27

Kiara stared at her reflection again, while her hand smoothened out her outfit.

“You look good”

“Really good?”

Eliza and Amira assured for the 30th time in the past  10 minutes, and she breathed out a laugh. Them saying that to her in unison, reminded her of Tanya and Chloe, and it made her heart hurt. She quickly forced the thoughts out of her mind, she was already nervous as it was for the date, and she couldn’t afford to feel any other negative feelings.

“What if the outfit turns out to be the wrong one for where he’s taking me?” I looked back to the mirror and inspected the red gown I had on. It hugged my upper body firmly, but it was free and a bit flowy from the waist down. It was the perfect date outfit, but Kiara couldn’t help the growing pit of anxiety in her stomach.

From the mirror, she saw Eliza and Amira exchange a look before they both shook their heads and walked over to her. Placing their hands on her shoulder, they turned her away from the mirror and pushed her to the door.

“You look amazing, and we are pretty sure your dress is perfect for where you are going.”

Eliza picked up her black handbag and handed it to her. “Here you go, he’s waiting outside that door for you.”

“But…” Kiara tried to come up with yet another problem, but the look from Eliza cut her off and she expelled a breath - the air from her mouth moved the strands of hair covering her face and she tucked it behind her ear.

Glancing at the girls who were smiling at her, Kiara forced herself to smile as well, then she twisted the door handle and let herself out.

Devon who believed himself to be composed had the breath knocked out of him the second he set eyes on Kiara. He found himself chanting the word “breathe” as he made his way over to her.

He reached out and released the hair she tucked behind her ears, and the corners of his lips tugged up in a sweet smile. “You look absolutely stunning, Kiara.”

Her stomach flipped and it felt like a million butterflies were released in her belly. She expected a compliment, but she didn’t expect it to come out so breathlessly like it was air and he was clinging desperately to it.

“Thank you, Devon.”

The smile on his face broadened, and he reached out and took her hand in his, while the other held her handbag. “This is one of the few times I like my name, and it is because of the way you say it.”

Kiara’s eyes slightly widened and she racked her brain trying to come up with a reply fitting enough for the unexpected flirty and loving comment, but when her brain came up with nothing, she breathed out a laugh. “I’m flattered.”

Devon’s eyes narrowed and his eyes took in her features before his smile slowly turned into a downward smile and his brows raised. “You’ve never had to flirt with anyone, have you?” He asked as he held the door open for her.

“Dating and all isn’t allowed at my pack, it is our way of honoring the mating bond, and protecting hearts from getting broken. You guys don’t do that here?”

“No, but I’m sure we have a lot of strange rules that will fascinate you.”

Shrugging her lips, Devon shut her door made his way to the driver’s side, and took off. Their ride was a silent one and it gave Kiara ample to think about their earlier interaction, and she couldn’t wipe the smile that graced her face. That was the first time the both of them talked to each other that way, and it seemed like something she’d always remember.

Their drive took about 20 minutes and when he finally parked, Kiara’s mouth ran dry. The restaurant he stopped at as high class as it looked was too close to the restaurant she visited earlier with Eliza, and that sent her system into a fight or flight mode. She knew no one would touch her when Devon was with her, but that didn’t stop her from panicking.

“Devon,” her voice came out hoarse, and Devon’s brows quickly furrowed as he looked at her, “I am sorry to ask this of you, but can we go to another restaurant? Preferably one that is of a reasonable distance from here, I’m sorry to ruin your plans.”

His eyes scanned her face, and without a question, he smiled, nodded, and then drove away. He drove around for 10 more minutes and made a few calls on the way before he pulled into another restaurant.

“Are you okay with this place?” 

Kiara looked around, then gently bobbed her head and Devon smiled. He led the both of them quietly into the restaurant, and to Kiara’s surprise, it was empty.

“Did you clear this place out?”

Pulling out a chair for her, he nodded. “I want you to be comfortable, M’lady.”

She chuckled and shook her head. “Thank you, kind sir.”

His soft laugh pierced her ears, taking Kiara by surprise. That was the first time she’d heard him laugh, and it was such a melodic and beautiful sound, that she found herself wanting to hear it again and again.

“Would you like me to order for you? I can vouch for their meals, and I think I’d be good at picking up what suits your taste buds the best.”

“Hmmm…” she picked up the menu that was carefully placed on the table, and her eyes danced over it before she snapped it shut. “What if you fail to impress me?”

“I doubt that’ll be possible, but if it does happen, I’ll accept whatever punishment you send my way.”

Her eyes instantly lit up, and she gave him a thumbs up. “Order away then.”

Devon instantly beckoned on a waiter, and instead of saying out the orders, he used the mind-link to order.

“Sneaky much?”

“The surprise is also part of the menu.”

She chuckled and shook her head. “That’s interesting.”

The both of them settled into a comfortable silence afterward, and Kiara took that time to look around and note the restaurant’s ambiance, but for Devon, it was another opportunity to study the features of the one woman he wanted to spend forever with.