The Mating Rules

We travel for twenty minutes, the only sound between us the soft sounds of the radio that’s playing the local radio station.

I study the streets as we pass, trying to figure out where we are heading and I gulp when we pull up outside of Le vent d’Armor the expensive French restaurant on the furthest outskirts of the town.

I glance down at my simple dress, I’m pretty sure I’m underdressed for this venue. Glancing over at Caden, I take in his tailored slacks and fitted shirt, even without a jacket or tie he exudes authority.

‘Umm, I don’t think I’m dressed up enough’ I mutter, staring at the front door just as an elderly woman steps out, a thick fur shrug around her shoulders, clinging to the arm of an older man who helps her toward her car.

‘You look perfect’ Caden replies, cutting the engine and hopping out, pulling open my door and helping me down.

Nervously, I brush my hands down the skirt of my dress, maybe if I push my hands over it enough it’ll somehow turn into a stunning evening gown.

Keeping hold of my hand, Caden leads us toward the restaurant, opening the door for me and letting me go first.

A maître’d standing behind the welcome station, glances up as I step inside, his face lighting up as the Alpha crowds me, ushering me forward.

‘Alpha’ he beams widely, ‘an honour to see you.’ Looking down at his book, he nods, grabbing two menus, ‘your request has been accommodated, if you would care to follow me, I will take you to your table.’

Caden nods, placing his hand on my back, guiding me through the restaurant filled with very rich people a few of whom glance at me in surprise before taking in Caden and quickly averting their eyes.

We follow behind the straight backed man until we reach a table in the middle of the room, the Maitre’d pulling out a chair and looking at me expectantly.

Giving him a nervous smile, I slide into the chair, the man behind me pushing it in with the familiarity of an expert, my legs tucked under the table as Caden sits across from me.

Handing me a menu, the posh man beside us informs Caden that our waiter will be with us shortly before bowing and leaving us alone.

Glancing around, I can see people staring at me discretely making me feel like I’m under some sort of microscope.

‘Bonjour, I am Louis, I shall be your waiter this evening’ came a thick French accent at my elbow making me jump, Jesus, this guy was silent! Are the French taught stealth moves? Do they have side gigs as assassins?

‘Bonjour Louis’ Caden replied, facing the man and rattling off a load of French words as I sat there with my mouth open. He was obviously making sense as he nodded, bowed with a ‘Oui’ and hurried away, returning seconds later with a bottle of wine that he tipped a small amount into the glass in front of the Alpha.

Caden picked it up, swirling it before taking a sip and nodding curtly. Louis then topped off his glass and filled mine as I sat mutely in my chair, guess we are drinking wine then.

‘What do you think you’ll be having?’ Caden’s voice broke through my thoughts and I quickly drew my gaze to the menu in front of me, flipping it open as my stomach dropped. The whole thing was in French, I didn’t have a clue what any of it was! What the hell is Confit de Canard? I glance up at Caden who is studying his own menu.

‘I think I’ll have the Steak au Poivre?’ he states, placing aside his menu, ‘would you like to share a flammenküche to start?’

A what? I bite my l*p, my eyes sweeping the nearby tables, shrinking under all the eyes peering at me. I can’t ask, I just can’t, I already stick out like a sore thumb.

‘umm, yeah, sounds good’ I mutter quickly, nodding like a bobble head.

Caden smiles, ‘awesome, and we’ll get some wine, what did you want to order?’

I grab the glass of water off the table that is nestled next to the wine from the waiter and take a gulp, ‘I’ll have what you are having’ I reply over the rim of my glass.

The Alpha nods, folding his menu and placing it beside him on the table, me copying him immediately. The waiter appeared as if telepathically summoned, hovering by the table expectantly as Caden smoothly ordered for us both, me just thankful I didn’t have to try and pronounce whatever the hell he was saying. I just hope that when he said steak it is indeed steak and not some weird French thing that has nothing to do with meat.

‘And how would you like it cooked Mademoiselle?’ the waiter asked, looking at me.

‘Bother medium rare’ Caden intercepted handing over our menus as I started to open my mouth. I bit back a retort I wanted to hurl at him, forcing myself to remember that he is the future Alpha and is used to being in charge.

Bowing, the waiter disappeared as quickly as he arrived leaving us alone in a now awkward atmosphere without even the menus to act as a buffer between us.

Caden cleared his throat as I fiddled nervously with my knife, ‘so’ he started, ‘how has your day been?’

I glance up at him, seeing him also avoiding my gaze, fiddling with the stem of his wine glass.

‘Um, it was OK, had training’ I replied, ‘what about you?’

The Alpha nods, ‘yeah, was good, helped dad out a bit with pack work, then training like you.’

I nod, he trains with the strongest of our warriors, like my brother and Hadley. I train with the next level down, not so much because I’m not strong enough, but more because I don’t work as a warrior, my training is purely for protection and attacks on the pack.

‘Oh, who did you fight with?’ I ask, that’s a safe subject. We can talk about sparring.

‘Isaac’ Caden replied gruffly, ‘kicked his a*s’ he added with a smirk.

I forced myself not to roll my eyes, he’s the damn Alpha. He’s supposed to be stronger than my brother. ‘Did you practice any new moves?’ I prompted, persevering with the conversation.

Caden shook his head, ‘nah, just went over old ground’ he said, ‘Isaac needs to keep his left arm up, he sometimes lets it drop when he gets frustrated, gives me an easy win.’

I give a small smile, ‘I’m sure he appreciated the tip’ I replied.

The Alpha finally raised his gaze to mine, his brows knitting together in confusion, ‘I didn’t tell him’ he scoffed.

‘What?’ I growled, ‘why the hell not?’

Caden tilted his head slightly, ‘because I like to win’ he offered as if this was obvious.

A strangled noise left my throat, ‘but he needs to know so he can better protect himself in a REAL fight’ I hissed. ‘We train and spar so that we can enhance our chances of survival in an attack, don’t you think my BROTHER would appreciate a vital piece of information like that, especially as it might stop him getting killed?’

I glared at Caden as his mouth opened and closed a few times, and I had a strange feeling that he hadn’t even considered that point! What a frigging d**k! That’s my brother he’s talking about and he’s acting like it’s fine to endanger him by not helping him become the best he can be?

And THIS is why I can’t understand why the Goddess would pair us!