Chapter 6
Mercedes, Three Years Later…
“Clarita,” Mercedes groaned, her voice barely a whisper, “I don’t feel well. My head is killing me, and I have terrible cramps.” She doubled over, clutching her stomach. A sharp wave of nausea rolled through her, making her head spin.
Clarita’s brow furrowed with concern.
“You look awful,” she said with worry. “You should go home. I’ll tell Mrs. Davison you’re sick.”
The friend raised to her feet and helped Mercedes stand up, supporting her as they slowly made their way out of the classroom.
Outside, the cool air offered a small reprieve, but Mercedes still felt dizzy and weak.
Clarita scanned the parking lot, as to expect to see someone.
“Is Zane picking you up today? I don’t see his car anywhere,” she asked with subtle note of anticipation.
Mercedes glanced at her, a sense of suspicion crossing her mind.
She’d noticed Clarita’s slight fascination with Zane for a while now. Every time his name was mentioned, a soft, almost wistful tone crept into her voice. At first, Mercedes had dismissed it, but the frequency of Clarita’s inquiries had started to make her uneasy. She trusted Zane unconditionally, but the thought of her friend harboring a secret crush on her mate left a sour taste in her mouth.
Zane was undeniably handsome.
His long, sun-kissed brown hair often fell across his forehead, framing his strong jawline, a jaw that could have been carved from granite. The intricate tattoo that adorned the side of his neck, a swirling pattern of dark ink, hinted at the powerful wolf that resided within, a wolf that claimed her to be his mate.
It was a voice that commanded attention, a voice that made her feel safe and protected, a voice that whispered promises of future intimacy. His confident aura drew admiring glances from everyone, especially the she-wolves. Beautiful, sophisticated women, women who were everything Mercedes wasn’t, tall, poised, with an air of worldly experience.
But their glances meant nothing.
Mercedes had witnessed other women attempt to flirt with her mate.
But Zane’s gaze, warm and tender, always sought her out, his eyes filled with a love that reassured her, a love that whispered that she was everything he desired.
Lately, Mercedes had started instinctively taking Zane’s hand whenever they were in public. It was a small, unconscious gesture, a claim of ownership. Her own immature wolf was stirring, demanding recognition. She longed for the day she could finally claim Zane fully, marking him as hers with a possessive bite.
The waiting was agonizing.
Time seemed to drag on, each day an eternity. Mercedes could practically feel her canines itching to emerge, a constant reminder of the primal bond that connected her to Zane. She knew that the very moment she turned eighteen, she would not wait a second to mark him, solidifying their bond forever. The mere thought of that sent a wave of heat through her body. Even now, when Zane wore those sleeveless sport shirts, her eyes were drawn to the smooth curve of his neck, to the spot where her mark would rest.
Their unusual relationship had attracted its fair share of attention.
A man in his twenties with a girl who was still in school was bound to raise eyebrows. The fact that he was the Alpha of a neighboring pack only amplified the whispers and stares. But her parents had explained the situation to their pack, emphasizing the fated nature of their bond. Gradually, most people had come to accept it.
Zane was the perfect mate, patient and understanding.
They had established clear boundaries and agreements about how they interacted with others. Zane, by nature, was possessive and fiercely protective, a trait he attributed to his Alpha genes. He understood Mercedes’s need to spend time with her friends and participate in normal teenage activities. But there were limits.
No other boy was allowed to touch or have any other physical contact with her, they had to maintain a appropriate distance. The same applies in the school cafeteria. Zane had explained that his wolf couldn’t bear the scent of another male on her.
He always drove her to and from parties, and no alcohol was allowed when he wasn’t present.
If he couldn’t be there, Jace stepped in, acting as her guardian. Another non-negotiable rule was that Mercedes couldn’t accept gifts from other boys. Zane had given her a credit card to cover all her expenses, school lunches, clothes, even her school fees. Her mother had also told her that Zane was transferring a substantial amount of money into her father’s account each month, contributing to her care. When Mercedes had questioned him about it, he’d simply brush it off.
“Now that we know we’re mates, I’m responsible for you. Everything I have is yours.”
Mercedes didn’t fully understand the complexities of adult finances, so she didn’t dwell on it. Her sight was on the positive aspects of her relationship with Zane. He was attentive, affectionate, and generous, constantly showing her how much he cared. When she visited his pack, his sister, Elise, always included her in on going projects, preparing her for her future role as the Luna of Midnight Moon.
Mercedes felt like she belonged to two packs, and she was happy in both.
Snapping back to the present, the girl looked around the parking lot. Zane’s familiar black SUV was nowhere to be seen. With a sigh, she pulled her phone from her bag and dialed his number. He answered immediately.
“Little One, I’m on my way. Don’t you have any more classes for today?” he asked with concern. This morning, they’d agreed for him to stay at her parents’ house and then pick her up from school later for the prom that evening.
“I feel awful, I think I’m sick,” she responded, her voice trembling slightly. “My head is pounding, and my stomach is cramping really badly. I can barely concentrate.”
“Please come get me,” she pleaded. “I’m waiting outside the school building.”
There was a brief silence at the other end of the line.
“I sensed something was off when you woke up but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it,” Zane admitted, softly. “I’ll be there in a minute. Stay where you are, love.”
Clarita helped Mercedes sit down on a nearby bench.
“Is Zane coming?” she asked again, her eyes wide with excitement.
Mercedes turned to her, meeting her gaze steadily. A small, confident smile played on her lips.
“Yes,” she replied firmly. “My mate is coming to get me. That is how he loves me.”
As Clarita’s face flushed a deep shade of red, Mercedes couldn’t help the small, triumphant smile that spread across her own face.
Got ya.
