Chapter 181

Chapter 181
Mercedes was so eager to see someone who had her whole heart. Her dear son Horace. Felix helped her get to his room. Horace was awake, and he was playing with his toys inside his cot. Mercedes stood by the door. She could see that he had changed from the last time she saw him. It's been a whole year, so change and growth is inevitable. What hurt was that she missed it. She missed most of his life and that made her heart ache. After such a long time without seeing him, would Horace still remember her? Would he remember that she was his mother or is she nothing more than a stranger to him now? The thought of it was making her feel scared to go inside. Mercedes gripped the door frame as she hesitated to go inside Horace’s room. Tears slipped out of her eyes and her heart ached painfully. It got difficult to breathe.

Felix rubbed her back, trying to soothe her.

“ Please, calm down, Mercedes. Don't get worked up. Just take a deep breath and let it out,” he whispered to her.

Mercedes started breathing in and out. Once she managed to calm down, she wiped her face to erase any sign of distress before going inside the room. She didn't want Horace to see her looking like a mess.

“ Are you alright now?” Felix asked her, and she nodded her head, taking in one last deep breath.

“ Yes. I am ready to see him now.”

When walking inside, Mercedes' face lit up in a radiant smile. Her little boy was just a few feet away from her. Her heart swelled up with love and the joy of finally getting to see his face. Horace was so engrossed in playing with his toys, he didn't notice his parent's presence in the room. His features were more prominent on his face. He looked like both his parents. That made Mercedes happy. He was, after all, the symbol of their life.

Before Mercedes or Felix could call out to him, he suddenly looked up, sensing his mother's presence. Mercedes froze, thinking that he would not know who she was. Instead, Horace’s eyes widened in recognition and excitement.

“ Mama!” he squealed, letting go of his toys. Mercedes gasped at his words as she was shocked to hear him call her that. Yes, he was old enough to be talking, but she never expected the first word she would hear out of him would be ‘mama’. She couldn't believe that he remembered who she was. Her heart melted and tears welled up in her eyes. She moved closer to the cot, with Felix's help.

“ H-How?” Mercedes asked, her eyes not leaving Horace who was reaching out his hands to her. Mercedes leaned down to pick him up. She was still weak, but she was not going to deny him what he wanted.

“ Our son recognizes his mother. I made sure that he never forgets you. While you were in a coma, I took him to spend time with you. He knows that you are his one and only mother.”

Mercedes felt grateful. Her son did not forget her, and he knew that she was his mother. What more could a mother ask for? The one word made her day. All her worries faded, and she was left with happiness.

“ Thank you, Felix. Thank you for not letting him forget me. I don't know what I would have done if he didn't recognize me.”

Mercedes smiled at Horace, taking in all of his little features.

“ My baby,” she said, cradling him in her eyes. Mercedes could feel that he was a bit heavier. Felix stood behind them to support Mercedes if carrying Horace got too much for her.

Mercedes embraced him.

“ Yes, my son. Mother is here. Everything will be alright now. Mother won't go anywhere and leave you anymore,” she said, promising him and making a vow in her heart to never be apart from him again. Horace felt his mother's warmth and snuggled into his arms. Mercedes took his scent. Felix helped her sit on the chair with Horace in her lap. Both of them spent the entire morning in Horace’s room. A child was reunited with both his parents. Felix was happy that his family was complete once again and this time, they were together. The gods did not fail him this time. All the suffering and pain he experienced during the past year, finally felt worth it. If he could get his family back together, he would suffer through anything to keep his family united .

Another reunion was in order. The whole pack was told about Mercedes's, and they all rejoiced. All of them wished her a good life and wanted her to continue to be their Luna. Everything changed. The people felt a great sense of respect for her as the Luna of their pack and started regarding her as the heroine of the realms. Too much regard and admiration was overwhelming Mercedes. Now, especially that she has found out that she was no longer a Werewolf, much less the revered and blessed White Wolf.

Alexa came using the portal as soon as she was told the good news. With her, she brought along Isadora and Yuna. They were all emotional to see as well. Alexa hugged her and almost suffocated her. In her warm embrace, she could feel her love. Mercedes was happy to see that her blood helped her heal when she had attacked her.

