I was sitting on my bed reading when Xander came in, "Hey Izzy," He tucks his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He was staring at me very intently, "I wanted to ask you something."
I tilted my head in curiosity.
"I need to do some Alpha business for a while, but if you're okay with it, I would like to take you out tonight."
I sat dumbfounded, "Y-You mean...like a date?" I said hesitantly and nervously.
Xander smirks, "Yeah, but only if you're feeling up to it. I'd understand if you didn't want to right now."
Then I realised that we actually haven't had a date yet. And then it dawned me...I've never had a date in my life! This is my very first date! Wait! Oh my life! I don't have a dress! The anxiety slowly seeped into my mind.
Wait...do I even want to go on this date? I mean, am I really being too easy? Or am I being too hard if I don't go on it? I was confused as to what to decide. Most of me wanted to not go just because of my pride. I didn't want him to think getting me was that easy, but then what if at the end of it all...I may choose him? And then all the stupid hard stuff that I did was all just a waste of time?
I internally groaned. I'm over-thinking this. All he wants is a date so than we can get to know each other. I admit, I have noticed him genuinely changing. I found myself admiring aspects of his character and personality, as well as beginning to feel even more attracted to him. One date wouldn't be harmful, right? And besides, it'd not like we're going to seal the deal tonight. It's just date. One date. My first date...ever. SHIT! I'm Nervous!
"I don't exactly have anything date worthy to wear?" I said
Xander digs something out of his jeans pocket. He throws me a gold card, "Ask the girls to take you shopping. Buy anything you want."
I froze. No ones ever let me but anything before. I frowned at him confused. "Are you serious?" Was he joking, "You're lending me your gold card? Do you realise what you're doing?"
He chuckles, "I know exactly what I'm doing. Don't worry about the money, I want you buy anything you want. As long as you feel beautiful in it, wear it."
I crossed my arms, "I don't want to buy anything, I just want to go like this," I said in my sweat pants and oversized hoodie.
Xander shrugs, "If you want to. You can wear whatever the hell you want, Izzy, but either way, I'm taking you on a date no matter what you're wearing."
I gulped and looked down at the card. I'm gonna buy something. I sat there in a shock, "You just gave me your gold card." I said again.
He laughs and nods his head, "Well I didn't give it to you just to look at it. Get your ass up and go buy whatever you want."
Xander turned to leave.
"Wait!" I exclaimed abruptly.
Xander stops and turns around.
I slowly stood from the bed and used one crutch to approach Xander. I gulped nervously before saying, "Thank you Xander, I've never done anything like this."
He tilts his head, "Shopping?"
I shook my head, "No...receiving a gift. I just want you to know that I am thankful. And I won't take it for granted." Memories of me being a slave to my step mother came to mind. I was more like a pet than anything else. But seeing where I have come from and to what I'm doing now, I will always be grateful that I'm away from that wretched woman.
Xander's eyes reflected a short moment of anger before softening, "You will never have to go wanting, Lily. You want something, tell me, and I will get it for you."
I nod my head silently as we stared at each other.
Xander coughs in his hand, "Well I need to do some Alpha business. Enjoy your day out and I'll see you tonight."
When he left, I quickly change into my casual dress with some white conserve and jeans jacket.
I hobbled down stairs and see the girls baking something. By the smell of it, it doesn't seem like they are doing well.
"Girls!" I squeal. They all turn their heads towards me. I hold up Xander's Gold Card. All of them squeal and scream, "SHOPPING!"
"Do you realise the power that you have right now?" they said.
1 HOUR LATER...
My feet are aching, my one crutch is hurting my shoulder and I still haven't found ANYTHING! The feeling of hopelessness seeps into me and I didn't feel like doing this anymore. My passion and motivation has left the building!
"Guys I thinks I just have to tell Xander to cancel. We can't find anything." I said sighing.
They all look at me like I'm crazy.
"You cannot give up! This is your first date for goodness sake! Put a little effort into it gurl!"
I hold my hands up in surrender,"Whoa sorry Avery! I didn't know you took this so seriously."
She rolls her eyes and turns back to the rack of dresses.
Just as I was about to give up, something light catches my eyes.
I walk slowly towards it. I push back the other dresses to find a beautiful short, flowy white dress. Looking at it closely, I could tell, it was perfect.
It's perfect. I take it to the girls and ask what they thought. But before I could ask they all squeal, "That's perfect!"
Thank the Lord I found something!
"Now for the heels."
We walk off in search for the perfect heels for this perfect dress.
We walk into our 7th store. We split up to try and find my perfect heels faster.
Something shiny blinds me for a bit. I turn and see perfect white and diamond heels. It was calling to me as if I was it's mother. I have to buy and adopt it as my child! It had a creamy lace covering and a strap on the ankle. It's so perfect that I can't even deal!
The girls agreed to it. So then I buy it! I never knew how much fun this was! I've been missing out on so much.
