets to her mate before its too late."

Once Liam leaves, I lean back against the headboard. Goddess, I wish these feelings would go

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20 Want to Meet Her

away, but I meant what I said to Liam. Lily's happiness is all that matters to me. For the first time in weeks, I feel a sense of peace in my resolve to make sure that Lily gets everything she deserves. I close my eyes, and it doesn't take long for the darkness to take me under.

Lily POV

I'm not sure how long I slept, but I feel refreshed. Knowing that I'm so close to the man that is supposed to be mine has both myself and Ariel feeling more settled. We are so close to

ending his suffering and claiming him. Now we just have to figure out how to get into the castle. I'm not waiting until we meet with the king. I know that pr*ck is the one hurting him based on what the goddess showed me.

I throw on the jeans and t-shirt I had on earlier and go in search of Myra. I follow the sound of humming and when I step into the kitchen I smile. She is seated at a small round table with two cups sitting in front of her. "There you are. I wondered how long I was going to have to wait for our little chat," she says. She points to a chair next to her and pushes what I can only assume is a cup of tea toward me.

Once I'm seated, I take the cup in my hand and breathe in the fruity aroma. I've never smelled tea like this. I take the first sip and moan. It's unlike anything I've ever tasted. "Good, isn't it? It's made from a fruit that only grows in the Elven kingdom called a shimmer plum. Now enough about the tea. Tell me about the fool that lost you as his beloved" she says, and I smile. I'm not sure why, but I feel like I can trust Myra and Ariel seems to agree. "We grew up together. He was my best friend until I was around ten. Then he changed and decided I wasn't worthy of being around him and his so-called new friends. He started dating a girl from our." I have to stop myself from saying pack, but I'm grateful that Myra doesn't seem to notice. "From our tribe. She was a typical mean girl and made sure she let me often know how she felt about me." "She sounds like a b**ch" Myra says, and I almost choke on my sip of tea.

Hearing this sweet older woman call Camille a b**ch has me bursting out laughing. "You're right, she is a b**ch, which is another reason why I don't understand why he chose her."Did you ever ask him" she asks. "There was no reason to. After I caught them together, I didn't

want to hear his excuses. Besides, I don't want a mate that thinks I'm not good enough. A

mate that I can't trust to choose me."

When I look into her eyes I don't see pity, I see understanding. "Well, I hate the pain he caused you, but I'm glad you're here." "Me too, Myra. Can I ask you a question?" "Of course, you can ask me anything" she says. "Can you tell me about the king and queen? Our tribe is so far from here I've never heard anything about them." 2/4 

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20 Want to Meet Her

A look of disgust crosses her features before her smile returns. "The queen is a beautiful

young woman. She is sweet and caring. She has two children who are her life. She would do

anything to protect them." She takes a deep breath before she continues. "I guess I should start by telling you that Jasmine and David were never meant to be the king and queen of the Elven Kingdom" she says.

My heart starts to beat faster, but I keep my expression impassive. "Allistar was the true king and his beautiful beloved Carmen was queen. David was Allistar's twin brother. He was always a spoiled child. Wanting things that were never meant to be his. His mother indulged him as the baby even though it was only by minutes, but it turned him into a brat. He never got over it and when Allistar became king you could see that David wanted what his brother had," she says.

"Allistar was an amazing king even though his reign was short" she says. "What happened" I ask even though I remember the scene the goddess showed me. "No one really knows the details, but the rumor around the castle was that rogue wolves had killed them as they drove home from visiting Carmen's tribe." She shakes her head and tears gather in the corner of her eyes.

I take her hand, offering her a reassuring squeeze. She smiles warmly at me. "I remember that day when they brought poor Drake back to the castle. I could tell that, despite David's hold on him, it offered no comfort after what he had witnessed. The poor child never spoke again after that day." My chest aches at the mention of my mate. Drake, I say his name like a prayer. I make a vow at that moment to ensure he will never suffer another day after I find him. I look back at Myra, who seems to be studying me. Before she can speak, I ask her another question. "How do you know so much about what happened, Myra? I'm sure none of what you told me is common knowledge." "I wasn't always an old spinster lady living outside the castle walls. I was the head servant and organized everything from the kitchen to the laundry. When David took over, he decided that no one that worked under Allistar could remain since our loyalty was to the old king," she says.

"Which, after what I saw of David over the years, I was more than happy to do. I just wish I

could have taken Jasmine and the children with me. Goddess only knows what they endure having that ba**ard lord over them" she says. Ariel is growling, forcing me to block her out. I feel the same, but growling will definitely give me away. "That's awful, I can't imagine. Do you ever get the chance to see her? See how she is doing now?"

She offers me a beautiful smile, but there is a sadness that wasn't there before. "I do see her often. Before David took Jasmine as his chosen beloved, she was a servant's daughter. She

thinks of me as a second mother even after I left. She visits me with the children once a week.

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She is actually due to visit me tomorrow. Would you like to meet her" she asks. "I would. I've

never met a queen before.""She is nothing like you would expect of the royals. She has never let the title go to her head. I think she will be thrilled to meet you.

Now, I need to get supper going. Would you like to help me" she asks. I smile and nod. We

move around the kitchen, but my thoughts are focused on tomorrow. I'm hoping that my meeting with the queen is my way into the castle. "Do you think he is hurting the queen or his pups," Ariel asks me. Bile rises in my throat at the thought of just that.