Chapter 9
1413 Words
Aurora’s POV
I leaned against the back of my door the moment I stepped inside. My chest rose and fell too fast. All I could think about was running into Liam in the hallway earlier.
“Why did I have to see him?” I whispered.
My heart was still racing, the same wild beat it always did whenever he got too close. I hated it. I hated how my body still remembered him.
“He is still our mate,” my wolf said softly inside my head.
“That isn’t possible,” I muttered. “We broke the bond the day we signed those papers. The Moon Goddess wouldn’t be that cruel… would she?”
A sharp sting on my leg pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked down and saw the small cut I had given myself earlier while shaving in a hurry. I had been so excited about tomorrow’s date with Lucian that my hand shook.
I sighed, walked to the bathroom, and gently rubbed the cream on the cut. When I came back to my room, my phone buzzed on the bed.
It was a message from Emette.
Hey, I’ll be back in three days. Can we meet? I miss you.
A warm smile touched my lips. I quickly typed back that I couldn’t wait to see him, then dropped the phone and lay on my bed.
But my mind didn’t stay on Emette for long. Tomorrow kept playing in my head—my first real date. I had already picked a dress. The thought made my cheeks feel warm. Still smiling, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
The next evening, I stood in front of the mirror and frowned.
“This looked so much better in my head,” I mumbled.
The soft blue dress I had chosen now felt wrong. Too tight in some places, too loose in others. I tried on three more dresses, one after another, but each one made me feel worse. Nothing looked right. My stomach twisted with nerves.
This is a disaster.
“Whatever you wear looks good on you, Aurora,” my wolf said gently. “You’re just nervous. You want to look perfect for him.”
She was probably right. My hands were shaking as I finally picked a simple cream-colored dress with tiny flowers along the hem. It wasn’t fancy, but it felt… me. I brushed my hair one last time, took a deep breath, and stepped outside.
My ride was already waiting.
The drive to the restaurant took thirty minutes. When we arrived, my eyes widened. The place was beautiful—soft golden lights, tall glass windows, and flowers everywhere. It looked expensive. My heart beat faster as I walked in.
“Reservation, ma’am?” the lady at the front asked with a polite smile.
“Aurora,” I said quietly.
She checked her screen and nodded. “You can go in.”
I stepped inside and froze. The restaurant was almost empty. Only a few tables had people, and soft music played in the background. I chose a table near the window and sat down, folding my hands in my lap.
Minutes passed. Then more minutes.
Lucian still wasn’t here.
I bit my lip and stared at my phone. Maybe he forgot… The thought made my chest feel tight. This was my first real date. I didn’t want it to end before it even started.
“Aurora, I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting.”
His voice came from behind me, warm and a little out of breath. I turned and saw Lucian walking toward me, holding a small bouquet of white roses. My cheeks grew hot.
He stopped in front of the table and smiled at me, eyes soft. “Traffic was worse than I thought. I didn’t mean to make you wait.”
“It’s okay,” I said shyly, looking down at my hands. “I didn’t mind.”
Lucian sat across from me and gently placed the roses in front of me. “These are for you. I saw them and thought they looked as delicate as you.”
I touched the soft petals, my heart fluttering. No one had ever given me flowers before. “Thank you,” I whispered. “They’re beautiful.”
The waiter came over, and I ordered fries without ketchup, my voice small. Lucian tilted his head, curious.
“You don’t like ketchup?” he asked.
I shook my head, feeling a little silly. “It tastes weird to me. I’ve always hated it. Is that strange?”
Lucian smiled, not mocking at all. “Not strange at all. Everyone has their own tastes. I like knowing what you like.”
We talked quietly. He asked me simple questions—about my favorite color, the books I read, the little things that made me smile. He listened like every word mattered. When he told me I looked pretty tonight, my face burned and I could only manage a tiny “Thank you.”
The waiter returned with my fries, but they had ketchup on the side. I didn’t want to cause trouble, so I quickly said, “It’s fine. I can just push it away.”
Lucian shook his head gently. “No, it’s not fine.” He looked at the waiter. “Could you please bring her a fresh plate without any ketchup? She doesn’t like it.”
The waiter nodded and took the plate away.
I stared at Lucian, surprised. “You didn’t have to do that…”
“Yes, I did,” he said softly, eyes warm on mine. “You should never have to settle or stay quiet when something isn’t right. Not even for something small like ketchup.” He gave me a small smile. “Besides, I want tonight to be perfect for you.”
My heart did a little flip. I looked down at the roses again, a shy smile tugging at my lips. For the first time, I felt seen. Special.
And when the new fries came—plain, just the way I liked them—I couldn’t stop smiling.
Lucian watched me eat the fries with a small smile on his face. The restaurant felt quieter now, like the whole world had stepped back, leaving just the two of us and the soft music playing in the background.
After a moment, he leaned forward a little. “Aurora… have you ever thought about going on a trip with someone?”
I blinked, my fry halfway to my mouth. The question caught me off guard. “A trip?” I repeated softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded, eyes gentle. “With me. Just for a few days. Somewhere nice and peaceful. We could get to know each other better, away from everything here.”
My heart started racing. I stared at him, feeling my cheeks grow warm. Traveling with him? Alone? The idea made my stomach twist in a strange way—part nervous, part scared. I had never done anything like that before. Not with anyone.
“I… I don’t think I can,” I said quietly, looking down at my plate. My fingers twisted the edge of the napkin in my lap. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be mad at me.”
Lucian reached across the table and lightly touched my hand. His touch was warm and careful, like he didn’t want to frighten me. “Hey, I’m not mad,” he said softly. “Not even a little. I told you before—you should always speak up for what you want. Even if it’s saying no to me. That’s important.”
I looked up at him through my lashes, surprised by how kind his voice sounded. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t pushing. That made the knot in my chest loosen just a bit.
“Maybe next time,” he continued with a small smile. “When you feel ready. And maybe… when you agree to be my girlfriend.”
My eyes widened. The word “girlfriend” hung in the air between us. Before I could even find my voice or understand what he meant, a waiter appeared beside our table carrying a silver tray.
On the tray sat a small plate with a beautiful slice of chocolate cake. Written carefully on the plate in delicate white chocolate were the words:
Would you be my girlfriend?
- Writer
