The Beta's Justice

Chapter 18

Leon's POV

Idiot. I'm an i***t. Why didn't I give her the dress sooner? I wanted to go back in time. Now here I am handing her a bag with a dress and telling her to change in the bathroom. i***t.

"I'll be right back," she gave me a tight smile as she stood. I looked over her outfit. She was wearing washed-out blue jeans and a simple black top, but when I looked around the restaurant, I could understand her discomfort. All the other women were dressed more formally. Not quite ballgowns with tiaras, but dresses and heals.

"No, wait," I said as I grabbed her hand. "We can go to another restaurant. Don't change in the bathroom," I told her. The guilt was eating away at me along with Blaze, giving me a headache.

Then I saw it. Her smile changed. The tightness was gone. "I'll change," she said as she slipped her hand from mine and headed to the bathroom.

I took my seat and waited for her to return. Still, I felt like an i***t. Then I saw her. She came strolling out in a beautiful knee-length black dress. She had pulled her hair half up and now wore a silver necklace. She sat down across from me. "You look stunning," I said, feeling in awe of her. "Not that you didn't look amazing before," I rushed to add. I couldn't have her thinking I didn't appreciate her beauty all the time.

I watched as her cheeks reddened again. It caused my smile to widen. She sat down, setting the bag down under the table. Her eyes went to the menu and I watched as worry creased her brow. "Maybe we should go elsewhere," she said as she closed the menu.

"Why?" I asked, confused. Then it dawned on me. The price. "Don't look at the price. I've got it all covered," I tried to reassure her.

"But it's so expensive," she worried.

"Please, this is a date. Let me worry about the money and you just worry about what you want to eat," I said as I reached across the table to take her hand.

She let out a sigh before she pulled her hand away and opened the menu again. "Anything?" She asked as she looked over at me with a small smile.

"Anything," I agreed.

"Okay," her smile widened as she peered back down at the menu.

I could feel it, all of it, through the mate bond. I wondered if she could feel it too. If she knew what she was feeling. Before my thoughts could spiral anymore, Blaze spoke. "Make a move," he urged. He was tired of waiting. He wanted his mate back. He wanted to see her.

"We can't just make a move," I snapped at him. I was on edge and his emotional overload was about to push me over it.

"We can't, of course not, but you can," he grumbled.

"Stop! I can't think with all your badgering and emotional overload," I told him.

"I haven't been talking that much," he countered.

"You have been mumbling in the back of my mind for the last hour, making it hard for me to keep my thoughts straight," I explained angrily.

"I have not," he muttered.

"You have. Now let me try and woe our mate. The right way." I tried putting my foot down.

"Fine, but don't fail," he grumbled as he slipped away to the back of my mind.

I looked up at Nova, who was peering at me curiously. "Were you talking with your wolf?" She questioned.

"Yes," I suddenly felt bad that I had let Blaze distract me. "Sorry, Blaze could be a little demanding," I told her.

"Blaze?"

"My wolf's name is Blaze."

"Mine is called Ski."

"That's a pretty name," I commented.

"I think so too," she smiled at me.

Our conversation died down. Then she averted her gaze down to the menu. "We should probably order soon or they might try to kick us out," she said.

"Yes, we should," I agreed as I opened my own menu.

After a few moments, a waitress came by. "Looks like you two are ready to order. What can I get you?" She asked as she pulled out a notepad and pen.

"I'd like a steak and mashed potatoes," Nova told her.

"And for you?" She turned her attention to me.

"I'll have a steak as well, but with a side of fries instead," I ordered.

"And to drink?"

"Water."

"A water for me as well," I added.

"Okay, I'll bring your drinks out in a moment and your food will be done shortly. If you need anything else, feel free to call me over," she informed us before she turned and left.

We were left alone, again. "Audrey told me that there are many wolves with unique abilities." She was trying to start a conversation which gave me hope that she wanted to be here and be part of my life.

"Yes, there are quite a few of them. They all have different abilities as well," I agreed with what Audrey had told her.

"What kinds of abilities?"

"Some can fly, others can manipulate earth. There are even a few who can grow plants while others can use wind. It's actually kind of amazing. But some of the pack is worried," I told her.

"Why are they worried? That sounds so amazing," she looked over at me in awe.

"It's more of the fear of the unknown. Many think that they may turn on us. They are even more afraid because Audrey, Darren, and the twins are helping to train them. Then they are a bit mad at me for allowing them to build a new training and living quarters designed to help them live and train," I finally stopped, feeling like I had just word vomited all over her.

She didn't appear fazed though. "That's understandable, I suppose. Maybe there is something we can do to take that fear away."

"I'm open to suggestions," I encouraged her.

"Well, it feels kind of childish, but maybe an open house of sorts?"

"So, we would allow the pack to go into the new training facility and residents' space?"

"Well, maybe not the residence space. That may feel a bit intrusive for the wolves living in them. But definitely the training part. Maybe even a show of strength to help them see that they are in control and mean no harm." Her brow was creased as she seemed to play the event theoretically out in her mind.

