Chapter 21: Dinner party

Amina’s POV

*‘Call me if you need anything. Pfft! Liar!’* I cursed Roxanne under my breath. I had been trying to reach her for hours but I kept getting sent to her voicemail. As much as Grace’s kitchen had been packed, I was missing some important ingredients for the braised short ribs dinner I decided on. When I realized she would be of no help, I resigned myself to the fact I would have to go into town and leave my herbed bread loaf alone in the oven for a little while along with my stew. *‘Argh, kill me now! I hope I don’t burn this kitchen down!’* I prayed to myself as I ordered a lift. I rushed upstairs to grab my wallet and was standing back next to the oven in the same amount of time. After a while, my phone dinged, letting me know the driver was waiting for me outside. He let me off at the town square and I made my way to the grocery store. I purchased more items than I initially intended too but couldn’t resist at the thought of adding some extra love at my recipes. Once outside the store, I remembered before ordering my lift that I had no dessert for tonight. As much as I fancied myself a good cook, I was a lousy baker but no dinner was complete without dessert.

I looked around and spotted the bakery I had noticed on my first day here. I grabbed all my bags and headed towards the small shop. There were so many choices of cakes, dessert and other baked goods I was having a hard time settling for something until I spotted what looked like to be the most decadent raspberry cheesecake ever. I started salivating on sight and I knew I had to buy the cake. I walked out of the store with my hands full from the multiple grocery bags and the cake box. I set all of it down on a bench and reached to my back pocket for my phone. I was about to open the car ride app when I heard Benjamin’s voice call out to me.

“Hi, Mina.”

I looked up at him and butterflies swarmed in my stomach. He looked so gorgeous. His pitch black hair were ruffled and his muscles puffed up. He was wearing a drenched black and grey muscle tee and matching joggings. From his appearance and the gym bag he was carrying, I assumed he had just finished with training. He looked so desirable that I could have jumped on him right then and there.

“Let me help you.” He didn’t bother to ask and threw his gym bag across his body, freeing his hands to grab the bags and the cake I had placed on the bench.

“It’s okay.” I said, finally regaining my voice back. “I was gonna call a lift.”

“Don’t be foolish. Let’s go.”

I followed him to his car obediently wondering why I seemed to lose myself next to him. He placed the groceries in the back seat of his truck and opened the passenger door for me. I climbed in without a word and he did the same after in the driver’s seat. We drove in silence for a while. I didn’t know if he felt the same, but I couldn’t speak or even look at him for fear of getting more excited. The last time we were alone together, so close, I almost had sex with him. Right on cue, images of that night came back to me and I felt a heavy pressure forming in my panties. I clenched at the door’s handle trying to not make a sound or let any of my emotions show. Benjamin groaned deeply which stunned me.

“You need to stop thinking about that.” He ordered me.

I looked back towards him, puzzled. ‘*How does he know*?’ I wondered.

He looked back at me and his eyes lowered to my tank top and shorts.

“You have flour all over you.” He stated mechanically.

“I’m sorry.” I said, embarrassed while I tried to dust myself off. We arrived at the house in silence and he helped me unload the car. Once in the kitchen, Benjamin scanned the dirty counters and pots, the pans and the dishes piling up in the sink.

“It’s my first time cooking for such a large group.” I tried to explain myself. “It’s a mess, I know, but I’ll clean everything up.”

He placed the groceries on the island, walked over to the sink and began placing the smaller dishes in the empty dishwasher. I stared at him utterly incredulous.

“You cook. I clean.” He put it simply without looking back at me.

