A/N: Thank you all for your kind words regarding my uncle's diagnosis.

Now listen very carefully. There are MANY bombs and clues dropped! pay close attention!

Chapter 9

Mercedes sat and waited for him to come back before she began to feel strange. Her hands were suddenly clammy and her skin felt hot, not because of the temperature. It wasn't hot in the cabin, her actual skin was hot. She let out a breath and fanned herself trying to adjust but her body only became more bothered the more she moved around. She hadn't even realized, she had been wiggling and crossing her legs, she felt a delightful tingle rush throughout her body.

The feeling lingered and it wasn't subsiding, she could feel goosebumps forming and her breathing was heavy.

"What the hell is going on…" She said to herself before feeling a cool breeze flow over her and her skin began to tingle even more making her moan.

That's when she smelled it. It was a manly scent and intoxicating, there was something else… something that made her clinch her thighs together tighter and whimper. She looked up and saw Sam standing there, his eyes trained on her and making her wiggle again.

Sam knew this was going to be hard, he'd seen other wolves enter their heat but never seen one this intense. She was squirming and breathing heavily, not uncommon but the light bead of sweat dripping down between the apex of her breast let him know why this was different.

He felt his body jerk and the hairs on his body stand and he immediately began salivating.

"You're a virgin." He growled and the look on her face gave him the answer.

"What's happening to me?" She asked, Sam could hear the lust in her voice, the hunger and the need.

"You need water." He said but his feet wouldn't move. He was frozen in the doorway looking at her.

"Stop looking at me like that!" She whimpered and he couldn't help groaning.

Get her some water. Sam heard the voice loud and clear and whatever haze he was in broke away. He quickly went and got her a glass of water before returning.

"Drink this, it'll help." He said handing the glass to Mercedes, she took it appreciatively and drunk it quickly but it hadn't helped.

You need to lick the wound.

Sam looked at the mark on her neck and it was purple and blue, he could see his teeth indents in her neck and felt horrible for biting her so hard. When he leaned in she flinched and he instinctively grabbed her to keep her still.

"Let me." He said softly. "I won't bite you again."

Mercedes nodded and stayed as still as she could, Sam leaned in before doing as her grandmother instructed and licked her bite. He could feel her pulse rising even more and even heard the soft moan she tried to stifle. He pulled away when her breathing became steady.

"Thank you." Mercedes looked at him and gave him an appreciative smile. He smiled back before they locked eyes and he could hear her heart starting to race again. Her eyes held so much fire and he felt himself being trapped in them, he felt warmth and his body reacted in kind.

Sam created some space between them. "Seems a lot has happened in such a short amount of time." He said and she nodded.

"I think this is all because of me…" She said softly. "I don't know what happened, one minute I'm this normal girl who has trouble sleeping then I'm combusting with this power."

"I see, I can feel it radiating off of you."

She shot him a look before sighing. "Why did you bite me?"

"I had to." He answered and looked at him waiting for him to explain. "When an alpha bites a potential mate, she's protected by the entire pack and the mark lets everyone else know she's untouchable."

Mercedes furrowed her brows. "So what? I'm your possession now?"

"What? No, that's not even how that works. You were marked, not claimed."

"Claimed?"

"It's when an Alpha finds his mate and they…" He replied trailing off.

"They what?"

"Their bodies intertwine and they become one, it's a shift in the alpha's abilities and his Luna will have a permanent mark where she was bitten." He explained.

"So I'm your mate?" She questioned and Sam shrugged.

"A lot of people apparently think you are because of this prophecy."

Mercedes nodded. "But you don't think so?"

"I don't know you and you're not a wolf like me… I'm not even sure it's possible. I've never heard of a wolf being with a witch before… I wish I could get to the pack house, there's a registry that I can check but I'm not sure I can get us both out until I'm healed completely." He answered and Mercedes sighed.

"Maybe I can try?" She offered. "I did it before…"

Sam shrugged before moving closer to her and lifting his shirt showing her where he needed tending. "The wound is deep, you stopped the bleeding but after I bit you, something happened. I didn't heal as quickly."

