Fated Rivalry: The Omega's Dilemma

Charlotte's POV

The chicken's cry woke me from sleep, I sluggishly crawled out of bed and looked outside the window I could tell the time was around 5am. I've always been able to do that without looking at a clock, I can also tell when it's about to rain or snow. Although the pack deemed it an unnecessary gift I cherished it deeply.

"Come in," I replied and my best friend Kiana walked in smiling. She pounced on me like a wild cat. "Why do you look so happy today?" I said upon observation. She pulled away from the hug.

"Of course you haven't heard!"

I raised my eyebrows in confusion, "heard about what?"

"Adonis returns to the pack today."

"Adonis?"

"Wait," I suddenly thought, "the Alpha's son?"

The smile on her face grew even weirder and she blushed like a three year old. Adonis is the only son of the Alpha destined to be the next Alpha. After his mother, the Luna died, he disappeared to somewhere no one knew about. I'm sure Alpha must have had an idea of his whereabouts, but it's been seven years. Suddenly, Kiana grabbed my hand, causing me to jerk in reaction.

"There will be a party to celebrate his return... You have to help me become the most beautiful girl in the room." She looked at me with puppy dog eyes.

"Don't worry," I promised, "Adonis won't be able to take his eyes off you when I'm done."

As you might have already guessed, Kiana is in love with the Alpha's son, she has been since childhood, while Adonis never looked at her the way she did, he treated everyone else the same way, especially when it came to women he appeared stoic and unmoving.

"What if Adonis's mate is someone else?" she suddenly frowned and asked.

Honestly, it's a possibility, but I can't afford to tell her the truth, especially knowing Kiana's personality. "You think too much Kiana, have you ever thought about what if it was you?" I nudged her trying to cheer her up but she was in a gloomy mood.

Just the thought of Adonis mating with another woman brought tears to her eyes. I really pray that they end up together.

"It doesn't matter if Adoni's mate is someone else," she said suddenly cheerfully. "All I have to do is kill her and he'll be mine."

"Shh." I quickly covered her mouth, "Someone might hear you."

My best friend can be crazy sometimes, I can see in her eyes that she means every word. Kiana and I spent the whole day preparing for the party. You see, I am an omega. I lost my parents in a fire when I was a child and since then the pack has taken me in, even though being an omega is the lowest of all titles, as long as I do my duty. No one treats me unfairly. I even have a best friend who is Beta's daughter and that alone makes people respect me.

Kiana on the other hand is a bit crazy, but I can assure you that she is the best friend in the world. If it wasn't for her, I would have taken my own life years ago when I turned eighteen and couldn't shift. Like being an orphaned omega was not enough. I was so distraught I almost drank poison, but Kiana assured me that it was okay, the pack didn't care, which was true, so I put it behind me and continued living my life, although it was frustrating to think of sometimes.

Once everything was set, Kiana and I headed out for the makeover. She was the only one dressed and even though she tried to convince me to match her, I refused. I insisted on retaining my tattered clothes, I don't think anyone would be looking at me anyway. After two painful hours of standing, I was done.

"Oh my God, I look like a princess." Kiana's mouth dropped open the second she saw her reflection in the mirror.

"Thank you Charlotte." She grabbed me by the neck and pulled me into her arms. "When I become Luna, I will rid you of this omega title." She promised and I smiled with relief knowing she meant it. I just hope everything goes according to plan, even though the little voice in my head tells me that something is bound to go wrong, I shrug it off.

Kiana went to the party, eager to meet Adonis, while I stayed behind to clean up the makeover mess. After wiping the seats and table, I carefully hid my make up box in a corner, then headed out to get food and retire to bed.

The audience was filled with well-dressed people laughing and drinking. It's clear that I don't belong here, I wonder if things would be different if my parents were still alive.

'Mate'

Excuse me?

'Mate'

The second repetition of the sound stopped me in my tracks. Could this be my wolf? A sweet smell filled my nostrils and I struggled to identify what it was. It smelled like fresh bread straight out of the oven and then honey and as time went by the smell only got stronger and I became more and more curious sniffing around like a dog, in search of the source of this wonderful smell.

'There he is.'

I stopped and looked up. My breath got caught in my throat the moment I locked eyes with the man who was supposed to be my mate. No, no, this can't be happening. Unlike me who was shocked to the core, he looked at me from head to toe with no emotion on his face.

"Charlotte?" A familiar voice called my name and I turned to see Kiana.

'Shit!'

"What happened?" She walked towards me, unaware of Adonis's presence. Even when Kiana barged in, he didn't move a muscle. She followed the path of my gaze and caught Adonis and I looking at each other, the attraction so strong you could feel it a mile away. "Wait," she paused, "Is this what I think it is?"

