Felix looked at Crystal as an indication that she should bring something to cover Mercedes with. He was elated that he had finally united with his mate, and she just talked to him for the first time. Roland was over the moon as well. He looked at the big white wolf in admiration. The surprises were abundant. He never imagined that his mate would be a legend. It was not a small thing in the werewolf realm. She must be the first white wolf to be seen in centuries. It is not certain that, after the perishing of the first generation that there have not been any white wolves.
It was a great thing, but it was bad. Now that everyone has seen her, nothing can be done about that. If he had known beforehand, he would have made sure to conceal her identity from his pack and the rest of the realm for her safety. Unfortunately, he won't be able to sweep this matter under the rug. It will spread like wildfire and soon everyone will know about it. After that, a giant target will be placed on her.
Felix kept running his fingers through her fur. Crystal came with white silk to cover her with. " Come on now. You can change back," Felix said to the wolf, coercing her. Mercedes did what Reyna advised. She closed her eyes and imagined herself in her human form. In a little while, she felt herself turning and shrinking back to her tiny self. Before anything else, Felix covered her and embraced her at the same time. It was like it was just them and no one else around. Felix could not hold back anymore. This day felt like it would never come, but now it is here. He had his mate in his arms and he would never let go of her.
Mercedes was taken aback by his sudden affection. At first, she thought he was protecting her from the eyes of everyone else, but when he didn't let her go, she knew that he was hugging her.
She looked at Crystal, who had a sweet smile, leaning on Jake. It was awkward but felt good. Slowly she hugged him back just as much as he was. They both pulled back a while later. Felix looked at Mercedes with emotion but didn't smile. Typical Felix face. Mercedes could see it all in his eyes. There was so much he needed to say to her, but he had to address the people. Besides, whatever that needed to be said, it would be done in private.
He took her hand in his and turned to face the crowd. Sparks flew, and she felt like electric currents were flowing through her body. She shuddered involuntarily, in a good way. " During the night of the Full Moon, the Moon Goddess blessed your Alpha. Tonight I am pleased to say that the wait is over. Your Alpha has finally found his better half and mate. This pack has found its Luna. So with high spirits, I say, celebrate in thanks for this blessing."
With that being said, the pack cheered, and he took her inside the house, followed by Jake and Crystal. Mercedes was stunned by his announcement. He did not think he would quickly accept her as his mate. To be frank, she was not sure if she was ready to take on such a responsibility. She knew little of this world, and she was still confused by the revelation that she was a werewolf. As far as she was concerned, she had normal parents. Never had she heard of werewolves before the day she stumbled in the woods. So much was uncertain, but now was not the time.
Felix helped Mercedes sit on the couch. " I will go... make her a cup of coffee," Crystal said, leaving.
" I'll go with her," Jake said, following behind and leaving the newly found mates. Tension grew very thick in the room with the two not knowing what to do or say to one another. Mercedes mentally groaned. She wished that Jake and Crystal had not left the room. The fact that she was naked underneath the sheet she had on was not making matters easy. She felt tingles all over.
All she knew was that she was not going to start the conversation. Felix cleared his throat and shifted in his seat.
He didn't know what to say or where to begin. One thing was that he was ashamed of how he disregarded her for all those days. He has already made quite an impression. Fate is really funny sometimes. He never thought that out of all the people the one person he did not consider would be the one made for him. Now he doesn't even know if he should start by apologizing or just get right to it. They just can't ignore whatever has happened between them the past few weeks.
" Uuh... I don't know what to say really," he said, scratching the back of his head. His eyes never met hers. " But you had a lot to say out there... to other people," Mercedes blurted out unintentionally, but it was at the back of her mind. Felix looked at her in question to elaborate on what she had said.
" What do you mean?"
She shook her head to get her thoughts together." I didn't mean to say that in a bad way,"she closed her eyes, trying to fight off her fatigue. She opened them and looked back at Felix." It's just that... all of this caught me off guard. This unexpected transformation and the major role of going from stranger to your soul mate and Luna of a pack? It's too much to digest in just a few minutes. I guess what I am trying to say is I needed some time before you could announce everything to the pack. I can't deal with this pressure immediately and people will be expectant of me. I don't think I can...
" You don't think you can be my mate," Felix cut in with a knock already forming in the pit of his stomach. His mind was imagining all the imminent scenarios of rejection and he could not bear it.
" No, no, no!" she rushed out in panic. " You are misunderstanding me. I'm not saying I don't want to be your mate, I'm saying that I need time to adjust and get used to this before anything can happen. Time is all I need." Mercedes looked at a distraught Felix, silently begging for him to understand.
Felix stared at her for a little while before sighing in defeat. If it was time she needed it, then he was willing to try and adhere to her request. He was relieved that she was not going to reject him because that would be an entirely different story. Fate would have been playing a different story.
" I have been waiting for a long time to finally have my mate with me. I was even beginning to think that I was not going to have one, but I was wrong. Having you here with me is reassuring. I suppose I've waited a long time already. Waiting a little while longer won't hurt," he said calmly, and a small smile appeared on Mercedes's face.
" Thank you," she whispered.
He smiled." It's the least I can do after... everything you have been through." He looked her in the eyes." I will wait for as long as you need."
.....
After the talk they had, Felix offered to escort Mercedes to her room. Mercedes could never get used to the change in behavior, but she couldn't complain. She liked how he was treating her. When she got inside her room, she immediately went to the restroom to shower and get rid of the night from her body. She thought he had left, but she found him sitting at the foot of her bed. She tightened the towel on her body.
Felix saw her and told her that he just wanted to make sure that she was safe and comfortable. He turned the other way and promised not to look while she got some clothes on. After dressing in a night dress, he turned back to her. Mercedes was awkwardly shifting on her feet and pulling on the hem of her night dress, not knowing how to get by him.
" Can I... tuck you in or..." Mercedes was stunned by what he said. She tried to hold it in by biting her lip, but it was too much and she burst out laughing. Felix got lost in the melodious sound she gave out. He realized that everything about her is simple but mesmerizing.
She calmed down and shook her head at him.
" No, I don't need you to tuck me in. I'm capable of doing that on my own Felix," she giggled. He said nothing to her. He loved how his name sounded when she said it.
" Oh okay. I had better leave before I make a fool of myself anymore." He quickly turned on his heels and was out of her room. He stood in the corridor and facepalmed." Seriously Felix? Tuck you in?" he groaned in embarrassment and headed to his room. Although there was one thing that he benefitted from being ridiculous. He made Mercedes laugh, and she called him by his name. It was a good sign that things were not in a complicated place. Even though they were practically not even talking a few hours earlier, they are working through it now and soon, they will be completely in love with one another. Time is all they need to work around that. Both of them slept with a smile on their faces, hoping for a better tomorrow.