DARK DAYS

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Micah had a way of suddenly appearing when you least expected it… it was creepy. The last place she expected him to be was in her room a few hours later as she stood in front of the closet trying to decide what to wear. “Nice robe.” He said from behind her. 

She jumped and spun around, she had been too wrapped up in her own thoughts to sense anyone come in. “Jesus Micah, did you ever hear of knocking?” 

“I own this house.” He scoffed at the idea, but she could tell he was just playing with her. 

“Well then whistle, or stomp your feet, yodel for all I care but DO NOT give me a heart attack!” She exclaimed hitting his arm repeatedly.  He just laughed at her, he was worse than having an older brother.

He sat on her bed, he was too big for the room he dominated it. “Wear the blue skirt and the yellowish top.” He suggested helpfully. “Nervous?” He asked simply.

Christiana shook her head, “Why would I be? I am wondering why in the hell I’m going on a date however.” She answered smartly.

He nodded sympathetically, “It’s hard to get back into the swing of things isn’t it?” He added when she came back into the room from changing, “Nate’s a good guy, he’s a gentleman so relax and have fun. I’ll be around if you need me later tonight.”  And with that he left, she frowned he was like that suddenly there just as suddenly gone. 

Ana decided to take his advice and go with the flow, grudgingly accepting that once again Micah had been right. She opened the door to Nathaniel’s knock surprised at how much her hands were shaking; it was just a date for Christ’s sake, it wasn’t like she hadn’t been on one before, but for some reason it was different this time. Probably because fear of her father wasn’t there to keep the guy in line this time. 

“Hey.” He said slowly, looking her over. 

“Hi.” She responded hiding an amused grin at his surprised expression. 

Nate swallowed, “You look…” He paused for a minute, “Amazing.” He stepped back to let her out and went on as they began walking, “I received a visit from Micah earlier, he was playing the protective alpha father figure to a tee. Making sure I knew my boundaries, wanting to know what my intentions were and if they were honorable...” 

Ana couldn’t help but laugh, “Really, and yet he told me to wear the shortest skirt I owned and let go and have fun.”

Nathaniel grinned, “He has a cruel streak.”

Nate took her on a tour of the grounds in his car, and stopped near the stream that almost claimed her life a few months back. “You know, I don’t think I’ve been on a picnic in years.” Christiana mused as Nate poured her a glass of wine.

He looked at her curiously, “How long?”

She thought about it, for a few minutes “Wow, I was fifteen.”

“A date?” he probed, knowing that at anytime she could shut down, whenever the past was brought up he was on shaky ground.

Ana nodded, “My boyfriend… well I guess ex boyfriend would be more appropriate… Cole. He was going away, typical young alpha male going out to make a name for himself.” 

“So you broke up on a picnic?” Nathaniel said disbelieving, “I’ve never tried that before.

Ana laughed, “No, we did the whole long distance thing for a long time.” She turned the table on him, “So when was your last relationship?” 

Nate shrugged, “ ‘Bout a year ago I guess… we didn’t want the same things… I wanted a partner and she wanted someone with more.” He said simply.

She nodded, understanding at least in part what he was saying. “Being my fathers daughter I always was protected by that sort of thing, guys that I dated were careful with me for the most part.” 

“Afraid I’m going to overstep my bounds?” He asked playfully. 

Ana looked down at her empty plate, “No, I can take care of myself… nothing is going to happen that I don’t want to happen.” 

Nate stared at her for a minute before changing the subject. Ana found herself relaxing and enjoying herself, Micah was right, the pressure she had felt before on first or even second dates in her old pack wasn’t there. She knew that no one expected this to go anywhere, that if she chose to kiss him goodnight a passerby wouldn’t assume it meant he was in the running to be her mate. And even though her father was gone, she knew that she was protected. She was confident in the fact that Micah would protect her honor, possibly even more vigorously than her father had. 

“What’s that little smile for?” Nate asked as he helped her in the car again at the end of the date. 

Christiana looked him in the eye for a minute, “Just thinking… good thoughts.” She responded honestly.

He looked unconvinced at first, “good, I’m glad.” He closed her door and walked around the front of the car, “Want me to drop you off at your place?” He asked.

Christiana knew what the other option was, and what her response would elicit in him. “Actually no, you can drop me at Micah’s.” 

She watched as Nate’s jaw locked, saw the tell tale signs of surprise and frustration. But he just nodded and muttered, “No problem.” Ever the gentleman he walked her up to the porch Ana suspected that Nate assumed that she was yet again testing him, but the truth was, she just needed to talk to Micah, it was nothing more than that. 

“Thank you, I had a good time.” Nate just nodded again, Ana sighed, “Nate,” She looked away, “You didn’t really think I’d go home with you did you?” 

He shook his head, “No, I wasn’t expecting you going home to Micah though.” He said rather bitterly in her opinion.

Christiana, reached up and kissed him, “We’re friends, nothing more. I had a very good night, don’t ruin it with macho alpha male crap please!” 

Nate brushed her hair back gently, some of the tension leaving him before kissing her again, “I should go then, before I say things that I can’t take back. I’ll call you later.” Christiana watched as he got in the car and drove off, and only then unlocked the door, thinking it not too smart to let him know that she had a key to Micah’s house. The truth was that Micah had given her a spare when she had stayed with him recuperating, and never asked for it back. But alpha males were very territorial.