Nicolas POV

"Do not push her," Ray warned. "Give her some time to respond to you!"

I held my breath, anxiously awaiting Zara's response. She appeared reluctant to accept me as her mate, even though a moment ago I mustered all my courage and threw my heart and soul at her.

Where did I go wrong?

What did I do wrong?

Did I wait too long to claim her as my mate?

Should I have stopped the mating ceremony and claimed her then?

I released Zara's face and ...