Chapter six

Bryson POV, 

I find myself standing on the front steps of the restaurant, one hand wrapping around the handle on the door, the other wrapped around a large bouquet of fiendishly expensive tulips. I was being silly, like some teenage boy, I was forced to throw it away.

I'm an Alpha male and my weakness must not be sagely pointed out. It hadn't occurred to me that going out and meeting with Ariadne was a result of myself and not my wolf driving me. Something about our time the previous night through the pack house pointed out that I should call upon her. My wolf craved my mate and also wanted to get to know her more and ask her some questions, but my mood was all drowning, regrets crowing.

 I had never done this before, I feel stupid and strange when I could have just claimed her, I was just here daring her to make me see the point as to which mate bond matters. It was part of it, my escapade from William's incessant poking and nagging on claiming Ariadne. To the best of my knowledge, I like the fact that I have to beg to see her after all she is within Oak Borough. Claiming her will make it look gloomy.

I cleared my throat and ordered martinis from the waitress that trudged over in my direction. I had my ass glued to the chair. I couldn't have been more patient than I am right now, without Ariadne calling, I was bothered.

"Here is your order Alpha Henry. Seems you're lonely and need some company." The blond girl bits her lips as she focuses her gaze on mine and I did nothing but scoff. Her effort wasn't to be underrated, if I was alone or hadn't committed my day to Ariadne I wouldn't mind having fuck her dry, 

"What was it again?"

"Excuse me." Her lip simpers in response. She continues staring.

Judging from the ornate nature of every creature in the diner, their eyes are glued to mine like I have committed a scene by coming to such a quiet place. Alpha's do have a life outside their pack house, ain't they? But here in Oak Borough, it's either their threatening gaze or their lustful gaze which gets me bored of them. Ariadne's gaze was those of defence no matter how fierce she tried to copy not being one.

"Thanks for the drink, you should get yourself some latte," I smiled wickedly.

"Did she get angry and decided not to come?" I muttered slowly thinking about her last word over the phone, 

Ariadne, a figure in red silk stood outside, my wolf craved every last ounce of her, her oval face was a go-figure that goes well with a smile. But I felt she might have a past to hinder her from smiling, with a wide smile on, she would be extremely beautiful. I imagined and was baffled at the same time.

Raising my head after piercing through my phone, I fixed my gaze on Ariadne, who was directing her magnificent smile at the chauffeur, and she stole my heart with that. I churned, my orbs fletched down at my free hand and noticed that it was curled into a tight fist. I scanned the room slowly, trying to decide on which man's face to use, my wolf dominating me and seeing their interaction only worsened it.

Ariadne smiled again, and again not at me but at the chauffeur and I couldn't contain myself anymore, like a pull. I stood to my feet and stalked over.

I tilted my head slightly to the side as I analyzed the young man's face reading which pack he is from. Would my fist fit best in the right eye socket or the left? Or maybe that was too violent and I don't mind, we owned the city except for a few other creatures and humans of course. Maybe a light clip to the chin would be more appropriate. Yeah. He would only be able to grumble and wince in pain. At the very least, it might shut the man up. I gulped my saliva to calm my pulsating nerve and the need to hurt the man the moment Ariadne dragged me away.

"What were you thinking your eyes were glinting, you wanted to create a scene," Ariadne said as she dragged me to the side.

"I plan on punching the scoundrel in the face. Did you realise you're here for me and should have eyes only for me," I replied to her and she didn't bother? Seemingly she might have done it intentionally.

"Oh, I see. I should not have come." She bit off.

"Here you are beguiling the chauffeur," I replied, clicking my tongue displeased. "It would have been a check." I turned.

"What's bad in it, besides it only admiration." She smirks at the pleasure of knowing I was jealous. My head looked over my shoulder to the chauffeur who was ready to challenge me, my mate, my woman whether Ariadne approves of it or not, the days she could hang around freely were over.

"It only hurt my wolf to see my mate with another male."

"Dominant, controlling and condescending, what other features do Alpha males possess? Bryson." She said walking her steps slowly and a smirk on her face.

"Well, since you know their nature, it would only mean one thing, you would be such a little mate with so much to offer as to not release the anger and fierce side of an Alpha mate."

Ariadne chuckled, rolling her eyes and looking back at me, my desire for her intensified. I wouldn't mind leaning her to the wall and having fuck her, she was hot and the silky red silky gown she wore made her hotter as I could see her trained legs.

"So, no more dinner?" She queried.

"I have run out of taste," I said. 

She looked at me, her stares lingering as if remembering something.

"I love mountains," I quickly said, at the comfort of it and remembering where we had first met.

"Every shifter loves mountains, especially werewolves, Bryson." She said, chuckling.

"When we’re finished with our walks, let’s stand out on the deck, it's not too far from here and watch the sunset. They're so beautiful with their jagged peaks, especially at this time of night, just before the sun sets, what do you think?"

