Mercedes couldn't stop blushing and thinking about what happened in the shower. Unfortunately, Felix stopped things before they could go all the way, telling her to anticipate what more he would do to her. He left her with the impression she needed to imagine all he could do to her.
Both of them manage to clean up and get ready. They walked together to the kitchen to grab breakfast and officially get ready for the day. Jake and Crystal had breakfast ready and were just waiting for them.
" Oh God, you guys. I thought I would have to start today waiting for you. Couldn't it wait until you get some energy?" Crystal teased them. Mercedes's cheeks became a new shade of red.
Felix cleared his throat." Sorry about that. I couldn't decide on what shirt to go with. It was quite a pickle." Jake pretended to cough and gave him a side-eye. Felix shrugged it off. They all sat and enjoyed a chat. It felt like a normal human day without worries for some time. One would wish it was really that way, but the sudden arrival of Alexa pulled them out of that fantasy. She had just teleported back from her place and the look on her face was concerning.
" Alexa. You are back. What is the situation? You don't look good," Felix asked, pointing out the obvious.
" We have no time. Darkness is upon us, and we are nowhere near ready to face it."
" What do you mean by that?" Jake asked.
" Does she have to leave right now? Will she be okay?" added Crystal in concern.
" I mean that Drakoen's troops are increasing. He will take no chances against her, but in reality, he is stronger than anyone. We need to prepare ourselves. I have come to take Mercedes to Alvira to start training. We have to start as soon as possible," Alexa declared.
Mercedes, who had been silent, spoke up without hesitation. " I will go. I can feel it too. He is getting stronger and stronger. I need to do what I can if I want to stand a fighting chance."
" If Mercedes goes, then I am coming along as well. I don't want to be away from her even for a minute," says Felix decisively, leaving no space for argument.
" No, you can not. I am afraid the grounds of Alvira emit strong magic that no supernatural entity other than a witch can withstand. So you can't come with us unless you want to die," Alexa says nonchalantly.
Mercedes understood how he felt. She did not want to be away from him either, but she had to. There was no other way of fighting Drakoen. She placed her hand on his in comfort.
" Even if you could come with me, I would not allow it. You are the Alpha of the pack, and you have duties to the pack members. It would not be right for you to leave your position and follow me back to Alvira. Everyone here needs you to be here and guide them. I will have Alexa and her coven. I'm sure I'll be safe," she said, trying to convince him.
Felix understood as well, but it was his mate bond that was refusing reason. He was worried despite the reassurance of powerful witches as well as the power of the Alvira grounds. He wanted to be the one protecting her from all danger, but in the end, she was right. He couldn't just leave and abandon his pack even if it was for his mate. It would look good for him as the Alpha.
" Well then, you can leave tomorrow. I want to spend the rest of today with her." Mercedes smiled, happy that at least he was not insisting on coming with her.
" Sure. I'll head back for now. I'll come to get you tomorrow," Alexa says to Mercedes, and she nods her head in agreement. She was overwhelmed with emotions just thinking about Alvira. Now she could remember everything. It was painful. It had all happened before and she couldn't stop it. Everyone died, and she couldn't save them from Drakoen, and now she was faced with the same foe again.
Felix snapped his fingers in front of her, seeing as she was lost in thought.
" A penny for your thoughts."
" Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking about training and Alvira...," she sighs heavily. It was Felix's turn to comfort his mate.
" You can talk to me," he reassures her that he is there and ready to listen to whatever is weighing on her heart.
" I just feel so bad. Many sacrificed their lives in vain and that monster still has not had enough. What will it take for him to stop and just be content with the power he already has? I am scared thinking that the same ordeal will take place again. I feel so bad to say I am not confident that this is a fight I will win. I don't understand why the Moon Goddess gave me such a destiny. A destiny that destroyed my life once."
" I can't say that I understand what it feels like to go through what you went through. It must have been tough, but even if we fall, we will fall together. We will live this life or die together. I will be by your side every step of the way." He smiled and took her hand, kissing it on the back. He spread his warmth on it sending a tingling sensation in Mercedes that tremendously calmed her nerves.
They spent the rest of the day walking around the pack grounds and visiting pack members. Felix watched as Mercedes played with a few children, and it warmed his heart as he imagined how good of a mother she would become in the future if they ever decided to have a pup of their own.
Mercedes held a newborn baby in her arms for the first time. And right at that moment, she got the encouragement she needed. A life like the one she was holding in her arms, Crystal's soon-to-be-born baby was precious, and she wanted them to have a future. She wanted them to be able to smile, run around freely, and grow without this looming danger approaching them. She would try to create a better world for everyone and give them a chance of survival.
She handed the baby back to its mother once it was asleep.
" She is so beautiful. You did well-giving birth to her. I can't imagine what it must be like," she says to her.
" Thank you, Luna. I hope you and the Alpha will soon be blessed with a baby as well."
" Oh, thank you. We haven't thought of that yet, but hopefully, shortly, we shall be blessed too." She smiled, looking at Felix, who was blushing thinking about it. Mercedes held back from laughing at how cute he looked.
" Luna. Since you have graced us with your presence, may I ask?"
She nods her head and says," Yes. You may."
" I hope I will not be overstepping my boundaries. But I feel it's such a blessing that you are here just after my child has been born. I was wondering if you could do me the honor of naming her. I would be happy if you gave her a name.*
She gasps at the mother's request and looks at Felix. He smiled at her and nodded his head in an indication that she could. Mercedes felt it was too much of an honor but the hopeful look the mother was giving het melted her immediately. She didn't want to disappoint ger after she was so nice to her. But she wasn't prepared for such a request, and she couldn't just give any name as naming a child was important. A name came to mind at that moment. It seemed befitting.
" Her name will be... Nadia." She smiled and everyone in the room smiled in agreement. She was the start of their hope. A new hope for a better tomorrow.