56

Third POV

"Wh-what? What did you say, Elijah?"

Lucia took a few steps back with her face looking deathly pale there. Lucia could even feel her legs feeling very weak now. Lucia did not even notice the change in his facial expression.

"I... I'm your mate?" Lucia whispered.

She simply could not believe what Elijah had just said there. Lucia even shook her head several times with slow movements there. Lucia lowered her head, and began to think about what Elijah had said.

"That's right, Lucia. You are my mate. Mine. And I am also your mate. Yours." Elijah muttered slowly with his feelings still filled with worry and doubt right now.

On top of that, Elijah himself didn't feel entirely ready to be able to tell Lucia the truth, in such an abrupt manner right now. Elijah wanted to tell Lucia the truth in a rather romantic way. But what else could Elijah do now, everything was out in the open. Lucia listened to the conversation between herself, Emrys, and Josiah there. There was no reason to keep it a secret that Elijah and Lucia were mates. The thing that Elijah had kept secret from Lucia for over a year. Elijah himself continued to be worried about Lucia's reaction.

"No... no. This is absolutely impossible, Elijah."

Lucia raised her head and looked at Elijah with a deep frown on her forehead there. On top of that, Lucia's eyes were even starting to look teary now. Lucia really didn't want to cry over something so trivial, but this was about her destiny. How could she have a mate again, after being rejected and betrayed by her own mate, Harrison back then?

Lucia couldn't believe that she had a mate again, after what had happened to her a year ago. Moreover, it was Elijah who said that Lucia was his mate. And vice versa.

"Lucia, please listen to my explanation first."

Elijah stretched both hands forward, and as if trying to reach Lucia who was in front of him now. Elijah felt very nervous, with his heart beating very fast there.

"I'm really telling you the truth, Lucia."

Elijah paused for a moment, and reorganized his own breathing now. "You are my mate, Lucia. Since the beginning. Since that night when I found you dying on the edge of that cliff. I knew that you were my mate. The one I had been waiting for all those years. And... when I managed to find you that night, you were dying...."

Lucia who heard that from Elijah found it even harder to believe the truth that was there now. "No, Elijah. This is all so absurd." Lucia shook her head a few more times there.

Quickly, Lucia raised her right palm, and gently wiped her face which was wet, because of the sudden flow of tears now. Lucia tried to restrain herself from crying. Not in front of Elijah, Emrys, and Josiah.

"I can't possibly have a new mate, Elijah. As far as I know, a werewolf only has one mate in their life. Then how can you tell me that you are my mate? And me as your mate, Elijah. This... this is simply not possible. And how can that be, Elijah?"

Lucia was silent for a moment, and bowed her head slightly there. Lucia tried to suppress all the emotions that were raging inside her right now. Lucia didn't want to lose control, after listening to all the things Elijah was going to explain to her now. Even so, Lucia didn't know what to believe now. Because it all sounded so impossible.

"Now, I'm a hybrid, Elijah. Half werewolf and half witch. Those two very different souls have even merged inside my body now. I'm just a hybrid."

Lucia raised her head and looked straight at Elijah, Emrys, and Josiah who were silent listening to her words there.

"One year ago, I was just an eighteen-year-old werewolf. I was just a werewolf who had to be separated by my entire family, separated from my family's heirloom gem, and also lost the pack that had become my home, The Crescent Moon Pack. I lost everything I loved and had in just one night. I even lost my identity as a werewolf, when I was dying and almost died that night. And all because of one man, Harrison Hux."

Lucia was silent for a moment, and let out her breath slowly. She felt very claustrophobic, but she decided to say everything she felt anyway.

"A man that I never even knew and knew about before. That he, Harrison Hux, is actually my mate. The mate that I had wanted to meet for so long. But what did he do that night? He decided to kill all my family members, my pack members, took my family's heirloom gem, burned half my face, left me dying and almost took my life, rejecting me as his mate. But he wasn't satisfied with all those heinous things. Harrison also decided to eliminate The Crescent Moon Pack by burning it to the ground."

Lucia wrinkled her forehead again, and changed the way she looked at Elijah, to a sharp look now.

"Then how can I believe what you're saying, Elijah? I have lost hope since I lay bleeding on the ground at the edge of the ravine that night. The Moon Goddess may have helped me to survive and avenge myself on Harrison. But to get a new mate? How could that happen, Elijah? I can't possibly have another mate. I don't deserve another chance from the Moon Goddess, to have a new mate, and... and it's you, Elijah."

