The Beta's Justice

Chapter 19

Audrey's POV

I sat at the desk in my room. Training for the day had just finished. I heard gossip that Leon had finally gone to Nova's and that he had taken her out on a date. I let out a sigh as I tried to focus on the documents sitting on my desk.

"Working hard as usual," Darren said with a smile as he stood in the doorway.

I nodded. "Yup."

His brow creased for a moment and then he strode into the office. "What's wrong?" he asked as he took a seat across from me.

"I don't know. Nothing. Everything," I sighed and set down my pen. "I've been working like a dog for days. They even gave me an office to work out of, but I don't know. It feels like something is missing."

"I thought you were happy. I mean you were over the moon when they gave you this office."

"I was, I am. But that's all I do these days, work."

"Oh, I know what happened now. You heard the rumors about Leon taking Nova out and now you're feeling jealous." Darren observed.

"Yes... but not because I like him," I quickly added the last part.

He laughed for a moment before responding to me. "I know that," he chuckled again, as if the idea of me still being attracted to Leon was completely out of the question. I glared at him for even suggesting such a thing. "How much do you have left?"

"Almost done," I said as I looked down at the pile. I hadn't realized training special talented wolves would involve so much paperwork. Everyone wants to know everything that they are capable of and so I have to take detailed notes and turn them in. Then I have to make the schedule for training and the budget for the facility. As of right now, the pack is not ready to let them out to work among them. So, the money is on us. Then that means the budget is on me. I spread out the sheets and thought hard about whether I was done or not.

Before the numbers on the spreadsheets could draw me back in, I felt his hand on mine. "Come on, you need a break," he grinned as he stood and went around the desk. He stood behind me, placed his hands on my shoulders, and then started massaging them.

"A break sounds nice," I muttered as I struggled to stay aware of the world.

He leaned down, gently placed his hand under my chin, raised my face slightly, and then his lips were on mine. My heart quickened as he deepened the kiss. Then he pulled away. "That was a prelude to our date today," he told me as he pulled me from the chair. "Come on, you need a break."

"Yes, I need a break," I mumbled as he slid his hand into mine and he led me out of the office. How many more months must I wait? I tried to count, but I couldn't remember when my birthday was at the moment.

Then we were out the door of the packhouse, heading down the driveway. He guided me all the way to a small restaurant that appeared empty. "I think it's closed," I hesitated for a moment to follow him further.

"Yes, it's closed, but not to us," he smiled back at me.

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see," his grin widened and then he turned and we continued into the restaurant.

"Welcome Ms. Audrey and Mr. Darren. We were so delighted to receive your call," the hostess greeted us as soon as we stepped through the doors. "As per your request, a table has been prepared and the facilities have been cleared for your private dinner." She proceeded to lead us to the center of the room where a table sat waiting for us. It had a candelabra with three candles lit sitting in the center. It was accompanied by fine china and beautiful silver utensils.

"What is all this?" I asked as he pulled out a chair and waited for me to sit.

"Oh, this? Well, you've been working so hard that I wanted you to take a break away from people. I thought a quiet meal would do you some good," he said as he gently took my hand and sat me in the chair. "Order whatever you like." Just as he spoke, a waitress came around and handed me a menu.

Opening it, I glanced at the prices. Even though this is a restaurant on packlands, I don't think I have ever been here. "It's a bit pricey," I whispered, trying not to offend the staff or possibly the owner.

"It's all taken care of," he reassured me. "I know you're hungry, so let's order and eat." Just as he said that my stomach growled loudly.

"Okay," I said as I felt my cheeks redden from embarrassment.

We ordered and talked. We ate and talked. I had never been on a real date before. So, as far as dates go, I felt like this was going to be a hard one to top.

Nova's POV

I nearly had a heart attack when I heard the sirens and saw the lights. We had been joking. I never meant for him to actually be pulled over. Then the officer came over to the car. Leon was so calm and collected, while my hands and feet went cold and I felt like I was going to be sick. I hated getting into trouble. Then the officer leaned down and looked directly at me. I could see my own scared reflection in his glasses. His expression softened minutely, followed by words that relaxed me. He let him off with only a ticket.

We argued over who would pay for it after the officer was out of sight. Finally, I conceded and we were heading toward the café again. When we pulled up to it, I was awestruck. It was so nice. The garden was beyond beautiful, almost otherworldly. "Ready?" He asked as he waited for me to respond.

I nodded and took his hand. Pulling him into the café, I was again struck by the sleek beauty of the cafe's interior design. Then I saw them, all of them. Cakes, cookies, pastries, biscuits and so much more lined the shelves of the three display cases. "Take your time," he encouraged as he stepped up beside me. "We aren't in a rush."

