Lune & Roses

Before I set eyes on him I saw the table in the middle of the room with two chairs, a bottle of Champaign in a bucket of ice and rose petals scattered on the table and the two seats. Pink and red petals had been spread around the room. Dean stood by the window dressed in a black suit that hung to his body for dear life.
The corners of his mouth lifted, “You look beautiful.”
I brushed a lock behind my ear. “So do you… I mean you look handsome.”
Dean placed candles in the corners and near the table but the dominant light came from the only window in the room. The moonlight burst into the room and illuminated it.
Dean placed his hand on the small of my back and the other on my shoulder blade.
“Why didn’t you tell me this was a date?”
“It’s not much.”
“Dean, it’s perfect.”
It was just a room with no other furniture than the small table but I loved it.
“We get to be alone and relax.” He tipped my chin up and kissed me.
“That’s even more perfect.”
Dean pulled out my seat for me and then grabbed the Champaign bottle. He stopped before he popped the top open.
“Just this once, I’m allowing you to drink.”
“Oh, come on!”
“I’ve seen you drunk you’re too much for me.”
“Of course, you are an old man.”
He growled and I snickered. Dean had freshly shaved the sides of his head. I could smell the masculine scent of his shampoo from here. His man bun hung low. I thought about what it would feel like to have his hair caress the inside of my thigh as he ate me out. Dean’s chuckle snapped me out of a fantasy.
“What?” I picked up the flute and took a gulp.
“You’re obsessed with me Little Wolf.”
“Why would you think that?”
“I can smell it. It is the most intoxicating smell ever.”
He reached across the table and took both my hands.
“Dinner?”
“That sounds wonderful.”
The kitchen staff were at our disposal. Dean made sure they had everything the way a restaurant would. I ordered a prawn pasta dish while my mate ordered medium rare stack. I could have predicted his order. Dean texted a waiter with our order then stuffed his phone back in his pocket.
“After all this is done the first thing I want to do is have our mating ceremony. I want everything official.”
“I’d love that too. I’d love a little peace. There’s just so much—”
“I know. We don’t have to bring them up. We can battle them tomorrow.”
I appreciated Dean wanting this night to be special and calm but there was so much on my shoulders. The Dare pack, my parents and that damn stone! Where the hell could it be? I had no idea what it looked like either what was I looking for? It could be strong enough to stop a demon wolf but no one knew where it was not even them and a part of me thought that was good. As long as they didn’t get their hands on it everything was fine.
“Layla?” Dean squeezed my hand.
“Sorry, I zoned out there,” I picked up the Champaign glass and took another gulp.
“What’s on your mind?” Dean caressed the back of my back with his thumb.
“A lot,” I drowned the rest of the Champaign.
“Try to relax, Babe.”
I needed another drink but instead I grabbed Dean’s hand and stared into his eyes. “Okay, remember when Sinkara said I had something she wanted?”
“Yeah, and you said you didn’t have it.”
“That’s true.” I really wanted another drink.
“So what is it?”
I’d held back on him for so long because I wasn’t sure I could tell him about my pack’s best kept secret. Now I had nothing lose because I didn’t even have the stone.
“Can I have another?” I pointed at the bottle in ice.
Dean chuckled and leaned back, “Little Wolf…”
“I won’t lose it I promise.”
“Fine.” Dean poured me a full glass.
I took a sip before I took his hand again.
“You’ve heard of the goddess giving gifts to packs, right?” I asked.
Dean bobbed his head.
“Well, Ember wasn’t secluded from the rest of the world for no reason. We were protecting something powerful and sacred. That was our mission to keep the object safe from the wrong hands. That’s why the pack was attacked.”
“What object?” Dean demanded.
“The goddess’s tear. It’s a stone—”
“I know what it is. I’m guessing you didn’t know all along about your pack’s purpose.”
“No, Babe, I didn’t. When I did I wasn’t sure if I should tell you. Owen said they searched Ember with the survivors but they didn’t find it. Sinkara wants it and she thinks I have it but I’m clueless too.”
Dean sucked in his bottom lip and shook his head, “This is what you’ve been holding back, huh?”
“Yes… it can only be at Ember but hidden really well. I mean it was our mission to protect the stone the Alpha wouldn’t have hidden it something else.”
“Do you want to go back?”
“It’s better hidden but… in case we need it in this fight I think we should search.”
Dean leaned back in the chair, “It’s a waste of time.”
I blinked a few times, “Why?”
“Because it isn’t there.”
“I know what I’m saying. My pack’s been protecting the stone for years!”
“I know it isn’t there because I have it, Layla.”
My jaw dropped open and froze. Then I shook the shock off. I went to bed hearing storing about the goddess’s tear drop. I know for a fact that Dean never set foot in my pack so how does he have it?
“It’s right here in the pack.”
“How did you get it? It doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t? Your uncle searched your pack but didn’t find it. Where could it be?”
“I don’t understand… have you been to Ember?”
He lifted a shoulder. His nonchalant demeanour boiled my blood. This was serious! This was my parents’ legacy, my pack’s memory. He wanted to tell me all this time the damn stone wasn’t in the pack, all along?
“I’ve never set foot there, but I have the stone.”
“Then why don’t you use it against the Dare pack?” I blasted.
“I can’t use it. I don’t know who can.”
“Dean, I want to see it.”
“Fine, I’ll take you.”
“Good.” I jumped to my feet.
Dean was in front of me in an instant. “Hey, we’re on a date. You’re not leaving.”
“We have a powerful object that can save the world.”
“The world can wait just for a moment, Little Wolf.”
He pressed our foreheads together. I breathed him in and smiled. He captured my waist and locked us together.
“One dance, Layla?”
“Of course.”
Soft string music streamed from Dean’s phone. I rested my head on his shoulder and melted into him as we moved to the sway of the music. I listened to his heartbeat more than the music I wanted to remain in his arms even after the music stopped. We ended up by the window staring at the moon in comfortable silence.
“You think the world can wait a little longer?” I asked.
Dean exhaled deeply, “Yeah. I’m sure the world can give us tonight.”
“I hope tonight never ends. I’ve never felt more safe in your arms.”
He pecked the top of my head, “I’ll never let anyone hurt you Layla. Not again.”
“I know Dean and I love you.”
A knock came from the door seconds later two waiters walked in. I forgot we asked for food. The stone could wait another night my stomach growled in agreement.
“Layla,” Dean said as I settled in my chair.
“I love you too. I’ll never love anyone the way I love you. Even if the walls are made of metal I know I’ll tear them down when I’m with you.”
I squeezed his hand his words gave me hope that we’d make it out of this war alive.