The Heat
Mercedes runs out of the building with Saphira’s hand still in hers. The women suddenly come face to face with two men running towards them.
Mercedes now lets go of Saphira’s hand and runs towards the man with the sky-blue eyes. His long blond-brown locks flutter behind him as he moves closer to her, finally catching his mate with open arms.
She clings tightly to him, her body absorbing his warmth like a sponge with water. Their lips lock in desperation until they become breathless.
“Mercedes,” Alpha Zane clamors, his forehead against hers as he holds her high in his arms. “Little Luna, I was so worried about you. I felt your moods change but knew you weren’t in any danger, that it wasn’t something you couldn’t handle on your own,” he whispers to her. “Did everything go well, Cupido?” he teases.
Mercedes now turns to Saphira. Her friend has halted at a distance and is staring at Jace. The latter is standing frozen on his spot, looking back at her.
Slowly Zane slides his mate against his body, back onto her feet. They are now gazing at Jace and Saphira, waiting for their next move. But then Jace suddenly turns and walks in vast strides back in the direction he came from. Mercedes and Zane frown at his behavior. They can’t understand why Jace, who has suffered a lot from the long separation from his mate, walks away just as he meets her again.
Mercedes lets go of Zane and treads to Saphira. Tears of disappointment stream down her cheeks like a waterfall. When she notices Mercedes beside her, the woman falls around her neck.
“He doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore. Did you see the way he looked at me, so disgusted?” she sobs into her friend’s shoulder. “He has changed his mind. What should I do now, Mercedes, I’ve lost him. I was so selfish.” And she starts to cry even harder, clinging to Mercedes, seeking help and comfort.
“No, silly. Jace is hurt. He would have welcomed you with open arms if you had returned to him on your own. But now he has met you unsuspectingly. You didn’t meet because you made some effort to prove that you repented and realized how wrong you were. You have to make him aware that you ultimately chose him and want to be with him”, I explain to her. “I know the Beta, he’s so sensitive, you left him and that hurt his ego a lot. He’s part human, you know.” Mercedes pats her friend on the shoulder a few times. Then she holds the sad woman away for a moment and helps to wipe her tears.
They now walk towards Zane, who is talking to Alpha Rainer. Their relationship seems forced, Zane has caught the gaze of his colleague to his mate. The friendship that previously existed between them has now cooled down. Mercedes stands next to Zane.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
“Zane, Alpha Rainer took good care of us when we arrived in his pack and I was able to speak to Saphira with his permission. We owe him appreciation,” she indicates, nodding distantly to Alpha Rainer.
“Thank you for accommodating my mate, Alpha Rainer,” Zane says meekly as he plants a kiss on Mercedes’ forehead.
“Are there any apartments in your pack for rent? I want to stay here for a few days and give my woman a good time. I hear you have great Spas in your pack?” he asks the Alpha. “My mate likes to be pampered in the Wellness centers”. Mercedes’ eyes flash as she looks at Zane. She lovingly nestles under his arms.
“Alpha Rainer, get used to this. This is what these two are constantly doing in our pack. Have been in love and in each other for eight years”, Saphira sighs sadly. “They are the perfect couple”. Watching Rainer closely, only Zane notices a muscle in his neck moving at Saphira’s words. The mand didn’t bother to respond.
“No problem, Alpha. My Beta will organize this right away. Come with me to the packhouse, please.”
Mercedes walks in Zane’s arms to his car while Saphira goes along with Alpha Rainer. When they reached the vehicle, Mercedes witnessed Jace sitting in the back seat. She gets in and turns to him without saying a word. The disappointment on Jace’s face is hard to look at, but she wants to have the conversation when they get to the apartments.
The three drive silently to the packhouse, where Jace decides to wait in the car until they return. As Zane and Mercedes walk into the packhouse behind the Alpha to his study, they see Clarita with the Beta and Gamma coming around the corner.
Clarita seems happy between the two men. In the office, Clarita greets her friend warmly. Alpha Rainer then orders his Beta to fix two apartments for Zane and Jace at one of the prestigious resorts. Clarita indicates that she wants to stay in the packhouse, much to the delight of the Beta and Gamma.
It is when Saphira returns to the vehicle with Zane and Mercedes that she notices Jace in the backseat. The woman hesitates and peeks helplessly at Mercedes, who beckons her to sit next to Jace. It’s an icy silence in the back when they drive to the resort.
Entering the resort, Mercedes cannot believe her eyes. Enthusiastically she claps her hands, this is more than she had imagined.
“Zane, isn’t this great? Even in human town they don’t have such a well-decorated resort,” she exclaims. Zane has taken her to human town many times for a total workout, and she has always enjoyed it. But this one is the best she’s ever seen. When they reach the apartments, there is a deafening silence between the four.
Suddenly Mercedes smiles and winks at Saphira. She grins hesitantly, grabs her bag and steps determinedly into the apartment, leaving the door open for Jace to decide what to do.
Mercedes catches her mate by the arm, pulls him into their own apartment and slams the door shut.
Jace can do nothing but sigh and follow Saphira….