Chapter 8

I was reading the blurb of a book I had picked out of a shelf when I saw a pair of black Italian leather shoes approach me. By the unique smell of rain on earth, I knew it was Caelum.

“Let's go on a date." His deep voice whispered in my ears, his breath was minty and warm as it fanned my face. A sliver of pleasure passed through me and I shuddered.

“Excuse me, why would I want to go out on a date with you?" My voice came out husky even to my ears and I sounded breathless. Get a grip of yourself, I thought. 

His eyes darkened and I saw his gaze linger on my lips which were parted. I knew my pupils were dilated in pleasure and my breath came out in pants.

I hated him for being attractive and I hated myself for being even more attracted to him.

“You owe me, don't you think?" He murmured, one hand came up to hold my jaw. Sparks ignited at the point of contact between our skin and I fought the moan that wanted to escape.

I knew that he was talking about the poisoned muffin. I shifted my gaze to the floor. He had no proof but I knew it didn't matter though, he didn't need proof, just his word was enough.

“Clear your whole afternoon, I'll pick you up by two." He smirked and released my jaw. I gritted my teeth in anger as I watched him walk away, his stride as powerful as ever.

I walked into a clearing, Caelum had texted me to meet him here instead by two and here I was two hours later instead. That'll teach him to ask politely.

The clearing was empty except for Caelum setting up a picnic. There was a waterfall roaring in the background and the setting sun casted a golden glow on everything.

The view was stunning and the beauty of the man just added to it.

“Did you just get here?" I asked, my brow raised. I sat down on the blankets, peering into the food containers.

" Yeah.” He said cheerfully and continued in that same cheery tone.

" I almost came early but then I thought 'my mate is the type of girl that would make me wait just for telling her what to do’ so I decided to come two hours later than the time I gave you and I was right.”

“What if I had come on time? Would you have made me wait?” I asked, incredulous.

“Yeah. But you didn't come early and don't act like your plan wasn't to make me wait instead." His cheery tone was beginning to annoy me and also the fact that my plan to make him wait failed.

“Why are you so happy?" I growled in annoyance. His eyes scanned my body from head to toe, then he smiled genuinely. I could feel my cheeks get warm.

“You look beautiful." There was a look in his eyes I couldn't decipher but it made my insides turn to mush. I hid my blushing cheeks behind my long hair.

“Did you cook?" I attempted to change the topic, there was a lot of food containers, he smiled knowingly.

“Can you do me a favor? Can you pretend for one day that we’re just two people who met in a normal way? With no past or sins hanging over our heads. I just want to spend time with my mate.”

He looked at me pleadingly and I knew right there that as much as I hated him, there was nothing I wouldn't do for him if he asked. I sighed.

“Okay, just one day playing pretend. I can give you that." I reluctantly agreed. If I were to be honest with myself, I wanted to spend time with him too but I would never admit it.

“Thank you." He whispered, his eyes never leaving mine. He placed his hand on mine and interlocked our fingers. 

Our hands fit like pieces of the same puzzle, only confirmed by the sparks and tingles we both felt. I knew, there and then, that I had to work harder to keep my heart out of his hands.

Two hours later and the date was going amazingly well. Surprisingly, Caelum did most of the talking while I just listened. We stayed away from any topic related to our parents.

I learnt a lot of new things about him and I loved everything I learnt. I learned that he used his hands a lot while he talked and that he loved physical contact, his hands were always touching me.

At that moment, he was telling me a story about a scar of his when his phone rang. It was Soren, instead of excusing himself, he placed the call on speaker. That sign of trust melted my heart.

“Alpha, where are you?" The seriousness is soren's voice could not be missed.

" Out on a date, why?" Caelum furrowed his brow in confusion.

“Sorry to interrupt but you need to come right away. There has been a….. situation, you need to see this.”

“On my way." He grimaced and looked at me apologetically. 

“Well, this has been fun." I forced a smile. This had been something out of a fantasy but I knew it was time to return to the real world and to my revenge.

He opened his mouth to say something but he just sighed defeatedly.

“Come on, I'll bring you back." He said softly and we began packing up our things. The ride back home was silent and I could feel the several glances he threw my way, I made sure I didn't return any of them.

We were met at the pack house by Soren who wore a grim expression.

“Alpha, come with me." He gruffly said. We made our way to the back of the pack house where we were hit with the smell of decomposing flesh. I gagged and covered my mouth.

There, on the ground, was a dead Leslie. I gasped in horror. Her body had purplish discoloration and she had foam coming out of her mouth.

Caelum closed his eyes in grief, when he opened it, gone was the man that took me out on a date and in his place, was the blood Alpha.

“Who found her?" His voice was like ice.

“A couple who was looking for a place to make out. The girl is still being hysterical. Once it was reported, I gave the order that no one is to come near the body.” Soren answered. In the distance we could hear wailing.

Caelum bent down to take a closer look at the body. Apart from the foam around her mouth, there were brown particles. He picked one up with a gloved finger and sniffed it.

“Cyanide." He murmured thoughtfully.

“Alpha look.” Soren said, his gaze falling on something. Beside her head was a bright blue muffin wrapper with red hearts and a note that read;

BEWARE THE LOVE INTEREST…