Slow breaths, Zara. No problem, it's dinner... With the entire pack... and the first eligible bachelor who I might have to spend the rest of my life with.

My body didn't get the message, as my palms sweated. I drew in a raspy breath and steadied my shoulders.

They can't be any scarier than my father. You got this, Zara.

I ignored Lumi's snort.

My heels clicked behind Raina, who walked me back to the great hall. A large group now gathered and conversations that mixed and hummed stopped when we stood in the entry hall.

Swallowing the dryness strangling my throat, I recognized Alpha Faelen and Luna Cassandra, who spoke with a younger, handsome version of Alpha Faelon. He stood an inch taller than him, with a broad build. The same high cheekbones, strong jawline, and dark eyes graced his face but his eyes twinkled as he spoke with ease.

Wearing a white button-down dress shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and gray pants hugged his waist and muscular legs. Unlike most of the males in his pack, his hair was cut short, with soft, damp curls that tucked around his ears, across his forehead, and at the nape of his neck.

Oh my gosh, he's hot.

He must have sensed my eyes on him, and shifted in my direction. My lips parted open as if they moved on their own, and my feet walked as if drawn to him. His dark eyes sparkled and his lips curled up at the corners.

With slow, deliberate steps, I realized why Elena had chosen this dress. Despite being the most uncomfortable clothing item I'd worn, I had my first potential mate's attention, which felt really... good.

"Miss Zara," He extended a hand to me, his eyes never leaving mine.

I hoped my smile wasn't as jittered as how my stomach felt as I took his hand in mine. His palm was large, and calloused but wrapped warmth around mine. He smelled like a mix of the salty sea surrounding the pack house and a spicy, musky cologne. That salty smell worked much better on him than me and Elena.

His deep voice sounded pleasing in my ear, moreso when he leaned in closer. "You are far lovelier than I could have imagined."

On my side, Raina snorted. "Seriously? You act like you haven't seen her -"

"I apologize for anything she's already said," Lucus interrupted her, sending me a smile that warmed down into my toes.

"Nice to meet you, Lucus." I beamed at him, clasping my hands.

Here he was, right in front of me. With confidence, he was worth the wait. He looked my age or a year older, yet already exuded the same confidence of his fellow pack members. I squeezed my palms together, fighting the urge to fan my face.

And... he's hot.

"I apologize for not being here when you arrived." Firmness wrapped around each word that he said, and I noticed and appreciated that his hand hadn't released mine. "We were tracking down the rogues that attacked your caravan. I assure you we'll do everything in our power to bring you justice. Your Beta Baron is interrogating the one he caught as we speak."

"Oh..." I felt the blood draining out of my cheeks at the mention of Baron, and the sobriety that he was not in fact, my Beta. "Thank you."

"Plenty of time to stare at each other while we eat." Luna Cassandra swept by a look on her face that implied she was satisfied that Lucus and I met.

She led us into the great hall, which had now been set up as a dining space with a long rectangular table. Soft candles were placed every few seats, flickering shadows that danced up the high stone walls.

"Is this what every family meal looks like?" The subtle beauty of the space was breathtaking. The dining area felt warm, cozy, and inviting, nothing like the modern, stark, and cold spaces in my father's house.

This was no house, but instead a home.

Lucus smiled, creasing two dimples at the corners of his mouth. A mouth I was staring at every curve of, wondering -

"No, my mother is trying to impress you." His words snapped my eyes up to his, which looked at me intently. I couldn't read the emotion behind them though.

"It's working." My eyes traveled around the impressive space, taking in the ambiance as we walked to our seats. Lucus led me to a seat on his left and I was relieved to see Elena and Cole stood across the table from me. I pressed my lips together to suppress the giggle that threatened to escape when I saw the look of excitement on Elena's face.

Beta Baron was nowhere to be seen, thankfully. I felt nervous enough without him glaring at me during the meal.

We stood between our chairs and the table, until Alpha Faelen and Luna Cassandra took the end of the table, then sat down. Elena explained that this sign of respect was done in all the packs.