When the reunion moment was over, Alexa had to tell Mercedes the truth about her reality. The truth of her being no more than the human she once was when she arrived at the White Claw Pack. For a moment, her mind went completely blank. The only one in the room when Alexa broke the news to her was Felix. He already knew the truth, so it was not a shock to him.

Mercedes felt her heart sink. Her mind was in overdrive with so many questions going through her mind. What now? What would everyone think about her now? What would Felix think of her now? Her insecurities and doubts creeped in and made her fearful of the future she was looking forward to. She was quiet for some time and through her face Felix and Alexa could already tell what was going through her mind.

Felix placed his hand on her knee, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“ It's okay, Mercedes,” he said to her, smiling softly in a way to reassure her.

“ It doesn't matter whether you are a white wolf or not. You are still my mate. The woman I love and the mother of my child. My love for you was never about your identity as a white wolf. I love you because you are my better half and I fell in love with you because of who you are. A kind and loving person who always puts everyone else before herself. As I did, everyone else will understand that, and they will never turn their back on you.”

“ B-But…” Mercedes's voice trembled. She was filled with fear despite Felix's reassuring words. Felix could see the fear in her eyes. She was full of worry and uncertainty, and it was the last thing she needed to be feeling at the moment. Felix had to make her see that there was nothing to worry about. Nothing was ever going to change between them and everyone else would just have to accept her as she was and get used to it.

“ Hey,” he said, looking her in the eyes.

“ Look at me. Look me in the eyes. What do you see?”

Mercedes looked him in the eyes as he said and all she could see was his sincerity, love and support reflected back to her. What was she thinking? Felix would never think any less of her now that she was no longer what she was before. There was just no way he would do that to her. Felix had proved time and time again that his love was unconditional. She just had to believe in him. She felt ashamed that she doubted that for a second. Mercedes swallowed her tears and composed herself. Whatever happened after that, she knew she had Felix's love and support.

“ I can't believe that I lost part of my identity,” Mercedes said with a sigh.

“ It all came as a shock to me, but I learned to accept that I was a werewolf. It was part of who Alvira was. Now that I'm no longer a White Wolf, I feel like I have lost a piece of me.”

“ It is unfortunate that you had to lose your werewolf side, but I believe it was necessary for you to survive. The guardians have relieved you of the burden of the duties that come with being a white wolf. Now, your life is your own to live. I think that is a good thing.”

Mercedes knew what Alexa said was right. Even she felt that her identity as a white wolf was a blessing as a curse. At some point, she had wished she had never found out about the past, and it was not her destiny to go up against Drakoen, but in the end, she had to accept it. And she was glad that she had the opportunity to save everyone. She couldn't regret that now. She was grateful that the White Wolves burrowed her their strength when she needed it. If, now they decided to take back that power, she was not going to complain. Her duty had been completed.

“ So, what happens now?” Mercedes asked, looking at Alexa.

“ Does this mean that the legacy of the White Wolves is no more? I was the last of them, and now I am no longer.”

Alexa had thought that as well, but that was not the case.

“ No. The legacy of the white wolves will live on. Your heroic tale of saving the realms from a demon will forever be told. And you were the last White wolf, but that's not the case anymore.”

Mercedes and Felix exchanged confused glances. They didn't understand what Alexa was talking about. Alexa didn't know if it was a good thing or not, but a white wolf still remained.

“ He still remains, and he is your son.”

Both the parents eyes widened.

“ What? Horace? How can he be a white wolf?” Mercedes asked, the same thing which was on Felix's mind.

“ What do you mean? He is your son, Mercedes. You were a white wolf when he was conceived and his genes are surely that of the White Wolves. It is because of the genes of both his parents that he will be the supreme Alpha. The strongest Alpha of them all.”

What Alexa said made sense, but Mercedes was not sure if she wanted that for Horace. With great power, comes great responsibilities. All she wanted was for her son to not only be an Alpha but be a child and enjoy his childhood without the pressure of his identity weighing on his shoulders. It was a lot to take in, but whatever his future or identity was, she wanted Horace to have his freedom and not be bound by any destiny or identity.