When we get home it's 4:00 PM. The girls pushed me into the shower, babbling on about how we don't have time, when we have two and a half hours.
In the shower there is a range of body washes, shampoos and conditioners.
I chose the sweet tropical mango exfoliate because I'm just cool like that haha.
For the shampoo, I decided to mix it up a bit. I chose the Strawberry scent. After that i chose a different scent of conditioner. That way I won't smell like more than one plain simple scent. I chose the sweet coconut scent.
While that soaked in my hair, I scrub my dry skin like how a sculptor would sand marble till it's shiny and smooth.
I then shave every inch of my body. Well, every inch that needs shaving anyway.
By the time I step out of the bathroom it's 4:30 PM.
The girls have all of their beauty requirements laid out on the bed. I started to get more nervous when some of them looked kinda dangerous.
"It's time to doll you up girl!" Zapora squeals.
They blow dried my hair and curled the ends. With my make up, they slightly contoured my cheekbones, temples and nose. They gave me a brown smokey eye with a slight wing of the eyeliner. Then they brushed on some professional make up mascara that made my lashes look fake...apparently. I'm not allowed to see myself until it's all done.
They gave me nude, matte lipstick with a tiny tiny bit of lip balm for a natural shine to it.
"YOU'RE DONE!"
I stand up and look at the mirror. Hot damn! I actually look...hot? Whoa this girl in the mirror is not me. I turn around and look at my ass, it looks fine!
"You look sexy!"
"You look gorgeous!"
"You look to die for IZZY!"
They all say at once.
"Elizabeth! Xander is waiting!" I hear Mrs Nightwalker say.
"Good luck, girl!" The girls shouted before rushing out of the room.
I was left standing in front of the full length mirror. I am so nervous. There are butterflies in my stomach.
"It'll be fine. This is normal. I'm okay. Stop freaking out Elizabeth! You look fine" I mumble. In movies, little pep talks usually works. Yeah. it didn't for me.
I take a deep breathe. This is it.
I walk down the stairs with my crutch. Once Xander comes into view, I see his eyes widen with lust. And oh my life! He is one damn sexy man in a suite. He looks freaking gorgeous! His suit is all black except for his dress shirt and tie. Which are white and cream grey colour. Making him look mysterious.
Hot damn!
I walk up to Xander a little shyly. He smiles cheekily at me. His hand gently takes mine and he presses his lips on it. His eyes looks up at me and he says, "You look stunning, Izzy. absolutely beautiful."
I smile, but bashfully look down,"Thank you. You too."
He chuckles. Oh my gosh please tell me I didn't say that?
I felt my cheeks go red and my emotions becoming flustered, "I meant Handsome! You look really Handsome Xander!"
He chuckles, "I know, it's fine."
I laughed nervously and look down. This whole date thing has got me shaking like a leaf and sweating like pig.
Xander raises my head with his finger tucked underneath my chin, "Before we go, I have one thing to ask...do you feel beautiful tonight?"
I couldn't believe he was asking such a thing. It was hard to believe that he cared about how I was feeling about myself. However, I didn't feel as bad because I answered, "Yes. I do feel beautiful." You make me feel beautiful...
He nods his head confidently, "Good. Because you are beautiful." He offers his arm, "Now, shall we go?"
I smiled and shook my head as I took his arm.
***
We've been driving for about 10 minutes now.
"So where are we going?" I ask.
Xander shakes his head, "It's a surprise."
I look out the window. We are in the woods. Then it comes to view. There is a big white gazebo. Oh my gosh. There are white roses and fairy lights wrapped around the wooden columns.
Oh my gosh! How the heck did he do this? In the middle of the woods?!
There are beautiful unique carvings in on the columns. Little swirl designs that grow bigger and bigger as it swirls up the gazebo. This must have taken all day!
"Wait. Was this the 'alpha business' you had to do all day?"
"Yes it was. I had to make some kind of excuse. And then I distracted you with my card. Typical girl." He mumbles.
I shook my head and laughed, "Well it definitely worked...but I am no typical girl Mr Nightwalker."
"What ever you say sweetheart. What ever you say."
I laugh starting to feel more relaxed. Xander climbs out of the car, walks around he car to my aide, and opens my door.
He offers his hand. I take it and he helps me climb out.
He then bows down, "Your dinner awaits princess Elizabeth." He says in British accent.
I smile, "Why thank you Prince Xander." I say in a posh English accent
He laughs as he guides me to the gazebo. His hand is warm on my lower back.
He pulls out a seat for me and I sit down softly. Then he sits on the other side facing me.
"So...how are you?" I ask.
Xander laughs, "Please don't make this awkward Izzy."
"What!" I said innocently, "It was just a simple question!"
"I am...fine?" He answered with more of a question.
I raised my brow in question, "Are you telling me if you're fine? Or you're not?"
