Against the Odds

In a day

"Absolutely not!" Diana shouted. She furrowed her brows in confusion as Kai insisted on offering the greasy meat in his hands.

"Come on Diana, live a little!" Kai shoved the hamburger towards her.

"I said no. I do not see the appeal of eating such a greasy, fat-filled, artery blocker! If you'd want me to live longer than a 'little' I suggest encouraging me to eat a plant based diet." Diana reasoned with him. She took her health, just like everything else very seriously. If she were to fight against enemies and train her hardest she couldn't be putting filth in her body.

Malakai began laughing at his mate's seriousness. It was just a hamburger, its not like she'd die!

"All I heard come out of your mouth is I'm Diana, a scary werewolf who doesn't do anything fun!" Kai raised his voice an octave to mock the woman across from the table that rested in the corner of Didi's Diner. He used to come here after his sessions in the meadow and had this very booth picked out since he was a kid.

Diana gaped at her mate, genuinely surprised he had the guts to say something like that- with him being quite shy and all. Her shocked expression soon turned into one of laughter. She couldn't help but chuckle at Malakai. His terrible attempt at a woman's voice and the joke he made at her expense were actually quite funny. She liked that he was more confident around her and could even joke with her.

"I have fun!" Now it was Malakai's turn to laugh. He even clapped his hands together and snorted just a touch. Something Diana was surprised to hear but found it adorable none the less. "I do! I am fun!" She defended.

"Oh really? What do you do that is fun?" Kai said while shoving a fry in his mouth and smirking.

"I- well – I...fight! Yes! I do training sessions and sparring with some of the pack warriors and I go on runs which can be really fun if the weather is nice." Diana crossed her arms and smirked right back at her mate, seemingly unaware that those activities are not deemed "fun" to most people.

"That's not fun, that's exercise, and exercise is bad. It hurts and it makes me tired." Kai responded with once again placing a fry into his mouth.

"Exercise is good for you and I just so happen to think it's fun." Diana smiled widely. She wasn't oblivious to the fact that she was different compared to others, she often found it funny that she was such an outlier. She just hoped her mate could accept that.

"You're weird." Kai said while laughing once again. He adored the woman sitting in front of him and all of her quirks.

"Oh, shut up! That's the pot calling the kettle black, Kai!" Diana emphasized her frustration by throwing a crouton from her salad at him. Kai burst out laughing once again. The most dangerous woman he's ever met had the power to kill him with just her words, but instead she chose a crouton as her weapon.

"I'm very proud to be a weirdo, Diana. It is a great compliment to me as it should be to you." Suddenly serious, Malakai stared into Diana's mesmerizing silver eyes with intensity.

"I guess I should thank you then, huh?"

"It would be the most appropriate response, yes." Diana chuckled once more and smiled tenderly at her soulmate. She was nervous about being too awkward or weird in front of someone who meant everything to her within a fraction of a second. That's why she built her walls so high. No kissing, no touching, no sharing, and no heartbreak. But sitting in front of Malakai Strong listening to him tell her she's a weirdo was playing with her emotions in a way that scared her to death. She felt lighter somehow, like nothing else around her existed except this moment and she knew from numerous books she read that this is when someone falls in love.

She should be excited, right?

Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

She was scared that one day he would look at her and see all her cracks and broken pieces. That one day he'd no longer find her flaws endearing. Losing him was what she feared the most.

"Thank you, Kai."

&

After stubbornly fighting over the bill, Diana finally surrendered. She felt bad about mooching off him, but if they were to spend the rest of their lives together, she'd have time to pay him back. The thought of him and her being partners for the rest of their lives was still very new and nerve racking, but it also made Diana immensely happy.

"Thanks again." She said to Malakai as they sat in his car riding back to the pack grounds.

He looked over at her and his heart skipped a beat. She was beautiful but more than that, she as strong and brave and kind despite her hardened exterior. Gosh I'm so fvcking lucky he thought to himself.

"Please don't thank me. Being on a date with the most amazing woman on the planet was worth every penny and then some." Kai said with the utmost passion. He glanced away from the road just in time to see a light blush coat Diana's cheeks paired with a smile. He then smiled to himself, very proud he made him mate happy and even blush!

"A date?" Diana said with confusion. "This was a date?"

"Well of course. Why wouldn't it be? Oh no, did I mess this up? Am I being too sappy? I'm sorry I just can't help-

"Stop! No. You're perfect, so shut up about messing things up. I've just never been on a date that's all." Diana looked out the window, slightly embarrassed at her lack of experience.

"Well neither have I Wolfie, but I can say with all confidence that was the best date ever." He looked back at his mate again and smugly smiled.

"You're weird" Was Diana's response that was quickly followed by bouts of laughter from the pair.

When they finally arrived in front of Diana's house and walked the path to her door together the mates looked longingly at each other whether they knew it or not. Saying goodbye was hard enough after a great first date, but with a supernatural force pulling you together? Impossible.

"I will see you soon," Malakai began while running a hand through his hair. "Like very soon, how about tomorrow?" Diana chuckled at his eagerness.

"I'll have to see what my workload is like tomorrow, but I might be able to run by the store for lunch?" She asked with a little nervousness, hoping he wouldn't deny her attempt at making plans.

"It's a date." Kai replied.

Diana couldn't resist his tempting pink lips any longer and stood on her tip toes to kiss them. Malakai immediately responded and lifted Diana up by her waist to make it easier for her to reach. They shared their emotions and desires with each other through the kiss. It only left them wanting more, but life had to go on. Kai had to get back to the store and Diana needed to go to sleep seeing as her routine started in the early hours of the morning.

"It's a date." Was Diana's last words before she slipped away into her home.

As soon as they parted ways the couple were practically counting down the minutes until they could see each other again.

Damn a lot can happen in a day, Diana thought.

A/N
Hey y'all!
Sorry for the wait, but school is about to be over and I should be updating more.
Thanks for reading <3

Song: Moonlight by Ariana Grande