Chapter Four

BAILEY

I’ve changed my outfit so many times and I refuse to change again. I’ve settled on my long black figure-hugging dress, which shows a little cleavage and hugs my hips and bottom. Nero said that we were going out for something to eat but I don’t want to be overdressed however showing up underdressed can be worse. I hardly get a chance to dress up, so I’m keeping the black dress.

Since Nero dropped by work and asked me out, I haven’t been able to relax. My nerves have had me second guessing everything. My outfit, even my make-up and hair.

I look at myself in the mirror and my insecurities scream at me. My belly pops out a little and my hips look so wide. Nero is gorgeous and strong, I never thought he would look twice at someone like me.

The doorbell rings and I panic for a few seconds. I grab my purse and head downstairs, taking a deep and hopefully calming breath before I open the door.

I greet Nero with a smile to try and disguise my nerves. “Hi.”

Nero wears an intense expression and he’s silent for a couple of seconds. He just stands and stares and I begin to worry that he’s now regretting his decision on taking me out.

“Wow.” He grins smugly. “Bailey, you look amazing.”

I exhale in relief. “Really?”

I step outside and lock up but at the corner of my eye I can see Nero watching and admiring me. My insecurities are beginning to fade slightly. How can they not when a man like Nero is looking at me like I’m good enough to eat?

Suddenly, a flashback from my dream hits me and my cheeks begin to burn.

“Your hair looks good like that.” Nero compliments me some more. It’s nothing special, it’s just up in a bun with some loose strands hanging down. I thought to put it up because I’ve had it down all day.

“Thank you.” I return his smile as he holds the car door open for me to get in his car. I might be thinking too much into it and my dreams may be a little too odd, but I think that Nero might have smelt my neck as I was getting into the passenger seat.

It’s on the weirder side, but he might just appreciate my new perfume.

I take a deep and calming breath as I watch Nero round the car and join me inside. We share a little awkward smile before his attention turns to the road and he begins to drive. It’s a little intense with both of us so close together and alone. It’s as if someone turned on a switch and my hormones are all over the place. I can smell him too and Nero smells divine. The more I breathe him in the more intoxicated I feel however I can’t seem to stop.

I can’t quite put my finger on what he smells like, a mixture of things but simply put he smells like a man. I know that sounds stupid but it’s the best I can describe it.

Nero smells sexy and as I breathe him in once more something inside me rumbles. I freeze in shock and Nero looks across at me. “Must be hungry.” I laugh but his eyes linger on me for a second longer before returning to the road.

It’s not much longer until we arrive at the restaurant. We talk about nothing; Nero asks me how my new job is and how the house is coming on. Just boring everyday things really.

“This place is cute.” I say as he holds my hand, helping me out from the car. That sweet gesture has me swooning as nobody has done that for me. Ever.

It’s a little cabin that’s lit up with what looks like a thousand fairy lights. The trees nearby are also covered in adorable lights with benches below them and an outdoor heater to keep the people outside warm.

“Thankyou.” He grins smugly and I eye him suspiciously.

“This is your place?” I question wide eyed and Nero nods proudly. “Wow, it’s beautiful.”

Nero chuckles. “Seems I like beautiful things.”

I’m stunned, my face burning once again because I’m pretty confident that Nero just called me beautiful. The girl who has never been slim and had always been the second choice. A big, muscly sexy man asked me out, held my hand and called me beautiful.

I’m still marvelling over the fact that Nero owns this place as he guides me inside. His hand hovering over the bottom of my back. He’s not touching me, but I feel his hand as if his touch is going to burn me.

“Nero.” A server greets him with a friendly smile.

“Billy.” He nods back. “Is my table ready?”

“Wouldn’t dare seat anyone at your table.” Billy laughs.

Billy continues with his job as Nero is fully capable of seating himself. Nero stuns me by reaching for my hand and holds it as he leads me to the table. His touch is warm and confident, my heart races as our hands join.

There’s an empty table at the back in the shadows, lit by more delicate lights and Nero pulls out a chair for me.

I take a seat, trying to hide the bashful smile on my face. “Thank you.” Nero sits opposite. “So, this is your table.”

He nods. “Do you approve?”