"I'm sorry Kiana." I couldn't bring myself to look into her eyes. "But Adonis is my mate."

Charlotte's POV

I could see in her eyes how broken she was.I felt like a fool, like I betrayed my best friend, but somehow I know it's not my fault. If anyone is to blame, it's the moon goddess.I wonder if Kiana feels the same way. We have been best friends since we were five years old. Our relationship won't be ruined because of this, will it?

"I refuse to believe it." Kiana said, turning on her heel and disappearing into the night.

I wanted to chase her.

"Stay"

A man's voice filled my head and I found myself glued to the spot unable to move. Adonis slowly walked towards me.

He stopped a few steps in front of me, but far enough to fill my senses with his intoxicating scent.

"I haven't seen you before. Are you new here?" he spoke softly in a tone I didn't know he had and it made my heart feel so warm.

"It's me Charlotte," I said with a frown. Let's be real, I had to face reality.

"Charlotte?" he asked unsure, but I knew the memory was buried in there somewhere.

"Yes, the same Charlotte who chased you around with a spider when we were kids."

If I remember correctly, we were only ten, while Kiana was busy sneaking flowers into Adonis's bag, I was trying to figure out how to deal with him stealing my best friend. Don't blame me, I'm a very jealous friend and Kiana is all I have. Anyway, little Adonis was afraid of insects and I wasn't, I could catch them with my eyes closed and I used it to my advantage. Every time I chased him, Kiana came to his rescue. There's no way he had forgotten me.

His eyes widened as he realized this. "Why would the moon goddess do this?"

I could see the frustration written all over his face, I'm sure the memories still haunt him at night. I took a step forward, looking scary but shaking inside. "What do you think? So I can pick up where I left off."

He smiled and said, "You must think I'm still the little boy I was 10 years ago."

The way he spoke caused an electric shock. I have never found Adonis attractive before, although I must say that the man is a beauty. It's just in my mind that he has always belonged to Kiana, but right now it took a lot of effort not to touch him and I could tell that he felt it too.

I turned around to escape, but Adonis grabbed my arm.

"Don't think you can run away like your little best friend."

My breath caught in my throat but I still managed to say, "You have to understand how Kiana feels, we shouldn't be doing this." He is my mate, but something still didn't feel right.

"Are you sure?" he asked with a raised brow. "How about I reject you here and now and go be with your best friend?"

As soon as he said that I felt something snap in my chest, it was so horrible to think about it that I almost broke down.

When I didn't say anything, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to his chest. I heard whispers from the people around me and I awkwardly struggled out of his embrace. "People are looking at us, Adonis. I'm sure this news will reach Kiana soon and I can't imagine how upset she will be."

He looked me in the eye and said, "I don't care. Don't think for a second that you can run away from me or force me to go be with your best friend. Neither of you are my type, the only difference is that one of you is mine and it's not Kiana."

"I call the shots at this table and you have no choice but to obey me. Do you understand that?"

I found myself nodding, satisfied that he let me go. Before he could teach me a second lesson, I turned and ran to find Kiana. I knew exactly where to find her when she was upset, there's only one place she'd be right now and I was the only one who knew that place, it was our safe spot. We had a close relationship like sisters, but It was about to be ruined because of a man. Although I haven't decided what to do yet, I hope Kiana will understand that I don't want this either. I found her sitting alone on the dirt-covered ground, curled up like a ball.

"Kiana!" I screamed softly. She didn't look at me but she said, "Go away."

I sat next to her anyway. "I didn't ask for it."

"I know and that's what hurts most, I've been praying for this my whole life."

All I could get myself to say was."I'm sorry."

Suddenly, Kiana lifted her head and looked at me, mascara flowing over her eyes like a zombie. "Alpha would never agree to this. With your title, you're not fit to be Luna, and what's worse is that you can't even shift."

Damn, did she really have to say that to my face.

"We're best friends, right? And you love me, don't you? "

Although I was hurt by her previous words, I still nodded, "I owe you my life Kiana, and I am willing to do anything for you."

She smiled, took my hand and looked me straight in the eyes and I was not prepared for her next words.

"How about you reject Adonis as your mate?" she suggested.

Excuse me? I could hardly say it out loud.

"It won't work either way," she continued.

"Instead of sitting around waiting for it to happen, why not do it first? That way I can be sure of your loyalty and I can be sure that you won't get close to my husband in the future."

Listening to her speech made my blood boil. I've heard of rejection pain, and according to those who have experienced it, it's no joke. Kiana was very much aware of my health status, how could she suggest such a thing.

