It felt so surreal. Mercedes felt at peace and relaxed for the first time. She was not scared or anxious that anything bad would happen, and it was a strange feeling considering how people are at the hospital because of something bad. It had just been 5 days, and she was already getting used to the hospital room she was in. Everyone she met treated her well and catered to everyone's needs, no matter how small it seemed. Although she had a feeling that it had something to do with her good and first friend ever, Crystal.

Crystal had been a Godsend to her. She came more than necessary to check on her. But she was not complaining. It was like she understood her. She didn't want to be all alone and feel that eerie loneliness again. When Crystal came over she would talk all about her life and what an amazing family she had. Her husband loved her to bits. She even told her she was pregnant with her first child. In all that time, she felt like she got to know her completely and that they bonded. Mercedes felt a little bit sad when Crystal told her about her family, but she was glad not everyone was cursed as she was.

Crystal was an oversharer, and it was good because she could not imagine herself reliving her past so soon after feeling a little bit better. So she was glad that from the first day she was admitted to the hospital, Crystal was no longer probing into her life. It would be torturous to get to relive those moments again.

Then there was a werewolf issue. She hadn't said a word about it to anyone. To be honest, she has doubts about it herself. What are the odds that she was being chased by a werewolf that almost killed, and she was rescued by three werewolves? She could have just passed out in the forest because of stress and fatigue and had a dream about the werewolf saga. But deep down she knew everything she witnessed was true. She felt it within her. Maybe she just did not want it to be true because it was a big thing. It would mean that everything fictional about the supernatural and all those other things that are supposed to be impossible is possible, and the truth has always been what was 'supposedly not true'. But people would remain oblivious of it because there was no proof of their existence other than being seen by a runaway homeless girl. Yeah, sure they would believe her. Anyway, she felt that some things were better off unsaid. Humans don't exactly have the best reactions to things beyond. She was lucky she didn't lose her marbles and ran around telling people she saw a car-sized wolf. So she decided to try and pretend that nothing happened and let sleeping don't lie. Those wolves did not kill her even though they could have decided to do so for their secret to remain a secret. They must have thought no one would believe her, but that counts for something because it is a risk, and they took it.

But there was still the unexplained homicide case pending. Everyone was murdered except her, and she doesn't remember what the hell happened. All these strange things happening had to mean something, but that is what she could not seem to figure out. How ill-fated could she be to experience all these misfortunes one after the other? Being among dead bodies and getting chased by a creepy murderous werewolf was something she did not want to experience again. She got chills thinking of what was in store for her when she left the hospital. Too bad, she could not extend her stay because she couldn't afford to pile up the bill in her account.

Speaking of which, she had to ask Crystal when she came for her next round. She bit her nails, trying to think of how she would pay her hospital bills. Who was she kidding? There was no way she could afford anything at the moment. At that very moment, the nurse came in with a bowl of fruit, pancakes with honey smeared on them, and topped off cherries with iced tea. Guilt set in and her big appetite vanished. How could she stand to sit and just be a freeloader? Now she won't be able to stomach the delicious-looking breakfast.

But to try and make herself feel better, she thought of it from another angle. She could not afford all this, but she can't have it all go to waste by refusing it when it is already in front of her. It sounded ridiculous, but she needed to find a way to enjoy her meal without feeling guilty.

The nurse put the tray of food on the bedtable and gave her a sweet smile. Mercedes forced a smile of her own. The nurse then fluffed her pillow to make it a bit more comfortable for her and add to her already humongous guilt. She wanted to tell the nurse to stop doing unnecessary things for her comfort, but her mouth would not cooperate with her. Just what she needed, for her to feel like shit when she was feeling good. She blamed all the time she had, which made her overthink so much about things. After all, it is said that an idle mind is a devil's workshop. She was staying in the hospital and enjoying the benefits, knowing she couldn't pay.