"I suppose that could work. However, it could also show wolves that they could be a threatening force," I responded. Her idea was good, but it could backfire.

"At this point, anyone who is against or afraid of the wolves will remain like that if they are set on not changing. So, it won't hurt. I believe that those who are afraid simply because of rumors will be put at ease," she told me, her expression steadfast.

"You are right," I conceded. "I will set that up. Would you like to help?" I asked. I hoped maybe she would. It would be a great way to do something that a Luna would do and she would be able to learn from my mother how to put on an event.

She was quiet for a moment, thinking. Before she could respond, the food was served. She appeared to be waiting until the waitress left the table. "What would I need to do?"

"I'm not exactly sure, but I'm sure my mother, Luna Lily, will have plenty of ideas."

"So would I be helping your mother?" She appeared nervous.

"Yes, but there is no need to be afraid of her. She is an amazingly kind Luna," I tried to reassure her.

"I'll think about it," she told me.

"Let's eat," I said, trying to give her an out of this conversation.

"Yes, let's," she smiled as she began to cut into her steak. I watched as she took her first bite. She let out a small sigh, more like a hum.

"I'm glad you like it," I grinned as I dug into my food.

"Oh no, I don't like it. I love it," she said as she took another bite. She appeared as though she were eating the most delicious steak ever cooked.

As we continued to eat, we talked about more mundane things, such as when the school would be reopened and how her family was doing. I did my best to stir the conversation away from my family, especially my father. Once we finished eating, we left and got back into my car.

"Dessert?" I asked as I buckled myself into my seat.

"What do you have in mind?"

"A dessert café," I suggested. Her eyes lit up.

"Yes!" She nearly squealed.

"Okay," I chuckled. "I guess our next stop is a dessert café."

"Yea! I'm so excited," she said, grinning happily. "What kinds of desserts do you have?"

"There are so many different kinds of desserts, like cookies, cakes, pies and more," I tried to remember what they served, but it had been a few months since I had even been there.

"How far away is it?" She was nearly jumping out of her chair.

"Maybe another five minutes," I answered her.

"Can you go faster?"

"You really love desserts, don't you?"

"I guess I do," she grinned as she looked from the front window to the side one.

"Okay, I'll go a little faster, but if I get pulled over you pay for the ticket, deal?"

"Deal!" She responded without hesitation.

Laughing, I pushed the car to go faster. She laughed harder the harder I pressed the gas, which encouraged me to speed along the road. Then it happened, sirens lit up behind us and the sound of the police car echoed behind us. Quickly, I slowed and pulled my car off to the side of the road. The police car was parked in my rear. The passenger and driver's doors opened with two cops stepping out of the car. One came around to my window while the other walked around the car with his flashlight on, inspecting the car.

Rolling down my window, I waited for the officer to speak first. "Do you know how fast you were going?" he questioned me as he looked disapprovingly down at me.

"Fast," I gave him a sheepish smile.

"Too fast. You were going thirty over the speed limit. I should take your license," he stated as he leaned down to look into my car. Seeing Nova, he seemed to change his mind. "Since your lady friend appears so scared, I'll just be giving you a ticket. License and registration please," he said as he stretched out his hand waiting for me to hand over the documents.

Quickly, I reached into the glove department and pulled out the registration documents and then my license from my wallet. I handed them to him and watched as he walked back to the police car. "Guess, I owe you for the ticket," Nova said, her voice quiet. She sounded worried. Was she scared that I would be mad?

"Guess so," I looked over and gave her a smile in an attempt to put her at ease.

"How much do you think it'll be?" She was still on edge.

"Nothing," I told her.

"Nothing?" She peered at me confused.

"Nothing because I was and would never let you pay for the ticket. It was only a joke," I said, hoping she would relax.

"Oh, but I'm the one that told you to go faster. It's only right that I pay," she was insisting, but I could tell she was worried about the cost.

Before I could respond, the officer returned. He handed me back my license and registration, which was accompanied by a yellow ticket. "Next time, keep an eye on the speedometer," he warned me.

We were both silent until the police car disappeared into the distance. "Let me see." She reached for the yellow sheet, but I pulled it out of reach.

"I am paying for it. I did invite you out after all, therefore I pay for all expenses," I informed her.

She let out a huff. "Fine."

"Good, now that it's been settled, off to the dessert café once more," I declared cheerfully.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course," I grinned.

"Well, okay then," she agreed.

I let out a quick sigh of relief and then pulled the car back onto the road and headed to the café. This was not been the date I had planned or expected. It felt as though everything was going wrong. First dinner, then a speeding ticket. Hopefully, the dessert café will make up for the rather rough start and middle parts of the date.

Soon we were pulling into the dessert café parking lot. The building was stone-faced with a beautiful garden to the right which took up most of the property. Seating was scattered over it under the strings of lights that went from branch to branch. It was beautiful. I hoped she felt the same.