"What about the mountains? I would love to."

"Yes, the mountains, then let's get going," I said excitedly, I haven't felt the need to share my belief with other people and I knew I was losing out on my preservation simply because I wanted to keep her around.

The day didn't mind us and flew by quickly. After some silent moments along the street, Ariadne's face was frigid and contemplating as was mine. I must not get close to her yet, I find myself bonding every second.

"Let's take a ferry ride?" I suggested and Ariadne bemused agreed with a nod. Staying on the ferry and riding out, Ariadne's face flustered.

"I loved it here, it's a beautiful night," Ariadne muttered holding onto the railing.

 Our noses took in the fresh and stimulating scent of the water, and the wind blew wildly around her, disarranging her hair. Ariadne tried several times to anchor it behind her ears, but the force of the wind was too strong. I stood behind her to block the winds.

"I used to come here with my parents when I was small, I mean places like this near the sea and—"

"Where are they? Your parents?" I questioned, at least if I'm to spend time with her I should know about her origin and her life. I know it was a sensitive question, and interruption to the peace she was pulling in like energy.

"They're late, and I feel guilty."

"I'm sorry, Ariadne." I rubbed her shoulder with a pat. "Maybe that is how we're supposed to feel the guilt of it," I said I felt guilty for my mother's death too. I couldn't save her, I don't deserve to be her son.

"Which pack were they from?" I whispered close to her ears.

"I want to go back now." She said stiffly. She was quiet and I wondered if she heard me or simply chose to ignore the question. "It's getting chilly."

I knew she was fighting back a fresh stab of pain that was melting inside her.

"I'm sorry," Ariadne said when we returned to our seats.

"Don’t be, "I said gently, "I shouldn’t have pressured you." Ariadne struggled for words to explain but she could not find one.

Neither of us appeared to be in the mood to talk, but it was a benign kind of silence. I felt no compulsion to fill it with ludicrous chatter and apparently neither did Ariadne.

By the time we arrived back at the Oak Borough waterfront, the sun had set, I held her hand as we took the walkway down to street level, my mind in turmoil, maybe I should never have asked her about her past, the memory that mattered to her. It had been a mistake to pressure her, one I had no intention of repeating.

"Where are we going?" Ariadne asked as I led her down the wharf. 

The throngs remained thick, the traffic along the sidewalk heavy even at this time of evening. The scents of fried fish and the sea mingled and they came to us in succession and that pang of blood burned the air metal.

"Down there," I said, pointing to a length of the deserted wharf.

It was a testament to her trust that she didn’t seem at all nervous and I knew she wasn't scared of the water, mostly female solves would have been, not that I have done anything crazy like this with any of them, spending the whole evening with Ariadne, yet once again was unbelievable.

"There’s nothing down there," she muttered, plunging her eyes to see clearly.

"I know. I’m going to kiss you, Ariadne, and I prefer to do it without half of Oak Borough watching me."

"Aren’t you taking a lot for granted?" She asked, " You're an Alpha and they won't question you, no one, you're scared of claiming your property." More amused than offended. Of course, she wouldn't be offended, we've done more than this, and kissing her secretly would mean one thing, a special memory.

"Perhaps." But that didn’t stop me. "And I may not again, considering that I've leaked it out," I tried my luck although I felt unimportant and taken for granted. 

Petty, I felt.

Not allowing me to argue, she brought me with her and paused only when she was assured of our privacy. Without another word, she turned toward me. She took my hands and guided her arms upward and around my neck.

 I felt a moment of hesitation, but it was quickly gone. I circled her waist with my arms and pulled her to my body so that my breath was fanning her head. 

At the feel of her body next to mine, I sighed, marvelling when Ariadne did, too. Hers was a little sigh, one that said she wasn’t sure she was doing the right thing as her clear orbs were lost in mine.

I smelled her faint flowery scent, a different scent from the other time but they were enticing. It was a sensual moment, our bodies pressed against each other. It was a spiritual moment, as well, as though we were two lost souls reaching toward each other. 

For long minutes, we simply held each other. I had never been with a woman like this. It wasn’t desired that prompted me to take her into my arms like the previous time, but something far stronger. Something I couldn’t put words to or identify on a conscious level. I longed to protect Ariadne, shield her from more pain, and at the same time have her by my side.

"Listen, Ariadne, I would want to bond with you as the humans do?"

"Which is?"

"Courting you, instead of claiming."

"You're an Alpha, Bryson, such a personality doesn't suit you." She sounded surprised.

"It is not a trait but an attempt, with you, what if we can try each other out and see if we're destined to be together, not just the fact that we're mates? That too matters, but check our compatibility." I let out.

Her face was in shock or introspection but I waited on her for a reply as she stuffed her hand into her cloak pocket staring. Isn't she satisfied with my proposal? Or should I just claim her? I became terrified of her reply. Maybe she is just different after all, in the same sense my wrong step was hunting me as I peered into her crystal eyes.