The Fated Bond

The Perfect Dress Part 1

[Violet’s POV]

My eyes widen as I stare at Thomas, who is watching and waiting for me to give him an answer to his question, and when Molly bumps into me, wrapping her arms around mine and giggling, I snap out of it.

“Boss, I think the gentleman is waiting.” She chirps, helping me along.

Thanks, Molly. I think inwardly, realizing just how close I may have been to ruining things by acting like a complete and utter i***t. I’ll have to treat you to something later.

“Sure,” I say, smiling. “How about I give you my business card while I check you out?”

After that, Thomas and I talk idly as he peruses a couple more of our fragrances. I’m surprised to find that he’s actually pretty down to earth and caring since those aren’t the normal personality traits of an alpha. Usually, they’re arrogant and act like they are above everyone and everything, but this man is different.

Once we finish, we promise to contact each other, and by the time I’m closing up shop, my phone dings.

Unable to stop myself from hoping, I pull my phone out and then read Thomas’ name on the screen.

Thomas:I hope you don’t mind me texting so quickly, but I just can’t stop thinking about you. Would you care to accompany me this weekend for a meal?

A meal! I gasp inwardly, my excitement growing. He’s actually asking me out! I can’t wait to tell Lance!

At this thought, Lance’s face appears in my mind, and I suddenly have mixed feelings that leave me uneasy, but before I can let them ruin my mood, I focus on my phone and text Thomas back.

Violet: Sure, that’ll be great. Just name the time and place.

“And send.” I say aloud, clicking the send button and then immediately opening my contacts so that I can call Lance. “I’m sure he will be proud of me.”

Knowing this leaves me feeling light and fuzzy, but again that strange feeling appears. What on earth was this that I was feeling? Why would I feel almost like I was doing the wrong thing? I didn’t know, but I knew that I couldn’t linger too long on it since there were more important things to be doing.

Shaking it off, I press Lance’s name and then wait as the phone rings, and when the man in question answers, I can’t stop myself from gushing.

“I snagged a date!” I announce, feeling like I can do anything. “He came to my shop today and asked for my number.”

“That’s great.” Lance says, and I can almost see that brilliant smile on his handsome face. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” I beam. “It’s all because you’re helping me.”

“Is it?” He counters. “I think it’s simply because you’re willing to get out there and try.”

“Maybe,” I agree, wondering if things worked out with Thomas if we would ever speak like this again. I have to admit, I don’t necessarily like the idea of that, which is strange since we haven’t even known each other that long, but something about him calls to me. “Anyway, since I managed to get the date, I was hoping that you could help me prep for it.”

“Prep,” he repeats. “Isn’t that obvious since you’re my client?”

“Then will you go shopping with me Friday? I don’t necessarily know what to wear, so I hope that you can help me pick out the perfect outfit.”

“Let me check my schedule,” he responds, and I can hear the sound of papers ruffling. “I’m free.”

“Great,” I grin, earning myself some looks from a few people around me. “Then Friday at 3 work?”

“Sure, just text me the time and place.”

“Will do.”

Finished speaking, I hang up and then shove my phone back in my pocket while my body buzzes from the way that things are going. And while I walk home, eat, and shower, I find myself humming happily.

When Friday comes, I leave work early and head straight to a bargain shop in order to look for something that I can give Lance in exchange for all of his helping. Of course, I know that it isn’t really necessary, but I couldn’t stop the urge. After settling on a pen holder that I feel would look perfect on his desk, I make my way to our meeting spot, where I find him waiting.

“Sorry, I’m late.” I call as he kicks off the wall he is leaning against like a model who was just posing. “I hope you didn’t wait long.”

“Not at all.” He smiles, running a hand through his long blonde hair so it sweeps back handsomely. “I just arrived too.”

“Really?” I ask as we head into the clothing store and make our way toward a rack of dresses that would work perfectly for some fine dining, which, in the end, Thomas settled on while insisting that he wanted to treat me properly. “That’s good then.”

“What’s that in your hand?” Lance asks as we start rummaging through dresses. “Do you want me to hold it while you try things on?”

“It’s for you.” I announce, passing it to him. “So that would work out perfectly.”

“For me?” He repeats, frowning. “You got me something?”

“It isn’t much.” I admit, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed about doing such a thing. “But consider it a thank you for helping me with things.”

Nodding, Lance opens the bag and pulls out the pen holder, and while he examines it, I can’t help but wonder if I really did do something unnecessary. However, when a small smile plays on his lips and his gaze comes to rest on me, I know that I did the right thing.

“Thank you,” he chuckles, hooking the bag on his elbow. “I’ll be sure to put it to use. Now,” he continues, pulling some dresses from the rack in front of us. “Why don’t you try on these?”

Nodding, I take the dresses from him and then head into the dressing room, where I hang them on the hooks in front of me to examine them. They most certainly aren’t exactly things I would pick, but given the fact Lance picked them out for me, I reach for one, a black number with long sleeves and a high slit up the thigh.

After putting it on, I can’t help but feel like it just doesn’t suit me, and when I step out to show Lance, I can almost see he feels the same thing.

“I think I’m a bit too short.” I admit, pulling up the hem that is dragging on the ground beneath me. “I’m part werewolf, but I got my mother’s genes when it comes to my height. All the she-wolves in my father’s pack always gave me a hard time about it because they were so much taller than me.”

As I speak, I try to ignore the sting from the memories of the bullying I endured, but it immediately disappears as Lance shakes his head.

“I think you’re perfectly fine the way you are.” He tells me, making me feel like maybe I actually am. “But that dress—it definitely isn’t the one.”

“Agreed.”

Turning, I head back into the dressing room and grab another dress, this time a red one that comes up to my knees and hugs my curves perfectly, but the hips stick out awkwardly.

Sighing, I head out again so that Lance can get a look.

“I mean, at least this time I have an hourglass figure.” I giggle, spinning around. “Doesn’t quite fit me, does it?”

“I don’t think that would fit anyone.” Lance laughs, eyeing me. “But if anyone could pull it off, it would be you.”

“You’re just saying that,” I sigh, crossing my arms and pretending to pout. “Aren’t you supposed to be helping me?”

“I am,” he agrees, getting up and coming to stand behind me. “And I’ve already told you, as a member of the fae I can’t lie, so you must trust that everything I say to you is the truth.”

“Y-yeah,” I breathe as he grabs my shoulders, allowing his warmth to seep into me, and gently turns me so that I can see myself in the mirror. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he murmurs, leaning forward so our faces are side by side. “Now, look at yourself and try to see yourself the way I do. You’re beautiful, and you shouldn’t let anyone or anything convince you otherwise. Do you understand me?”