At that moment, the door opened, and she smiled when she caught a whiff of a familiar scent. But there was another unfamiliar scent. A strong masculine scent that was so intoxicating. Crystal entered her room with a man by her side. A rugged, deliciously handsome complete knockout, literally. She gasped as if someone knocked the air out of her lungs. He had jet black hair, Sapphire hooded eyes, peachy full lips with a five o'clock shadow. Just her luck. Such a handsome man had to see her with a bird's nest for hair and a hospital gown. Her cheeks became stained with a rosy shade, and she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

" Hello, Mercedes. Today I came with my superior to see you," Crystal said. Mercedes's brows furrowed in confusion. Why would her superior need to see her? Her heart rate picked up, thinking that she was finally going to get kicked out of the hospital. Her eyes landed on Crystal, silently asking for an explanation. Crystal's eyes were filled with guilt and sadness. She had a great time with Mercedes, and she didn't want her to leave, but it was 'what is best for everyone '. Not her words. Jake said so while trying to convince her to let go of Mercedes and forget about her. Everyone thought so, so she was outnumbered.

" What's going on Crystal?" Mercedes finally asked, trying to lessen the tension in the room. The superior Crystal referred to was standing by the corner staring at her stoically.

Crystal advanced closer to her and reached for her hand, grabbing her attention from the superior. " I have to tell you something," she admitted to her. Mercedes gulped, and the suspense was killing her. Crystal sighed heavily as what she wanted to say was not something easy. She sat by her bedside and looked her in her eyes. " Since the day you came in you have been under the misconception that you are in a hospital... for humans, but you are not," she confessed to her. Mercedes's heart rate picked up and the monitor beeped.

" W-what d-do you mean Crystal," she asked, trying her best not to freak out. Crystal rubbed her arm, trying to soothe her stress. "Whatever you saw that night, it's all true, and you are in a werewolf clinic in the pack grounds," Felix spoke for the first time since he entered the room. Mercedes's eyes widened, and she removed Crystal's arms from her shoulders. " What's going on here? What is this and why did you bring me here?" her voice was an octave higher than she intended to. " You are here because you went somewhere you shouldn't have. Don't you humans warn each other about venturing into the woods at night? You saw something you were not supposed to see, and now we have to undo that," Felix said impatiently.

Nothing made sense to Mercedes.

''Alpha, please! Let me talk to her. Give me some time and I will bring her to your office," Crystal pleaded with Felix through the mind link to not make the situation worse. Felix nodded his head stiffly and silently walked out the door. Now Crystal was left alone with Mercedes. The situation was less tense now and Mercedes felt her body instantly relaxed.

" I know you are still in shock, but that's the truth. I didn't tell you before because I didn't want to agitate you." Mercedes was silent, trying to wrap her head around what she had just heard. She had been surrounded by werewolves and she had no bloody clue. Just when she felt like she was in a better place, a safe place.

"Talk to me... please." Mercedes looked at Crystal in curiosity. When she first saw werewolves in the woods, she thought all sorts of terrible stuff, but looking at Crystal, she was different. She is caring and sweet, unlike her superior.

" What was he talking about? What are they going to do to me?" she asked, recollecting him saying they had to undo what she saw. Crystal figured there was no use to be beating around the bush. She was not going to remember any of it anyway. " There is a witch, Alexa. The Alpha called her so that she could erase your memory." Mercedes's mouth dropped in astonishment. The part of erasing her memory went over her head and she was stuck on the witch part.

"Is there a witch here?"

Crystal brought Mercedes fresh clothes since hers were torn. They were both silent, trying not to make the situation even worse. Crystal briefed Mercedes on what she had to know because she asked. She was told that her friend was going to leave and would never remember her. It was probably not a good idea to form an attachment with her. She couldn't help herself. Mercedes was just shy and sweet. Unlike the females in her pack.

Crystal was only treated well by the rest of them because she was mated to a Beta. If it wasn't for that, she wouldn't even be here. Every privilege she gets is because of her mate's status in the pack. Although she is grateful, it is not enough. She wanted people to like her for who she is, not who she is with. She doesn't want fake respect or concern like that. With Mercedes, it was different. She didn't know anything about her, and she liked her for her personality and character. In that short time, they established a solid bond that would soon break.

While they were headed to the Alpha's office, Mercedes stopped Crystal in her tracks and insisted she give her a tour of the pack perimeter. Crystal was hesitant to keep the Alpha waiting, but she thought, why not? This was the last time she would get to be here with her. So she took her around and showed the training grounds, some of the houses where families lived, the lake behind the packhouse, and the orphanage where pups who have lost their parents live. Crystal shared that she often went there to spend time with the kids when she had time. The place was big, and it would take time to go everywhere, so they decided to go where they were expected.

