I didn't think it was possible for Hayden to look more handsome than he already was, but there he is — leaning against his car, in a white shirt and navy suit pants, looking dandy fine.
I run a mental check of my own outfit. The short blue dress is cute — flatters me. Hair is freshly shampooed with a natural-looking-but-took-me-an-hour-to-style waves. The heels... I'm not used to, but I think I'll manage to not trip.
I asked Hayden to meet me outside Reustan. That's the only safe place I could think of for this.
As I walk closer to him, I feel hot. Not from his disarming looks, but from slight fear.
His aura is unnerving.
The aura around a leader is always intimidating.
And I've always hated that to my core. Being in the presence of this kind of authority reminds me of the person I fear the most in the world.
Taking a deep breath, I push away the fear and that person from my mind, so Hayden can have my undivided attention. He's the man of the hour.
When I'm close enough, Hayden reaches for me.
"No hugging," I immediately warn him. The bruises from the first time his hand wrapped around my waist took forever to fade.
He shakes his head, drops his hands, and leans down to kiss my cheek gently.
Just that gesture of his means so much to me than he'll ever know.
He takes me to a posh restaurant in the nearest human city. During our dinner I ask him about his "enthroning" ceremony, and he tells me.
Surprisingly, it sounds a lot like ascension. But ascension happens to all witches and wizards around 16 to 21 years of age. The ceremony — exchange of pledges and spells between the candidates and a high-ranking sorcerer, like the head sorcerer of a coven, in the presence of the coven members as witness — is usually preferred to be done right after graduation.
After the ascension, a sorcerer reaches their full potential in sorcery. Some with more potential than others — witches and wizards who will one day be nominated for the title of the head of their coven.
Unlike sorcerers, vampires, and elves; werewolves choose their leaders while the candidates are still young.
And unlike sorcerers, werewolves and elves; vampires elect the oldest candidates, and the transfer for leadership happens only once in a couple of centuries.
After we finish our dinner, Hayden says, "I've booked us a room."
I choke on the water I'm drinking.
He laughs. "Don't worry, I'm not trying anything. It's just, I have to head back after midnight, some pack stuff. If you want we can go out and do something till then. But I was hoping we could just stay together — just us."
I sigh. "It's not that. I'm feeling a little uneasy today when I'm too close to you."
He raises his brow, smirking.
"Not in that way!" I quickly say, "I've never been this near a werewolf, let alone... an Alpha. You feel... I don't know how to explain. Scary?"
He grins. "It's not just you," he says, "my family and friends felt the same way. Even my Beta, Jay. Don't worry, you'll get used to it."
With that guarantee, we leave for the room.
The spacious and chic room has a large window facing the city.
I've only seen the nights in the covens I've lived in, and the human establishments I've visited. I don't know anywhere else, like in werewolf packlands, but the night always look the best in our covens.
These dim, twinkling city lights compare nothing to the floating lanterns that raise to the sky at dusk, or the string of flame spheres that adore the shops and streets in our towns.
After asking me if I want one, Hayden pours himself a drink and takes a sip. "I've always liked this view."
"It's okay. But nothing like in my hometown."
"Where's your hometown?"
I go quiet.
He comes over and stands next to me. "All I know is where your apartment is, and where you go to school."
"At least you know where I live now. All I know is which school you went to."
"I can take you to my home. Show you around my packland. You can see where I grew up, where I live, where I work," he says.
I continue to look forward at the city lights.
"I'm the Alpha, Riva. No one will ask anything."
"I can't risk that."
"What I'm saying is there is no risk."
I shake my head lightly.
"Don't you want to know things about me? I know I want to know everything about you," he says.
No. I don't want to know anything about him. That'll just make it more difficult later.
"We don't know what the future has for us," I tell him. "We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves."
He brings up his hand. His finger brushes my cheek. He leans in, and kisses my neck. "I don't know why you won't admit it, but I can feel what you feel for me. And you know what I do know?" he says as his lips touch my ear. "We are meant forever."
