Fated Or Chosen?

Secrets In The Open

“Is something wrong?” Carissa cut in, breaking the silence that went on for a couple of seconds as the duo stared at each other like they had known each other for a long time.

“Is this your mother?” He questioned. Carissa looked at her mother and at Rome. They both still stared at each other.

“Yes, is there a problem?” She questioned again. “Can someone talk to me! You both are making me feel weird!” Carissa yelled at the top of her voice.

“Who is he? How do you know him, baby?” The Luna questioned as she placed her hand on Carissa’s shoulder. Still, she was looking at him.

“He is father’s guest. Tell me, mother. What is going on?” She questioned again, distraught and confusion etched to her face.

“Oh!” Her mother simply commented. “Breakfast is set. Come and have your breakfast. Everyone is waiting for you” The Luna held her hand and tried to lead her away.

“I am going nowhere until I know what is going on here” Carissa yanked her hands off quickly and crossed it on her chest instead.

“Nothing is going on. I am just so impressed by the fact that your mother still looks so young. I mean, after birthing a beautiful and matured woman like you” He smiled.

“I was also swept away by his beauty.” The Luna complimented and he smiled even wider. “Come on, baby, do not keep your father and your brother waiting. They do not really have the patience” The Luna smiled and pulled her away.

Although Carissa was not convinced, she decided to ignore it. Perhaps, she was over thinking?

She shrugged the thoughts and decided to have breakfast. Of course, her father and brother had settled.

A wide smile formed on her father’s face the moment he saw her walk in. He was glad that things seemed to be going on well between her and Rome.

Sooner than expected, they began to have their breakfast and even though Carissa tried to forget whatever she had thought initially. Her assumptions seemed to be right.

The discomfort on her mother’s face each time she looked at Rome was evident. Rome on the other hand continually stared at her.

It was indeed more than just mere admiration for each other. Was there something they were hiding?

“I am glad you were able to make it here, Prince Rome. I am honored to have you join my family and I for dinner” The Alpha started and Rome smiled at him.

“I am glad I could make it here too. Your daughter is a wonderful woman and she is really taking care of me.

She has made the short time I spent here memorable” He commented and the young lady smiled but the smile evaporated into thin air almost immediately as her mother choked.

Apparently, she had choked on her soup as soon as those words escaped Rome’s mouth.

“Are you okay, mama?” She stood up but her father was quick to make her stop as her brother had given her water.

“I am fine” she answered, almost immediately. Obviously, she wasn’t.

“Please, be careful, my Luna” Rome greeted and she nodded. Everything got Carissa even more confusing.

She could tell her mother had definitely choked because of him. She had stared at him all through the breakfast and had barely eaten her meal.

Maynard and Alpha Aiden on the other hand stared at the Luna with both of them trying to comfort her.

“You do not look fine, mama. Would you want me to walk you to your room?” Carissa offered.

“Yes, please.” The Luna answered almost immediately just like she had been expecting it.

“Do not take too long. The maids would stay with her” Alpha Aiden spoke.

“Actually, she will take a very long time. No one cares for me more than my daughter does. “ The Luna objected.

Left with no choice, the Alpha agreed. The Luna gave Rome one last disdainful stare before walking away.

Obviously, she was not happy with him and even though she tried to hide it, it was evident.

Gently, Carissa led her mother up the stairs. Several thoughts crossed Clarissa's mind as she led the Luna to her room. Something did not feel right.

“Tell me mama and do not withhold any information that I need to know away from me. What is going on?” She questioned.

“I choked on my soup. I did not know what went wrong” She sighed as she sat on her bed gently.

“Come on, mother. You sure do know what I am talking about. What is going on between you and father’s guest?”

Her mother gave a questioning look.

“Why were you both staring at each other when you met him initially like you know each other?

During breakfast as well, you were only concentrating on him and not your meal hence your reason for choking and no, I did not fail to notice the way you stared at him before we left there.

What is going on mama, what are you hiding?” She questioned again; this time more serious.

“Come on, child. You are just overthinking things. There is nothing going on and I do not know him.

I was dazed when I saw him as I thought you had found your mate but thankfully, he isn’t your mate.

