Forcing the blood in my veins to calm, for my fangs to recede back into my gums, I waited as she kept looking down. When she finally looked up at me it took everything I had not to kiss her right there. Instead, I moved to her side and rested my hand on her lower back, guiding her to my car.
"I have a lovely place in mind. No one will really pay us any attention and we can enjoy a nice meal while talking" I said, mostly speaking to keep my logical mind in control.
With her in the passenger seat, I went to the driver side with inhuman speed, already in the car and starting the engine before she could fully grasp what had happened. I didn't want to rush, wanted to take my time, but if we didn't have this conversation soon, I would completely lose all control of myself. Even if my wolf did understand the risks, it wouldn't hesitate to take her and claim her. That was the danger of having a non-wolf mate.
I drove at the speed limit, wishing I could be going faster, feeling the energy in the car from having her beside me. I could hear the movement of her fingers in her lap and each time I looked over she was just staring out the window. She didn't seem particularly interested in what was around her, maybe because she had already seen it, or maybe because she had already decided that it was best to remain distant since she planned to leave. I tried thinking of where she might have been planning to go. The human capital would be the most common option for a human, but I already knew that she wasn't human, and there weren't any other known communities or cities on the continent. The wolves had thoroughly explored the world centuries ago, and as far as we all knew it was all one massive continent in a world of water and mist. Those who went off the continent, either by flight or by boat, never returned, most likely lost to the waters.
By the time the restaurant was in view my wolf had been clawing at my insides. It wanted this part done already so we could hold her. I parked in the darker part of the parking lot, just beside the back door, not that she seemed to notice.
I leaned over, letting her feel my breath against her shoulder and throat "this place has some delicious foods. I'm sure you'll love it."
I inhaled her scent as her mind and body conflicted. She smelled of arousal and desire, while her face was torn with the desire for me and the desire to be in control of herself. It was an amazing sight.
I forced myself to pull back and step out of the car, closing the door and quickly going to her side. She was still dazed as I opened her door and held my hand out for her. Shakily, she took my hand and her breath caught again, sending a thrill through me. She felt the pull, and she was surely becoming aware of it by now. Even humans knew of the pull of the mates of wolves, and yet, she acted like she knew nothing.
She moved to pull her hand back, but I simply tightened my grip and pulled her along with me, slowing my pace to match that of what a human would. I felt her pulse as much as I heard it, racing a mile a minute, but she didn't resist my hold at all. When I snuck a quick look down to her, she was actually smiling, though it was only a small one. She could use logic to deny her feelings, but when we were like this, there was no way she could deny them. I was absolutely certain that, by the end of the night, she would finally be mine.
Inside of the restaurant, we went to an isolated table to the side of the room, one of the ones meant specifically for first dates with a new mate. Something only wolves would know. Even the staff would keep their distance while we got to know each other. And, seeing her look at everything in wonder, made me smile. The place was rather simple, though it was mostly lit by candles on each table, setting a romantic vibe. It was really a large room with dozens of circular tables, mostly made to only fit 2. though along the other wall were larger tables for when unaware humans thought it just a great place to spend time with friends.
We didn't need to be directed to seats, the menus already waited at each table, and we would be visited in a few moments to place our orders. I only released her hand when we reached the table, allowing her to sit.
"You can move the candle closer if you have any trouble seeing the menu" I told her, hoping my assurance would help her relax.
"It's not needed" she smiled sheepishly, all defenses seeming to have finally fallen "I can see really well in almost any situation."
I watched her pick up the menu, looking through it with quiet speculation, before she put it down silently and watched me look through my own menu. I wouldn't tell her that I had actually looked up the menu earlier, mostly because I didn't want to embarrass myself by admitting my anxieties of fucking the whole situation up.
"If I had dressed in less proper clothes, I probably would have gone for the ribs" she said, an awkwardness in her words "We don't have such things were I live, and I've always wanted to try them."
I set my menu down, looking at her, debating what to ask and what not to ask. I would need to do this in stages. If I jumped right to the heavy questions, she was likely to pull back.