"Kiana..." I started to speak but she silenced me.

"This is not a request, I command you as the Beta's daughter and the next Luna. If you refuse me, you will face my wrath."

Charlotte's POV

Even though I was an orphan, I never felt truly alone because Kiana was there for me all those years, but right now I was being forced to choose between her and my destined other half and there was no guarantee that even my mate would also choose me.

Kiana was right, you know the pack will reject me as their Luna as soon as they find out about it. But I was hoping that maybe Adonis would fight for me, he would fight for us, but it was nothing more than wishful thinking.

I was walking back from the stream and noticed that people were looking at me strangely. In fact, wherever I passed, everyone's attention was focused on me, there were fingers pointing in my direction and I could feel them. I heard them say I'm Adonis's mate and I wonder how the news got out so fast it hasn't even been up to a day.

"Why would the moon goddess play such a prank?" I heard a woman say to her son who was staring at me like a rare artefact. "Doesn't she know that Adonis is to be our alpha? How can we have an omega who cannot even shift as our luna."

In the end everyone said the same thing, the same bitter truth that I wasn't cut out to be Luna.

Clutching the bucket full of wet clothes for support, I walked past them, ignoring the woman's words and headed towards the pack house.

I was hanging my clothes out on the line when I felt someone push me from behind. I lost my composure and fell flat on my face, cheers and laughter erupting behind me.

"How weak," a woman said with a hiss.

I managed to get up from the ground and found that I was surrounded by familiar faces.

Ariel and her gang, known for being tyrants. On her orders, one of her henchmen tore my clothes off the rope and trampled on them brutally.

"What are you doing?" I immediately grabbed my clothes, but was knocked to the ground for the second time.

"You must think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to finally climb up the ladder." Ariel spoke. "Let me tell you that's not going to happen. No one here will accept you."

I know I fought back tears, I've been listening to those words all day.

"Save yourself the embarrassment, leave and never come back because there is no place for you here."

But Adonis hasn't rejected me yet, even though the others assumed I hadn't heard his thoughts yet, and until then, I'm afraid I won't be going anywhere.

She leaned forward to meet my gaze. "What do you say, bitch?" Do I have your word that today will be the last day you spend in this pack?

Even though I was afraid, I refused to give in. "I won't go, not until I hear directly from Adonis that he doesn't want me."

A slap sent me flying to the ground, out of the corner of my eye I saw Kiana watching from the balcony, hands clasped. She looked away when our eyes met, and I understood what she meant by this, our friendship was over and I was in this alone.

After a tiring day, I collapsed on the bed, exhausted. My body ached from all the beatings and stupid pranks I had endured today. It was only the first day and they had turned me into a punching bag meanwhile Adonis was nowhere to be found. I mean, he never came to my aid. It was probably revenge for all those years of torture.

The creak of the door made me sit up in shock.

"Who's there?" I took my flashlight.

I flipped the switch and a bright light came on, revealing my intruder's face. Adonis shielded his eyes from the torchlight.

I sighed in relief.

He walked over to the bed and sat down without saying a word.

Somehow I could sense his mood, he wasn't feeling too well. I think he was having a bad day, I wonder if it had something to do with me. Tired of the eerie silence, I decided to say something first.

"Just say what you want to say."

I could tell that something was bothering him and he had snuck in here to say it but now that he was facing me, he didn't know how to say the words.

"Everyone is telling me to reject this bond." He said not meeting my gaze.

Same here too. "Is that what you want?"

He took a deep breath, "honestly, I don't know what I want."

I was relieved by his words until he spoke again.

"But I can't deny the truth that you are indeed unfit to be Luna."

This time, it was my turn to avoid his gaze. I spent all day hearing this from different people, but it didn't hurt as much as it did now from him.

"My mother died because she couldn't defend herself against the bad guys," he said in a regretful tone. "If I ever lost my mate like that, I'm not sure the damage it would do to me."

"I can train," I said hopefully.

He looked at me. "Can you even shift?"

I found my tongue in a twist and I couldn't answer. Tears welled up in my eyes because I already knew where this was going. "Will you reject me?"

"It depends on you."

"If I could, I would definitely have chosen a better and stronger mate, but it's not possible. Fate brought us together and I can't ignore this attraction between us, but I can't make you my luna either, in the end I'm left with one option."

I prepared for the worst and the worst really did come.

"We can be together as long as you agree to become my second wife and give up the title of luna."

I swallowed hard, "And who will be first?" Even though I already had an idea, I wanted to hear it from the horse's mouth.

"Kiana."