He waves it off casually as if it meant nothing, "It's just some alpha stuff. I don't want to lay it all on you during our time here. Tonight is supposed to be fun and light."
I rolled my eyes, "Xander me getting to know you is also knowing your struggles. We are supposed to be equals. That means we have to share the burdens we have as well, so than
We're not carrying them all on our own."
Xander stares for a moment, contemplating in his head before succumbing to my wishes. With a tired sigh he said, "My father was going to give me an arranged marriage if I didn't find my mate by February 1st. But the thing is I found you on February 2nd. But the alpha of the pack, who is the father of the girl I was supposed to marry, want me to honour my word."
I stilled slightly, I can't breath for a second. So he was kind of already engaged?
No he wasn't! It was a deal.
Said my wolf.
"And so what's happening now?" I asked cautiously, wait...is this like a I'm sorry but I can't be with you date? Oh my gosh is it!
"The father still wants me to marry his daughter and is pressing on me to do so."
"And what are you going to do?" I ask hesitantly.
He smiles knowingly, "I am obviously not going through with it."
I internally sigh in relief which kind of surprised me. I was still thinking about saying yes to him, but the thought of him being with someone else seemed to stress me out.
"I am just trying to figure out how to settle this," He continued, "The father, Alpha Kendrick, wants me to marry his daughter, but I don't want to. So I'm just trying to find a middle ground."
"This is purely from an outsiders perspective," I said respectfully, "But, I think you need to relax for a bit. Did you know the brain doesn't fully function properly past 8:00 PM? That's why there are so many crazy things happening at night because people don't think. So I think that you shouldn't push your mind to find a solution. I know you're alpha and you obviously have serious responsibilities, but at the end of the day, you're just one wolf. And me thinks that you even a big bad alpha such as yourself needs a break now and again."
His eyes shine with such admiration. he chuckles, "Maybe I should listen to you more."
I hold my shoulders back and lift my head higher, "Maybe you should. Your life would certainly be better."
He doesn't break eye contact as he stares at me intensely, "With you in my life, it certainly would be better."
A waiter suddenly pops out of no where and gave me a small steak meal, which I totally utterly loved!
"This food is amazing!" I said I took a bite.
Xander swallowed his food and said, "I'm glad you like it so much. I was hoping you would. I chose it very carefully."
My eyes wondered around the gazebo. It was so beautiful.
"So you're pretty good with your hands." I said.
Xander's eyes follows where I was looking and scoffs, "I guess. I like building stuff, creating things. It keeps my mind busy from the things I don't want to think about."
I pushed the pieces of my salad around as I asked, "So what're you trying to avoid thinking?"
I could see Xander was getting a little tense, he tensed his jaw, almost reluctant to say something. His chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath, "I try to avoid the memories of decisions I made in my life."
I nod my head understandingly.
"Do you ever do that? Think of something bad or something you regret and just...try to ignore it?" Xander asks.
I leaned back in my chair, "I guess. I used to always have this fantasy about running away and never looking back, only ahead to the sun."
"What did you want to run away from?"
I snickered, "Life? My life, was not how I wanted it. My father was never home, he resented me after my mother died. He remarried this female wolf from a different pack that had twin sons from her previous relationship."
Xander's expression was serious, "That doesn't sound like the life that suits you."
I smiled, "No it doesn't. My new stepmother wasn't the nicest person. Neither was my brother Vince. He was the guy you saw me with in the woods the first time we met...well the first time in a while."
Xander's eyes looked down at his hands, "I can be a very violent man. I did bad things I wasn't proud of it and I don't want to be violent when I'm around you, Elizabeth, but beating up Vince is one of the few acts of violence that I would never regret."
I stayed silent. We both did.
"I'm glad I'm not in that life now. I just miss my brother, Eddie. He was the only person that would protect me from everything."
Xander nods his head. He was silent for a moment as if making an internal decision, "I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't want to give you hope where there might be none."
I tilt my head in question.
"A few weeks ago, I sent some of my best warriors to search for him."
My eyes widened and my pulse quickened, "You ordered that? For me?"
Xander leans back in his chair, "For you...I'd do anything." He says honestly.
I stared into Xander's vulnerable eyes and for the first time...I saw him. I saw the boy I met all those years ago.
I grabbed the obsidian necklace and played with it, "Do you remember when we first met?"
Xander's stare was fixated on my face. He replies in a husky voice, "I relive that day often."
"Why didn't you come back?" I asked in a manner that felt exposing to me, but I felt I need to do it, "Why couldn't you have come find me and we could've....." I couldn't finish my sentence. I didn't know if I was overstepping a boundary.
Xander gulps. His eyes changed. They reflected regret and longing, "I wanted to...so badly. In my darkest days, I would go back to that memory over and over again. I would create this fantasy that I was a good man...a man that was worthy of you," Xander pauses and clenches his jaw, like it was difficult to get the words out, "And that I would find you and you would be happy at what you saw."