Thank you dinner
941 Words
Markus' POV
I headed in to meet by the central square at 8pm, just as she'd said. I knew she wasn't local, so I actually went on time.
"Nice to see you again."
I smiled warmly at her. I'd already thought she looked amazing when she was dusty, smelling of horse and with blood dripping down her face - but now that she was cleaned up, she was even more beautiful.
She dressed simply, clearly a traveler, with black leggings and a dark red tunic top that looked great with her skin tone. Her black hair was still braided but in a much looser style that lay over her shoulder and somehow perfectly framed her face. Her earrings were simple, polished silver balls that reminded me of the full moon. Ironically perfect.
"So where are we going?" I teased her, since she had been the one to invite me.
"Um, well... I hadn't really thought that far." she admitted.
"I only got here a couple of days ago so I don't really know the best places or anything. But I've heard that around here one of the most famous dishes is called a chulett... chuletta..."
"Chuleton." I grinned - a little cheekily but with a hint of my wolf nature peeking through - at her.
"Oh yeah. It's a big t-bone steak. The best you'll ever have. I definitely wouldn't say no."
She looked a little surprised.
"Oh, I didn't think you were from around here..."
"I'm not, but I've been here a few times. Europe is a small place, you know." I laughed. "Let's go this way, I know a place."
She followed me, apparently willing to trust my judgment. I supposed helping her when she was in trouble probably helped with that.
"So you're not Spanish?"
"No. German, actually. But I've traveled around so much, I guess you could say I'm a global citizen now."
She smiled, seeming to like that.
"Ahhh I also aspire to be one of those." She admitted.
We soon reached one of my favourite restaurants and headed inside. Within moments, we were seated, and the waiter approached us to take our orders.
"We'll take some padrone peppers and the chuleton, please." she ordered confidently, apparently trying to take back control of the dinner she had invited me to.
"Very good choice, miss. And how many kilos would you like?"
She blinked, not expecting that response, and I couldn't help but laugh a little bit. Looked like time for me to step in and save her again! She had no idea what she'd gotten herself into, since most restaurants didn't serve steak by the kilo.
"Make it two." I added, and when her eyes nearly popped out of her head, I felt the need to reassure her as the waiter left.
"Don't worry, I'll pay for it. You can get the drinks."
"Two kilos of steak????" she exclaimed, and I could only shrug. I mean, if you invite a wolf to a steak restaurant... but I couldn't say that.
"I'm really hungry after all the hiking I've been doing lately." I explained, feeling like it was a kind of lame excuse.
It didn't take long until the enormous, artfully sliced, medium-rare steak surrounded by piles of chips and grilled peppers arrived at our table and my mouth started to water. Even though she looked shocked by its size, she also was looking at it hungrily and dug in with as much enthusiasm as any she-wolf would have. She seemed hungry. Good. Maybe there was hope she'd fit into the pack after all.
We continued making small talk as I considered my angle. How could I get her to trust me, to come back home with me? How could I ever explain... my family, and what I was?
Never did I imagine I, the pureblooded son of an Alpha, would end up with a human mate. But I'd waited so long to find my mate, practically traveled the world looking for her, so leaving without her was not even a question. Human or no, she was MINE. Abel, my wolf internally growled at even the thought of leaving without her. He was already feeling possessive. And seeing her hungrily eating that steak like - well, like a wolf - was only increasing our fondness of her.
When we were nearly finished eating our meal, the phone rang and I excused myself to step outside and answer. It was my father's beta, so I had to take the call.
"Markus."
From the first word I knew something was wrong.
"Stefan. What's happening."
"You need to come home."
Shit, no, not now.
She wouldn't be ready to come with me yet, I didn't even know how to explain things to her. Stefan was quick as ever, and noticed my hesitation.
"Is there a problem?"
"Yeah... well, no. But yeah. I found her, Stefan."
There was a pause on the other line. "Your mate?" I nodded, realizing how stupid that was on the phone but Stefan continued anyway "How is that a problem?"
"Well..." I stumbled over my words, wondering how to explain and deciding to just come out with it. There was really no way around it.
"She's... she's human."
A long silence greeted me from the other end.
"We need you back here ASAP. With or without her. Do what you need to do."
The line went dead and my hand dropped to my side, holding the phone limply.
With or without her? How could that even be a choice?
And what was going on that was so important I had to get back right away?
- Writer