I never had the opportunity to participate in a gesture as simple as that, as all my meals were either eaten alone or my father was always seated by the time I arrived. However socially inept I was, I did know when to wait to sit down.

Lucus' hand on my lower back, guiding me into my seat however... That was new, leaving me without words and offering a nod.

Kitchen staff brought out water, wine, and beer along with the appetizers. I glanced at the empty wine glass in front of me, then decided my best judgment was to slide it away from my plate. Elena nodded from her seat.

My father's house had enough wine in stock for me to drink myself silly. While I sure indulged in his wine on nights of extreme cabin fever, sloppy drunk wasn't the first impression I wanted to make tonight.

"Lightweight, hmm?" A male voice laughed on my left side.

My eyes dragged over and met those of Gamma Jameson. My heart flipped since I was the meat within a hunk sandwich. Lucus was on my right, with Raina on his right, and Jameson my left.

"Yes," I admitted.

Without looking up, I felt every set of eyes at the table on me with interest. The exception was Elena and Cole, whose eyes locked in on each other.

Not helpful.

"Lucus..." I nodded at the lovebirds. "Elena is my historian and Cole my trainer."

"Trainer huh?" Raina leaned closer. "What training could you possibly be doing, Flower? Pilates?"

"Human form self-defense and fighting," Cole responded without moving his eyes. 

From my angle, I saw his hand slide down and rested on Elena's thigh. Redness popped into her cheeks but she didn't tear her eyes away from him.

"You, fighting?" Raina's eyes were still fixated on me.

I couldn't blame her for the skepticism, not in this stupid dress, whose boning dug into my sides while seated.

"Defensive blocks," I replied, squirming and finding no relief for my compressed lungs. "Elena's been helping me get up to speed on knowing stuff about this country, but please don't hold anything that I know against her."

Jameson laughed as one of his arms slid over the back of my chair. Very aware of how close he was, my pulse quickened from the heat radiating from his body and into my shoulders and neck.

I tried not to notice the hitch in my breath as I leaned forward and pretended to be interested in my food as the main course plate slid in front of me. By the smell, dinner was deer, braised in a hearty sauce with potatoes and greens. 

Following my strict diet, I avoided the bread until Lucus grabbed a piece from a basket between us. I almost dropped my fork when his forearm brushed against my elbow.

"Try this." He broke off a small piece and set it on my plate. "Our kitchen makes the most amazing breads."

"Oh, thanks." I tore off a small piece, which melted in my mouth. "I don't eat bread very often... it's... amazing."

I don't need a mate, my true love is carbohydrates.

"Zara please," Jameson interrupted the food orgasm in my mouth. "Tell us about yourself."

The bread dried on my tongue. As I swallowed, my eyes stretched wide and flew to Elena's face. My thoughts raced, there was so little to tell.

My father locked me away for seventeen years? I have zero friends? I'm not in a drug cartel?

So, I blurted out the only platonic thing I could think of.

"Chocolate donuts."

"Huh?" The flicker of confusion in Lucus' eyes made me want to crawl under the table.

I coughed against my now dry throat, then clarified, "My favorite food is chocolate donuts."

"I see." He smiled, lifting his wine glass to his lips and drawing a slow sip.

"Yours?"

"We're having it for dinner," was all he replied.

Very quickly, we fell into an awkward thick silence that was interrupted by utensils striking plates. Hyper aware of eyes gravitating to me, I set my fork down and folded my hands into my lap.

As if she sensed my hesitation, Elena elbowed Cole. He cleared his throat. "I'll say one thing about Zara, Lucus."

I lifted my eyes to Cole then narrowed them, unsure of what he'd have to offer. A small smile met my lips once I heard him say, "Don't let her small size and flashy blue eyes fool you... She's quite tenacious."

"Is your wolf really white?" Lucus asked.

I nodded as my smile widened, then took a bite of a round, brown bite on my plate. Based on the soft but rubbery texture, I guessed it was a mushroom.

If this isn't a mushroom, then I don't want to know what it is.

"Pure white."