Before they could get inside the packhouse, Mercedes stopped Crystal again. " What is it, Mercedes? Are you alright?" She did not reply. She just threw her arms around her and hugged her tightly. " Thank you," she said, with tears falling from her eyes. Crystal teared up as well. It was so strange how she felt like she had known her longer than she did. It was hard for them both to say goodbye.

Thank you for everything. I know I won't remember it all, but I want to tell you now that I appreciate it."

" I will miss you, Mercedes. I hope that one day we will meet under different circumstances," she said with a teary smile. She wiped the tears from Mercedes's eyes and kissed her on her cheek. Crystal held out her hand and Mercedes connected their hands and walked inside together. Luckily, it was not awkward because most of the pack members were out on errands.

Crystal took a deep breath and gave Mercedes a reassuring smile to her. Jake opened the door and moved out of the way.

Mercedes was unhappy, but there was nothing she could do about it. The decision was made and she had to leave. It is what is best for everyone except her. Once again, she had to part ways with something. The last time she did it, it was not as painful as that because she was not leaving anyone behind. Now she is leaving Crystal, and she won't even remember her and not any of the moments that they shared. Life really had it out for her. Nothing was going well. She didn't even tell Crystal that she had nowhere to go.

Mercedes's eyes scanned around the room, and she took in the interior. Everything is made of wood and leather. It had quite a manly touch to it and was simple.

She saw the man she had met earlier and Jake. Crystal couldn't stop talking about him. She finally put the face to a name. He was no less attractive than the still brooding man and ripped. Come to think of it, she never came across anyone unfit in the place. It must be the werewolf gene they are blessed with.

Then lastly, she laid eyes on sexy Asian women with literally cat eyes. Her black sheen hair was in an uptight ponytail and her make-up was smokey and dark. Her whole get-up was goth style.

" Finally Crystal. Where were you?" Jake asked Crystal, who was still holding on to Mercedes.

" We went for a walk, and we lost track of time," she said, giving a curt reply. Now that she was close, Jake could feel her emotions through the mate bond. He felt bad for her, but it was the Alpha's orders, and she had to come to terms with it at some point.

' Please calm down my love. This kind of stress is not good for the baby," he warned in concern, but Crystal didn't reply.

" So this is the human who stumbled upon the beast land," the Asian woman sauntered closer to her and traced her dark purple nails on her neck. Surprisingly, Mercedes did not even flinch or cower. She looked right into her eyes. Mercedes had already figured out that she was Alexa, the witch who had to erase her memory.

" She is good-looking, Felix. Why would you not want to keep a human like her? Most humans are hysterical when they get to know about the supernatural world, but she is calm... not sacred." While Alexa was making her own observation, everyone else was quiet.

" I didn't call you here to make suggestions, Alexa. I'm calling in a favor. Do it so we can send her on her way!" Felix grumbled with his arms folded. He looked like a big baby who was making a fuss about not wanting veggies in his meal. Mercedes rolled her eyes at his behavior.

" Relax now Alpha. No need to get agitated, I'll do it alright?" she huffed. She looked Mercedes in the eye and said, " Are you, ready human?" Mercedes was getting annoyed at the human word. She knew she was just an ordinary human being. There was no need for them to keep reminding her of her inferiority.

She nodded her head, but before she looked at Crystal and mumbled," Goodbye," to her with a small smile on her lips. Alexa placed her fingers on her head and began to engage her mind. She closed her eyes in concentration. Mercedes felt the power on the tip of her fingers surge through her brain. It was not painful. She became immobile while Alexa worked her magic. She saw a playout of the events of her life, but everything went on quickly. Suddenly, Alexa let go of her and shock was expressed by her features.

There was pin-drop silence while everyone anticipated the results.

" Impossible!" Alexa breathed out in shock.

Alexa was in a daze, not knowing how Mercedes could intercept her magic. After all, she was just a human, so how was she doing that? Felix, Jake, and Crystal. We're confused and waiting for Alexa to tell them what happened. Mercedes was as confused as the rest of them. She was just staring at Alexa weirdly.

