Chapter 23

Kai's POV 

I follow Liam around like a lost puppy. 

He's being very adamant and I don't know why I'm so hell-bent on him going on a date with me. I guess I want to sway him, make him change his mind about this being our last interaction.

Liam hates me, or at least wants to avoid having anything to do with me, but I need Liam, before getting married to Cerise I need Liam to show me all that I have been missing.

“Please?” I whine, tugging at his shirt as he goes into the kitchen, shuffling through utensils.

“What the fuck is your problem.”  He slams the butter knife on the counter, making me jump at the sound. “Leave me the fuck alone, you're getting married soon, why the hell won't you let me just be?” 

“I just want to treat you, before we cut all connections with each other”  I whisper, looking down at my hands.

I am Kai Anderson, I am not one to shy away from a tough situation and I definitely am not the type to cry. Shock passes through me as I feel my eyes get wet. With tears.

“Are you crying?” Liam asks in disbelief, his face softens and he blows out a breath

The puzzled expression on his face almost makes me burst into laughter.

“I just- I don't know. You hate me so much and I-” I pause, wiping my eyes, not knowing what to say.

“I don't hate you, you're just a whole lot of trouble and I don't want to get in the cross hairs of your pack, and be an enemy to your father. Can't you see how dangerous this is?” He runs his hand through his hair.

“I can. And frankly I'm scared too, but just this once. Please just let me take you out this one, I will leave you alone after this, I promise” I beg.

His eyes soften, “Fine. But after this you and I? We're strangers.” 

I inhale, “Fine.”

He dresses up quickly, throwing on a dress shirt and jeans, muscles rippling through the shirt.

How I was going to stay away from him after today, I didn't know.

“Let's go.”

We drive to a high class restaurant, my favourite. Their menu is diverse and their food is top notch. I'm eager to impress Liam, given that it was not easy to get him to come here.

“The ambience is nice.” He nods, looking around.

The lights inside are dimmed and orange, falling on each person with a faint glow. The tables are arranged so that each person cannot clearly be seen by the next table, secluded and romantic.

Soft music spills from the hidden speakers, “It's romantic isn't it?”

“It is,” His eyes narrow at me, probably trying to gauge what kind of game I'm playing. 

“Relax, I'm not here with ulterior motives, I just want to show you my gratitude.” 

“Do you come here often?”  He asks.

“Yes, I really like their food.” 

“Interesting.” He responds.

A waiter comes up to us, a blonde guy with light blue eyes, he's handsome. I look at Liam.

He's focused on the menu, not bothering to check out the handsome guy. A smile tugs at my lips.

We ended up ordering seafood pasta. I ordered some crab legs to pair.

The waiter comes back with our food and an apologetic smile.

“We're so sorry sir, we're out of deshelled and soft shell crabs. This one is on the house” He pushes a plate of crabs to me.

My eyes widen, “I don't know how to pick crabs” a groan breaks free.

“I'll do it for you” Liam speaks up.

I look at him tentatively, the waiter breathing a sigh of relief and speed walking to the next table.

“It's not that hard, you just have to get through the shell, to the meat beneath” He instructs.

My eyes roam over his face as his hands work expertly to separate the shell from the crab legs. His face is focused and serene, like he was performing an operation in the ICU.

“Here you go.” 

My eyes drop to his hands as he moves to put the skin on my plate. I move my plate away and take the crab from his hands with my mouth. 

My tongue flicks out and I lick my lips, chuckling as he gulps.

“That's really good, you should try some yourself.”

He's staring at my lips and my eyes drop to his too, his perfect lips. A movement of plates on the table next to us breaks the moment.

“Uh right, the crabs” He breaks off another leg, peeling with trained hands.

I shove a forkful of pasta into my mouth, watching him intently. Liam's hair falls into his face, and I move my hand to tuck it behind his ear.

“Kai….”

 We both jump in surprise, my hand dropping  and banging on the table with force.

I mutter a cuss, nursing my throbbing hand.

Alpha Anderson stares at us with a glint in his eye. Behind him, his beta watches us, with equal curiosity.

“Dad!”

“Alpha.” 

We both say in unison, scrambling up from our seats and away from each other.

“Sit down, sit down.” Dad gestures for us to get back on our seats, then signals his beta to leave, he turns on his heel and leaves the restaurant.

“You know, I wasn't expecting you to be here?” His eyes roam over us, “....tell me, is this part of your treatment?”

The question is directly fired towards Liam, who looks like he's about to pass out.

I need to do something, I pressured Liam into coming out with me, if dad sank his claws into him, it would be my fault and I would not be able to leave with myself.

“Uh?” Liam looks like he's struggling to make a coherent thought.

“Um….. Dad, the thing is, Liam has transferred me to another doctor because of the familiarity between us, the treatment has been going smoothly so I brought Liam out today to show gratitude for his services and his help.” 

Dad looks towards Liam, probably to gauge if I was lying or not, Liam lifts a shoulder in a shrug, his face contorted into some kind of contemplating expression.

Did he think I was trying to sell him out? 

“With what had happened earlier, the questions you asked. Liam decided that it was better for another doctor to handle problems.” I reinforced, shifting the blame onto him.

Dad doesn't look convinced, his eyes narrow but he does not say anything.

“Fine then, I'll take your word for it son” I try not to flinch at his words.

“What are you doing here Dad?” I ask, suddenly curious.

“Me?” He starts, definitely not expecting the question. 

I raise a brow, “Well?” 

He smirks, a sinister smirk that makes me recoil, “I'm here to meet with the representative of another pack,” he responds curtly.

What representative? And what other pack was he talking about?  Also, what kind of meeting required them to meet at night, in a restaurant where you could barely see the next person.

Something is going on and I am very curious about what it is.

With time, I guess.