The Protector

Chapter 9

“Where are we going?” I asked for the millionth time. Hunter insisted we leave right after school for our date, leaving Casey to drive Claire home in my car. Now sitting in Hunter’s car, we were heading to some restaurant. Or freaking New York for all I knew since he wouldn’t give me any clues as to where we were going.

“It’s a surprise,” he laughed, his blue eyes twinkling from the lights of the buildings we passed. I lost track of how long we had been driving for but I knew it couldn’t have been less than half an hour. We talked about a few random things that happened that day as well as things about our pack. 

“Hunter…” I couldn’t string my words together into anything that would be coherent as I took in the view before me. Hunter had parked in the parking lot and led me into what appeared to be a small building made of glass and endless fairy lights. But the building wasn’t where we would be sitting. The waiter had led us through a pair of opened glass doors to something truly memorable. Outside, tables lined the length of a narrow pool filled with fish and small ripples caused by the waterfall at one end of the garden. But the trees were what really pulled the whole scenery together. Their branches formed a canopy over us that held lights that that lit up the sky above us. It was absolutely beautiful.

“You like it?” Hunter asked, his arm wrapping around my waste.

“Of course, it’s absolutely beautiful,” I gushed. 

“I’m glad you think so,” he laughed.

We were seated at a table pretty secluded from the few other people there, which I was pretty thankful for. Hunter and I were used to being the center of the attention in our pack, but I found I liked it better when I wasn’t under constant surveillance. We ordered our food and ate in pretty much silence while sending each other flirtatious looks. I know, it seemed totally sappy and nasty, but hey that was us. The totally sappy and regular couple. Just like the pack wanted us to be. Just like our parents wanted us to be. Just two kids born to marry each other without a choice. 

I furrowed my brows at myself wondering why I was having such sour thoughts. Why had I even thought that? I wanted to be Hunter’s mate. So why would I think such a horrible thing? I decided to push the thoughts out of my mind and focus on my handsome boyfriend in front of me. After we ate our appetizer and were waiting for dessert, we started having an actual conversation.

“Why do you keep doing that?” I asked, looking at Hunter’s watch. It was an apple watch that I had bought for him for our one two year anniversary seven months ago.

“Just trying to get you home in time for whatever your parents have planned,” he smiled. If I didn’t already catch onto everyone else acting weird tonight then Hunter would have gave it all away. He was terrible at lying and to me especially. I didn’t press on anything though, I would let them all surprise me with whatever they had in store. Instead, I brought up a rather touchy subject between us, hoping to break some ground with it being my birthday and all.

“So Hunter…” I started as I messed with the silverware on my napkin. They were the nice cloth ones that were soft to the touch, calming my nerves when my skin brushed against them.

“Yes, babe?” I glanced at him before looking back at my silverware, unsure if I could go on while looking at him. Oh well. I needed to be able to stand up for what I wanted. I was going to be the Alpha of my pack sooner or later and if I couldn’t even spit out something this simple, I would never be able to lead a pack. I looked back up at Hunter with a newfound determination that he quickly picked up on.

“Hunter, I’m eighteen now. I’m old enough to make my own decisions about what I want, and you know what I really want.” I turned my face hard, hoping it would make him take me seriously rather than try to joke about the topic like he usually did. Luckily, he did, though from my expression or just the topic itself, I didn’t know which.

“Helena, you know how I feel-”

“And you know how I feel,” I interrupted. 

“I don’t want you to make any rash decisions,” he finished as though I hadn’t interrupted.

“I’ve been thinking about it since I was sixteen, Hunter,” I deadpanned, suppressing a childish groan.

“Helena, darling, we’re going to do it. I just think we should wait until we’re mated,” he said as he took my right hand in both of his. The look in his eyes told me everything I already knew. He had no doubt we were mated. He wanted to wait for me to be ready. But I wasn’t in the mood for his interest in my decisions. I took my hand away and clenched my jaw-trying to reign in the anger I felt, knowing he would feel it as soon as I spoke. “Helena,” he called again in a softer tone. I looked back at him and his expression made my anger slowly melt away. He was looking at the glass near his hand, his expression showing he was torn in his own internal struggle. I decided to take this as my advantage, the words I had rehearsed so many times before, leaving my own mouth.

“Hunter, you told me no on my seventeenth birthday- and I understand. You have my best interest at heart, but Hunter, you are my best interest.” Hunter looked back up at me, his eyes a mix of emotions I couldn’t place in the moment. “We’re going to be mates, Hunter.” I softly urged him as I placed my hand on his. Let’s hope you’re going to be mates, a small voice in my head taunted. I shoved it away, refusing to doubt our future. “It’s going to happen sooner or later,” I said. 

“Helena…” he said after a few moments. I nodded and retreated my hand, but I wasn’t done. I wasn’t letting it go that easily.

“I understand,” I said. Hunter gave me a small smile, and I returned it. I knew that he already knew this wasn’t over since we had been together for so long but I let the argument rest for the moment. Just then our waiter came with our dessert, and I moved our conversation to a lighter topic. 

After dessert, Hunter paid the bill and walked to the car; our hands intertwined together. Hunter drove me back towards home, but he missed the turn. I looked over at him and smiled when he sighed, a smile smile gracing his face.

“You know, don’t you?” He asked me. I shrugged before tossing my backpack to his backseat. 

“I suspected something was up,” I casually admitted. Hunter chuckled and I couldn’t help but smile at the sound I had come to love. We pulled up to a, surprisingly, quiet pack house. Hunter got out and opened the door for me before leading me up the sidewalk. I thought I saw one of the curtains to the living room move, but I pretended not to notice anyway. Hunter and I moved to the porch and I opened the door to the house before walking into the dark. Suddenly the lights flicked on and everyone yelled in unison, the noise almost painful for someone with werewolf hearing.

“Darling,” my mother surged forward before wrapping me in a tight embrace as voices exploded around the room into a mix of cheers and chatter. Something shiny fell on her hair, and I looked up to see that confetti was falling from the second floor as well as a few balloons. I couldn’t help but laugh as people started to crowd around me and join in on the hug. Once we were able to part, the music started softly in the background.

“This is wonderful,” I told my parents who stood in front of me, my mom in my dad’s arms.

“We’re happy you like it,” she smiled. “The barbecue is still on for this Saturday. This is just a party for you youngsters,” she smiled, looking between me and Hunter who stood next to me with an arm casually around my waist

“All of us old folk and the pups are going to our house for our own little celebration.” I laughed at the thought of my parents having a “celebration.” That usually meant snack and watching a movie with other adults while the kids watched a Disney movie in another room.

“Thank you,” I said again before hugging my mom and dad. 

“Be home before one am,” my mom said with a slight seriousness. Before my dad could protest at the late time, she started pulling him out of the front door. I felt Hunter’s arm move around my body, and I smiled.

“Wanna dance?” He asked.

“Try to keep up,” I called over my shoulder as I made my way to the crowd that was starting to dance in the middle of the living room. Someone turned the music up and red solo cups started to appear. Even though I, as a werewolf, had a high tolerance for alcohol, I decided against drinking some because I didn’t need it to have fun.

Hunter and I danced in the middle of the living room as a swarm of bodies danced around us. Casey eventually popped up already half drunk despite her werewolf metabolism but later disappeared into the crowd. Everything was one wonderful, beautiful blur on the dance floor. Colors flashed everywhere as people laughed and sung along to the cheesy songs we all knew. It was a night that I’d never forget.