My lady Karen is back !", Maria's Gamma said and she quickly rose from her throne leavinh the courtroom in a haste to meet her outside.
Karen sighted Maria from afar and she immediately had this mixed feeling within her. She wasn't sure if she should run and hug her tightly or if she was supposed to be scared. She thought about how Maria was going to scold her.
"Mother ! Please forgive me, I am so sorry for causing you pains", Karen managed to say.
" Don't ever leave me again, don't ever try it!", Maria stated with her voice which was already cracking, everyone could tell that she was almost in tears.
Karen was a bit surprised to see her mother act in such a manner . she had expected her to scold her and possibly give her a dirty slap for leaving the pack without her knowledge but here her mother gave her a totally different treatment.
" I thought I had lost you. I got so scared Karen, thank God you are back ", Maria said almost crying.
Karen had been so scared on what her mother would do to her, but her mother's attitude showed that she was really in pains when she was away and obviously missed her and could not get herself to scold her.
" You are back Karen!", she could hear Irene say from a distance.
" I'm so sorry Irene, I know I am I must have put you into trouble with my disappearance and mother must have really scolded you to get the truth of where I had been", Karen said.
" There's no need to apologize Karen, the most important thing is that you are back I know my lady must have done that because she cared so much about you but nevertheless she didn't scold me but rather, she only asked me about your whereabouts in a very calm way", Irene said.
" Welcome back Karen, thank goodness, we've missed you ", Lucy said rushing towards them. Soon members of the pack joined them as everyone began celebrating there little luna's princess who had been missing.
Maria had ordered the servants to prepare different kinds of meal ,she didn't want to ask Karen any questions on what had happened ,she had reserved them until she must have fed her as she looked pale to her.
"I wonder if she had had anything to eat all these while. She really looks emaciated already", Maria said within herself.
"Mother ",Karen called as Maria held to her lips and ordered her not to discuss and say anything until she was done eating.
"You really look pale and I think ,you should eat first before saying anything. I've called for the packs physician , he'll be here soon to see you. I want you examined ,so I will be sure you weren't hurt", Maria explained.
"Mother! put I don't look pale", Karen voiced out.
" You do dear, you look emaciated", Maria replied
"Come on mother, who gets emaciated just over a day or two. that's my first time hearing this mother",Karen said.
" Well there's always a first time to everything. I insist that you eat first!",Maria replied.
"I just wanted to tell you to thank Carlo, he was the one who brought me back home", Karen said .
Karen noticed that Maria had totally forgotten that she came back with someone. Maria noticed that she had totally snubbed Carlo and didn't even appreciate him for returning with her daughter. She felt very embarrassed about it, she had focused so much on Karen that she didn't even think others existed.
" I'm so sorry Carlo, I was so carried away by my emotions, thank you for bringing Karen home like you promised me", Maria said.
Carlo gave her a slight smile and nodded. He understood what she had gone through and could figure out that she was all so concerned about Karen that she forgot every other person.
Carlo left the court immediately after Maria thanked him, at least he was glad that he had fulfilled his promise, of finding Karen, even if she didn't notice his presence ,he was sure he had helped her.
Karen was not happy with Maria. Why would she have to wait for her to remind her that Carlo was there ,before she thanked him. She knew how her mother kept avoiding Carlo, but she had no reason why she did that. Carlo had been so good to them and he had always proved to help them in so many ways ,so she couldn't place her hands on what issues her mother had with him.
Later that night, Maria called out Karen to the courts balcony, she wanted to know all that happened when she went missing. Karen knew that at this point she must be opened to her mother, That was the only way to calm her anger down.
She carefully and gently explained all that had happened, stating that it was no others persons fault be hers. She was the architect if everything and she made Irene go with her. She also got Carlo to take them out the first time.
She was the one who wanted to join the ball dance at the other pack and got abducted by the strange man. She also told her mother about the little boy that saved her from being a slave and how she got to meet Carlo who brought her back.
Karen adviced her mother to talk to Carlo more often.
" He shouldn't be out enemy mother, he is a friend. A very good one mother", Karen said.
Maria was touched by her words and she knew that Carlo had been good but her fear of falling deeply inlove with him ,had kept her far from him. She didn't want him to repeat the same thing his friend Kelvin did to Lucy to her.
But she knew he had been good and had proven that all these years. She asked Karen to retire back to bed as it was late in the night, while she sat and watched the moon alone , thinking about the next step to take.