Chapter 13 - Rowan

Chapter 13

Rowan

The moment we stepped into the Moonlit Bar and Grill, my hackles rose. The cacophony of scents, sounds, and sights overwhelmed my senses, reminding me why I avoided places like this. But for Freya, I would endure. Especially after the hungry look she’d given me earlier when she first saw me in the fancy suit Heath had picked out for me.

She looked stunning in a sky blue dress that hugged her curves and brought out the blue of her eyes. The sight of her stirred something primal within me. With my fierce possessive streak, I knew tonight would test my control. Even though Freya had been claimed by two mates and was here with a third alpha, she still turned heads. But she was on my arm, and no one could take her from me.

“Table for two,” I all-but growled at the hostess.

“O-of course, alphas,” she said, lowering her eyes to both of us before wisely leading us to a corner booth.

Clearly she had noticed exactly who Freya was — one half of the alpha pair. Though Heath had clarified that Gage knew his mate would choose multiple Bonded, I overheard our presence causing a stir as we passed other tables.

When we sat, Freya fidgeted with her napkin. “This is... nice,” she said, not sounding convinced.

I grunted in agreement, scanning the dining room for potential threats. The table distanced Freya from me, but I knew I could move fast enough to put myself between her and any threat should one arise.

The server approached, his gaze lingering on Freya longer than necessary. A low growl rumbled in my chest, and he tore his eyes away.

“What can I get you?” he asked with his eyes fixed on his pad of paper.

“Rare steak,” I said curtly, and his pen scratched the paper.

Freya smiled. “The same, please. Perhaps with a side salad and baked potato?”

“Now, will that be filet mignon, ribeye, New York str—”

“Rare steak,” I growled, wanting him to leave as quickly as possible.

“Surprise us,” Freya gently suggested.

“Of course, right away.” He paused, and I glared at him, wondering why he lingered.

“Uh… your drink order? Would the lady like some wine, perhaps?”

I glanced toward Freya, feeling foolish for not understanding basic customs such as these.

“Water will be fine for me,” she said. “Rowan?”

“Same.”

After the server left, Freya leaned in. “You okay?”

I shrugged, uncomfortable in my human skin, covered in far too much fabric. “Just... not used to this.”

She nodded, understanding in her eyes. “Me neither. I’ve… only been somewhere this nice a few times, and… it always makes me feel out of place.”

“Same here,” I admitted. “Shifters may run this place, but I still feel like an outsider.”

“You’ve never been here before?”

“This is my first time to Frost Fang, too, you know.”

The change that overcame Freya’s expression left me speechless. A bright smile lit up her whole face. I wasn’t a fan of the too-human paint she’d put on her eyes, cheeks, and mouth — to me she was perfect in her natural state. Like earlier today, on our run. Or when she’d shifted back. She was beautiful without all of that superficial shit. But if she wanted to play dress-up, I would stay in my human form as long as she liked, if that’s what it took to be by her side.

Her gorgeous lips parted, enthralling me in her spell. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels out of place here.”

I shook my head. “My pack ran me out when I was a teenager. The Howling Echo is all I’ve known.” I gestured vaguely around us. “This is all new to me as well.”

“Good, then we can be ugly ducklings together.”

“Ugly ducklings?” I asked.

She waved me off. “It’s a children’s book.”

I still wasn’t sure I understood, but feelings of reassurance coming through the pack bond distracted me. Normally, the pack bond comforted me, reminding me I wasn’t alone and never would be again. But tonight, I sort of hated the thought that Gage had probably felt my nervousness leak into the pack bond. And Heath could feel everything Freya felt, as well. They would both know I was doing a terrible job making her feel properly courted.

My fangs lengthened as the longing to shift nearly overtook me. My wolf whimpered and pawed inside of me, unconcerned about the fact that shifting inside a restaurant would be considered highly inappropriate.

This is for Freya, I warned him, beating him back from the brink.

This played into another fear I had… That the others would be able to sense things I couldn’t, and they would judge me for failing her when she needed us all the most — during her heat. I wasn’t sure I was ready to share her bed with the others, but her heat would drive us to do exactly that.

