Felix

What a day it has been.

I was chilling in my house on a Saturday night, talking to Greg, when I got a worried phone call from Micah all of the sudden.

At first, I thought to myself, why would he be calling me from his date, but I figured it must've been important or he wouldn't call at all. So I answered it quickly.

When he told me that River was depressed and his family was concerned for him [and his mental health], it didn't take much convincing for me to crash his and Tisha’s date.

Basically, I showered and got ready in 10 minutes. I arrived at the diner 5 minutes later, luckily it wasn’t that much of a drive though I sped through it, to tell you the truth.

I'm glad I did. For whatever reason, River is my mate so if he needs me to be there for him, I'm there. Even if he had to believe I was the one who needed him. That's irrelevant to me, I can be the bigger person in this relationship if I have to be.

Micah, Tisha, River and I were sitting in a booth of the downtown diner when my mate made a declaration that had me wheezing. Out of all the things I expected to happen tonight, this wasn’t one of them. Not by a long shot.

"I'm sorry, what?" I gasped in shock, looking at him flabbergasted.

"On the lips, I mean." He snickered. River had just told me to kiss him out of the blue.

"Thanks, I got that." I smiled nervously. I stared at him apprehensively, paralyzed by fear. I don’t know why I am so nervous to kiss him. He is my mate, as far as I’m concerned. I mean, we’re not 18 yet but mate dreams never get it wrong.

"Didn't you just say I had to accept the bond? Accept my mate and all that. So, kiss me." He insisted, daring me to lock lips with him across the table.

I looked at Micah in shock, but he was unresponsive. Tisha was so wide eyed I thought her eye sockets were gonna separate from her eyes. Not knowing what else to do, I kissed him.

I stood up from my seat, walked around the table to his side and pulled him towards me, standing up from his chair as well. I kissed him for a good minute, unabashedly, unafraid and unflinching.

I half expected a slap on my face or something, which would really piss me off. But he didn’t twist his face in disgust or reject the act. Instead, he closed his eyes and kissed me back.

After we parted lips, I walked back to my seat and resumed eating my burger. As did everyone else. Micah and Tisha were still gobsmacked by this.

"Did you like it?" Tisha asked him, curiously.

"It was almost exactly like in my dreams, his lips are so soft." River replied, nonchalant.

I blushed from his description, intrigued by his detached tone.

After that happened, the rest of the date went fine. He never said anything else about me or the mate bond and I didn't ask him. Tisha and Micah had a great time talking to each other.

After we finished, the mated couple went for a walk alone. I walked with River in the opposite direction, taking some distance from them. I also volunteered to drive him home so that Micah and Tisha could have privacy for the rest of the night. They sure deserved it.

"Are you okay?" I asked him after 10 minutes of us walking in silence downtown.

"Yes, I am. I understand now what you said before. I do have steps to take." He replied in a somber tone, deep in thought.

"I'm glad you realized it." I spoke with a modest smile.

"I do. However, can you kiss me again? I want to test something." He asked me out of the blue. I complied with his request. It's not like it is a huge sacrifice for me…

After we parted lips, we continued walking. The kissing was heaven to me, his lips taste like paradise. I did not see it coming…

I almost wish I was wrong. Like I got the dream wrong somehow, even though I know I didn't. In fact, I’m positive he is my mate. Now more than ever.

There are many wrongs in life, but not Her. The Moon Goddess never equivocates.

"What did you think of the kiss?" I asked him after a while.

"It was nice, the same as before. I thought the second time would be different somehow, but it wasn’t. Both times were good." He replied, deep in thought.

It was clear to me that River was struggling to accept our mating and his face showed it as we walked the sidelines. I am trying to give him space to figure things out, as much as I can.

"Why would it be any different?" I questioned him, intrigued.

"I don't know. I just thought I would test it out." He continued, without making much sense.

"OK, then. Now what?" I asked him, puzzled.

"Now we wait." He replied, cryptically.

I was afraid to ask for what. We just walked back to my car and I dropped him off in his house in silence.

When I arrived home it was late, so I went straight to the bathroom then to my bedroom. To my surprise, Greg was waiting for me by my bed. Like I said before, we don't lock doors in this wing of the pack house. Out or in.

"How was the date?" He asked me with a morbid curiosity.

I took off my clothes, opened my wardrobe and changed into pajamas.

"It was nice, unexpected." I told him, vaguely. The last thing I want to do is to tell him about my date with his brother, but I don’t want to lie either.

