Chapter 65: Dark Secrets

Wolfgang

This was it. This was really happening. I had asked Aurora out for dinner, and she said yes, and now we were in my car on the way to get something to eat.

Aurora had changed into a loose top and jeans with her Converse boots. She was sitting in the passenger seat, leaning against the window while looking out.

The car was filled with her intoxicating scent, and being so close was becoming difficult for me to keep in control.

“Where are we going?” she finally asked.

“Why don’t you try and take a guess?”

“Well, considering we had to go in your car, it must be out of our territory,” she said as she looked out the tinted windows. “I’m assuming it’s somewhere in the human territory.”

“Correct,” I told her as I stared forward, keeping an eye on the road.

“Isn’t it dangerous right now to go into human territory? Well, given that we were just attacked by human hunters,” she said as she looked at me with her eyebrow raised.

“It is dangerous for you if you come out here alone, but not while I’m around,” I said as I turned to look at her, giving her a smirk.

“Hush. Says the alpha who went berserk with a witch’s concoction,” she said, unimpressed as she turned to look out the window.

Cronnos was having a field day with Aurora’s answers as he rolled over on his back and barked in laughter.

~“Shut it, you old bag of fleas,”~ I reprimanded, but he just ignored me and kept laughing while chanting ~“~Our mate’s got sass.”

I internally groaned, but I couldn’t help agreeing with him. Aurora was quick-witted and had spontaneous answers.

“Touché,” I answered her before we both fell into an uncomfortable silence. ~Goddess, please let this dinner be less awkward.~

Thankfully, we arrived at our destination not long after. I parked the car and got out before running over to Aurora’s door, holding it open for her to get out.

“Where are we going exactly?” she asked as I led her to the corner.

“You’ll see,” I said as we rounded the corner, and she gasped when she saw, on the other side of the road, the long line of people waiting to enter Rizzo’s, Iliamna’s best and most prestigious restaurant.

“Are we really going there?” She asked, and I could see her eyes dance with excitement.

“Yeah.” I led her across the street to the restaurant.

“How are we even gonna get in there? The line’s so long.”

She was about to make her way to the end of the line, but I grabbed her hand, delighting myself with the sparks spurred by our touch, and led her to the front of the line and straight to the door.

“Wolfgang! What are you doing?” she whisper-yelled at me as she nervously looked at the crowd. I ignored her protest and kept going to the door.

“Mr. Gagliardi, it’s been a while. Come in, come in! I have the perfect table reserved for you,” Richie Rizzo, the owner, greeted us at the door and gestured for us to follow him. He was a chubby human in his late forties.

He led us through the restaurant and out to the open terrace where there was an amazing view of the mountains. The night sky was completely clear with the bright stars twinkling above.

The spot was the VIP lounge, so there weren’t many people out there. I helped Aurora to her seat and took mine across from her.

“May I say, what a lovely companion you have with you on this beautiful evening,” Richie said as he handed us the menu.

“Indeed she is, Riz,” I said to the guy as I looked at Aurora, and I could swear I saw her cheeks blush before she hid behind the menu.

Richie took our orders and left us to ourselves.

“So, how is it that you know Rizzo?” Aurora was the first to break the silence.

“Curious?” I teased as I watched her. She was so beautiful, and in the candlelight, she looked mesmerizing.

“Pretty much, given that you’re the big bad alpha who doesn’t let anyone in. I’m surprised you know anyone from out of our territory, especially if they’re human.” She took a sip of the wine, eagerly waiting for my response.

“I happened to save him from some vicious vampire once while I was on patrol. He was out in the woods around the territory when he came across those blood-sucking bastards who were trespassing.

“The scent of blood led me to where they had him cornered in a dead-end cave,” I told her, remembering the day I met old Riz.

“Blood, had they already started to…?” she asked, to which I shook my head.

“No. Fortunately they hadn’t got to him. While running from them, he fell from a high cliff and got injured with a branch,” I said to her.

“I had managed to kill off two of them, but the leader of the brood had gotten me by surprise and had me in a fierce chokehold, rendering me unconscious.

“Luckily, Max and Remus had arrived in time. They got that vampire from off of me and annihilated it. By the time I came back, I had transformed back to my human self, thus revealing my identity to Riz.

“He promised to keep the secret from the rest of the town and has kept his promise until today,” I said to her.

“That was about four or five years ago, and since he was so grateful for me saving and sparing his life, I’ve become a regular here to his restaurant. So are Max and Remus. They often come here with their dates.”

I took a sip of my wine.

“I suppose you brought Tallulah here often as well,” she said with a bored tone.

Damn it. I mentally facepalmed.

~“Way to go, dipshit,”~ Cronnos growled.

“Aurora, I never brought Tallulah here. You’re the first girl I have ever taken out for dinner,” I said to her.

“It’s hard to believe. You and Tallulah were glued to each other. It was hard to even doubt you two weren’t actually fated mates.” She twirled her finger around her wine glass.

“Aurora, I wish I could take that back. I wish I hadn’t made that dumb mistake and accepted you the moment I found you at the gala,” I said as I held her hand, but she quickly pulled it away, as if the sparks caused her pain.

“What’s done is done, Wolfgang. Please, let’s just forget about this,” she answered.

I was about to argue that it couldn’t be left like this, but the waiter came with our orders. I thanked him so he could be dismissed quickly, and we began to eat in uncomfortable silence.

Every once in a while, I’d glance at Aurora and see that she had barely eaten anything. She just kept moving her food around her plate.

“Aurora. I really mean it. I will do everything to win your forgiveness and for you to accept me as your mate once again.”

“Let’s just go back. I’m really tired,” she said.

I wanted to protest and make her eat a bit more, but I didn’t want her feeling obligated to do things because I told her to. I wasn’t going to do that to her ever again.

I signaled the waiter to pack the food and paid before leaving.

We were on our drive back to the pack's territory. Aurora had her head and arm leaning against the car door as she looked out.

“Tell me something, Wolfgang. When did you start to desire me? Was it when you realized I could be the heir to the Moon Goddess?” She asked and caught me off guard.

I must have looked like a fish out of water, with my mouth opening and closing. I was momentarily at a loss for words as I brought the car to a screeching stop.

We were in the middle of a lonely road surrounded by the forest on the outskirts of our territory.

“I know already. I heard your conversation with Gamma Remus,” she said.

“What are you even talking about, Aurora? What conversation?” I asked, confused, as I did my best to keep an eye on traffic.

“The one where you told him you were only interested in me because you think I might be a Descendant of the Moon. Tell me, Wolfgang. Is it really important for you to only gain power?”

She looked at me. Or more precisely, glared. This woman really hated me.

“I’d never…” I tried arguing back, but she cut me off.

“Look, Wolfgang. Quit this bullshit act of being in love with me and wanting to be with me. We both know it’s a lie. You confirmed it yourself that day.

“You have no interest in me, aside from maybe becoming the alpha king. But I have a newsflash for you buddy. It’s never gonna happen. I will never take you as my mate. I’d rather die mateless.”

She opened the door and jumped out of the car, dashing into the forest. Her white fur was the only thing I could see in the middle of the thick bushes as she shifted before sprinting in the back to our land.