My Own Destiny

Dinner Date

To say I was nervous was a drastic understatement. Training was one thing, but we were still around the pack and honestly, training with Jullian took me off guard, but tonight was an actual date.

We would be going into the human town for dinner, alone.

All through training I kept getting mixed vibes from Jullian. At times I liked him and at other moments he acted like a sexist pig.

Lunch was excruciatingly painful. Alpha Jacques would make a sexist comment and my father would chuckle along with the other males.

Once they left us for the tour, I had female things to do, or so I was told. I commented to Nate about Dad laughing at the horrid things Jacques said about females. Dad had always said mother was his equal, to laugh at those jokes was disrespectful.

Nate assured me father was just being polite to our guests, he did not want to ruffle any feathers, so to speak. What worried me more was Jullian sometimes let out a chuck or gave a smirk at the things his father said. This is my future mate and his father and Alpha of the pack I will one day belong to. Nate said he didn’t think Jullian was as bad as his father and I should not worry myself over these matters.

Once the mate bond has been completed between Jullian and I, Jullian would but like putty in my hands. I however, had my doubts.

The car ride to town was a little over forty minutes. We took the car Jullian and his father had arrived in. It looked quite expensive, it was black and rather large, and it smelled of leather.

There was music I was unfamiliar with playing softly on the radio as we drove without saying a word, until Jullian broke the uncomfortable silence.

“I think you should come back with my father and me when we leave tomorrow.” His words stunned me, tomorrow, he wants me to leave with him tomorrow?

I had trouble forming a coherent thought as my mind was racing with all the reasons I did not want to go.

I finally rangled my thoughts and my many emotions in to speak, “Why the sudden rush?” I asked, trying to not let my panic show.

He kept his eyes on the road.

“You need to be properly trained, your friend….” He said the word friend like it was a distasteful word, “He has done a decent job of training you, but now that we have officially met, I cannot have you continue your training with him.”

I was watching the side view of his face, “I don’t understand, what is wrong with his training me?”

I could see his jaw tighten, “You belong to me, and I cannot let you romp around with him in training.”

“Romp?”

‘What the hell is he talking about?’ I said to Mia.

‘Ohhh, he’s jealous of you being around Lucian.’

I turned in my seat as much as the seat belt would allow.

“I can stop training with him, but I assure you there is nothing s****l going on between Lucian and I.”

He glanced at me. “Its all about appearances, Aurora. I will not stand for you looking like you are involved with someone else. It’s not just the training. The word is, the two of you are together a lot.”

My frown deepened, “He is my best friend, hell he is my only friend outside my family.”

“So that will make it all the easier if you come back with us tomorrow.”

“Has my father agreed to this?” I asked, trying not to sound desperate.

“Not yet, but I will have my father convince him.”

“My father would never agree…”

He turned to give me another glance, “He will do as my father demands. You saw how he is towards my father, right? Even the least observant person could see how your father practically trips over himself to please my father.”

Okay, this wasn’t working. I needed a different approach.

“What if you have a fated mate out there somewhere?” I asked.

“I would have to reject her, as you would have to reject your mate, if you were to find them. Once our bond is in place, it would make it easier to reject our mates, but I am not too concerned.”

I sat forward, just watching the road.

“I will not be able to pack all my stuff to leave tomorrow.” I said matter of factly.

“Pack what you need for a few days, I will send others to pack the rest of your belongings.”

We had pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant and Jullian pulled into a space and parked.

I took a deep breath, “I understand your reasons for wanting me to return with you, but,” I started as he fixed a cold gaze on me. It made me shiver; this was not because he loved me or cared for me or even felt protective over me. This was simply that he felt I belonged to him, and he did not want others to see me associate with other males. It pissed me off more then anything else he or his father had done or said since being here.

“Give me a little time, just a couple weeks to get things in order for my departure.”

“What could you possibly have to take care of?”

I sighed, “You saw my sister, I have been remiss in looking after her well being. She has not been training as I have. I need to get her training, since I will no longer be training with Lucian, he can spend the time training her.” Then I looked down sadly, “I need a little time with her, things have been tense between us and I do not want to leave without our relationship being in a better place.”

I looked back up at him, giving him a sad look. One that I have used on my father countless times to get my way. I did not think Jullian cared enough about me in particular to make it work, but many Alpha’s have a weakness at wanting to protect females. I hoped my playing into this would get me a little time.

He sighed and looked away. I could see the irritation and knew that he was used to getting his way.

He turned back to me, meeting my eyes, searching mine. “One week, agree to one week and do not allow yourself to be alone with any male that is not of blood relation.”

I nodded my agreement.

We entered the restaurant and, thank the Goddess, most of the staff I saw were not here a couple of nights ago when Lucian and I were here. We sat, looking at the menu, although I didn’t need to. I knew what I wanted to eat.

After a few minutes, Jullian placed his menu down. “If you are so concerned for your sister, I bet my future Beta would absolutely adore her.”

The shock probably showed on my face, “She is only sixteen.”

Jullian shrugged, “He’d wait until she gets a little older.”

“I will not have a hand in making an arranged mating for my sister.”

Jullian gave me a smirk, “Really and why is that? Your parents arranged for your mating.”

I just shrugged, “Its different.”

“Why?” He paused.

“I have known since I was able to understand what a mate is. I was told all my life I would be mated to you so it has just been expected but to at the age of sixteen, have others decide on her mate, that feels wrong.”

Jullian laughed and shook his head. “You know when I first laid eyes on you, I was all set to fight my father with everything I had on this mating. But then we trained together and I realized that there was a lot more to you than a beautiful face.” Jullian leaned in closer to me, “And if you can really do partial shifts…..”

His eyes held a heat I had not seen before in his icy blue eyes, “Your mix of beauty and power excites my wolf.”

This was the first time that he had given any hint he was not a fan of our arranged mating.

“Why does your father want us mated?” I asked.

Jullian sat back in his seat. “I do not know. One night in a drunken haze he rambled on about it, how I had to be you, you would be a powerful Luna and my perfect match.”

“Anyway, you should consider my offer for your sister, my beta would take good care of her and make a great mate.”

“I am sure at some point they will meet and we will see if they hit it off.”

Jillian ordered a beer for himself and asked what I liked. I opted for a water.

He ordered appetizers and when I ordered my lasagna dinner he frowned, you should have something with more protein after working out so hard. For lunch you had all carbs.”

I didn’t like being told what to order for dinner.

“It has meat in it.” I glared at him, then turned back to the waitress, who looked extremely uncomfortable.

“I will have the lasagna with salad. Oh, can you get us extra bread?” I asked sweetly with a smile.

It went like that our whole night; he was possessive and bossy. He made it known several times he thought of me as a possession, not a mate or his equal.

By the time we got home I was happy for the date to be over. Is this what I had to look forward to? Would my life at Crimson pack just be more of this?