"Am I the first person you've… bitten?" She questioned looking at his stomach, admiring how toned he was and unknowingly biting her lip as she ran her fingers along his abs.

"Yes." She looked up at him before standing.

"Oh…" She said, rubbing her hands together nervously. "Umm, maybe you should lie down?"

Sam nodded and laid down on the bed, groaning as he tried to get adjusted. "This won't hurt you will it?"

"I have no idea but you saved me so it's the least I can do." She replied placing a hand where he was hurt and pressing, causing him to jerk forward. "Sorry."

"It's okay." He said through gritted teeth.

Mercedes took a deep breath and pressed again, this time more gentle. She closed her eyes like before attempting to focus her energy on healing him. She could feel her body warming and her hand tingling, she tried to remember if her father would say anything when he would do this to her.

"Be calm."

That's what he used to say to her after going into a fit of rage but she didn't think that would have the same effect so she decided to say something else.

"Fix what's broken." She said softly but it seemed to make him flinch. "Repair the wound." She said next and he let out a loud yelp making her jump back.

"I don't think… maybe we can take you to a hospital?"

Sam shook his head, grabbing her hand and placing it on his wound. "You didn't say anything last time, I can handle the pain."

Mercedes nodded before taking another deep breath and pressed down, this time she just focused her mind on him and on taking away his pain. She felt a surge of something flow through her before feeling it leave her and Sam took in a deep breath. He looked over at her seeing a subtle glow coming from her as she concentrated before he heard something snap and he let out a relieved breath.

"I think that did it." He said breathing heavily, Mercedes moved her hand and smiled.

"Do you feel better?"

"I do, thank you." He replied, sitting up looking at her and feeling his heart starting to race again. She bit her lip and blushed, looking away before he reached up and gently turned her to face him. "Seriously, thank you."

"You're welcome, I'm happy I could help." She replied. "Do you think we could make it to your pack house?"

Sam sighed and shrugged. "I do but I don't know who is awake or why I'm awake. Whatever happened… it knocked out a whole pack of wolves."

Mercedes shifted nervously. "My parents were too… I think I did all of this but I don't know how or why… I just got so angry and then blacked out."

Sam shook his head before a wave of voices started crashing through his head. "The pack… it's waking up. Maybe I can get my beta to help us get to the pack house unnoticed." He said and Mercedes nodded.

"Are you sure I should come…?" She asked.

"I can't leave you here and the pack won't harm you, until it's determined you're not my mate they will treat you like the Luna." He explained before closing his eyes and sifting through the voices in his head before landing on his Beta's.

San, is everyone alright?

What the actual fuck Evans, what happened?

I marked someone, I need Britney to enchant our path until we're there.

She can't! Everyone is dazed and fighting the first wave of their hormones. Who did you bite?

The little human that we helped. Turns out she's a powerful witch.

Jesus Evans! I'll have two wolves tail you two be ready in fifteen minutes.

We're going to need more than two, check on my parents please.

Done.

Sam looked over at Mercedes. "My Beta is sending a few guards to tail us. The Pack house isn't far but it's a steep walk, are you going to be okay?"

Mercedes nodded. "Yes. I'm fine… why would they treat me like your Luna if they didn't know for certain?"

"As the Alpha, the pack is my responsibility, so anyone I mark is protected by me and my pack. They are your family and no matter the outcome they will treat you as such until that moment."

Mercedes let out a shaky breath. "That's intense."

Sam's ears perked before he stood up and walked over to the window with Mercedes on his tail, he opened the blind slightly before nodding.

"Come on, they're here." He said, grabbing her hand and leading her out so they could begin their trek to the pack house.

"There's ten of them, including the Alpha and the girl."

"We can't touch her, he marked her."

Adelrick let out an annoyed breath as he watched them walking with the girl heavily guarded. "Marked or not, she hasn't been claimed yet. Figure out a way to get her here, alone." He said to Adira before shooting her a stern look.

"I won't fail." She replied and he nodded.

"This is your last chance to prove as much." Adelrick said, walking away.

