Chapter 25 He is Mine
twenty-five
He is Mine
*FELIX*
Ilook around the building my parents chose for my mate and me, feeling my throat tightening slightly. “Is this really okay, Mom? This place is big, much more spacious than I thought it would be.”
I barely ever came to this house, although it was always right behind the packhouse.
Maybe because Dad held it so dear that he couldn’t even set foot in it himself.
Sometimes I wonder what kind of person my grandma was.
I’ve never met her, but Dad only ever says good things about her; when he talks about his parents at all, that is.
Mom once told me that he grew up very lonely.
“Of course it is,” she reassures me, before pulling me into a hug. “I am so happy for you, Felix, and so proud. You accepted your mate immediately, and also Marina and Faye. This shows a lot of maturity.”
“I agree,” Dad says, putting down the three boxes he was carrying at once. “I am not surprised, though. I always knew you were a great young man.”
“But this here is too much. This is your special place.”
“Not really,” Dad says. “I just couldn’t let go of it. Before my mother turned ill and my father-“ he pauses. “She came to this place a lot, for as long as she could. After she passed, I didn’t want to let go and turn it into just any space. But you and Gwen living here? That’s perfect.”
“Dad, there is something else I need to tell you.” Might as well get it over with.
“This is my cue,” Mom says, smiling brightly at us before skipping towards Aurelia and Arden.
“But, Mom, I need to-“
“I know it anyway,” she says, laughing brightly.
“Well?” Dad looks at me curiously.
“Okay, I am going to say it straight out.”
Silence lingers between us for what feels like minutes.
“I don’t want to pressure you into anything,” Dad says, lips twitching into a smile. “But you are not saying anything.”
“I am not going back to college,” I blurt out, holding my breath.
Dad looks at me thoughtfully. “So, you did come to a decision?”
His reaction throws me off completely. “Yes… I… Dario is convinced I could do it, I am not so sure about that, but even if… It’s really not for me. I want to either learn a trade or choose another type of education.”
“Okay,” he says simply. “That’s fine. Did you really freak out about telling me?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Dario grinning slightly, tossing me a told-you-so gaze. “If you put it like that, I feel silly,” I admit.
“I don’t mind,” he says. “You clearly have a plan, and even if you didn’t, we could have figured something out together. You sincerely tried and came to the conclusion that it isn’t for you. That’s more than I could ask from you.”
“You knew, didn’t you?”
“Not really, I can’t look into your mind,” he says. “I just knew you weren’t happy.”
“I am still not one hundred percent certain about what to do now,” I admit. “I have a few ideas. I researched a bit, and most classes and courses start in September. I want to make the right decision this time.”
“Felix,” Dad sighs. “Stop freaking out about it. It’s fine. I am sure you will find something that fits you. Have you considered picking up your warrior training?”
“Yes, I did. I definitely want to do that, but also want to learn something just to have some sort of backup.”
“See? Obviously, you have thought it through.”
We are both interrupted by Mom calling out, “Oh!”
Dad spins around immediately, his attention instantly on her. She doesn’t look overly worried, though, just surprised. Following her gaze, my eyes land on a cat. At least it looks like a cat. Another one?
Gwen steps forward, kneeling down and waiting for the cat to approach her. “A manul,” she says, surprised.
Aurelia blinks. “A what?”
“It’s a Pallas’s cat,” Arden explains. “A small, wild cat. They are not domestic here, though. Very weird for one of them to be here.”
“She can move in with the rest of them,” I say. “I just hope she gets along well with all the others.”
“Tiger is the pack leader,” Gwen says, watching how the bird flutters around the manul before settling down on top of its head. The cat looks grumpy, but other than that, doesn’t seem to mind. “It should be fine.”
Mom has watched everything silently, tilting her head now. “Interesting,” she mutters more to herself than anyone else. She has that look in her eyes, the one where she seems to be far away with her thoughts, seeing something no one else can see.
There is no use in asking her what she knows or what she just realized. We all know that, so no one asks her about it.
*GWENDOLYN*
“Done,” Felix says, dropping down next to me on a comfortable chair in our new garden.
Two days later, and we are done for the most part.
Our otter and capybara have their own little area now, with a little pond.
