Despite the hurricane of conflicting emotions he was feeling inside, Felix remained calm on the outside, blinking with confusion. "What mate?"
"As if you don't feel it yourself." Kade lifted Felix's chin with two fingers, leading closer. "Our mate bond."
Of course Felix did. It wasn't something anyone could possibly miss.
Especially since his wolf stirred.
Well, stirred was an understatement. His wolf, who had been quiet and sulking ever since Felix had run away from the pack, was now jumping with excitement. Running in circles. Howling and wagging its tail. It couldn't stay still, not even for a second.
But that was absolutely ridiculous. Felix's previous mate bond wasn't broken yet, not really, so how could he get another fated mate?
"I…" Felix started, but then, he quickly shut his mouth. He was about to say 'I accept your rejection,' but was it really a good time? From what he had heard, rejection was extremely painful, so much so that it could make some Omegas faint. And with the baby… Would Felix's baby be affected by that?
No, he couldn't take a chance.
But then what, accept it? That wouldn't work out as well.
Of course, Kade was better than Jared. That much went without saying. Even a leech would have been a better mate.
However.
While Felix didn't know much about Kade, what he DID know was that the Bloodmoon Pack had quite a… bloody reputation. They were fierce, violent, ruthless.
And how would the heir to such a pack react once he found out that his fated mate was already pregnant with someone else…?
"Are you a hybrid?" As Felix was busy trying to analyze this new pinch he landed in, Kade had already moved even closer, sniffing Felix's neck. "You smell like a wolf, but also a lot like a fox… and… milk chocolate?"
'Damn!'
Felix quickly slapped his hand over the back of his neck. He hasn't even realized that he started releasing his pheromones! It was just his body's natural response to Kade's closeness.
Damn that mate bond.
"So what if I'm a hybrid?" Felix finally snapped back, furrowing his brows in pretend anger - well, maybe not entirely 'pretend', as he was genuinely in a foul mood.
But, if Kade mistook him for a hybrid, then he'd play along. While hybrids were typically looked down upon, it was better than having his real identity discovered! It seemed that keeping that fox around worked out well.
Still, the fox's scent that rubbed on him was, without a doubt, not his own, and if Kade kept on it for too long, he would likely figure it out, so Felix quickly pushed his face away with his hand. "And stop sniffing me! Have you ever heard of personal space?!"
Kade only laughed in response, "No, I don't think so!" leaving Felix completely dumbfounded.
At least he stopped sniffing around, although he still showed no intention of moving away.
"Well, I'm surprised as well, to be honest," he eventually admitted. "I never thought my fated mate would be a rogue, and a hybrid on top of that… But, you're cute enough, so it's fine. With a bit of care, you're going to be quite a beauty." Holding Felix by the chin, Kade turned his face left and right, examining it from every angle. He was about to continue inspecting Felix, moving his gaze down to Felix's body, but then Felix slapped his hand away, causing Kade to look up again.
"What fated mate! You? And me? That's ridiculous!" Felix scoffed. "In what way do we look like a suitable pair?"
They indeed looked quite amusing together. Kade, in a clearly insanely expensive custom-made suit, with his shoes polished to perfection, and his hair perfectly styled. He exuded an air of elegance and luxury, his whole being practically screamed 'I'm rich and powerful'.
And then there was Felix, in tattered jeans, falling apart trainers, and an ugly-ass jacket, two sizes too large, picked up in the local thrift shop. His hair, while looking much healthier than back when he was on the road, was all choppy and uneven, cut at home with simple scissors. His complexion was unhealthy and pale, his lips dry from the winter cold, and there were dark circles clearly visible underneath his eyes.
In no way did they look like a suitable match.
Of course, it would be different if Felix looked anything like he did back when he lived with his pack, or if his real identity were to be taken into consideration… But, Kade did not know that.
"Well." Kade looked Felix up and down again. They indeed looked quite mismatched… But even Felix's current unkempt state wasn't able to fully hide his beauty, so Kade's hesitation didn't last long. "But you feel it, don't you? Our bond. Since that's what Mood Goddess decided for us…"
His words, however, only irritated Felix more.
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" he snapped, not even letting Kade finish, staring defiantly into those dark eyes. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm quite tired, I want to go home!"
Having said that, Felix pushed Kade off himself, and started walking away. At a brisk pace, but still walking. If he were to run… What were the chances he'd outrun Kade? And even if he did…
No, it was better to just act oblivious. For now, until he had a chance to clear his head and figure out what to do next.
"You're gonna leave me like that?" Kade called after him, lifting his brows in half-disbelief, half-amusement.
And he was, of course, promptly ignored.
Watching Felix scurry away, he couldn't help but chuckle. Well… It was fine. He actually liked that the Omega didn't submit to him right away, because this way, he could have some fun hunting him down…
So, he just called after Felix, "Hey, just one question! Do you know where can I find the mermaid?"
Felix involuntarily paused, taken aback. "…The mermaid?" he repeated, glancing back at Kade.
"Yeah! I've heard there's one that lives around here!"
Felix only blinked a few times. So Kade was here for the mermaid? Then if he found her, would he leave Silverfall - and Felix - alone?
Unfortunately, Felix had no clue regarding the mermaid's whereabouts. He didn't even know one lived in Silverfall! His interest in his neighbors was, after all, non-existent.
So, he could only shake his head and walk away, leaving amused Kade behind. His wolf whined pitifully in his mind, but he was, of course, also ignored.