Chapter 43

Aiden


We rode half way in silence. I didn’t know what to say or what to ask. “ You have to talk to her or she is going to think you aren’t interested. Remember the tips Melissa gave you.” Razor said. Not even fifteen minutes into this date and I was fucking it up. “ How are things going with you?” Lexi asked just as I asked her “ How is your studying going?” Lexi giggled. I loved that sound. “ Make her do it again.” Razor said. “ I want to hear it again,” he said. “ I’m sorry. I have never been on a date before. I don’t know how to act.” she said.

I’m stunned to find out Lexi has never been on a date before. A wonderful, sexy girl like her should have the guys lined up around the block. “ And I know this isn’t something wolves normally do.” she said. “ No it isn’t. I have to ask why haven’t you been on a date before? Have you never been asked?” I asked. I just didn’t understand. Lexi explained that she had been asked but she always turned the guy down. That it didn’t feel right to go out with anyone. She said it was like there was a voice telling her to wait. “ Luther said it was probably my wolf guiding me even though I didn’t know it. He said that most likely she has been guiding me most of my life. When I just thought it was a gut instinct.” Lexi said.

“ That does sound plausible. Even though our wolves don’t show until we are in our teens we always know they are there.” I said just as I pulled into the parking lot of the Italian restaurant Melissa recommended. I have never been here but she said the food was great and it had an intimate atmosphere. And that is what I wanted for Lexi and me. I asked Lexi to stay where she was when I saw her reach for the door. I ran as fast as I could around to open her door and help her out. I took a chance and placed my arm around Lexi’s waist keeping her close to me. Lexi looked up at me but didn’t move my arm.

We walked in and the first thing I noticed was the scent of onions and garlic. It was very strong for my wolf senses. I saw Lexi wrinkled her nose but didn’t say anything. I walked up to the hostess podium. The lady looks up “ Hello, how can I help you?” she asked in what I can assume is supposed to be a seductive voice. To me it sounded grating. “ Reservation for Cline.” She pushes her chest out trying to show me more of her tits while she looks me up and down openly checking me out. Was she fucking kidding me right now? Lexi is standing right beside me. My arm was around heer and this lady was flirting with me. Really?

“ Right this way Mr. Cline.” the hostess says as she bats her eyes at me. I feel Lexi tense up beside and and try to pull away. I hold her tighter against me. I was not going to let Lexi go just because the hostess wanted to flirt. I was staking my claim on the woman next to me. I am showing Lexi I’m with her. We followed the hostess to a small table in the back. I let go of Lexi long enough to pull her chair out. Once she is sitting I help her push the chair in and go to the other side of the table. It is a square table with a red tablecloth and a small candle in the middle. The lighting is dim and there is soft music playing over the speakers.

The hostess leans down damn near pushing her tits up in my face and places menus on the table. All on my side. She has yet to acknowledge Lexi. I’m getting pissed off. “ Will there be anything else?” the hostess asks. “ No. My date and I are fine.” I stressed the word date on purpose. “ Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do for you?” she asks. Seriously lady? Before I can respond I hear a low but menacing growl come from Lexi’s side of the table. It startled the hostess who stood up and finally looked at Lexi. I looked at Lexi and saw her eyes had changed color to a deep blue and had a slight glow.

The voice that came out of Lexi’s mouth was not Lexi’s normal voice. “ The man said we were fine. You should go and do your job. And if I were you I wouldn’t try flirting with a man when he is clearly on a date. It could end very badly for you.” Lexi growled. “ You wouldn’t want something to happen to that pretty face for touching something that doesn’t belong to you. Do you?” Lexi threatened. The hostess started shaking so bad I thought she was going to collapse. “ No, miss.” the hostess stuttered. “ Then leave.” Lexi growled again. The hostess ran like her ass was on fire.

Lexi turned to me and Razor pushed forward. I didn’t let him take full control but I let him see what I was seeing. “ Lexi’s wolf.” Razor whispered in awe. He wasn’t the only one. Jesse had told me he was seeing signs that Lexi’s wolf was more present these days but to see it myself was something else. Jesse hadn’t actually seen her wolf come forward but little things. Like Lexi’s body temperature changing. Or Lexi would growl. “ Mate.” Lexi growled before closing her eyes. She takes several deep breaths before opening her eyes again. “ I’m sorry.” Lexi whispered. I was shocked. I placed my hands on hers. “ Lexi, you have nothing to be sorry about.”

“ I do. The Elders have been trying to train me in control but it doesn’t always work. New things keep popping up. I don’t know what happened just now. I wasn’t angry or anything.” Lexi said. I was about to say something but our waiter came over. I now got to see how Lexi felt when the hostess was checking me out. I’ll give it to the waiter. He was being subtle about checking Lexi out as he took our drink orders. Lexi ordered a sweet tea while I ordered a beer. Yes, I was twenty one. Slightly older than Lexi. And one beer wasn’t going to affect me. It took a lot to get a shifter drunk. And it had to be a lot stronger than a beer.

We looked over the menus after he left. “ Lexi, it was your wolf.” I told her. Lexi looked confused so I explained. “ She may not be ready to fully show herself but she didn’t like another woman flirting with her mate so she pushed forward.” “ Wow. I didn’t know. I just felt a shift. Like I was taking a backseat for a minute while someone else drove.” Lexi said.