Lumi wasn't happy being the topic of our dinner conversation. For some reason, she felt like she paced around in my mind.

"Zara's wolf is beautiful." I threw Elena a grateful smile for her compliment. She moved her eyes from mine to Lucus, as if encouraging me to ask about his wolf.

I'm so bad at this.

"Is yours black, Lucus?"

He took a sip of water and returned my nod. "Everywhere except the tips of his ears, his name is Shadow. I look forward to you meeting him tomorrow."

Lumi snorted.

'Not black enough.'

My eyes fluttered closed, praying that I offered no reaction to her crass thoughts.

Clearing my throat, I looked up at Lucus. "What's tomorrow?"

Before he answered, Jameson's casual arm moved closer, where his fingers grazed against my right shoulder. My cheeks flushed with warmth as I tried to ignore the soft sensations his touch created on my skin.

"The competition..." Lucus paused, noticing Gamma Jameson's close proximity.

A low warning growl escaped from his chest and throat. He kept the sound subdued enough that only us in the vicinity heard. I was so close though, I felt the vibrations rolling off him.

"Gamma Jameson..." Lucus leaned over my lap, which gave me an intoxicating smell of his hair. Fresh and soapy from a recent shower, I fought an internal urge my fingers threaded through those soft curls.

"...If you don't remove your arm, then I will."

His words were all Jameson needed. He retracted his arm, but not before he smirked at Lucus. Their eyes glazed via mindlink, reinforcing that they shared something they didn't want said in front of everyone.

Or not in front of me.

Blinking, I threw Elena a mental call for help. I wasn't sure if my insecurity flared up from my limited social interactions but this now felt awkward. I folded my hands into my lap, finding myself without much of an appetite anymore. My lungs burned from deprived oxygen.

Darn this fittest corset-type torture device Elena had thought would be nice.

"Lucus." I turned to him and folded my napkin over my plate. "I apologize, it's been a very long day. Would it be okay if I retired to my room for the night?"

"Of course." He slid his chair back, then mine, and guided me upright. "Let me escort you."

"Thanks." The warmth returned to my cheeks as his hand rested on my lower back. I felt Luna Cassandra's eyes on us as we walked out of the main hall, turning back to the living quarters' wing.

"I apologize for the formalities." Lucus offered a smile. "Our usual dinners are more casual."

"It was lovely," I assured him. "Please tell Luna Cassandra that for me. And I see that's why it was your favorite meal, so please give my compliments to your staff."

"I will. Our cooking staff is... something special." His smile widened.

I wasn't sure what he meant, so I fell silent as we walked down the hall. The chatter from dinner subsided from earshot the closer we approached my door.

"It was nice to meet you, Zara," his low voice warmed my ears when we stopped at my room.

My heartbeat was now thumped in my chest, the tiny butterflies were back. They formed tingling sensations in my stomach as we stood inches apart. His eyes were so dark, my gaping smile reflected back at me.

He's the most handsome man, I mean werewolf, that I've ever seen.

"You too." I averted my eyes because his good looks distracted my thoughts. "Thanks for walking me back. I'll... see you tomorrow?"

"You'd better." He winked, maintaining his close distance. "I've... never seen anyone like you, Zara."

Unsure of how to respond, my lips twitched up into a smile.

Dryness crept up my throat as his eyes looked deep into mine, like he studied me. He surprised me with, "Can I spend time with you after the competition? You and me."

"Sure," I squeaked. My reflection in his eyes stared back until I realized that I looked mesmerized. "I... I'd like that."

He flashed me a full smile of white teeth. "Good, it's a date. Goodnight, Zara."

Speechless, I watched his large frame turn. His hand brushed against my arm. I looked down at the tingles the warm touch had left behind, then ran my fingers over the area of skin. After he disappeared back into the great hall, I went inside my room and leaned against the door. A huge smile threatened to split my face.

A date. My first date.

Tonight couldn't have gone better.

Lumi was less than impressed.

'Not mate.'

How can you say that? He's gorgeous, polite, and don't get me started on those muscles.

'Not mate.'

We'll see, Lumi.