Adelrick walked out of sight before being stopped by a force, he shook his head because he knew who did this.

"I won't tell you again." Angela said, appearing to him.

"Good because I'd hate piss you off because I'm not stopping. She will set us all free."

Angela narrowed her eyes at him. "She is not yours, she belongs to no one."

"You know the prophecy just as well as I do. I only chose the winning side." Adelrick replied, smirking.

"No, you broke a truce. A truce that was set decades ago when you stumbled upon me and my son."

Adelrick flashed his eyes at her before balling his fist. "I have done no such thing and you can not-"

"Sending your subordinates isn't a loophole, I knew you would try that and set up contingencies. If any of your… flock touch her they will die a very painful death. You're nothing without them or are you still pretending you have access to your powers?"

Adelrick bared his fangs before shaking his head. "I haven't done anything! The deal was-"

"You're working with someone from the Divine Spirit Coven and this is your only chance to tell me who that person is." She interrupted and he bucked at her but the force field kept him contained.

"Let me out of here!" He demanded.

Angela shook her head, sighing. "You know I only made that truce so that you would stay away from my coven and yet you managed to find another to do your dirty work."

"When your little witch turns dark, she will do everything that I wanted and all of you will be powerless. I bet it's already starting, all their powers are pouring into her because that is the secret isn't it? The reason she's the undoing? Absorption is her power."

Angela grimanced. "I… I don't know what it is but she won't succumb to the darkness."

"Tsk. Tsk. You really believe that don't you?"

"I believe she has a stronger will than-"

"Then who? You? You broke under the pressure, or are you forgetting that night I found you?" He asked, holding his hands up when Angela's hands began to glow a dark red color. "You're still pretending that you couldn't have stopped this years ago."

Angela shook her head and started to make the force field smaller around him. "I was never going to kill my child, he would've been fine had you not did what you did!"

"Don't you mean our child?" Adelrick asked before he began gasping for air. "You can't kill me! It's in the truce!"

"I'm not going to kill you." She said through gritted teeth moving closer before her placing her hand on his head. "I'm just going to take the information I need."

Adelrick let out a loud, ragged cry before feeling like he was lifeless. He could see her in his mind, sifting through his thoughts before she found the information she needed then everything went black.

"I'll leave you here as a message to your flock." She said before leaving him there floating lifelessly. She had gotten a name, but could not see the witch that aided him.

Talia.

It hadn't taken them long to reach the pack house and Sam knew he would need to call a meeting immediately but he had to get Mercedes inside and safe first.

"Santana, I need you to gather the council and I need it as fast as you can." He said as soon as he saw her.

Santana looked over at her Mercedes who seemed slightly disheveled. "I've never seen it affect a non-wolf before, is she okay?" She asked and Sam looked back at her, which was a mistake so he quickly looked away.

"I bit her pretty hard. She'll need water soon." He answered and Santana smirked.

"The old water trick huh? We both know that's not going to help her and it wouldn't-"

She's a virgin.

Santana's eyes grew wide before she nodded. "I'll get the council set up in the meeting hall." She said. Sam knew she understood what that meant because they had all gone through it as virgins. Mercedes would have a permanent fever until she either had sex or the satyriasis ended.

"Are you sure I should be here?" Mercedes asked and Sam took a deep breath, nodding.

"It's the safest place for now. You won't be harmed by any of the wolves and no one smart enough won't attack."

"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?"

Sam groaned. "Scratch that, one might." He said moving her behind as Quinn stormed in, she was breathing heavily and her hair was a mess.

"We will discuss it when the rest of the council is here." Sam answered and Quinn shot him an annoyed look.

"We had at least a month before this shit would hit and now we have to move everything up, the ball has to be changed and what is that smell!" Quinn snapped, inhaling deeply before looking at Sam intently.

"You need to calm down and go wait in the meeting hall."

"You bit someone. Is this why all this is happening?"

Go into the meeting hall, now.

Quinn jerked back at his commanding tone before nodding. She took a step forward then moved him out of the way and let out an annoyed breath.

