Page 15 of Luna Ascending

She's wearing the flattering green dress I'd first seen her in, although she's dressed it down with some slightly scuffed leather boots and her necklace from the first night is fashioned into a cute bracelet. Before I can think, I've reached out to touch her bracelet. She flinches, smiling at me nervously and I pull my hand away slightly confused.

“Sorry, it's just really unusual, and I'm sure it was a necklace the last time I saw it!”

Thankfully she seems to relax a little and the smile reaches her eyes.

“Aren't you the observant Mr Hawkeye” she teases “It can be either - my auntie made it for me when I was a kid, before she left”

She moves her hand closer allowing me to look again and I brush her wrist gently with my thumb. Immediately her pupils dilate. I'm sure mine are doing the same - touching her skin is like fireworks going off. I'm grinning like a damn school boy again. I hope she's not been wined and dined by too many slick operators because I am far from my smoothest tonight.

Watching her breathing speed up I know she feels the connection too. I'm desperately trying not to stare at her chest but I feel myself harden seeing her breasts rise and fall quickly, knowing I'm responsible.

There is something so unbelievably sexy about this woman. The things I want to do to her... Thank fuck she's sitting opposite me and can't see my immediate boner. Pretty damn sure getting a hard on from touching a pretty girl's wrist puts me in the fairly creepy category with a human. Alpha-blood's have a high sex drive, and she is fucking hot, but it isn't like I can explain to her what I am.

The whole evening glides by on fast-forward. The only tricky thing is steering the conversation away from the family emergency I'd abandoned her for. Lying outright feels wrong. I plump for saying it involved my sister and her friends getting into some serious trouble.

It's enough truth not to be really lying and elusive enough not to draw attention to the fact that it was an entirely other-worldly emergency. Freya is, at the end of the day, human, and I've no idea how to reconcile our two realities.

I wonder if maybe somewhere far far back in her ancestors there's a little bit of a supernatural bloodline... I can't really explain how I'm feeling, and how she's reacting otherwise. I have to gruffly admit to myself that despite my reservations, I'm feeling more for this damn human than any she-wolf I've ever met.

Coming out tonight also helped me put off making a decision on the Luna Rite- explaining there was a female my wolf was interested in.

It made sense to my father that I had to explore a potential fated-mate before committing myself to a chosen Luna instead. The pack have no idea my date tonight is human, and it's none of their damn business either!

A few smaller packs have recently accepted the odd human or cross-species match, but there is not a chance in hell that the leading shifter pack in the country will accept that for their future alpha.

I let out a sigh and refocus on the delightful ball of red-headed energy in front of me – it's a problem for another day, tonight's way too enjoyable to get bogged down in politics.

After dessert I scoot around beside Freya and we savour the last of our wine. She's all wide-eyed innocence and smiles and I can't resist draping my arm over the back of the bench, tensing for her reaction.

The minx's eyes twinkle and she wriggles her bum nearer, nestling into me, tilting her chin up to peer into my face. That's more than enough consent for my wolf, and before I'm even aware of what I'm doing I've taken her face in my hands, kissing her roughly. She freezes just long enough for me to be alarmed, then I feel her whole body relax.

Her hand reaches out and touches my chest, tracing the lines of my abs under my shirt, and I grab her waist and pull her into me.

“Ahem, the bill... Sir... Madam”

Fuck, I was completely oblivious to the restaurant around us. A low grumble emanates from my chest as I disentangle myself from Freya and go to pay. I glance across and see her blushing. I can't wait to give her something to properly blush about.

We're just leaving when my phone pings. I go to slip it away, but Freya's eyes light up as she catches sight of Tavey's name. Without really thinking I show her the photo he just sent – him and a girl out on a date.

The girl is Liz, Freya's friend.

Before I can blink there's a flurry of text messages and some strong female plotting rapidly unfolding. Freya's best pal is the female shifter Tavey's been dating, although I assume Freya has no idea exactly what her friend is. I have to admit they seem a good match, my beta and her friend.

Sure enough, the girls have concocted a plan for the rest of the evening. A double date in a 'milk bar', whatever the hell that is. It's one hundred percent not how I wanted the evening to end. I get the feeling Freya's back-peddling a bit. Maybe my alpha nature got a bit carried away? I guess French kissing and heavy petting in the restaurant on a first date could be a little much.

I can take a reign check on a sexy ending to the night if it means I get another chance at a more charming approach on a second date. Although, she didn't seem to be complaining, there might still be hope for the very end of the night, if I play along.

∞∞∞

The bar is awful - it's like walking inside a black and white themed cliché. I make Freya as comfortable as she can be, perched in the window on a leather monstrosity of a stool.

Just as I turn to find the bar I spot Tavey arriving on his motorbike with a very spirited looking shifter on the back, clutching him around the waist. They dismount and I subtly sniff the air.

She's not a wolf I realise, surprised Tavey hadn't mentioned it, not even a fox. A cougar?! Ouch, in deep there buddy, cougars have a rep for their ferocious tempers. I grin to myself – he needs some reigning in anyway, it'll do him good.

The next few moments happen in slow motion. Tavey glances up and sees us. His eyes narrow, his face looks thunderous and he storms in.

“Outside, now Aaron”

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