The thought wormed its way into my mind, making me imagine what it would be like to watch the others take Freya in front of me. I’d heard alphas got possessive over their mates, so why had I been so aroused when Heath and Flint had pleasured her in front of me in the wildlands? Watching them with her didn’t bother me, except that their longstanding connection with her outclassed my own.

Our food arrived, and the aroma of perfectly cooked meat momentarily distracted us. The server set down my plate with nothing but a huge T-bone bleeding in its center. Freya received a plate with her smaller steak and potato, and a small bowl filled with her rabbit food. The server quickly retreated, promising to return to “check on us” for some reason.

Freya might only be half-shifter, but she went straight for the meat first. With the way her eyelashes fluttered… And the sound she made when her first bite hit her tongue? I felt suddenly glad we had a table between us, so she couldn’t see how hard I’d gotten — instantly.

She chewed, swallowed, and then smiled. “What? Aren’t you going to eat?”

I didn’t dare speak what was on my mind. What I wanted to eat was her , and it took all my willpower not to lift her up onto this table so I could devour her properly.

Instead, I played at being civilized, using my knife to cut a big chunk out of the T-bone steak, and the fork to bring it to my mouth. Only once I’d taken a bite did Freya look appeased. And whatever pleased her, pleased me.

Mate, my wolf whispered again.

Yes, I answered.

We ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, savoring the flavors if not the atmosphere.

When Freya began to slow down, she said, “Thanks for doing all this.”

“All what?” I asked. “Heath picked out this place. And my clothes.”

Freya laughed. “Mine, too. I think he’s the only one who feels at home somewhere like this. But… what I meant was, thank you for… making me feel special.”

The way she looked up at me through her eyelashes was nearly my undoing.

“Want to get out of here?” I asked.

It was the line Heath had taught me to use during our trips to the bars to find us both what he called “hook-ups.” I only hoped it still applied in this situation.

She nodded and said, “Let’s go.”

Relief flooded through me as I rose from the table and she wrapped her arm in mine.

Her muted gasp startled me. “Oh, how do we pay?”

Her pale skin turned pink, though I wanted to see that color in her cheeks for a different reason.

“Heath said they’ll know to charge it to the alpha pair’s accounts.”

“Oh.” She averted her eyes. Something about that made her uncomfortable. “Right.”

We were both uncomfortable, and my wolf whimpered, longing to put her at ease. I carefully led her between groups of other patrons, staring down anyone who dared look at us.

When one male wolf’s eyes lingered too long on Freya, I snarled in his face until he looked away from us both, ducking his head to avoid my wrath. No one else raised their eyes as we made our way past, and I caught the scent of Freya’s increased arousal, making it all the more imperative that we escape.

The place was annoyingly arranged into a maze of tables, but we won our freedom soon enough. The cool night air soothed my frayed nerves. As we walked hand-in-hand, the tension left my body.

Freya’s small hand squeezed mine. “This was a good first date. As awkward as I always imagined.” She laughed, light and unconcerned. “But maybe we stick to a moonlit run through the forest next time?”

“Sounds perfect, my little mate.”

The word slipped out before I could stop it. Freya's eyes widened, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned closer, her tiny fingers tightening their grip on me.

In that moment, I knew that although I might not be ready for her witch’s mark, I was already hers. And somehow, that thought no longer horrified me. She wanted me, and I wanted her. She’d promised claiming could wait until later.

“Do you want to go for a run now?” she asked, her voice uncertain.

I had a feeling that wasn’t what she wanted to do, but she was trying to appease me. Inside me, my wolf rumbled his disapproval. I always preferred our four-legged form, but I would rather be uncomfortable than to disappoint Freya.

I raised our hands between us so I could kiss the back of hers. “Tonight is about you, not me. Tell me your desires, and I will see them through.”

She smiled up at me. “Come back to the den with me?”

A slow, predatory smile spread across my face when I scented her rising arousal.

“That’s right…” I said slowly, as though just remembering. “After dinner comes dessert.”