Chapter 19 Our First Date as Mates

(Alexander POV)

We decided to take a pickup truck which I usually use when I go to the village. Hope was eyeing the Range Rover, but I told her we were going to the village not Seattle. She pouted. She said tomorrow she'll be taking the cars out for a spin. I told her sure, just as long as she took Oliver or David with her. They looked at me like I had given them the day off. Good. They can bond with her while I do some work.

We stopped by the hospital first. Hope was happy to see her father recovering. Her mother though had puffy eyes from crying. Hope came to her, put her cheek on her mother's head and I saw the stress leave Mirasol's body. She hugged Hope and thanked her for saving her father. Hope promised them she'd pick them up tomorrow when Jim gets discharged from the hospital. She had that evil twinkle in her eye. I knew she'd be taking the Range Rover. Fine, I'l let her. Happy wife, happy life as they say.

We say good-bye to Hope's parents and head towards the various shops in the village. It was a nice sunny day, so we decided to walk around...with Oliver and David behind us.

I apologized for not being able to take her to Lake Tahoe for our honeymoon. She said she wouldn't and couldn't go anyway, knowing her Dad was at the hospital.

She bought some flimsy underwear, sorry, lingerie. She said she wanted to feel sexy when we go to bed. I told her that's easy...just go to bed naked. She slapped me on the arm. Next, she went to the herb store and took out this long list. Apparently, her aunt wanted to start teaching her how to make potions, ointments and elixirs. No one told me dried leaves and petals were expensive. I should open a store of my own. Dry a bunch of weeds and say it's herbs. She also bought some seeds and said we had to start our own herb garden. I'll have Oliver and David and their group of men help her set it up. That would be easy for them since they help me maintain my vineyards.

At the hardware, the son of the owner of the store lit up like a light bulb when he saw Hope. Hope needed some things to start her garden. He immediately appeared at her side and started helping her choose the things she needed. I was about to get jealous when he mentioned he didn't have many friends. "Yeah? Me too. I know the feeling," Hope answered and let out a sigh. "We can be friends. Is that ok?" She asked with so much sincerity that even Oliver said, "I wanna be part of this group." They all laughed and started exchanging numbers, talking about the 4th of July Festival and what time they can all meet up.

Hope went peeking through the windows of all the stores she passed by. People would make a double take when they saw her and stare at her smiling face. One guy almost hit the post, staring at her while walking, if it weren't for one of my men. He was so embarrassed and said, "She's so pretty." I smiled at him. That's my Hope.

She then went into some of the boutique shops. The owners fawned over her like she was a real life mannequin. They wanted her to try all their clothes. She begged off and promised all of them she would be back to try anything they wanted her to try on. She bought some trendier clothes just in case she needs to be more Luna-like. She said Amanda promised her some business suits so that's taken care of. Finally, she felt hungry and decided it was time to eat. All of us, including Oliver and David and their men walked into Angela's Diner.

Hope immediately took one of the menus and plopped her bags and herself onto a booth. I keep forgetting she's still a teenager. Her youth is refreshing.

"Alpha Ulrich, welcome." The server bowed. She followed Hope to her seat. "Hi! I'm Elle and I'll be serving you today."

"Ooooohhhhh... Hi Elle! I want a cheeseburger, fries, Cherry Coke and a slice of apple pie," Hope said her eyes on the menu.

I sit opposite Hope. Looking at her youthful energy, I look more like an uncle than her mate. Elle gives me a surprised look as I sit down. "That sounds good. Make that two orders, Elle."

"Yes Alpha Alexander. Uhm..by the way, I end my shift soon." Elle licks her lips.

I could feel Hope's eyes burning through my very body. There was a lump in my throat and I started coughing.

"Alpha Alexander seems lost for words, Elle," Hope's words were laced with venom. Her smile looked innocent, but her eyes! I was looking at the eyes of The Hulk! I averted my eyes to Oliver and David, who was seated at the counter next to our booth. They were trying so hard not to laugh.

I suddenly hear thunder from the distance. Thunder? There wasn't a cloud in sight while we were shopping.

Oliver steps in with a "I feel so sorry for you look" and leads Elle towards the other hungry wolves so she could take their orders.

I looked out the window. The wind started howling and the sky started to go dark. I look over at Hope. The weather was a reflection of her face.

The orders of food came and Hope ate quietly. I tried looking into her eyes, but I saw the scary green color and decided not to say anything. The weather though was starting to ease up and her face wasn't scrunched up as much. I think the food was making her feel better. Thank you, cheeseburger!

Elle came by the table and asked if we wanted anything else.

"Your Luna and I are quite satisfied. We're good. Thank you." Damage control. I hope this works.

"Luna?" Ellen asked

"Yes. I would like you to meet Hope Alarie-Ulrich, your Luna."

"I beg your pardon, Luna. Please forgive me. I meant no disrespect." Elle bows her head in respect.

"That's ok, Elle. I understand." Hope smiles and looks at me with her gold eyes. Phew! I thought I wasn't going to be able to get out of the diner alive! Elle bows one last time and excused herself.

"Alpha Alex, just a suggestion, you better tell ALL your previous girlfriends you are now mated. Luna Hope looked like she was about to rip your head off a while ago." Oliver said through mind-link.

"You're right. Spread the word about our new Luna," I tell him.

"Copy."

"Alexander, honey, I have to use the restroom before we go." The sun was out shining again just like the sparkle I see in her golden eyes.

She stands up. Oliver follows. One of the men at the end of the diner let out a low whistle when Hope passed. I was about to go over there and teach the guy some manners when Oliver grabbed the man's shoulder and squeezed it so hard, he screamed his apologies to Hope when she walked out from the restroom.

She picked up her bags and before leaving told the owner her apple pie was to die for. The owner beamed with pride.

"Hope, how about we hold your things?"

"It's ok. The least I can do is carry them after you paid for them. Hmmm...Come to think of it, I should get a job."

"You have a job. Being Luna."

"I mean a paying job. Pays money."

"Half of what I own is yours so why would you need to have a 'paying job' for?" I argue.

"I what?" She stops and looks at me stunned. She was my mate. I had no qualms giving all of what is mine to her.

"Remember you own half of everything that's mine? I'll get you your own credit card and bank account tomorrow. Plus, an extra card for your parents. Hope, my love, you don't need to work. I'll work. For the both of us."

"But I need to go to school though. University starts in fall and I need money for college."

"Ok. You go to college. I'll move on campus with you."

"Really? You'd do that for me?" She had a bright smile on her face. She wants me to be with her too.

"Yes. I won't last a day without you." I tell her.

"Carpenters." She laughs. "Oliver, how about you and I go to university together?"

"Me too. I wanna go too." David and Oliver, hard to separate the two.

"Oliver and David have graduated college already at the local pack community college. Plus, University is expensive."

"It would be nice if I had some people I know on campus. They can take their Master's while I finish undergrad."

"Well, let me think about it." I'll have to send three wolves to university? Boy.

"Let's go home boys. I'm pretty tired." Hope happily skips in front of us towards the direction of the truck. I brush my hands in my hair. Her bouncing around has gotten me hard. I just love watching her.

And I'll enjoy watching her in our bedroom later.