The Sixteenth Moon: A Rejected Mates Romance

Chapter 11 (Revised): Date Night

***The following chapter has been revised for plot and continuity.***

Staring at her reflection in the mirror on the back of her bedroom door, Kana wiped her sweaty hands down the skirt of her black, calf-length, dress, pressing out creases that weren't really there.

Her hair, which she'd cut to a length just below her shoulders, was straightened—which had taken her over an hour to accomplish—and shone glossy in the overhead light. Her makeup was subtle, but she was feeling just a little bold, painting her lips in a dark plumb that complimented her skin tone.

Tonight was date night. Her very first date.

Pathetic, really, that a woman in her early twenties was going on her first date.

But when one considered that she wasn't a normal woman, hadn't led a normal life, and had been brutally rejected by the man she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with, then it made sense that she was dreading and excited about going to dinner and drinks at the ripe old age of twenty-three—well, twenty-four. Because not only was tonight her first date, it was also her birthday.

Hooray, she mentally rolled her eyes. She was twenty-four, lived alone in a borrowed apartment, and was still working on finishing her degree while working part-time in a daycare. This was not the life she was expecting to be living two years ago. This was not the life Fate had intended for her. But it was the life she had now and, at twenty-four she was tired of the meager existence she was allowing herself to live. Tonight, was a new night, the start of a new life, and she was damn well going to live it to the fullest. Which meant many more date nights, taking more courses next semester, and demanding more hours from the day care director.

Checking the clock on her bedside table, a flutter of apprehension buzzed through her stomach.

"Come on, Kana. New beginnings, new you," she muttered to herself before turning away from the mirror, slipping on her black kitten heels, snagging the head of the cane from beside the door, and moving gingerly toward the tiny foyer off the slightly larger living room-dining room combination of her small one-bedroom apartment.

Her black, beaded handbag was just big enough to hold her cellphone, keys, wallet, and lipstick.

A knock at the door startled her, making her heart race, and she freaking hated that—even now, years later—there was a millisecond of time when her mind wondered if it was him behind the door.

It never was. Or would be.

And she hated herself every time for it, too. He was the reason her life had taken a shit in the punch bowl. She lost everything that night, and she would never fully recover. So why, after all she'd endured, did that millisecond of time, that sliver of hope, that pinch of yearning continue to return? Like a virus she just couldn't shake?

Fate, she hated the nerves, the sweaty palms, the tremors in her ruined leg.

You can do this! Just open the door!

Pulling her shoulders back, she tugged the door open and pasted on a nervous smile.

A bright, charming smile greeted her.

"Wow, Kay, you look amazing," Cole, her human date, effused, his dark brown eyes slowly, hungrily taking her in. "You leave me breathless."

Warmth spread through her, and this time her smile was real. Heat rushed over her face and down her neck and chest. She often felt a little giddy around Cole; he made her laugh, smile, and her heart beat just a little faster. It was something she never thought she'd ever feel again, especially since her heart had been ripped out of her chest and shredded. After her rejection then attack, it had taken her serious self-therapy to get to the point where she would even spend time alone with a man, let alone agree to a date.

But that one step forward was important. She needed it. Because she refused to live with the label "rejected mate" when what she really was, was a survivor. She survived being rejected, being abandoned, losing her wolf spirit, being viciously attacked by a rabid shifter, then undergoing three surgeries, more months of physical therapy, and finally the reality that she would forever walk with a cane. Yes, the Healer the human doctors called in to help her had been able to stop the bleeding and repair the gaping wound in her chest where the rabid wolf had tired to get at her beating heart, but there wasn't much more she could do after that to repair the devastation to her leg. Even Healers had a limit, and after keeping her heart beating for more than fifteen minutes while she repaired it, the Healer didn't have enough juice to fix Kana's leg, too.

At least she still had a leg.

Kana fucking earned something good. And she would damn well grasp it with both hands and refuse to let it go.

"Thank you, Cole, and you look very handsome," she replied. And he did. He was a handsome man, with dark brown hair, dark eyes with those laugh crinkles around them, a dimple in his left cheek when he smiled, and straight, white teeth. He was nearly a foot taller than her, and had a swimmer's build—all lean, tight muscles.

Unlike him, who was muscle stacked on muscle—built like a hockey player...who happened to turn into a wolf.

No! Stop thinking about him! He means nothing to me! Just like I mean nothing to him. Less than nothing.

She felt her smile slip, but she hid it by grabbing her clutch from the table by the door and pulling her keys out.

"Oh, wait," Cole said, laughing nervously. He pulled his arm from where it was hidden behind his back and presented her with a lovely bouquet of lilies. Her smile grew ten times.

"These are beautiful," she whispered, reaching out to take the bouquet and bring them to her nose. She inhaled and hummed happily. The tension that had been in her shoulders and neck loosened, Cole's thoughtfulness warming her insides. She'd never received flowers before.

She could definitely do this dating thing.

Cole cleared his throat. "Not as beautiful as you," he rasped, his dark eyes pinned to her mouth.

Heat curled in her belly. She could really do this! She was going to go on a date with this man, she was going to let him kiss her, and she...well...she wasn't a first date "done deal" kind of woman, but she wouldn't say no to some heavy petting. Over the dress, of course.

Quickly putting the flowers in a make shift vase made from a Mason jar, they headed out the door, arm in arm.

"So, where are we going?" she asked as Cole as he started the engine on his Audi.

He turned to her from the driver's seat and grinned.

"La Trattoria Bella for dinner, then I thought we'd head to Aqua for drinks. I heard they have the best cocktail menu in the city."

Italian then delicious cocktails at one of the best bars in Colorado Springs?

She was totally down for that. And she would have something juicy to share with Holly when the woman called bright and early the next morning for the "scoop."

"That sounds amazing," she replied.

As Cole pulled out of the complex parking lot and pointed his Audi toward the city center, Kana couldn't help but watch the scene flying by out her window, her heart...light. And for the first time in too long she felt like everything was...right.