SHOPPING AND DINNER DATE

Freda's POV

The day had been moving so quickly, it felt like a blur. I sat by the window, staring out at the castle garden. My mind was messed up since the incident with Williams, I have been trying to figure out my purpose and it seemed like the moon goddess didn’t bless me with anything special but to rule a kingdom that didn't want to be ruled by a weakiling.  

A knock at the door pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. Christy’s bright face appeared, and she stepped into the room, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Freda, I’ve got the best news!” she said, bouncing over to me like a burst of sunshine.
I couldn’t help but smile. Christy was impossible not to like. “What’s up?”

She practically beamed. “Damien wants to have a dinner date with you tonight!”

My stomach flipped. “Dinner date? With Damien?”

“Yes!” She giggled. “And guess who gets the honor of making sure you’re perfectly ready?”

I blinked at her, suddenly feeling a cold wave of panic. “Christy, I don’t have anything to wear for something like that! I barely have any clothes, and certainly nothing that’s... fancy enough for a dinner date with Damien.”

Christy didn’t even flinch. She waved a hand like it was no big deal. “Well, that’s an easy fix. We’ll just go shopping!”

“Shopping?” I repeated, my voice skeptical.

“Yep! And don’t worry, the vampire kingdom has some of the best shops you’ll ever see. Come on, let’s go!” She grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet before I could object.

I hesitated for a moment. The thought of being out in public, surrounded by vampires who already didn’t seem too thrilled with my presence, was nerve-wracking. But there was no getting out of this. I wanted to make a good impression on Damon, to show him that I wasn’t completely out of my depth here. 

“Okay, let’s go,” I said, trying to muster up enthusiasm, though my brain was screaming at me not to go, I could just find something to wear.

The mall was nothing like I’d imagined. It was bustling, full of people—or vampires, rather—moving about like any normal town. Except this wasn’t normal. The shops were grand, with glittering windows displaying dresses, shoes, and jewelry that looked like they belonged in a fairytale. Christy led the way, chatting happily about which stores had the best selections, but I could barely focus. I was too busy trying not to feel like an outsider. Still, all eyes were on me, I mean I had the royal guards behind me

We entered a boutique that looked like it catered to royalty. Everywhere I looked, there were gowns made of luxurious silks and satins, adorned with jewels and intricate lace. Christy immediately dove into the racks, pulling out dress after dress and holding them up against me.

“What do you think of this one?” she asked, holding up a deep maroon gown that shimmered in the light.

I was about to respond when I overheard a group of girls near the corner, whispering just loud enough for me to hear. 

“Isn’t that human?” one of them sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.

“Yes,” another replied, her tone just as cruel. “I don’t know what Damon sees in her. She’s so… plain.”

I stiffened, pretending to focus on the dresses as my ears burned. 

“Can you imagine? A human as our queen? Damon is definitely settling for less,” a third voice chimed in, sending the others into a fit of quiet laughter.

Their words cut through me. I gripped the fabric of the dress in my hands, trying to push down the sudden rush of insecurity. I had known that some people or vampires weren’t thrilled with the idea of me being here, but hearing it so openly, so cruelly, was like a slap to the face.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. I couldn’t let them get to me. I didn’t even know them. But deep down, their words echoed my fears. What if I wasn’t good enough? What if Damon really was settling for less by choosing someone like me?

Christy must have noticed the change in my expression. She looked over at me, her smile faltering a little. “Freda, are you okay?”

I forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s keep looking.”

But inside, I wasn’t fine. No matter how many beautiful dresses I tried on after that, I felt like I was just pretending. Pretending to fit in, pretending to be something I wasn’t.

Later that evening, as I sat across from Damien at the grand dining table, I couldn’t shake the tension that had built up inside me. Damien was everything a girl would like, handsome, powerful, and commanding in a way that made everyone in the room take notice. I don’t blame the girls at the mall, I wasn’t enough for Damien nor was I for the kingdom. 
Tonight, as he sat across the table from me, there was something softer in his expression. I tried my best to enjoy the night. Yet, I couldn’t get the girls’ words out of my head.
“You seem distracted,” Damien said, his voice gentle as he studied me closely. “Is something wrong?”

I hesitated. I wanted to tell him. I wanted to pour out everything I’d overheard, every insecurity I had about being here, about not fitting in. But something held me back. I didn’t want to seem weak. I didn’t want to seem like the fragile human everyone already thought I was.

“No,” I lied, shaking my head. “I’m fine.”

He didn’t look convinced. “You don’t have to pretend, Freda. Not with me.”

His words tugged at something deep inside me, but I still couldn’t bring myself to speak. Instead, Damien reached across the table, taking my hand in his. His touch was warm, steadying.

“I don’t care what anyone else thinks,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine. “I chose you because you are my mate, given to me by the goddess. And I wouldn’t change that for anything.”

A lump formed in my throat, but this time it wasn’t from sadness or insecurity. It was something else, something that felt like hope. Damon had a way of cutting through all the noise in my head, making me feel like maybe, just maybe, I did belong here. 

By the end of the night, the doubt that had been gnawing at me earlier had faded. Damon had a way of making me forget all of it, even if just for a little while.
As we walked through the moonlit garden after dinner holding hands, I found myself laughing at his jokes, the insecurities and the words of the girls at the mall gradually fading away.