Aurelia and Felix made it while the rest of his family and friends helped me with cleaning and setting everything up.
I still can’t believe this is truly happening. Felix’s family was nothing but supportive and welcoming, and his sister has already set up a date with me to go for drinks next week, to show me around with her friends.
I have met so many pack members already, everyone congratulating Felix and me, and telling me how happy they are to have me here.
“Oh,” Felix perks up again. “Do you want ice cream? Gisela dropped off some special edition maracuja flavor earlier today.”
“Maracuja? Sounds fantastic! Gisela has good taste, obviously,” I say.
“I will tell her you said that,” he grins.
“She will be happy.” He jumps up, hurrying back into the house to fetch us the ice cream.
Felix has boundless energy. It should intimidate me, but I just love how he can sweep me along and how he matches my own energy.
We have been living together for two days now, which isn’t much, but through these two days, it’s already obvious our lifestyles fit well.
I love to get up early to feed and care for the pets, and he loves to get up early to help me and to work out.
We are both mediocre cooks and love eating at the packhouse. And he is open and honest with me concerning our future without ever pressuring me.
What I love about him the most, however, is how warm and cheerful he is. It’s like a warm blanket that surrounds me whenever I look into his honest eyes and see his beautiful smile.
“Here, babe.” Felix returns and hands me a cup of ice cream. He even sprinkled some marshmallows on top of it.
“Thank you, sunshine.”
His eyes widen. “Did you just call me by an endearment?”
“Bad?” I ask carefully. I love that he keeps calling me babe. No one has ever done that before. It might be a bit cliché, but it makes me happy, so I want to return the favor.
“No!” His eyes light up. “You are the first to do that!”
I take a spoonful of the maracuja ice cream. It’s sour and sweet at the same time, perfect. “I am sorry,” I say. “For not being good at this.”
“Good at what?” Felix asks.
“Relationships,” I admit. “I know I am more rational than romantic. I am a bit dry, I guess.”
“Who said that?” Felix asks. “And even if, I don’t mind. What makes you think I am good at romance?”
“You would totally pull it off,” I say.
Felix laughs, his cute dimples showing like they always do when he laughs.
“I like that I don’t need to be someone I am not with you,” he says.
“I like that you just say what’s on your mind.
And for the record, I find it super romantic to sit here with you after we worked the whole day and have ice cream. ”
Goddess, he is so sweet. How can he be so cute and look so hot at the same time? He has the sweetest personality, the sweetest smile and says the sweetest things, but he has the body of a college heartthrob. He is like my very own dose of dopamine.
Putting my bowl aside, I get up and settle down on Felix’s lap, my arms around his neck. Felix looks up at me, the look in his eyes darker all of a sudden. I didn’t expect him to look like that, let alone look like that at me. It does something to my body, sending tingles through it.
There is an urge inside me, an insistence that pushes me forward.
Taking his chin between my fingers, I lean down into a kiss.
Felix readily answers my kiss, his tongue pushing past my lips and claiming my tongue.
Fuck! I didn’t know he could be dominant like that.
When Brandon did it, it felt like he put on a show of how cool he was.
But, Goddess, Felix with his beautiful face and his sunny smile can actually pull it off!
I didn’t want to give myself to a man that quickly again, and I barely know Felix. But he accepted me as his mate, he brought me to his pack, and he introduced me to his whole family. Who would do that without being serious about a relationship?
I shift slightly to straddle his hips, gasping when I suddenly feel his hand under my shirt. His fingers are cold from holding the bowl with ice cream. Mixed with the tingles of the mate bond and the way they make my skin burn with want, the feeling drives me insane.
“Gwen-” Felix moves from my lips down my neck, kissing the spot where I hope he will mark me. Then he draws back and chuckles. “We have a visitor.”
I turn around, frowning. Who is disturbing this moment now?! I am usually not that bold with a guy, so whoever it is interrupting us better leave fast before I chicken out and allow my self-doubts to take over again. I want to mate with Felix, I want it so much that it chases my fears away.
There, right in the middle of the garden, Tuesday is sitting and staring at us, while munching on a single piece of straw. I can’t believe it. Capybaras are so hilarious! I laugh, before turning back to Felix.
“Maybe we should move this inside?”