ETHEREAL

3

It seemed time had stopped, the whispers that now engulfed the room completely dimmed out by the simple sight of Rosa's mate. Her hands slightly shook as they clasped one another, her wolf aching in agitation for neither of them could move.

Raven black locks styled in a sophisticated manner amongst his head, bright sea coloured eyes falling upon Rosa as he took her in almost hungrily. A jawline so harsh that it made him look even more scarier than he actually was, and with a figure so tall and muscular that she longed to touch it. Her hands itched to run her hands through his hair, have him hold her and claim her as his and his only.

It seemed like hours that they were stood so stationary, almost scared to approach one another, when suddenly Dante began to continue to walk down the stairs - not once breaking eye contact. Her breathing hitched, for the closer he came, the more her wolf screamed in excitement. With a few long strides, soon enough he was right in front of her, her tiny little body peeking up towards him as they engulfed themselves in one another. He wrapped his arms around her little figure, and her around his waist, holding one another tightly as though it was all one big dream.

At the age of 25, Dante had long believed that he had been cursed with no mate. Most wolves met their mates on the first attendance of the annual ball at the age of 19, and yet for 6 years he was met with only the reminder that he could never have the one thing he had wanted so badly. And yet here she was, the bundle of innocence he knew would soothe away the darkness within him.

Little Rosa, peeked her little head around, gasping to see everyone staring so openly at them, with wide eyes and opened mouths, quickly making her hide her face in her newly found mate's chest. Upon the sudden reaction, he peered down at her before everyone else, a snarl leaving his lips loudly, squeaks being heard from many before they instantly turned their attentions back at what they were doing before. The music continued playing, the chatter began, and the dancing took place.

Upon hearing everything happen again, Rosa shyly peeked up at her mate with a tinge of pink against her cheeks and nose, clearly shy in his presence. "Hi." She whispered quietly, feeling almost stupid. But what could she possibly say in front of a practical god? He was beautiful! "Hello." He murmured down at her, the corner of his mouth flicking upwards slowly at the sight of her being so shy, slowly pressing three soft kisses on her face. Two on each cheek and one upon her nose, loving the blush that graced her features which only, to her demise, grew much deeper. Sparks ran through her body at the simple action, and her little mind raced with the thoughts of how it would feel if he kissed her on the lips - just like the princes did in her stories she read!

"I'm Rosa." She murmured, her chest heaving only slightly from the almost overwhelming sensation of him being so close to her, unaware that secretly, he was feeling the same. "Rosa." He growled out, closing his eyes for a moment or two, his jaw hardening as a slow sigh left his lips. The simple name the beauty before him claimed was enough to throw him over the edge with need. In the small five minutes they had been acquainted, he knew he was already addicted to her, her stark vanilla scent and the luscious lips he longed to kiss. And, of course, not to forget the innocence his little Rosa had.

"My little Rosa, hm?" He whispered down at her, caressing her cheek with his hand, making her also sigh in content as she leaned towards it while having her other hand placed on his chest. "How about we head out to the gardens, little Rosa? A breath of fresh air will do us good." He murmured, the dominance in his voice apparent although it only brought comfort to her, as she excitedly nodded, taking his hand naturally as he lead the way. She was completely oblivious to everybody else, her father, Aila or even Ada. She couldn't bring herself to care in that moment, for the one thing she had dreamed about for so long was before her.

As they walked across the ballroom, she couldn't help the almost goofy grin that formed her lips. Who would have thought that she would be mated to one of the strongest alphas currently running! It seemed almost ironic, considering the fact she had been told from a young age to expect no higher of a rank in a mate than a beta. Alphas mated alphas. This was an anomaly, it seemed. She noticed how Dante completely disregarded the alpha's side of the room, as though it had no interest to him whereas many would kill to be in such an exclusive area, with the most beautiful men and women alongside each other.

Soon they made it outside, through the stairs leading out next to the windowed doors. It was obvious to her that he was slowing his pace for her, due to her heels and her small stature and the simple gesture made her heart swoon. "I'm sorry, I-I'm going as fast as I can." She shyly admitted, a blush appearing on her cheeks in slight embarrassment making him chuckle slowly down at her in response. The sound was music to her ears.

After a minute or so they found themselves at the entrance of the gardens, with rose bushes littered everywhere - her favourite flower of course. It was truly beautiful. There stood a simple bench, big enough for two to sit and so they did.

"I've dreamt of you." He admitted slowly, her hands inclosed within his own as he brought them to his lips, kissing them gently. An odd site considering he was so scary. "I've dreamt of what you would look like, how you would act, what you would wear." He grunted, closing his eyes for a mere moment. "But my dreams could have never done you justice, little Rosa." He said with such conviction, opening his bright sea coloured orbs to meet her own, so intense it rid her of a breath. "Seeing you stood there at the bottom of the stairs, so beautiful it will be a sight that I will happily replay until I am turning in my grave." He growled lowly, raising her chin also as he let go of only one of her hands.

She seemed to be a loss for words, her hands shaking slowly in his own as her chest heaved up and down slightly from his admittance. The way he spoke, the way he carried himself, it shook her to her very core and she craved so much more of him. She wanted to explore every inch of the man before her, to assess his likes and wants, what he disliked and what he needed, she wanted to be everything for him just like he already was for her.

"My father told me about you." She too admitted, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, his eyes following the action greedily. "He said you were a bad man, that you kill and show no mercy," she gulped, almost afraid to say it in-front of him despite knowing he would not hurt her. "Your father is correct," he grunted in response, showing no effort to defy what she had told him despite the gasp leaving her lips. "But I am a selfish man, my love, I refuse to let you out of my sight now I have had a taste. I am a bad man. The rumours you have heard are true," he growled, slowly rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip making her breathing hitch once more. "But know you are mine, no matter what." He whispered in a dark manner, showing no empathy for the things she had questioned him to be.

Rosa did not know what to say, her lips parting further as his thumb traced the bottom one, her hands on his lap as they both sat incredibly close to one another, his head bowed down to her and hers looking upwards. So close in fact, that their noses touched. Her big orbs slowly closed shut as she watched him lean closer, his own shutting before he planted his experienced lips against the innocent ones of her own, pressing lightly.

The kiss itself was short, brief in fact, and yet when he pulled away it was as though she couldn't open her eyes. Once she had, she was met with the brilliance of blue that had captured her heart. He stood up slowly, offering his arm to her as they walked around the gardens quietly, breathing in content in one another's arms.

He stopped suddenly, dropping her arm and putting his back to her. Her eyes narrowed in slight confusion as she watched him lean towards the pink rose bush, plucking a tiny rose with a small pocket knife he had kept in his suit pocket. As an alpha, it would be ridiculous not to have any sort of weapon on him, especially considering he was so powerful. He harshly cut the thorns away, his narrowed eyes focusing hard until the rose became smooth. Soon after, he swirled to meet her gaze once again before presenting it towards her.

"A little rose, for little Rosa." He whispered.

hi!!!!!! gosh i stan rosa & dante LMAO
how are you guys liking this glimpse of dante in this chapter, and how do you feel about their relationship??? i hope I'm not rushing AH

love u all my babies❤️