I look around again. “Very romantic.”

Nero grins wide. “That’s why I brought you here.” A candle burns in the middle of the table, highlighting certain features and casting shadows on the rest. He looks quite dangerous but he doesn’t scare me. Nero continues to watch me as I study him. “You know Bailey, you do look amazing.” I giggle. “You don’t know how to take a compliment, do you?”

“Let’s just say that I’m not used to this attention.” I admit.

Nero’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise and he shakes his head. “That’s because you spend your time around boys and let me tell you one thing Bailey,” He leans forward and talks quieter. “I’m all man and I know how to take care of you.”

Oh wow. I think my heart stopped beating for a second. My thighs clenched as images from my dreams flash into my imagination. If you’re anything like your dream version Nero then yes, I know you certainly can.

We order our food and do not stop talking. We speak about anything we can, from past memories to our futures. We joke and laugh so much that my cheeks hurt. Most of all, he teases and taunts and that’s what has my legs shaky as we leave. Nero is so sexy that I have to keep pinching myself that it’s me who is sat with him.

NERO

When I first saw Bailey tonight, I almost dropped to my fucking knees. She looks so sexy. I had to keep myself in check all night to make sure my dick didn’t embarrass me, or my wolf didn’t scare her.

Everyday Bailey is beautiful but when she’s dressed up like this, she’s on a whole different level. Her laugh is contagious and there was moments when she let herself go I saw a slight glow in her eyes which shows her wolf was there too, trying to peak through. A sexy and scary thing altogether.

Sexy because I’m an Alpha wolf and this is my Alpha female, I can’t wait to see her in her wolf form, and neither can my inner beast but it’s worrying because her wolf is obviously trying to push through. When she’s relaxed, her wolf is trying to creep forward. As much as I want to see her in her supernatural state, we need to be slow and careful. I’m just afraid we haven’t got enough time to be slow.

I’m glad she likes my restaurant, I wanted to take her somewhere nice, and my places are the best in town. It’s a known fact. I’ve not taken any woman to my restaurant before; I usually sit back in the shadows myself and observe. Mostly to think things through. It’s either at the restaurant or running in the forest.

I felt my men watching curiously because Bailey is my female which means she’s their Alpha too. They will look out for her and protect her as well as myself. They will kneel to her in respect. I know they’re just interested as to know who she is but their staring starts to piss me and my wolf off. I haven’t had a chance to claim her yet so we’re both finding the extra attention a little badly. It’s not too bad when the member has a mate of their own but I’m getting agitated when it’s the single pack members who become too interested in watching my fated mate.

During the entire dinner I keep breathing in her scent. I’m almost worried about going back into the car because her mouth-watering scent was almost overwhelming. At the minute she smells of fresh air and vanilla but that will get stronger and change a little when she changes for the first time.

With us now living closer and Bailey’s wolf trying to force her way through, there’s a worry that me and Rosa share. We shouldn’t be sharing dreams until we’re mated but that’s already happening and as good of a sign that is to show how strong we will be, Rosa and I are worried it means other mated occurrences could happen sooner and before our ceremony.

In every mated couple, the female has a blood moon every year. It lasts around two days and it’s when the female wolf is most fertile, and pregnancy almost always happens if your inner beast thinks that it’s time. The males are affected by his mated female, it’s a scent that drives her mate crazy with lust. It’s so that the couple can’t keep their hands off one another and they have a lot of sex. Many mated couples in the pack lock themselves away during this time because it’s intense and nobody else needs to witness that intimate time.

Rosa and I are concerned because if Bailey does happen to get her blood moon before she accepts who she is and before we’re actually mated then we know she’s more likely to fight it and that’s not a good thing for either of us.

Bailey will start to feel excruciating pain from fighting her blood moon and her wolf and body will be calling out to me for relief and comfort, but I won’t be able to because Bailey will be fighting it. 

There’s been stories where women have died from their pain, and that terrifies me. I can’t lose Bailey when we’ve not even had a chance to start our fated relationship.

Which is why I need to stay close to Bailey and eventually get her to understand what’s going on inside of her and the changes she’s going to go through. I need to teach her everything she should have learnt growing up and so much more.