Nothing is going on between you both, right? “ The Luna questioned and Carissa simply nodded.

“Good. It should remain that way. Do not forget what I told you earlier today” she advised.

“Why? He is a good man!” She defended.

“Definitely because you do not know him so well.” The Luna paused, making carissa move closer to her. she was sure she had heard her mother right. “I mean.. you think people are good until you know them well.

You do not know him now so do not be quick to assume to know the type of person he is” the Luna explained.

“You talk like you know him, mother. Tell me, is there anything you want me to know about him?” she held her mother’s hands, hoping to get some truths and then know the relationship between them both.

He seemed to be a very good man. They had barely known each other for an hour yet they bonded so well like they had known each other since eternity.

“I wish, child but there is nothing to say. Now is not the time to question me, Rissa. I need to have some rest” The Luna answered and turned her back to Carissa.

Whenever she did that, she simply meant she was no longer interested in conversations or questionings and Carissa already understood.

“I will check up on you in a couple of minutes. I need to leave now” Carissa bowed and stepped out.

She knew she had to get her brother to help her figure out the riddle. He had to help her find out the relationship between her mother and Rome and the letter she had ripped in pieces, what was actually going on?

“Hoping to bump into me for the second time today?” A voice suddenly drew her back to reality and it was no other person but her brother.

“Thank goodness. I need your help. Come with me” She pulled him and just like a puppet, he followed her as she led him into her room.

“I love it when I come into your room” He jumped on her bed.

“And I hate it whenever you are here. this is just important. I need your help” she moved closer towards him and he sat up, urging her to carry on.

“Mother seems to be hiding something. There is an Omega who has come to search for me two times in a row today but Mother has always prevented me from seeing her.

The maiden sent me a letter but mother ripped it before I could get to see it. Mother despises her so much and...”

“I hate Omegas too. I despise them too and I won’t let them see you either. Sorry, I cannot be of help to you” He stood up almost immediately but she pulled him back.

“Let me finish! The hatred for this particular Omega is beyond comprehension. It feels like mother knows her and mother might be hiding something.

I know it sounds awkward but what relationship does mother have with her? Why is the Omega asking to see me?”

“Come on, Carissa, you are way wiser than that. What business can mother possibly have with an Omega? Absolutely nothing. Get such thoughts off your mind”

“I thought so too but Rome... mother seems to know him as well. When she met him, they both stared at each other as if they know each other.

While we had breakfast, he was all mother concentrated on hence making her choke. While we were leaving the table, she stared at him with disdain. “

“Put your investigative mind at rest. Nothing is wrong. I hate him too. Mother definitely knows best and she knows he is a bad person.

I hate the fact that he made you smile. Only me has the right to do so”

“Oh, come on. I am being serious right now. He is a nice guy..” With this, he looked her straight in the eyes. “But I do not love him".

Maynard let out a sigh of relief.

“Why are you bothered anyway? You aren’t going to get married to me after all?”

“I can if I have the chance to. I do not want any other man to take you away from me.

Even though you upset me, I still want to see your face every day” He answered and she tapped him lightly with a pillow and they both let out a soft laughter.

Regardless, she still felt there was something wrong. The whole thing seemed to replay in her head over and over again.

“See you some other time, I have to attend to some activities and of course, make sure that guy does not have to be with you. He isn’t fit for you” He smiled widely before stepping out of the room.

Something just did not feel right and she could not ignore it.

Carissa was determined to find out the truth no matter what it takes.Trying to connect everything together, she stood up and proceeded towards her window but no sooner had she looked out when she saw a familiar figure under a tree.

Looking closer, she realized they were two and not one, standing right in front of each other.

It was her mother and Rome!

Now, was her time. She stood up and ran out of her room, running as fast as she could to see them and hear what they were discussing.

“I love you and I cannot afford to see you with my daughter.” The Luna spoke.

“I love you too and that was why I came back. i came back because of you. Let's elope” Rome responded and embraced her.

Carissa let out a gasp and covered her mouth quickly. Now, it made sense to her. She was about to turn to leave gently when she slipped, causing a gasp to escape her lips.

“Who is there?” Rome questioned. Oh no!