"The little witch? Is she the reason-" Sam shot her a look that made her take a step back before she noticed that she'd unknowingly grabbed Mercedes' arm. She quickly let go and looked down trying to gather her thoughts.

"Go into the meeting hall. NOW!" Sam said, his voice vibrating throughout the entire house, making Mercedes shift nervously.

"Alpha." Quinn said before walking towards the meeting room as instructed.

Sam looked after her before turning his attention to Mercedes. "Did she hurt you?"

Mercedes shook her head. "I'm fine but I don't think I should be here."

"I promise no one will hurt you." He said with a small smile. Mercedes looked at him and could tell he was telling the truth.

"Okay, I trust you." She replied and Sam felt it, her heart racing and her temperature rising.

Easy, just breathe through it.

Mercedes took in a shaky breath, hearing his voice only made her hormones spike higher. He touched her arm and she felt a jolt flow throughout her body and forced herself to step away from him.

"Samuel." They heard from behind them. "You called a meeting."

"Yes, we're going to the meeting hall." He replied and the older man looked over at Mercedes before walking away.

"Come on, you need to be there as well." He nodded in the direction where the council was waiting.

When they walked inside all the chatter immediately stopped and all eyes were on the pair of them. Sam shot Mercedes a lopsided smile before having her sit in the seat next to his.

"I know many of you have questions but before we begin I ask that all communication be verbal." Sam started looking at everyone. "Now, to answer the burning question. Yes, I marked someone which is why you all woke in such a rushed heat. I had to mark this person to protect them."

"Why do you have to protect her?" Quinn asked, earning a few agreeing murmurs.

"Because she might be my mate." Sam answered and the entire room erupted with questions.

"How do you know?"

"Is she a wolf?"

"What pack does she belong to?

Quiet!

The entire room silenced and Sam let out a deep sigh. "She is not a wolf, she is a witch and I don't know that she is but until I do you will treat her like you would any Luna to be." Sam replied and Quinn shot up.

"You allow an outsider into our pack house, you start mating season and we have to plan a ball now that will introduce her as our Luna but it's not even certain that she is. Sam there is more to this and we have a right to know!" Quinn demanded.

Sam snarled at her and the entire council looked at him shocked. "Let that be your last outburst." He said before looking at his father who simply nodded.

"There is more but as of right now I can not nor will I get into it until I know more myself. Quinn is right, we have a ball to plan and Mercedes, here will be introduced as our Luna. This will put a target on our backs but it must be done."

"How do you suggest we prepare for such an event?" His mother asked, looking at him worriedly.

"We could have a Lune Cotillion." Britney said and everyone turned looking at her. She looked around nervously before Sam nodded for her to continue.

"It's a ball to present a potential Luna, there's fancy dresses and formal introductions. Sam will introduce her to the other packs so they can get her scent and know to protect her until after we know if she is our new Luna." She explained and Santana shot Sam a look.

I… I don't know how she knows that.

"Britney-"

"It's in the library, I found it by accident. I was looking for a book on fairies…" She added.

Quinn shook her head. "We only have a few days now to plan an event of that caliber!"

"Then get it started and get the invitations sent." Sam said looking at Mercedes who's nerves were messing with his own. "I will take Mercedes with me to the fourth floor, we will stay there for the duration… no one is permitted to pass the third floor. Britney will help with the planning, Santana set up a schedule so that there's round the clock protection."

Everyone murmured before doing as they were told while Sam grabbed Mercedes' hand and walked her out of the meeting hall.

"What is this ball going to do?" She asked and he sighed.

"Let everyone that is after you that you are now under the protection of all wolves." He answered. "The ball will be the first introduction of you as my potential mate and everyone will be in attendance this time."

"Seems we have a ball to prepare for."

"The witches won't be there."

"You the mighty alpha, everyone will be in attendance. A Lune Cotillion has rules and every magical being must be there to witness the shift of time. It lets everyone know a new Alpha's rule has begun."

"That puts us at a disadvantage."

"No, they're main focus will be on her. We can take them out in less noticeable ways."

"I'll call the rest then."

"Yes, we'll need everyone."

Sooooo... Be on the look out for your invitation ;)