Chapter Twenty-Five

Cassie

The smell of jasmine fills the air as I step into the restaurant Ares had reserved for us. This is our third date.

Yeah, I'm counting.

The past couple of dates have been amazing. It feels like we peeled off a lot of layers, revealing more of ourselves, outside of us being a perfect pair. Ares has also been getting more comfortable with Jeremiah and Eric.

I have been spending time with the brothers as I used to before, but things have changed now. Our relationship is now clearly romantic.

My shoes make a clicking sound against the floor as Ares leads me to our table.

"Take a seat," he says as he pulls out a chair for me.

My cheeks flush, and I can barely look him in the eye. "Thank you," I mumble.

His pheromones aren't out at all tonight. It's been a struggle trying to keep my pheromones on a leash, but with Leila's training, it's been easier.

It feels nice to get to know each other without the influence of our pheromones.

But I can't help but feel a little bit of worry. Just last week, he took me to his company and showed me how everything works. It was surreal to see the empire he managed. I got a lot of attention also, with my hair turning a few heads inside the company. I had to hide my hair outside the building for safety. I wasn't ready for the fame of being the White Wolf yet.

When Ares told me that I was to stand beside him as the lady of his household, it thrilled and unnerved me. Could I handle it? Was it a future I could fully see myself in?

I remember coming across a family album of Ares and his parents. I mentioned how I hadn't met his parents.

Ares said his parents were world travelers, adventurers at heart, temporarily retired from their corporate thrones. They weren't close, he said, but the news of his found mate would surely beckon them home. The weight of their impending return presses on me with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

The thought of meeting Ares' parents sends a flutter of butterflies through my stomach. It's one thing to fall for someone, but it's another to step into the family fold.

Will they see me as worthy? Can I stand beside Ares not just as his mate, but as a daughter they'd be proud to call their own? These questions dance in my mind.

Ares settles down in the chair right in front of me and signals to the waiter. I take a moment to look around.

The restaurant is bathed in a warm glow from crystal chandeliers. Each table is draped in pristine white linen and adorned with a single flickering candle.

But there's nobody else around.

It's a strange thing. This is one of the hardest restaurants to make a reservation for, and the wait list is so long it takes people a year to get a table here. People would die to eat here.

"What would you like to eat, Cassie?" Ares asks, his gaze on me. There's a little smile on his face. I'm slightly taken aback by that. He doesn't smile often. Actually, he doesn't smile at all. But he does, with me, and it'd be a lie to deny the warm feeling in my heart whenever he smiles so gently in my direction.

"Anything is fine for me."

An eyebrow is raised. Ares has been trying to get me to make certain decisions on my own, but it's not been easy, considering the fact that I always place people's needs before mine.

He slightly shakes his head and hands over the menu to the young waiter, who is staring at him with a look of awe.

I mean, it's not every day you get to serve the most powerful Alpha. Some would call it a privilege.

"Ares," I begin. "Why are we the only ones here?"

"I rented the entire restaurant." He shrugs.

My eyes widen, almost tearing out of their sockets.

"You…you rented out the entire restaurant?" I stammer.

"Yeah. I figured it'd be best not to have any distractions," he states matter-of-factly.

"You're unbelievable," I mutter under my breath.

The waiter brings our dishes to the table, carefully placing the steaming hot food in front of us. It's a plate of seared scallops, each one glistening with a golden crust. There's also a medium-rare filet mignon accompanied by red wine.

"Enjoy your meal." The waiter bows subtly and leaves.

"Go on, eat," Ares commands, digging into his food almost immediately.

My mouth waters at the delicious-looking delicacies placed in front of us. First, I dig into the steak. It's so tender that it almost falls apart at the touch of my fork. The side of roasted heirloom carrots and parsnips adds a sweet and earthy balance to the dish.

Forks and spoons clatter against our plates while we eat in silence. Goodness me, I think I know why this restaurant always has a long wait list. Their food is so good.

"I take it you're enjoying your meal?"

I look up to see Ares with a full-blown smile on his face. My face heats up with embarrassment as I drop a huge chunk of meat against the plate.

"No, no. Don't stop on my account. Please, I love seeing you eat so heartily. It warms my heart."

I clear my throat and take a quick sip of the velvety red wine. "Thank you."

We finish off our meal after that.

"God, I can barely breathe." I groan loudly once I clear my plate, gripping my waist.

Ares laughs loudly. "And we haven't even had dessert yet."

Dessert?

Breathing heavily, I manage to say, "If I eat one more thing tonight, I'm afraid I won't be able to walk."

"That's okay. I will carry you."

I stare at him silently, my mind going into overdrive as I imagine him lifting me in those deliciously strong arms… the heat of his body against mine… the heat of his shaft sliding between my legs as he kisses me…

There it is again. The heavy thump of my heart against my chest.

"Dessert is here."

Oh, my mouth waters. I think I might have more room in my stomach than I had thought. I welcome the sweet distraction.

A plate of chocolate lava cake is placed right in front of me, the warm center oozing out like a molten treasure.

"I would give anything to have you stare at me the way you're currently staring at that cake." Ares' voice rouses me out of the dreamland I was in.

"Ares!" I squeal, feeling my cheeks warm up.

This man.

"Come on," he snorts, placing a cup of vanilla bean ice cream before me. "The chocolate cake is best paired with this."

"You're sure?" I ask, a hint of skepticism lacing my tone.

Ares doesn't look like someone to indulge in sweets often enough to know what goes with what.

His lips tilt up in a smirk. "Trust me."

"Okay then." I take a bite of the chocolate cake and a scoop of the vanilla bean ice cream. I hold it up to him. "Here we go."

Damn. I have never tasted anything so good.

It's a dance of hot and cold, sweet and rich, that leaves my taste buds thoroughly enchanted. I moan loudly as I take another bite.

"This is amazing," I mumble with my mouth full of cake and ice cream.

Ares stares at me with an, "I told you so", look, as I continue to devour everything. "I made sure to ask so that I could give you the best."

I blush at that.

After inhaling the scrumptious dessert, Ares leads me to an inner room of the restaurant. I sigh loudly when I see the pristine couch in the corner of the room.

"Oh, good," I breathe out. "My feet and legs are aching. Darn these heels."

Suddenly, Ares' warmth envelopes me. He crouches before me, his hands gentle as he lifts my legs onto his lap, taking off my heels in the process.

He proceeds to gently massage the sore muscles of my calves. I am stunned into silence. Who would believe the most powerful Alpha would massage my feet all because I complained of an ache?

It's like a scene straight out of a movie—a prince serving his lady. His soft hands are a stark contrast to the fear he seems to instill in others. To them, he is Ares, the most powerful Alpha. To me he is simply… Ares .

"When I'm with you," Ares confesses, his voice a tender rumble, "it's not just about being perfect mates. Every moment makes me fall deeper in love with you."

And just like that, all the doubts and uncertainties on my mind vanish.

Our gazes lock on each others. In his dark eyes, I find reassurance. His warmth tells me that no matter what, despite being bound by destiny, we both made a choice to stick with each other, and we'll face this new phase of our lives together – as mates, as lovers, and as equals.