“ That is a good way to think about it.” I said. The waiter brought our drinks and took our orders. Lexi got chicken parm with a side of mozzarella sticks. I got shrimp alfredo. “ This must be common knowledge for you. You got to grow up in this world. I’m learning as fast as I can. And the book you made has helped. But I still feel like I’m behind everyone else. Or something will come up that the books haven’t covered.” Lexi said.

“ Like what. Maybe I can help?” I offered. Lexi tilted her head like she was thinking. “ So cute.” Razor said. “ Is there anything you don’t find cute about her?” I asked him. “ Yes, her ass. It is grabbable. I want to take a bite.” I had just taken a pull from my beer when he said that and I damn near choked. “ Aiden are you alright?” Lexi asked, eyes full of worry. “ I’m fine. Razor just said something that caught me off guard.” I said. “ I get the feeling it isn’t something I want to know right now.” Lexi giggled. “ You would be right.” I said and smiled at her.

I couldn’t get over how beautiful she is. And when she smiled it was like the room lit up and he wasn’t glowing. “ Is the offer of asking questions still good?” Lexi asked. “ I’ll do my best. I’m afraid you might know more about our history than I do by now.” I said. “ I have been reading everything the Elders have given me. They are giving me a short version for now. But there are some things that I want to know that aren’t there. Or I haven’t found it yet,”Lexi said. “ Like when I get my wolf do I name her or does she come with one? And are they always the same sex as the person they are in? Like a girl gets a girl wolf. And how do you know what they are going to be? Like Alpha, Gamma and such.” Lexi continued.

“ You wolf will tell you her name when she presents. I have only known wolf that are the same sex as thier human. As for being an Alpha or beta there are several factors. One is the energy they give off. Each Beta has a similar scent. And there is the size of their wolf. Alphas are traditionally bigger than everyone else.” I told her. “ I’m worried I’m never going to get all of this.” Lexi said. I could see a little fear in her eyes and I could smell it too. “ Lexi, I know you can do this. So does Razor. And I can safely say Luther does too. And so many others that you don’t even notice. But for the rest of tonight I want you to forget all about training, the Elders, school. All of it. If a question comes up just ask. But other than that try to have fun. Even if it is just for a little while.” I said.

Our food arrived and we ate and talked. About everything and nothing important. When a question would come up she did ask. Most of them were things most of us just knew. Like how can you tell the difference between a shifter and a human. Or other shifters. I walked her though as much as I could. Some of it she is just going to have to practice. I paid for dinner and as we left I told Lexi she had two options. We could go see a movie or take a walk first. Lexi chose to walk. She explained she was feeling restless and needed the move. I knew it was her wolf again. We walked for a few minutes in silence but this time it was comfortable.

“ Tell me about you. Tell me about Aiden and Razor.” Lexi said, breaking the silence. I noticed her hand kept grazing mine as she swung it so when it passed again I grabbed it. I made sure our fingers were intertwined. Lexi didn’t pull away but she did look down. “ The sparks. They aren’t as strong.” she said. I could feel the sadness coming off of her. Even if she didn’t want to admit it. “ Yes, they are starting to fade. They will continue to do that until the bond is completely broken.” I explained.

“ Oh.” was all she said. We walked and found a park. Lexi turned into it. I changed the subject to the questions she asked about me. I told her about growing up in the pack. And how Melissa, Jesse and Jackson grew up together. That our parents are close friends. I told Lexi about some stupid shit we did as kids. Like the time Jackson and I decided we were going to sleep outside but forgot to tell our parents. Our parents freak out and called out a search party. We were maybe twenty feet from the house. We were in so much trouble. Both our dad’s grounded us for a week.Dad gave me chores around the house. I had to help the house keepers. Jackson’s dad had him help in the kitchen.

I had Lexi laughing with the different stories. There was a small pond that Lexi stopped at. She was looking out over the frozen water. It looked like she was collecting her thoughts so I stayed quiet while she did. “ Aiden, can I do something?” she asked. “ What is it you want to do?” I asked, curious as to where she was going with this. Lexi turns around and steps so close our chests are almost touching. She gets up on her toes and wraps her arms around my neck. I place my hands on her hips. I’m terrified if I do more than that Lexi will back away. “ Is this alright?” she asked.

“ More than alright. It’s everything.” I told her. I didn’t want to let her go. “ And what about this?” Lexi asked , just before she pressed her lips to mine. I reacted instantly. I wrapped one arm around her waist pulling her to me. The other I placed on the back of her head. I twist my head to the side. I licked her bottom lip, startling her. I slid my tongue in her mouth and covered every inch of it absorbing her taste. I never wanted to forget it. I twisted my tongue with hers and taking in her moan.

Lexi pulls back to get some much needed air but not far. “ Was it okay? That I did that?” she asked. “ Lexi, these lips are all yours. You can kiss me anytime.” I said. I felt the sparks get a little stronger than they were when I picked Lexi up today. I don’t think Lexi has noticed yet. It gave me hope that our bond would strengthen more. I want not just the initial sparks, I want the ones you get when you are fully mated. And I have faith I will get there. I also need to talk with Luther. I need to get to know him and we will never be the mates Lexi needs us to be.