First Date

It was already around 5 PM when we arrived at a restaurant located not too far away from the city center. Caleb probably sensed I was still uncomfortable being alone with him, so he brought me to a restaurant on a relatively busy street.

Like a gentleman, Caleb opened the car's door for me and escorted me inside. The restaurant wasn't that fancy, but it was far better than the diner where I worked.

"Welcome to Wolf's Bane," a sweet-looking girl flashed her bright smile at Caleb and gestured towards the empty table. "This way, Beta Caleb."

Hmm… Although I'm not an attention seeker, I would still prefer it if the waitress didn't pretend as if I wasn't holding Caleb's arm and standing by his side.

As soon as Caleb and I settled at the table, the same waitress came to take our orders. "What would you like to order, Beta Caleb?"

Caleb didn't pay much attention to that girl, which made me happy. Instead, he looked at me and asked, "What would you like to eat?"

I flipped the menu, but nothing caught my eye. "Mmm… I don't know. Do you eat here often?" I looked at him hoping he would suggest something to me.

"Yes. This restaurant is famous for its pork chop."

"Then pork chop it is." I smiled at Caleb and closed the menu.

Caleb finally looked at the waitress. "One pork chop with a side of sautéed green beans for my mate, and bangers and mash for me."

I don't know if it was just me, but I saw a subtle change in that waitress' expression when she heard Caleb refer to me as his mate.

"Would you like to order any drinks?" She still managed to smile, almost as brightly as before.

"No, I'm good." Caleb then looked at me and raised his brows. "Would you like to drink something?"

"Just water."

The waitress went off after taking our orders.

Caleb rested his chin on his hand and stared at me with a whimsical grin.

I couldn't help but giggle at how he stared shamelessly at me. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Can't I?" He teased.

"You can but…" I covered my eyes with my palm and grinned, my cheeks hot from embarrassment.

"You're so darn cute that I can't help but stare at you." He extended his hand and took my palm. He then gave my palm a little squeeze. "I can't believe how lucky I am. You are everything I dreamt of."

I didn't know why but I felt a pinch in my heart when he said that. I'm pretty sure he never wished to get a wolfless mate. However, I was very happy because he was not making me feel like a worthless piece of junk.

"I'm the one who's lucky," I muttered subconsciously.

He lifted my palm and planted a kiss on my knuckles. "Thank you for finally coming into my life, Valerie. I really mean it. I finally feel complete now."

He kept teasing me and saying sweet things until our food arrived.

I felt embarrassed the whole time because I wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially from a man. And thinking about how everyone in the restaurant probably heard him made me feel even more flustered.

"Let's eat." I stuffed my mouth with some green beans and wished he would focus on eating now.

However, he was still in the mood to flirt. He took my plate and began cutting the pork chop into bite-size pieces. And what more? He pierced a piece of meat with the fork and held it in front of my mouth.

"Open your mouth," he smirked slyly.

Instead of opening my mouth, I pressed my lips into a thin line and stared at him with wide eyes because he was clearly teasing me–making me recall the steamy kiss we shared earlier.

"Come on. Open it."

Oh, heavens! And he had to use his sexy voice! Why? Argh!

Before he could further embarrass me, I ate the food he was offering, grabbed my plate, and placed it in front of me. However, before I could take a sigh of relief, he ate a piece of pork from my plate–using my fork–and licked the fork clean.

This man! He is a flirt, alright!

"Here." He then placed that fork on my plate.

I could feel warm blood rushing to my ears and my cheeks, and something fluttering in my chest. I need to take a cold shower as soon as I return to Julia's place.

Just when I thought that was the end of his shenanigans, he brought a piece of sausage to my mouth, the same piece which he took a bite from. "Taste it. It's good."

I got the feeling that eating it would be better than denying it. I'm pretty sure he would have said or done something even more embarrassing just to make me eat it. So, I ate it like an obedient kid.

I'm just thankful that the people inside the restaurants were minding their own business, or at least were pretending to, and not looking our way.

It was 7 PM by the time we finished our food. Caleb paid the bill and we stepped out of the restaurant.

I thought he would take me to the parking area. But instead, he held my hand and started leading me somewhere else. "I'm in a mood for ice cream. I hope your mom won't scold you if you are a little late."

I immediately burst into laughter when Caleb also referred to Julia as my "mom". "I think we will be fine as long as I reach home before 8."

"Wait. For real?" He looked at me in disbelief.

I shrugged. "She's a little overprotective, that's all."

"The way she was glaring at me earlier in the car, I thought she would murder me with her eyes. I don't want to admit it but she scared me a little." Caleb chuckled at himself and shook his head. "I can't believe an omega scared me, a beta."

I tried to control my laughter, but I couldn't. I've got to tell this to Julia later. After I laughed to my heart's content, I patted his hand and teasingly consoled him. "Don't worry, Caleb. I won't let her hurt you."

"Thanks!" He rolled his eyes, smiling. He then pointed at an ice cream shop across the street and said, "We're here."

He was still holding my hand as we crossed the road. I felt safer as I clung to him because I've always been afraid of crossing roads, especially on busy streets like this one.

We ordered a vanilla ice cream each and sat on the stools outside the shop.

"You're licking it so good."

He caught me so off-guard that I choked on the ice cream and coughed like a dying woman.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked me innocently while gently patting and rubbing my back.

I looked at him through my teary eyes. "Stop saying this kind of stuff in public, Caleb!"

"So, I can say such things in private? Noted." He smirked as if making me flustered was something to be proud of.

"You are such a flirt!" I narrowed my eyes at him and focused on eating my ice cream. Yes, biting and eating, not licking.

"Can't I even flirt with my mate?" He gave me a naughty look, and I knew he was up to no good. I was right. He leaned in and swallowed a chunk of my ice cream!

"My ice cream!" I felt comfortable enough to throw a little tantrum. "Give yours to me. You ate all of mine." I pouted.

He laughed as if he wasn't expecting me to say that. "Sure, sure. Take it." He happily exchanged the cone with mine.

We sat there for a little while longer even after finishing the ice cream. Every now and then, the passersby would look at us, however, I wasn't feeling as out of place as yesterday. Maybe it was because Caleb was making me feel like I belonged here, with him.

"Let's head back now. I don't want your mom to glare at me."

I laughed and got up with him. We walked back to the restaurant where we had parked the car. Caleb didn't miss the chance to hold my hand.

After getting buckled up, he drove me back to Julia's place.

"So, will you return to Roseville tomorrow?" His eyes looked sad.

I also became a little gloomy upon seeing him like that. "Yes, I have to attend college on Monday. So, I need to go back tomorrow."

"Shall I drive you back?"

"Umm… I wouldn't want to trouble you. Besides, I think Julia would like to drop by the orphanage. She didn't get to meet Ms. Pride yesterday." I wanted him to drive me but I was being honest. Julia would probably want to drive me back and take the chance to visit the orphanage.

"Alright, then. I will call you later." Caleb pointed his brows at the house and said, "Julia is waiting for you."

"Talk to you later." I smiled and tried to unlock the door. But before I could do so, Caleb pulled me by my waist and kissed me fervently.

He looked at my flustered face and smiled softly. "Talk with Julia and plan the move-in. I want to meet you soon."

"I will." I nodded.

He then got out of the car and opened the door for me. "Goodnight." He gave me a quick peck before getting back inside the car.

"So, how was the date?" My soul jumped out of my body when I suddenly heard Julia's voice. I was so focused on watching Caleb driving the car away that I didn't realize Julia was standing behind me.

I took a deep breath and grinned. "It was the best day ever."