380 Perfect Mate
The day proceeded with paintball, lunch... and, after Jasonâs relentless requests, a few video games that Sandra was not familiar with. The hunter was reluctant at first and when she accepted, she took the time to adjust. Before Jason knew it, she was putting up a fight.
Her instincts as a hunter didnât let her down when it came to combat it seemed. Even when that combat took place in a virtual world. Sandra found the feeling of victory much more rewarding than sheâd initially anticipated. After all, it was the first time the girl was actually getting to defeat her mate in something combat related.
Sandra later urged him to take the day slower... His tension had not gone unnoticed. Jason obliged, cancelled the storm of other activities he had planned and took her to the park where they found a table set with tea and refreshments, steam rolling off the rims of the cups that had been set for them.
Sandra looked about them in search of Jasonâs little helpers but was at a loss. They were just that good at hiding. Before taking a seat, the man peeked under her sunhat, âI know the weather is fine today, after a long period of time without the sun, but do you have to hide your face from me?â
Sandra smiled, finally taking the hat off and placing it on the table, âSince you wouldnât stop whining, I guess Iâll have it off for the rest of the day.â
Jason was quick to give her a kiss on the cheek before flashing her a dazzling smile, âHe just wants to kill me with charm today,â she mentally groaned, âThank you,â he replied, pulling her seat out for her. âDefinitely wants to destroy me...â the hunter silently lamented.
âDonât think I havenât noticed your helpers preparing something everywhere we went. I know you were ready-â she shuddered, â-far too ready for the paintball, but this was sudden. You couldnât have heard it all done that fast,â she gestured at the table.
âYouâre right about all of it. I had helpers. It would be next to impossible for us to go wherever we wanted without me giving some sort of order,â Jason laughed nervously, âI just wanted our date to be perfect.â
âYou donât have to go through all that trouble to impress a girl that already finds you impressive when you donât try,â Sandra smiled.
.....
âPerhaps Iâm only trying to match the perfection Iâve been graced with,â the man replied with a mischievous grin.
The girl chuckled. Having heard his compliments longer than anyone, she was learning to expect them when they came. He didnât seem capable of missing the chance, âPerhaps you should have worried more about who would be eating all this. I donât share my best friendâs appetite,â she chuckled, picking up a cup of tea.
The all-too-familiar scent of cinnamon overwhelmed her senses. There was no doubt the tea had been prepared to perfection, just the way she liked it. Jason was not taking any chances.
Not even when sheâd brought up the complaint about her dress getting messed up in their game of paintball. It felt too convenient for there to be a beauty salon not too far from the field for her to wash off and resume her dating outfit as if nothing had happened.
It soon dawned on Jason that she was going to take tea and nothing more. âThis reminds me of the time Cole was invited to a tea party with one of his suitors,â the man chuckled.
âOh, and what did he end up doing?â
âHmm, he had me deliver a letter of him declining her invitation. She was so mad at him. She all went, âWhoâs going to eat all this?â like sheâd meant to feed him until he was fat and couldnât walk,â Jason narrated.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Sandra couldnât hold her laughter, âI would see how this would remind you of that time. Iâm guessing you ate everything in his stead though.â
âNo werewolf could have been prepared for what she had made for Cole. It was more of a feast for a nation than a tea party. She took the phrase, âThe door to a manâs heart is his belly,â quite far too seriously,â he replied chuckling.
âIt should be. It would be a shame for you to reject my cooking,â Sandra sighed, the satisfied glint in her eye did not vanish while she faked taking a sip of her tea.
âYou can cook? Why havenât I had any of that before?â Jason asked, his face beaming at the idea of his mate making a meal. âWould it take good, divine... or would it be a demon spawn presented on a platter. Whatever Iâd eat it all without complaint. If itâs not good, she can get better, but that smirk tells me she knows how to cook.â The anticipation was slowly taking root in the beta alphaâs mind.
The two of them continued talking for the better part of the evening. Jason stopped trying to impress her exceedingly and returned to his usual normal self, cracking jokes and doing all he could to keep a smile on her face.
The conversation between the two of them flowed so naturally that it sometimes surprised Sandra. She thought of herself as a quiet person, but with Jason, she wasnât the same either. Her mind was more active and everything on her mind just came tumbling out with no end to it. She didnât have to think of what to say and felt comfortable speaking her mind in his presence. âIf only we could get stuck in moments like these,â she thought to herself.
Eventually, the sun made its steep descent over the horizon, bathing the sky with smooth crimson rays. The cool wind and the warmth of the evening sun commanded a slower conversation between the two of them.
Upon Jasonâs request, they had taken a stroll through the park and found a place where they could watch the sunset, âWatching the sunset on a date. Iâve read that a couple of times,â Sandra mentioned. Yet another one of the things she did that Katie never had the time for... Reading novels.
âIt might be, but Iâve had a phrase before that went... âSomething as simple only gets more beautiful when you watch it with someone you love,â Jasonâs words shocked the girl. Once more, he was going a little too deep with his compliments.
âYour compliments are coming off a bit strong today, donât you think?â Sandra hid her reddening face, wishing for her hat to return to her. It was much easier to hide her face under it. Unfortunately, theyâd left it at the table where theyâd been seated, no doubt intentionally.
âEither that or youâre finally starting to take them seriously. Iâve always meant everything Iâve said about you,â the man responded. Sandra couldnât help the rush that came over her. It was different when she wasnât trying to stop his advances. His words held more meaning now... They werenât the same occasional flirtatious lines heâd used on her since theyâd met.
Jason cupped her cheek and looked into her eyes, âI like around, calling myself âperfect,â but I couldnât have been granted a more perfect mate. I must be the luckiest beta alpha in the world.â
â...Someone wake me up right now...â Sandra swallowed. Jasonâs soft crimson gaze was so close to hers right now. â...This canât be real...â