"Why? Did something happen between you and River?" He was relentlessly curious about it.

"Nothing much, he was fine when they arrived at the diner. And he was fine when I dropped him off at his house." I answered, curtly. I really don’t want to get into it.

"Great. And are you okay?" He asked me with genuine concern for my well being.

"I am, thanks for asking. It was nice to get out on a Saturday, you know. Something to do." I admitted, still purposefully vague.

He stood up from where he was sitting and came close to me. He moved to kiss me but I turned away from him, distancing myself from him inside the bedroom.

"I'm sorry, Greg. I can't." I spoke with remorse and watched as it broke his heart.

He flops down on my bed, feeling devastated.

"What happened? Don’t you like me anymore?" He asked me with a disappointed frown, heartbroken. I could see he was already on the verge of tears.

"Are you kidding me? I love you with all my heart!" I exclaimed, perplexed by the question.

That made it worse. Greg starts to cry loudly, I could feel the sadness as he bawled his eyes out.

"I'm sorry, Greg. I really am. But it's not fair to lead you on like this." I told him with a sorrowful tone. I am so sorry about this, but my father was right after all. He is not going to end up with me and now it’s clear to see. Not that I think River will accept me.

"But I love you too!" He insisted, through tears.

"I know, my dear. I want you, that’s not the issue. But I can't. I just can't help but to feel like I'm betraying my mate. Even though he isn't yet, technically speaking." I said with regret.

No one under 18 is considered mated unless of course your mate is older than you. Though I’m sure River will be my mate, of that I have no doubt. Greg looked at me surprised by my declaration.

"Why didn't you feel that before?" He asked as he sobbed. Fair question.

"Because I didn't feel connected to him till now. That's the truth." I replied, honestly.

I tried to comfort him as much as I could without breaking any barriers. I cried beside him too. But there's nothing I could do to resolve this. Werewolves don't cheat. Even though it wouldn't be cheating, per se.

We spent a good part of the night crying together. I held him close, trying to be there for him as much as I could. I really do love Greg, that will never go away.

But I couldn't kiss him. Not after my mate kissed me. There's no comparison. There couldn't be. I really wanted to be with Greg. I love him and always will. But I just can't. Not anymore. Not after what happened between me and River. It wouldn’t be fair.

The next day, Greg and I woke up in my room after we cried ourselves to sleep.

We recollected ourselves and after we did our morning ritual and changed clothes in our respective rooms, we went to the dining hall for breakfast.

When we arrived there, we greeted everyone. I came up to my dad and kissed him on the cheek, which surprised him and my mom. They both looked shocked at me for the surprising display of affection.

"Good morning, son. Are you okay?" Dad asked me, looking surprised.

"Good morning, dad, I am. I just wanted to thank you for what you said the other day. You were right." I replied while I took my seat near my parents, opposite my siblings.

I served myself some food. So did Greg next to me. My parents looked at each other puzzled. It took them a minute to figure out what I was referring to. Then...

"He kissed you in the bathroom?!" Dad gasped in shock as he finally realized what I meant.

"No, dad, it was at the diner last night." I replied in a matter of fact tone. Greg stared at me shocked. So was everyone else who was not expecting this.

"I told you son, the mate bond never fails. And the Goddess is never wrong." He bragged, looking happy for me. So did mom. That's nice.

After that bombshell, the rest of the day went smoothly. Eventually, Micah stopped by the house to tell me about his date with Tisha.

He looked genuinely happy. And so was I, for him.

Of course, he asked me about my time with River and I told him about the second kiss. He was happy for me as well. But there's no comparing our situations. It’s fine. I am still not 18, so it couldn't be compared anyway.

The next day at school, I walked up to River to find him indifferent towards me. It's like nothing ever happened between us. He barely acknowledged my presence.

He greeted me like usual, but said nothing more. The entire day, even during lunch. I don't want to push him, so I don't ask him anything to start a conversation. I can see he is in denial.

I gave him space. But the next day the same thing happens. And the next. And the following week. Then another one in silence. He talked to Tisha, Micah, Greg, even my siblings. But never me.

A fucking month has passed since River kissed me and still nothing. A whole month!

And now without Greg, I'm basically kissing no one. A month of the cold shoulder.

Until I couldn't take it anymore. When I walked up to him in the morning at school, I looked at him deep in the eyes and asked him:

"Are you okay? Why are you ignoring me?" I demanded to know.