I scanned each shelf carefully, trying to decide first which type I wanted and then which flavor would be best. I must have stood there staring for at least ten minutes, but Leon didn't once try to rush me to choose. Instead, he patiently waited until I stepped up to the counter to order.

"Good evening, what would you like to order?" asked the worker. The girl was slim and tall with long brown hair which was tied back in a high ponytail.

"I'd like to have a slice of red velvet cake with a vanilla milkshake," I told her, and then stepped aside for Leon to make his order.

Once he stepped up, the worker almost lit up at the sight of him. She leaned ever so slightly forward, letting him have a clearer view of her chest. "What can I get you?" She batted her eyelashes at him and even changed the tone of her voice ever so slightly.

When I looked at Leon, his gaze was trained on the menu above her head. He didn't even give her so much as a glance when he spoke. "I'll have a strawberry banana smoothie and a chocolate ice cream crepe."

"Would you like the bill together or separate?" Her gaze went to me briefly and I thought I saw hatred or was it jealousy?

"Together," he told her coolly as he handed her his card.

She rang up the order and slipped the card into the card reader before she handed it back to him along with a round plastic thing. "This will buzz when your order is ready."

"Thank you," he said as he took it from her hand, careful not to even touch her.

"Where do you want to sit?" he asked me.

I looked around and then decided that I wanted to go outside. "Outside."

"Outside it is then," he agreed, and we went to the side door that connected the café to the garden.

As we strode outside, I think we both came to the same realization. There was nowhere to sit. "Inside," I suggested, although I was a little sad. Inside was nice, but outside was so much better.

"Let's walk around. Maybe there is an open table hidden around here somewhere," he said as he began to walk.

I could help the smile that bloomed across my lips. He was trying so hard to make me happy. "Okay," I said as I walked alongside him.

He was right. A few minutes later, we came to an open table. It sat beneath a weeping willow. A gorgeous weeping willow. Twinkle lights hung with the leaves around the table. It was magical. Leon set the tray down on the table and then we both sat down. Peering around, I felt as though this date would never be topped.

"Let's eat," he said as he set my cake in front of me and my vanilla milkshake. He took his own off the tray.

I picked up my fork and took a bit of my red velvet cake. Placing it in my mouth, the taste exploded and I couldn't help the quiet moan that escaped. "Good, huh?" He chuckled.

"Very," I responded, feeling embarrassed.

"I'm glad," he smiled as he took a bite of his crepe.

We sat in silence for a few minutes as we consumed our desserts. Although I finished my food and drink before he did. Then I felt a longing to try the smoothie and crepe. Without a word, he slid both over to me. "Try mine."

"Oh, I couldn't. I didn't let you try any of mine." I worried he would think I was greedy.

"Don't worry about it," he smiled as he tried to ensure me it would be okay.

"Well, if you insist," I gave him a small smile as I picked up my fork and took a bite of his chocolate ice cream crepe. Then I tried his strawberry banana smoothie. It was all delicious. "So good," I hummed.

"I'm so glad you love it all so much."

"I do. I really do," I told him as I took another bite.

"Then why don't you finish it," he offered.

"Aren't you still hungry?"

"No, I've already eaten too much. You'd be doing me a favor," he said. I knew he was only telling me this so that I wouldn't feel guilty that I wanted to eat everything. It was all so good. If I could live here, then I would.

"If you insist," I said as I took the plate and pulled it towards myself. Within a few minutes, I had finished both the crepe and smoothie.

When I looked up at him, I saw a huge smile spread across his lips. He appeared happy. Genuinely happy. "Thank you," I said to him.

"Are you all done?" he asked, as though he thought I would want more.

"Very much so." At this point, I thought my stomach was ready to explode.

He collected the dishes and placed them on the tray. Standing, he picked up the tray but didn't move toward the café until I was at his side. We walked back inside and he placed the tray on the counter at the front next to the register where it indicated that trays were to be dropped off. Before I knew it, we were back in the car and leaving. I felt a pang of sadness. The date was over. It all happened too fast.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he reached over and took my hand.

"Nothing."

"It's something. I can feel it."

"It's silly," I mumbled, feeling embarrassed that I was sad over our date ending.

"Come on. It can't be that silly," he said as we turned onto the street that would take us to my house.

I let out a sigh. "The date is over," I whispered, keeping my eyes on his hand and mine.

He didn't laugh. Instead, he pulled the car off to the side of the road and put it in park. "Don't be sad. This isn't the last date. It's only the first," he assured me.

Still, I felt ridiculous and wasn't sure I would feel less if I looked him directly in the eyes. "It's not the last," he whispered again.

He began to take his hand from mine to put the car in drive again, but I didn't let go. Finally, I raised my gaze to meet his. He looked so happy. Then it happened like my body had a mind of its own. I leaned over and kissed him. As soon as our lips touched, electricity zipped through my body. It was like magic.