My brother's mate is my secondary school bully

Tolani!"  

I greet her with a smile.  

Of course, it's a fake one.

I hate the woman before me with passion. 

  I don't know what kind of a joke was the moon goddess playing to make her my brother's mate. 

" You are finally home.

I can't wait for us to bond again." 

  Tolani says with a sickly sweet smile which I respond with on my own. 

" Me too. I'm looking forward to it." 

  I reply, feigning enthusiasm.

   Wow! I must say your son looks very handsome.

She said and I responded with a thank you. 

I can't have anybody finding out about our past, not even Neo. 

Looking at him gazing lovingly at her, I know that I have to make a sacrifice for him.  

Not to mention that Tolani is heavily pregnant.

" Look at that, darling.  

I told you that our baby will Love Tolani.   Of course, she's such a lovable girl.

Who would not love her?"  

My mother said, nudging my father lovingly.

  Seeing how happy the family is, I can only smile and mask my pain. 

I help my mother to serve lunch and we all sit by the table with my son beside his grandmother, enjoying our lunch.

  Having my family here with me, what else could I ask for?  Over the past years, food was never something I enjoyed.  

To me, it was more of a necessity. 

  I only ate to keep living.  

Today for the first time in years, I was enjoying dining.  

All thanks to my family. 

" Ilebayyyyye!   In the middle of our lunch, an excited voice blasted through the four corners of the dining room. 

Seconds later, a racing Uriel emerged forcing me on my feet. 

There's no way I'll be waiting for that crazy woman to send me flying on the ground. 

Bracing myself, I prepared myself to catch the woman who would throw herself into my arms.  

But to my surprise, she halted millimeters away from me, making me release a breath I did not know I was holding. 

" You are a bad friend."  

The first words that leave her mouth are accusations  

But she's right, I am a bad friend. 

" Won't you hug me? It's been years."  

I say in an attempt to placate my friend. " Since you asked for it so nicely, I'll be magnanimous enough and hug you," Uriel replies.

  I catch everyone at the table trying to stifle their laughter. 

That's Uriel for you.

She brings happiness everywhere she goes. 

" If Marcus did not tell me that you are back, I would never have known." Uriel complains.

  " Surprise!"

I say excitedly but the lady simply shakes her head.

" Ladies, it's lunchtime as you can see. Uriel, join us for lunch.   You girls can catch up later."  

My mother interrupts saving my ass. 

  It slipped my mind to inform Uriel about my return, not like we have kept in touch while I stayed in the city.

  " Thanks, Aunt. Then, I will not stand in the ceremony."  

Uriel replied enthusiastically, her earlier grievances all forgotten. 

" Always a foodie," I whispered to myself but being a wolf, Uriel heard it. 

" Thanks for reminding me.  

I will make sure you have nothing left to eat." She says, a grin on her face. 

  Please make sure you leave my son some because he is a foodie like you.  

Don't worry, only my godson will have something to eat. 

Uriel takes a seat opposite Neo. 

I catch them occasionally looking at each other. 

Five years ago, everybody in the pack was sure that Neo and Uriel were mates.  

That was until the moon Goddess slapped a cruel card on them.  Neo found his mate and that mate was not Uriel.  

A year later, Uriel found her mate.

  I was not there when all the saga happened but I could tell that there was bitterness between the two with how awkward lunch turned out to be. 

I don't see a reason for them to be awkward with each other though, considering that each found their mate.  

If my guess is right, something happened between them. 

  Since I cannot ask my brother about it, Uriel will be the one to fill me in the details.

  After lunch, Uriel dragged me to my room.  

My son. I said to her, Don't worry he is with his grandparents.  

Watching her, you could think that the room was hers and not mine. 

" I know what you are thinking. Don't worry, your room is my room."  

Uriel says immediately she locks the door.  I can only shake my head helplessly. 

" Feels so good to be home." 

  I say the words absentmindedly, gazing around the room which was still the same as five years ago.

  " Yeah, home to finally face the skeletons in your closet." Uriel retorts. 

" When you say it that way, it sounds horrible." I smile nervously. 

She is right though. It's about time I bury the past behind me and start afresh. 

" That's a fact you cannot erase. What do you plan to do?"  

Uriel's question throws me off the hook.  What do I plan to do? Do I even have a plan? 

" Honestly, I am clueless. 

  I am still figuring out what to do next but one thing is for sure, I have to put a stop to all this madness and focus on my future."   I replied. 

I might not have a solid plan but I am sure about one thing, I will finish what was left undone five years ago. 

" That's the way, girl. Show that asshole that you are better off without him. 

  Make him regret ever wronging you.  

You're a woman of talent and beauty and that should be known across all the land."

Uriel's words bring a smile to my face. 

" Is he your sworn enemy and not your brother?"

I ask, perplexed at how much anger her words carry. 

" He is my brother, my blood but apart from that, nothing binds us together.  

On the other hand, I have you, my sworn sister."

  That's what Uriel and I are to each other. Sworn sisters.  

Our sisterly bond goes back to when we were pups. 

" Tell me, do you have a boyfriend?" 

  Uriel's question makes me choke on my saliva. What the hell!  "

Tsk, tsk, tsk. I can tell that you are still a semi-virgin. 

Do you intend to die without giving my godson another sibling?"  

Uriel asks, making me cough awkwardly. 

She has always been a blunt person but doesn't she know that her bluntness can be embarrassing at times? 

" I have been busy with studies and work. I don't have time for such stuff."

I answer immediately. Date?  

That never crossed my mind. Getting rejected by the one chosen for you by the moon goddess, where could I get the confidence to date some other man?  "

Don't worry, you are here just in time.

Today is Neo's birthday.  

We have a lot of handsome and eligible bachelors attending the party.  

Six pm, I'll be here to prepare you for your first day of suitor hunting."  

Uriel said, her voice full of excitement. 

" Suitor hunting?"