TEGAN'S P.O.V
The next morning, I got up not wanting to go on this date. The last thing I wanted to do was to date someone, especially while being pregnant with another man's child. What does that make me?
'A desirable woman.' Gemma stated.
'Desirable or not, why would another Alpha want a pregnant Luna whose child is not destined to take over their pack?'
'Maybe he doesn't mind?'
'From my personal experience, they mind. I will be damned if he treats my child even half as badly as my own father treated me.'
'I would never allow it!' Gemma roared in my head.
'Good, something we agree on. We will go on these dates because we agreed to give him a chance. But we can't be closed-minded to him possibly having ulterior motives.' I had an off feeling about what he really wanted from me.
'Right.' She responded.
I began to try to tame my wild hair. I took some products from my bag to lay on my bathroom counter as I began to dampen my hair to work some magic.
'Speaking of which, we need to start practicing if we ever want to achieve unlocking our gifts.' Gemma stated as I finished doing my hair.
'Agreed, maybe we can sneak off into the woods behind the hotel?'
'After the conference has concluded and they all go home. We don't need anyone knowing of our abilities.'
She has a valid point. I needed to keep them a secret until I needed them to be shown. And when that day comes, I will be ready for whatever it is that is going to invade our realm.
I decided on going natural with no makeup, allowing those small hidden freckles to pop out. When I was putting on my shoes, a knock at the door let me know he was there. I slowly walked over, opening the door making it chime to reveal Liam. He was handsome. I do give him that. He had deep brown eyes, golden blonde hair that fell loosely to the side as if he had raked his hand through it many times over.
"Are you going to check me out all day or are we going to go eat?" He said sarcastically with a smile on his face.
"Right, lead the way." I said as I stepped out the door.
Once in the car, we started down the road. The sun was barely out.
"So where are we going to eat at?" I asked.
"It's a surprise."
"I am not big on surprises; can you just tell me?"
"Ruin all the fun. I am taking you to this little restaurant in a small town not far from here called Hideaway."
"Thank you." I said, pulling my phone out.
"What are you telling someone? Do you think I am going to kidnap you?"
"Of course not. You wouldn't pull such a foolish stunt. I was only informing my friend back at the hotel, so he is aware of my location if this breakfast goes south, and I need another ride." I said, smiling.
"You're feisty and I like that. But this date will not go south. I promise that."
"And you're a little cocky. That quality makes for an arrogant man." I said, shoving my phone back in my bag.
The smile on his face faltered a little before he regained his composure.
"I like to think of it as confidence."
"Right. Because confidence and cockiness are two different things in this scenario."
"What happened to you to make you so angry?" He asked, making me laugh.
"Everything." I replied before looking out the window.
"Well, I plan to make that anger disappear."
"How so?"
"By simply proving I am worth being happy about. Oh look, here we are." He said as the car came to a stop.
Outside was a small cottage-like building. Smoke came from the chimney as the smell of fresh baked goods wafted into the air, making my stomach rumble. Hearing the sound for the first time, it was indeed a weird noise.
"Let's get in and feed that little prince of yours."
"Why not princess?"
"Well, I guess that is possible, but most first-born children of highborn Alpha's tend to be males. Just a logical guess."
"I guess that is a good guess." I said as we entered the cottage restaurant.
"Welcome in, sit wherever you please and we will be by to service you soon." An elderly woman with gray hair said, Liam taking my hand, leading me to a corner booth which sat near a window that looked out into the beautiful woodlands.
"Do you come here often?" I asked curiously.
"When I am in town, of course. It is a loved restaurant known by many." He stated as a waitress came up.
"Oh, Alpha Liam, what a wonderful surprise. How long are you here for this time?" The young girl said as she used her arms to press her breast tightly together to pop from the top of her shirt.
I looked over to see his response. He moved in his seat uncomfortably for a moment before regaining his composure.
"I am here for the weekend; we are ready to order now."
"I haven't looked at the menu." I stated.
"I will order for you."
"Oh hello, I didn't see you there." The girl said, her smile immediately fading.
"I will have orange juice; she will have the same." Liam stated, getting the girls' attention focused on himself again.
"Right, and would you like your normal?"
"I would indeed thank you. As for the lady she would have -"
"I will have biscuits and gravy with a side of 2 sausages. Thank you, Ariel." I interrupted to give her my order while looking at her nametag.
My interruption made him look at me briefly before looking back at the waitress, not allowing me to see his eyes.
"You heard her." He spoke angrily.
"Right, yes Alpha, I will get the order in right away." She said as she scurried off.
We sat in silence for a moment before he finally spoke.
"I said I would order for you."
"And I thought I made myself clear that I don't like surprises. I can order myself; I am not a child."
"No, but you are my future Luna and I want to do what is right by you."
"I never agreed to be your future Luna. I said we could get to know one another and decide after that if that was something worth doing." I said as his face twitched, but he only smiled and nodded in response.
"Fair enough, I guess being a second-chance mate isn't as easy as most told me it would be. So, ask away, what would you like to know?" He said next, taking me by surprise.
"I am also your second-chance mate?"
"Indeed, my first mate tragically died."
"How?"
"Murdered."
My heart clenched. Here I was being a bitch to him, and he lost the love of his life. I was not making a good impression nor was I giving him the chance I said I would. That has to change.