" What is it, Alexa? What happened?" Felix asked, approaching her. Alexa shook her head and placed her fingers on Mercedes again. This time she used maximum power to see if she would be able to block that too. Mercedes gasped and started convulsing and elevated. Her eyes were wide and her mouth agaped as Alexa's magic navigated her mind. Alexa was once again unable to penetrate her mind enough to erase her memories.

She retracted her power and Mercedes slowly calmed down and fell on the floor. Crystal panicked and ran to her and kneeled in front of her. She gently placed her head in her lap and caressed her hair and face.

" Mercedes wake up!" she exclaimed, tapping lightly on her face. She kept doing that and calling out her name but nothing helped. " Jake! Help me pick her up!" He obliged and carried her to the couch. Alexa was shocked to the core. She still could not come to terms with the fact that a human could intercept her magic. It has never happened before and not many species could do that unless there was something special about them. Maybe her power was acting up and it was not Mercedes.

Felix roughly grabbed Alexa's arm and turned her to face him. " What the hell was that Alexa? I told you to erase some of her memories, not to fry her brains!" he growled at her. Alexa yanked her arm away from Felix with an equally annoyed expression. " I didn't fry her brains. Instead, she fought off my powers! I couldn't erase her memories, okay! I couldn't! She is fine and nothing happened to her, but my magic is acting up!" she yelled in frustration.

" What do you mean you couldn't? What are you talking about?"

" I mean just what I said. I couldn't erase her memory!" Alexa pulled out the chair and plopped on it.

Crystal sat on the couch worried about Mercedes. She was glad that Alexa could not erase her memories. This meant that their friendship had a chance. She knew for a fact that if Alexa couldn't make her forget all about them, then Felix would not let her go.

It sounds selfish, but earlier that day she had a feeling that Mercedes felt the same way. She, too, didn't want to leave and perhaps that is why she fought for Alexa's compulsion.

" So what now Alpha? Alexa can't do anything, so what of the girl?" Jake asked the million-dollar question. Felix didn't know what to do, but it was obvious that he could not risk his pack by letting her go. Now she had to stay until they could figure something out.

" She'll stay in the packhouse. Get Rosita to help her settle in one of the unoccupied rooms. But I'll have you to keep a keen eye on her and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. I'm giving you this responsibility, Crystal. If she does anything stupid, I will lock her up in the dungeons for the rest of her life."

" Yes, Alpha. Thank you for letting her stay. And I will take care of her." She gestured to Jake to once again help her carry Mercedes. They went to the guest room and laid her down. The pack helper, Rosita, went inside with the lemon juice that Alpha requested from Mercedes. Crystal took it and helped Mercedes drink it up, and she became conscious in the process. She was panicked, but Crystal held her down so she calmed down.

" Ssh, I am right here." Mercedes settles down after seeing Crystal with her. Her head was hurting, and she groaned in pain and held her head in her hands. " It hurt!" she cried out in pain. She felt like her head would explode at any minute. She began thrashing and Crystal moved out of the way so she would not mistakenly hurt her. Crystal was perplexed by her condition. She did not understand what was wrong with her.

" Jake! Go and get Alexa here!" He didn't need to be told twice. He ran back to the office. " Alexa! She is awake and experiencing severe pain in her head. Come now." Alexa jumped out of her seat and Felix followed behind. When they got there, they saw Mercedes in a bad condition and sweating.

" Help her Alexa! She is burning up. At this rate, she will die!" Crystal cried out anxiously. Alexa went to Mercedes's bedside and placed her palm on her forehead. She sensed that some of her power was left in her head and she was still trying to fight it. Alexa closed her eyes and pulled it out until she was clear again. She keeps surprising her. She is strong enough to fight her power and she survived the attack of the power that was left inside of her head.

She should have died in seconds, but she was still alive. There was no explanation of what she could be other than a human, because she could not sense anything else. Crystal sighed in relief. She was so scared that something would happen to her.

Felix was in a fix, but it seemed like he had no other choice than to let a human stay in his pack. He did not like it one bit but the risk of her leaving with what she knew was too high. While she is there, he can keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid. He was worried more about his pack members. Some of them were irritable at the sight of humans. If Mercedes were to do something wrong, they would rip her apart without a second thought. It meant he had to address everyone, not to get worked up by her presence. And as soon as they figure out what is going on, they will get rid of her. He hoped it was sooner rather than later.