"Ribs are delicious, but they can be quite messy. I'm surprised humans wouldn't have such indulgences."
She opened her mouth, about to say something, but stopped herself. To my relief she didn't seem to pull back like I was mentally preparing myself for.
She met my eyes, her own filled with anxiety "you already know that I'm not human."
I nodded, not trusting my voice to be calm with her admission.
I wanted to say something, but the waiter appeared. A quiet wolf who couldn't have been much older than 17. He didn't say anything more than what was needed, taking our orders, mine a glass of coke and a large, rare steak, hers a root beer a steak of her own, made medium-well. And once the waiter was gone, we were left with an awkward silence.
"I suppose it's not entirely fair that I know what you are, and you don't know what I am. But I need you to understand how dangerous it would be for you to know who my people are." she spoke barely above a whisper "If you knew about my people, you would be deemed a threat..."
"How can your mate be a threat to your people?" I asked, resting my hand on top of hers on the table.
She looked at me, eyes wide with shock. I had to admit that I hadn't expect that reaction.
"M-mate…?"
she tried to pull her hand back, but, again, I tightened my hold.
"Don't your people believe in mates?" I asked, trying to stay away from the question I obviously wanted to ask.
She shook her head "No. We don't allow such concepts as love or desire to be a part of our lives. We have a role to play and that's all that is important. When I return home after this job, I'm expected to conceive a child, which can only be done with medical help, since my people are not known for things like fertility."
Her words made something seem to snap in my mind "And that's why you got betrothed?"
I knew there was anger in my voice, I saw it make her cringe, but I couldn't control it.
"I called that off with my superiors. I already told you that." she tried to reason.
Her words did soothe my wolf a little, but she still intended to return home, where she would no doubt be given another partner. Her people didn't believe the value of love, and, even if she did seem different, she still had the mindset of how she had grown up. I needed to show her that it was just as important to love her partner, as it was to produce children. Though I didn't want to admit the slight disappointment at the thought of her not having my own pups.
"And what reason did you give them when you called them?" I asked, forcing the anger out of my voice.
"I didn't like his personality. He was too arrogant and too eager to look down on the other races. Had he not been assigned as my partner, he probably would have looked down on me from the very beginning." she said, her voice trembling slightly.
"Why would he look down on you?" I asked, finally calm, but still refusing to release her hand.
"Because I'm different." she looked up, meeting my eyes where I saw the sadness within her "I have no family claim, and I look different. I was raised by a woman a rank just below the council."
"You're an orphan?"
"More or less. Though the concept of orphans among my people is viewed as rather impossible, since family claims hold great power and responsibility. I was found one day, along the edge of the woods. No one knew who I was or where I had come from. A baby found alone in the middle of nowhere." she explained.
I hesitated before speaking, letting my thumb caress the side of her hand.
"How do you look different from them? You and that man from before looked pretty similar." I asked.
She smiled up at me, her green eyes flickering for a fragment of a second before looking normal again.
"This is a glamour." she answered shyly.
Her panic from a moment ago seemed to be gone, all her fear completely relaxed as she seemed to open up to me. The look in her eyes was quickly becoming my undoing. I couldn't wait much longer. She hadn't argued the mate claim, only been surprised, which was understandable from what she'd just told me about her people. And I knew that she wanted me just as much as I wanted her.
"Will you show me what you truly look like?" I asked softly.
Again, a flash of fear, that was immediately covered with contemplation.
"If I did that, you would be-"
"In danger?" I cut her off "I'm not afraid. You are my mate after all. I would take any risk if it meant I could be with you."
The rise in her pulse and the scent of her desire broke me. I shot to my feet, my hand never releasing her. My free hand reached into my pocket and pulled out a bill, I didn't know how much it was. I pulled her to her feet and we were already making our way back to the car, her mumbling questions and me not hearing. With the car in reach, I moved her so her back was against the car. My lips meeting hers with crushing needed.