Fated is overrated

Zane POV

I wake up after a restless night, I couldn't get any sleep at all. I kept pondering on what the hell happened for her to have a 180 mood swing like that. We were actually having fun at the lake.. And then at the diner things took a drastic turn for the worse. Zeke and I went straight home after she left and haven't spoken to each other (or anyone else for that matter) since, but we will soon. Especially after the betrayal pains last night. They were excruciating beyond words and definitely much more painful than any of the others. If I didn't know any better I would have thought I was dying. I might have preferred it even as opposed to knowing your mate, the woman you love, is f*cking someone else. I am not sure she has, but considering the amount of pain I can only assume as much. I still can't believe she would do that after our time at the lake, I thought we were making progress. I need to have a chat with mom, it would be good to get some female insights on the matter.

She was so angry all of a sudden that she didn't even care to ask us about the books. Instead, she challenged Ilona for them, as if the thought of even having to accept anyone from us would burn her or something. Sh*t. Ilona is going to get butchered. 'Mom, are you awake?' 'yes honey, what's up? How did the date go? Did you give her my regards?!!'

I did. It was going really well.. Until we reached the diner. It all went down the drain, and I would like your help to figure out what ticked her off'. I hear her grumbling some words under her breath before replying 'sure, come to my office now'. 'Zeke, you awake? I am headed to mom's office, to see if she can figure out what went wrong. Care to join?' 'yes' he grumbles back and shuts the mind link. Obviously, he is in an equally bad mood as I am.

I quickly get dressed in sweatpants and a t shirt, I am in no mood to do anything today, other than sulking and moping around. I reach mom's office and ring the bell.

The buzzer goes off, indicating I can go in. As I walk in through the doors mom is on her phone, staring at it intently and typing away. "Hi mom" I say with a small smile. She looks up from her phone and puts it down on the desk, while giving me a small smile in return."

Sit down honey. Tell me what happened". Just as I am about to start, the buzzer goes off again and mom opens the door for Zeke. Zeke plumps down on the chair next to me, looking as bad as I do with his disheveled hair and puffy eyes. Mom looks at us with a concerned look before saying, "You both look absolutely terrible.

Tell me what happened". I sigh and start to relay the story about how we had a great time at the lake, and were even laughing and being playful together.

I continue with how the mood changed at the diner completely, and how she was rude to the receptionist of the diner which we scolded her for, and end with how she challenged Ilona to a fight.

Mom looks at us with a piercing gaze, before asking "which diner did you go to?". Although I fail to see the relevance of it, I answer "Tom's diner". "Tell me exactly how she was rude to the receptionist, what happened?".

I relay the story on how the receptionist was just being polite telling us we could call on her if we needed anything at all, and how Lola responded to it. I see different emotions flash in my mom's eyes, but she doesn't comment anything yet. She only asks yet another question."

Now, tell me how Ilona came to be at your table and how the conversation went?". Zeke now explains how Ilona and her friends entered and came to sit with us.

He explains how the environment suddenly turned hostile, when Lola asked when she could leave out of the blue, and Ilona started asking who she was. And how things escalated from bad to worse from there."

I see. And what did you 2 say to defend your mate to Ilona?". Zeke and I look at each other, and then back at mom questioningly. "Erhm.. We didn't intervene, it all went really fast.

We had only just introduced her as our friend when things got hostile". Mom pinches the bridge of her nose and closes her eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh which morphs into a low growl. "You introduced her as your FRIEND?".

I feel the color draining from my face that I didn't think of that little detail. I guess she even gave us a hint when she called us her friends in return.

But that can't be the main reason - she was already moody before that. "Well, yeah.. She doesn't want to be mates with us so.." "you idi*ts! I can't believe you would be that stupid. Introducing her as a friend is putting her at the same level as Ilona. Hell, it puts her below her in Ilona's eyes.

And don't think for one SECOND that I don't know what Ilona is like, and how she is clinging to you for dear life. I would be pissed beyond redemption too if your father introduced me as a friend to women trying to claim him!". I gulp and am a little lost for words right now.

Did we really f*ck up ourselves? But even before Ilona came she was already moody? "But she was already moody before that mom!" Zeke voices my thoughts."

Ah yes. Let me explain this to you in a way you will understand. After all, we have been to that diner together, I know that receptionist and the way she acts around you.

You might not see it yourselves, but she is throwing herself at your feet every chance she gets. And if that didn't do the trick for Lola yet, Ilona was acting condescendingly towards her and subtly claiming you both in front of her. And to top it off - rather than defending your mate, you introduced her as a FRIEND.

I can't say I would blame Lola if she would never give either of you a chance again" she sighs. Well f*ck.