Seeking The Present

Chapter 7 - Lunch with Barion.

“Indefinitely!?” I yelled out shocked.

“Yes, you see someone or something has made threats against the throne. I need to know I have the most powerful team on my side. This includes you now.” He clicked his fingers and DeAnna ran to us and handed us letters. “Letters were formally sent to your pack Alpha James Greyback. The others may go, but you shall stay.” I looked over at the letter not able to form the words into sentences.

“I won’t stay without them.” My voice shook as I looked up at him and he smiled.

“Very well, for now their stay is indefinite as well.” He clicked his fingers. “DeAnna! Send Mr. Greyback new letters for the men.”

“Yes, your majesty.” She walked over and snatched the letters out of Lee and Arnold’s hands.

“Now then.” Barion stood and everyone in the room stood. “Hannah, shall we?” He held out his arm. I sighed walking up and taking it. “Afternoon gentlemen.” He nodded to Lee and Arnold who looked confused as we walked by them. He led me out the doors and toward the entrance. I felt tiny on his arm. “Now, where would you like to eat?” He looked at me.

“To be honest I’m not very hungry.” I said losing my appetite to his last request.

“Nonsense.” He said trying to sound sweet.

“I really don’t care.” I said to him in a half laugh.

“Well then I will pick, I know a place that doesn’t open for a few hours. We will not be disturbed.” He brought me outside and a driver pulled up. Barion opened my door and I reluctantly got in. I looked back at the villa. I hated being with out Lee or Arnold. The driver opened the other door and Barion got in.

“So if this place is closed, how are we going to get food?” I asked him.

“Well I’m the king aren’t I?” He pulled out his phone and started typing fast. I watched him as the phone dinged. “All set. Driver! The usual spot.” The car started to go and my heart pinged with sadness. I felt so awkward in the car. “Hannah, relax. It’s just a friendly lunch.” He pat my leg and I resisted the urge to push it off.

“If you say so.” I said and I looked at him.

“I do say so.” He was more serious saying that. He then started to laugh. “I did however enjoy seeing the faces of your suitors.”

“Why do you keep saying that?” I asked him.

“Because they both are your admirers, are they not?” Barion looked at me.

“Lee is my mate. Arnold is my friend.” I corrected him.

“Really?” He acted amazed. “Remind me again did you or did you not share a mate mark with each?” He raised a eye brow and stared at me.

“Yes but-“ I was cut off.

“But nothing. I rest my case.” He looked out the window ignoring me completely.

“You can be quite rude you know that?” I was fuming. He turned and smiled.

“See, I knew I liked you Hannah. You speak your mind and you don’t care if it’s to me. The Alpha King. You know that everything I say is law?” He pat my leg again.

“Are you trying to scare or intimidate me?” I asked seriously. His face twisted into confusion. We pulled up to the restaurant. He got out of the car and I went to get out but the door wouldn’t open. He opened it and held out his hand. I reluctantly took it. Touching his hand sent sparks up my spine. What was going on with this? I stared at his hand.

“I apologize Hannah, I was teasing you. If you took it as intimidation, it was not that way.” He led me into the restaurant. I stopped and looked around. The place screamed expensive. Barion walked to a near by table and held out my chair. I went and sat as a man put a menu in front of me.

“This place looks too expensive.” I said opening the menu.

“Because it is.” Barion said looking the menu over.

“Barion… it’s fifty dollars for just a steak by itself! This is too expensive.” I put the menu down. “Why not just a normal place?” I asked him.

“Well isn’t that obvious? You wouldn’t be impressed with a normal place.” Barion said still looking at the menu. He put it down and clicked his fingers. A man ran up.

“Hello I’m-“ Barion raised his hand.

“Please bring us each a medium rare ribeye steak, with the potato purée, the table side Caesar and the caviar.” He handed the menu back.

“D-drinks sir?” The waiter was nervous. Barion stared at him.

“Can you just bring me a sparkling water?” I asked. Barion continued to shoot daggers at the waiter.

“Right away.” The waiter walked away fast.

“What’s wrong with you!?” I whispered.

“Stupid questions, grant rude responses.” Barion sat back.

“Did you expect him to read your mind?” I asked him and he smiled.

“I order over five hundred dollars worth of food and he’s not going to get a expensive bottle of wine? Tell me if that’s stupid or is it not?” Barion was very serious. His life must’ve been one expensive venture after the other.

“I wouldn’t know, I don’t spend that much and rarely do we go anywhere.” I said to Barion and he perked up.

“So Lee doesn’t shower you with extravagance? Well I have that on him then.” He smiled.

“Well he’s my mate so he has that over you as well.” I mock laughed and Barion just smiled at me. “What?” The waiter came back and put my water down. I picked it up and took a drink.

“Hannah, every female born to a alpha is my mate or have you not figured that out yet?” I choked on my water and set it down.

“Excuse me?! That can’t be true.” I said to him.

“You can’t feel it from my touch?” He reached over and grabbed my hand. Tingles shot up my arm and I yanked my hand away. He laughed hysterically.

“I don’t think that’s very funny.” I said getting upset.

“Hannah if I decide I want you, all I have to do is tell Lee to go kick rocks.” He chuckled. “This is fun, I’m enjoying our lunch date much more now.” The waiter came with a bottle of what I could only assume was expensive wine and poured Barion a glass.

“This isn’t a date.” I said to him. He looked at me and gestured to the empty restaurant. “You said a friendly lunch!”

“I changed my mind.” He sipped his wine as I glared at him. “Oh come now Hannah.” Just then food started coming out. I stared at the steak.

“Are you unhappy again?” Barion asked watching me.

“Being on a so called date with you? Yes.” I said.

“I meant with the food.” He laughed.

“The food is fine.” I started to eat.

“You are not very unhappy as you’re trying to make it seem.” He said watching me eat.

“How do you figure that?” I took a bite.

“Because you haven’t left or attempted to.” He started cutting into his food.

“I didn’t know that was a option. I thought since you told me I couldn’t say no that I had to come.” I watched him.

“Yes had to come, but you didn’t have to stay.” Barion said as we both began to eat in silence. After I had my fill I watched Barion finish his meal. We sat staring at each other in complete silence for a few minutes.

“Come, let’s do something else.” Barion stood and held out his hand. I took his hand as I stood, the stupid tingles glided though my body. I pulled my hand away after I stood and he held out his arm. I reluctantly took it.

“Are we going back?” I asked him.

“No. Rarely does a date end on just a meal! Now it’s time to do something fun.” Barion said as we approached the car.

“This isn’t a date, it’s lunch.” I said to him again.

“You’re right. Most people have their dates at night. Maybe we should reschedule for tonight?” He opened the car door and smirked at me. I got in and he went to the other side. The driver held the door open for him and he got in.

“Fine, we’ll do something fun now so we don’t have to reschedule.” I sighed. I just wanted to go back to Lee.

“No I’ve already decided, tomorrow we will have a dinner date.” He clicked his fingers at the driver and did a circle with his fingers. I felt relief as we started back to the villa. “Have Jensen take you for something nice to wear.” He said.

“I already went shopping for clothes.” I said to him.

“You didn’t get something for tomorrow. Get something special for tomorrow.” He looked at me with a smile. I stared at him. “What’s wrong? Do you not find me attractive?”

“I have a mate.” I said to Barion. He laughed and grabbed my hand. He leaned close to my face grabbing my chin to look at him.

“Every female born to a Alpha is MY mate.” He said again and kissed me.