Lucia had tears in her eyes again. Lucia felt very tight inside her chest, and had no idea what she should be thinking, or feeling right now. Lucia didn't know how to react to the truth that Elijah had told her. Lucia felt very unworthy to be Elijah's mate. Lucia felt that she had enough flaws, in all aspects, to be the perfect mate. Lucia felt that she herself was not worthy of being with Elijah, the Lycan King.

"Why are you saying all those things, Lucia? You deserve me. You have all the things I've been looking for. For years, I waited for you to come as my mate. It took a lot of time to find you, and... I always blamed myself for not finding you sooner, before the tragedy of that night. I've always felt guilty about all the things that happened to you and your family that night, Lucia. Because at the end of the day, I'm still your mate, Lucia. And you will always be my mate."

Then, Elijah stepped both feet forward and also approached right towards Lucia who was silent there, while holding back her own sobs now. Slowly, Elijah extended both palms towards Lucia's body, and after that, immediately brought Lucia into his tight embrace there.

"I know that I am also guilty of hiding the truth from you for the past year. It's just that I can't seem to find the right time to tell you the truth, Lucia. I didn't want that if I told you everything, then your mission of revenge against those who had been so cruel to you would be ruined. I don't want you to feel that I've become a big obstacle to you being able to carry out your mission of revenge, Lucia."

Elijah removed his arms from Lucia's body, and immediately cupped Lucia's puffy face with his two large palms. Slowly, Elijah's fingers moved to wipe away the traces of tears that were now on Lucia's face.

"I want you to let go of your grudge against Harrison first, Lucia. And I think, after that, I'll have the right opportunity to tell you the truth. I'm just too worried about what you'll feel and think if I tell you that you're my mate all of a sudden. I don't want you to get confused, and... lose control of yourself. I really don't want that to happen, Lucia."

Elijah was silent for a moment, and let out his breath slowly there.

"I know that I was wrong to hide the truth from you. It's just that I didn't know the right way to tell you, Lucia. I was afraid that you wouldn't believe me and decide to leave me. Because I never wanted you to leave me. I wanted you to be here with me."

"How long have you known that I was your mate, Elijah?"

"Since I found you dying at the edge of the cliff. I smelled your scent while I was hunting. At that time, I saw you dying, with both eyes closed, and also covered in blood on the edge of the cliff. From then on, I knew and realized that you were my mate, Lucia."

Lucia was silent, and seemed to be thinking about all these things in her mind right now. "But why can't I feel anything for you? When I first woke up after being in a coma for a year. Why can't I smell the scent of your body, as my mate? Why couldn't I feel anything, that you were actually my mate, Elijah?" Lucia asked in a low voice.

"According to Emrys, and also Josiah, all those things can happen, because your wolf soul is in an unconscious state. Especially with your transition process with the witch soul that was inside your body at that time. You experienced a change of self, as a hybrid. That is why, you did not feel anything towards me at all."

"But... how can a werewolf have two mates at once? I mean, I know that Harrison rejected me as his mate a year ago. But by getting a new mate like now, how can that happen? Is there a possibility for a hybrid like me to have more than one mate?"

"Of course there is, young lady."

The voice of the great wizard was instantly heard from behind Lucia now. That instantly made Lucia turn around, and look at the grand wizard who was walking closer to her now. In addition, Emrys, as well as Josiah who had been standing quite far away from Lucia and Elijah, simultaneously, walked over to where Elijah and Lucia were now.

"A werewolf, even a hybrid, can have more than one mate. Basically, the Moon Goddess has always been fair to her creatures so that they can live peacefully and happily. There is nothing wrong with having more than one mate. Because Moon Goddess, has created a partner for each of her creatures. And if you, Lucia, have more than one mate, then Moon Goddess must have done justice to everything that happened in your old life. There are many things that cannot be answered by logic alone. For Moon Goddess, always loves her creatures, and strives to give each of them a fair destiny. And yes, Lucia, Moon Goddess, still listens and answers all the prayers and requests you make. Starting from your salvation, your new identity as a hybrid, your revenge mission against Harrison, and also including getting a new mate, Elijah. That is the Moon Goddess' justice for your current life, Lucia."

The words and explanation given by the great wizard instantly made Lucia feel relieved now. Lucia instantly felt like she was being made aware of all the situations and events that had happened in her past and present life. Lucia got all the kindness and justice she wanted to get back then. Lucia got a new identity, a second chance at life, revenge, and got Elijah as Lucia's new mate. Because that is her happiness now.