As I stepped out of the boutique after work in the evening, I saw him standing outside.
Dressed in a suit, he had a handsome face and a tall, strong figure with excellent body proportions, just like a model on the runway. People couldn't help but look at him.
If it were any other day, I would have gone up to him and asked him to get in the car to keep others from staring.
But this time, I just wanted to pretend I didn't see him.
I walked toward the station on my own, and Joseph quickly caught up with me. He didn't mention the incident and said calmly,
"It's my beta, Ethan's birthday today. He invited us to have dinner together."
I stopped and looked at him. "Sure."
We got in the car, and there was silence inside.
The wind blew in from outside the window, and I smelled a faint scent of jasmine.
It was Nelly's scent.
The scent wasn't unpleasant. On a whim, I asked, "Do you like the smell of jasmine?"
Joseph's eyes flickered slightly. "It's okay."
"Really?" I sighed. "Then why have I always smelled this scent on you before?"
I didn't say anything more.
We arrived at the hotel, where they had been waiting for a while. Seeing us arrive together, Nelly was obviously surprised.
"Good evening, Joseph, Anita. We've been waiting for you for a long time."
I smiled indifferently and looked at Beta Ethan. "I'm sorry. I came in a hurry and didn't bring a gift."
Beta Ethan, who is also Joseph and Nelly's childhood friend, smiled. Alpha Joseph always took me to their gatherings, and gradually we became acquainted.
"I've given him a gift. You don't need to feel sorry," Joseph said, leading me to the table.
The remaining two seats were opposite each other. I didn't know if they had arranged it that way on purpose.
I let go of his hand and walked straight to the seat opposite.
Alpha Joseph's expression changed slightly, but he didn't say anything and sat down next to the empty seat beside Nelly.
I knew what his friends were thinking.
They never approved of Alpha Joseph and me being together and were always cold to me. After all, I was just a lowly omega.
Before, I wanted to get along with them, and I would give them carefully selected gifts for every holiday. But I've never seen anyone really use the things I gave them. They probably didn't want to accept me as their future Luna, deep down. I was too naive to see such an obvious thing until now.
I didn't say a word and ate quietly.
Alpha Joseph chatted with them with ease, peeling shrimp without stopping. He never eats seafood unless someone peels the shell for him, and even then, he only reluctantly tries a bit because he finds it troublesome to peel it himself.
However, he didn't mind the trouble now. He peeled a whole plate of shrimp, moved it in front of Nelly, and then slowly took a wet wipe and wiped his hands carefully.
This was a treatment I had never had.
Seeing this, I felt depressed. I had decided to let him go, but I still felt sad when I saw him like this.
Beta Ethan noticed his actions. He looked at my expression and nudged Alpha Joseph, teasing, "Don't favor one over the other. Peel some shrimp for your mate too."
Alpha Joseph seemed to realize it for the first time, glanced at the empty plate on the table, and said, "Order another plate."
"No." I took a sip of my drink and said calmly, "I don't like shrimp."
"How about fish then?"
"I don't like it. It makes my wolf weak."
Alpha Joseph looked at the table, his eyebrows slightly wrinkled. "What about chicken?"
"I don't like it either."
He looked surprised, seemingly not expecting me to refuse so quickly.
Meeting his gaze, I calmly took a napkin, wiped my mouth, and added, "I don't like anything you mentioned."
"Anita, are you angry?" Nelly said cautiously. "Why don't you eat this plate of shrimp? Please don't be angry with Alpha Joseph."