Chapter 178

Chapter 178
“ I'm over here,” Mercedes said, her voice coming out hoarse because she had just woken up after a long time. Mercedes's throat was dry, and her words couldn't come out smoothly yet.

Felix was frozen, feeling like his ears were deceiving him. All the hellish days and the sleepless nights, pain and grief he had gone through just to see her awake. He walked over to where her voice came from. There she was on the floor beside the bed. Felix stared at her for a moment, his eyes locking with hers. At that moment, it felt like time stood still. He did not believe that she was truly awake. It felt like it was a dream.

Mercedes smiled through tears when she saw his face. The thing she was thinking about on the verge of death was that she would be regretful for not seeing him for the last time. It was not the last time she could now see him standing well in front of her. Mercedes raised her hand, reaching for him. His eyes followed her arm and she beckoned him to come closer to her.

That doubt went out of his mind. Che was not dreaming. She was awake. He walked towards her, his legs trembling with each step. He slowly kneeled beside her and his hand reached to touch her face. Her soft skin was warm beneath his touch. Tingles went through his fingers, making him assured that his mind was not playing a cruel trick on him. Mercedes's smile grew wider as tears came out of her eyes. She covered Felix's hand that was on her face with hers.

Without warning, tears started streaming down Felix's face. His face contorted with emotion. He had a lot of questions and something to say, but no words would form. He just pulled Mercedes's into his arms and held her tightly.

“ My god, you are awake,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “ You are really awake,”

Mercedes hugged him tightly, and tears of joy continued streaming down her face.

“I'm so sorry,” she sobbed, burying her face into the crook of his neck. It is a dream come true to be in his arms again.

“ Please forgive me,” Mercedes pleaded with him.

Felix closed his eyes, but his tears would stop falling. His emotions poured out of him, his body shaking with sobs. He thought that he would never get to hear her talk, hold her and feel her warmth. All the suffering he had been enduring for the past year felt like it would never end, but the gods did not forsake them. On the blessed day of the Moon festival, his Mercedes was brought back to him. His suffering had ended, and now his heart was overflowing with relief and happiness.

Mercedes's words got muffled on Felix's neck while she repeatedly asked for his forgiveness. Felix could hear the desperation and pain in her voice. He shook his head and pulled back from her. He cupped her wet face in his hands and gently wiped her tears away.

“ Don't cry, my love,” he said, looking into her eyes.

“ There is absolutely nothing for me to forgive. It's not your fault. I should be the one who is ashamed and seeking your forgiveness for being such an incompetent mate. You ended up in such a state because I was not strong enough to fight by your side. Forgive me instead.”

His own tears continued to come out. He averted his gaze from Mercedes, not wanting her to see how pathetic he looked.

To Mercedes, he was talking nonsense. She never once thought he was incompetent as a mate, and she didn't think that he failed her in any way. He had to make him understand that.

Mercedes touched his face and gently turned it back to face her. Her gaze on him was full of love and gratitude that after everything that happened, he was still by her side.

“ Look at me, my love,” she said.

“ Don't you dare say you are incompetent and pathetic. You are not. You are my mate who has supported me from the beginning of it. You have been by my side and had to deal with a lot of things no one else would have. I am very grateful to have you as a mate. You have carried such a weight on your shoulders for me. How could you undermine your strength and courage like that?”

Those words from Mercedes set him free. They liberated him from the guilt that had been consuming him each day, condemning him for never doing enough. Those words meant a lot to him, and they were just what he needed to hear. His guilt washed away as Mercedes' words sank in. All it took was for her to say so, and a huge weight got lifted off his shoulders.

He pulled her into a tight hug, again.

“ Thank you,” he whispered, wiping his eyes.

“ You don't know how much I needed to hear those words from you. I honestly don't know what I did to deserve a mate like you. I'm so grateful that at long last you came back to me. You came back to all of us.”

He stared into her eyes and saw all her emotions shining through them, and he could also see himself in her eyes.

“ I only told the truth. You are everything and more to me. You are my rock, Felix. So don't ever think that you are not good enough, or you did not do enough because you are. You have done more than enough for me.”

Felix nodded his head, letting her words get through to him. While wrapped up in their emotions, Felix noticed that Mercedes was still on the floor, so he carried her to the bed, bridal style and placed her gently on the bed. He sat beside her, with his arm wrapped around her back, while holding one of her hands. He was not ready to let go. Not until he was assured that nothing was going to happen to her. He still had questions on his mind about everything that had happened, but for now what was important was that Mercedes was awake. Other than that, nothing else mattered. Felix pressed a kiss on her head.

“ I'm so happy that you are awake and well. I don't know what I would have done without you. I love you so much,” he said, his voice barely audible but his emotions were clear. Mercedes was back where she belonged in his arms. He didn't plan to let go of her any time soon.