197
Peter
It had been almost too long since I had set the date with Michelle. And now, I was driving to the Blood Moon Estate, oddly excited and full of anxiety. I had no thoughts about getting any intel about what David was up to or anything else.
My whole mind was focused on the night ahead of me with Michelle. I had never been one to get anxious about dates, but tonight felt different. Michelle was more than just a random human I chose to spend my time with and get pleasure from, and this was no ordinary date.
I approached the grand entrance of the Estate, and the imposing guards stationed there regarded me with a level of skepticism. I could sense their wariness, their doubt about my intentions. I simply flashed a polite smile, offering a nod of acknowledgment, and rolled down my window.
"Evening," I greeted them calmly, my tone friendly but measured. "I'm here to pick up Michelle for our date."
One of the guards eyed me critically for a moment before stepping closer to the car, his expression guarded. "Your name?"
I almost laughed at how ridiculous they were being, but I answered anyway.
"Peter of Black Moon."
He grunted and nodded me up the road to drive to the front of the Estate. It was as beautiful as it had been the last time I was here. I stepped out of the car and pulled the bouquet of flowers out of the car just as the door opened.
Michelle emerged from the Estate, her presence bringing a warm light to the scene. Her smile was radiant as she walked towards the car, and my heart couldn't help but flutter at the sight of her.
"Hi, Peter," she greeted, her eyes sparkling with genuine enthusiasm.
"Michelle, a pleasure as always," I replied, unable to hide my own smile as I handed her a bouquet of flowers. "These are for you."
Her surprise was evident, and she accepted the flowers with a delighted grin. "Thank you, they're beautiful."
She turned back. “I’ll… put these in a vase, and then we’ll go?”
“I’ll be here.”
She smiled shyly and shuffled back inside. Soon, she came back, and I opened the passenger door for her. I helped her into the car as the door opened again. A young woman stood in the doorway, her eyes narrowed.
“Sarah?” Michelle asked.
Her gaze fixed on me with a wary intensity.
"Peter," she acknowledged with a nod, her tone cautious.
"Sarah," I greeted, maintaining a neutral yet friendly tone.
It was clear that she was protective of Michelle, and I couldn't blame her for being cautious after what had transpired between Michelle and me.
Sarah remained in the doorway as Michelle put on her seatbelt.
“Do your homework and don’t worry so much.”
Sarah huffed and went back inside as I rounded the car. I looked at Michelle.
“Ready?”
Her smile was bright and genuine, erasing any lingering tension. "Absolutely."
As we pulled away from the Blood Moon Estate, the evening breeze carried a sense of anticipation as I navigated through the Blood Moon territory, the scenery gradually giving way to a more urban landscape. As we arrived at the restaurant, I pulled up to the valet and got out as the valet opened the door for Michelle. The Blood Moon Escort team drifted around nearby, and I knew from the way they spoke with the restaurant’s security I had chosen correctly.
David may be irritating to me, but he held the safety of the people in his care very important.
Michelle and I stepped inside. The ambiance of the place was a blend of elegance and intimacy. I couldn't shake the feeling that our actions were being watched, and I suspected that there were a few Blood Moon Escort members around, waiting for something to happen.
I smiled, charmed that Michelle, who up until now had no one to really rely on but herself and her sisters, had someone looking out for her.
It made me think of my father telling me about the old werewolf courting procedures and asking my mother’s father for the chance to date her.
Seated at a cozy corner table, we perused the menu and engaged in light conversation. Michelle's laughter was infectious, and it eased some of the tension that had been lingering in the air.
After we ordered our appetizers, she looked up at me with a determined look on her face. I smiled.
“I think you can wait to pick my brain on the stock market until at least dessert this time.”
She flushed prettily. “That’s not what I was going to say. I just… wanted to clear the air about some things.”
I tilted my head and set my menu down, giving her my full attention. She took a deep breath and then met my gaze again.
“I’m a werewolf.” My eyes widened as she searched my face. “And I know who you are now.”
My initial shock quickly gave way to an eagerness, a happiness that I couldn’t explain even as something pricked and pulled at the back of my mind. For a moment, I wondered how I hadn’t noticed that much. Now that she’s said it, it seemed so obvious. The musky undertone of her scent had always been fascinating to me.
"Is that so?” I said, a smile forming on my lips. “It seems like we have a lot more to talk about than I first thought.
Michelle's eyes filled with relief. “You didn’t know?”
I shook my head. “I had no idea.”
She bit her lip. “I haven’t… shifted yet. The Hecate healers think it’s because I’ve been in the human world too long, but I’m working on it.”
I smiled. “I’d be honored to run with you.”
Her eyes widened and flashed the faintest bit of gold. The sight of it gripped something in me and pulled urgently. My mouth went dry, and for a moment, all I could smell, think, and hear was Michelle, from the light scent of her perfume to her racing heartbeat.
Then, the moment vanished like nothing happened.
“So, now that we’re on the same side of the divide…” Michelle bit her lip. “Why did you break things off? Was it because I was human."
My fingers brushed against the rim of my glass, and I took a moment to collect my thoughts before answering. I owed her the truth, painful as it might be to revisit.
"First, I apologize. I never meant to cause you harm. I should have realized that perhaps you had felt as deeply as I had.” She gasped as I glanced at her. “Looking back, it feels cowardly and completely different than the way I usually handle things, but I suppose I’ve never quite found myself in this sort of position…”
Her eyes burned with a soft gold light as she stared at me, filled with want as if she would crawl across the table and into my lap if I so much as hinted that I wanted her to. She flinched, and I put my hand on hers, meeting her gaze.
“It was complicated," I began, my tone earnest. "There were practical reasons. I knew that a relationship between a werewolf and a human, especially someone in my position, could be dangerous. If I had lost control and bitten you…you very well could have died.” My lips twitched. “If you were human, that is.”
I looked into her eyes, my expression earnest as I continued. "And I assure you, you had a way of testing my control all the time. It was better, for your safety, to end it then rather than chance doing irreparable harm to you."
Michelle's gaze held a mix of understanding and empathy, and I appreciated her understanding, but there was a part of the truth I couldn't share. Around the same time, my thoughts had started to become consumed by Lucy.
“I was told that… the Black Moon Pack has a habit of indiscriminately trying to turn people.”
I chuckled. “A very old ancestor used to, and I use that history to my advantage. If others, rogues, for instance, take it upon themselves to blame my pack, it is often to my advantage.”
“Distraction and Manipulation?”
I grinned. “So you’ve been reading more than just business books, hm? Made it all the way to Baltasar, hm?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I had to re-read it a bunch of times. Your notes helped.”
I smiled. “I am impressed you kept trying.”
As the evening wore on, we shared stories and laughter. It felt almost as if we had both forgotten the time apart.
The evening passed in a blur of delightful conversation. As the night waned, I escorted Michelle back to the Blood Moon Estate, a sense of contentment filling the air between us. The guards didn’t stop me at the gates nor feel the need to watch me walk her to the doorstep. The glint of gold in her eyes pulled me in. My heart quickened as I leaned in carefully, slowly, and gently pressed my lips to hers. The kiss was gentle as she melted against me with a soft, pleading sound.
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