He gasped. Everyone around us looked uncomfortable but I don't care anymore.

"I'm not ignoring you. I'm taking the steps as you said." He replied, caught by surprise.

"Right... For a month?" I questioned him in disbelief.

"Yes, someone told me to take my time. Go at my own pace." He smirked.

"Fine. Fair. Good for you." I told him, grunting in annoyance.

It was all I could say after that. Who am I to say otherwise? And so I waited, patiently.

And waited for what it felt like forever.

Next week, we're having lunch at school. I'm doing my best to ignore his presence just the way he wanted me to.

"Tisha, when is your birthday?" I asked her while we were eating.

"Oh, it's June 4th." She replied, smiling at me.

"Cool! Micah’s is on May 4th." I told her, cheerfully.

"Yeah, he told me. What a coincidence, huh?" She spoke in a chipper tone.

"Yes, it is." I agreed.

"Kinda like when someone's birthday is on February 1st and his mate’s is on the next day." Carol snickered. We laughed at the coincidence except for River.

"Wait! Your birthday is on February 1st?" He gasped in shock.

"Yes, it is. And oddly, because we didn't know when Greg's birthday was, we celebrated his day with mine so he didn't feel left out." I informed him, glancing at Greg, who offered me a weak smile.

"Wow! That is a coincidence! I can't believe this! And you'll ascend as Alpha on the day of your birthday, right?" River asked me, intrigued.

"Yes, I will." I replied with a blank expression.

"Allegedly! Who knows if his mate will appear at the ascension ceremony!" Carol interjected, looking rather amused by this fact.

"Right. So, I have to go to your ceremony or you won't become Alpha." He realized it in a somber tone.

"And recite the acceptance speech." Carol chimed in. Goddess, she's annoying…

"What is an acceptance speech?" He looked confused.

"It's when I recite my name, say I accept you as my mate, and recite your name. Then, you say it back to me." I informed him.

"Really? So official, it's like I'm becoming president or something..." River snickered.

"Everyone has to do it. Not just you, River." Micah said, rolling his eyes in annoyance.

"Did you say it, Tisha?" He asked her, curiously.

"Not yet, but we'll do it at Micah's ascension ceremony." She replied with a wide smile.

"Right. But what will you do if he doesn't ascend? I mean, if Felix doesn't, neither does Micah, correct?" He spoke, causing Micah to gasp at the notion.

"Correct. In that case, I'll shift into a wolf, kill my brother and say it was an animal attack." She snickered.

"I'm sorry, sister, this sounds like a lot. Can't Micah be Nate's Beta?" He asked and we all were baffled.

"River! You're messing with people's lives! This is not a joke! It's a 140 year dynasty! Stop talking about it like he's taking over the grocery shop next door! There are lives at stake!" Greg shouted. He was livid by his brother’s nonchalant tone.

At this, River looked down in embarrassment. We all felt bad for the situation.

“I’m sorry, brother. You're right. I shouldn't be so dismissive." River said after a while, repentant.

"No one is telling you what to do. It's your choice, obviously. Tisha was just joking. No one can compel you to accept your mate. However, you do need to take this seriously." Greg spoke in a serious tone.

River looked at him in awe.

"Also, just so you know, you think it's bad now with the dreams and the desire. You have no idea! When Felix turns 18, the bond will magnify ten fold. You won't be able to breathe without thinking about him!" Tisha schooled him.

She looked dead serious. So did everyone. River was gobsmacked.

"Desire..." He spoke in a joking manner.

"River, just because you are quiet it doesn't mean you aren’t saying anything. Remember, we are all werewolves here. We can smell. And so can Felix. We know you are lusting after him. There is no denying it. We can scent it every day. And yes, we also know about your accident inside the locker room. Like I said, you're not fooling anyone but yourself. So you can drop the high and mighty act. You're not above this. No one is!" Tisha scolded him. She was fuming.

River gasped so hard I thought he was going to have a syncope.

"How can you possibly know about the accident? You weren't even there!" River protested vigorously. She smiled mischievously at him.

"You'll find out that there are no secrets between mates. We tell each other everything. Even when your brother's sexual stench is so strong it overpowered the entire locker room." She said with a devious grin.

River was mortified. I didn't even want to look at him. He just stood up and left. Tisha apologized for her outburst afterwards. Micah kissed her while I was unresponsive.

That was a reality check if I've ever seen one.

Damn, Tisha! I almost wish you were my mate… *laughs nervously*