I was frozen in place, stunned by this act of kindness. It was my mess and there was no reason for him to help me by cleaning up the place. I thought back to Roxanne’s words when she told me that her brother was a good guy. ‘*Is she right? Can I trust him*?’ The sound of dishes clinking together pulled me out of my daze and forced me to hold up my side of the deal. He was cleaning, so I had to get back to cooking. I placed the cheesecake in the fridge and pulled out the ingredients I needed from the bags. I resumed my tasks as I watched him hand wash the numerous pots I dirtied. At some point, I took out the the bread from the oven then lifted the lid of the huge pot where rested the short ribs to add some spices. The whole kitchen came alive under the smell of the food and the freshly baked bread. Benjamin who was now wiping the counters stopped in his tracks.

“Smells really good.” He complimented me.

“Thank you, Benji.” I replied smiling back at him.

In a move I had not seen coming, Benjamin advanced towards me, closing the distance between us. I held my breath as his oaky scent wrapped itself around me. One sniff and I could lose control, I was sure of it.

“I wanted to apologize for the other night, Mina. I shouldn’t have come onto you like that. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right.”

“It’s- it’s okay.” I stuttered. He was apologizing for that night while my body craved for an encore. Whenever I was close to him, my body seemed to grow a mind of its own, carefree of my struggles with reason and logic.

“No, it’s not. It was a mistake and it shouldn’t have happened.”

‘What is he saying?’ I was starting to worry. This speech began to sound more than apologetic. He was starting to sound regretful. He regretted kissing me and touching me, that much was clear in his words.

“Am I not your... mate?” I asked, scared of his answer.

He took a deep breath and grazed my cheek with the back of his hand.

“Yes, you are. But you shouldn’t be. If I were any other wolf, maybe. But I’m an Alpha. I’m the leader of my pack and…” He trailed off as his finger brushed over my lips and I felt my eyes fill with water. “You and I, it’s just not meant to be. I need a strong she-wolf to be head of this pack with me. I mean you’re human…” His hand fell from my face and a flash of disgust appeared on his, but was quickly replaced by pain. He took a step back and shook his head. From his quavering lips to his balled up fists, I could tell he was hurting. “How could I expect you to speak for werewolves if you’re not one yourself? I can’t do this…”

He spoke softly but his words were cutting me deeply. I couldn’t control who I was just as much as he couldn’t either and yet, here he was, standing in front of me, looking a like a Greek God, punishing me for being myself. He was punishing me for being human. I wanted to beg him to give me chance. There was a part of me that wanted to prove to him that I was worthy of his love. ‘*Am I though*?’ Up until a few years ago, I was nothing but a shell of the woman I once had been. I walked, talked and smiled but nothing felt right. I was a broken woman. It was only recently that I began to find healing. I was beginning to learn how to be happy again. But lately, Benjamin was threatening to throw off the fragile balance in my life. He was right. I was not worthy of being his mate and he, undoubtedly, was not what I needed.

“You don’t have to.” I gave up. My tears were now warming my cheeks as I reached for his hands. “Look, I don’t know much about being a wolf and even less about your title as Alpha…” Instinctively, I brought his hands back to my face, craving his warmth. “But I do know pain and I don’t want to be the cause of yours. If you don’t want me as your mate, Benji, I’ll understand.”

His face twisted in torment upon hearing my words and he was about to speak again when we heard Roxanne’s car roll in. Without saying anything, Benjamin left me in the kitchen fighting against the feeling of emptiness that was slowly creeping up on me. Roxanne announced herself loudly as she barged in the house. In an instant, she appeared in front of me grinning from ear to ear, basking he nose in the aromas of the food that I was preparing. I discreetly wiped away my tears and turned back towards my concoctions. She rambled on about of beautiful the day was and how amazing the night was going to be, only interrupting herself to giggle in between sentences.

“What’s gotten into you?” I asked, looking back at her while she poured herself a glass of water.

“What do you mean?” She smiled almost obnoxiously.

“You’re…chipper!”

She laughed and made her way to me. “It’s ‘cause I’m happy!”

Before I could ask why, she bore her neck at me and I noticed a red and swollen spot.

“What’s that?” I hissed through my teeth as it looked painful.

“Oh! That?” She was beaming. “That’s Ryan. Or at least, his mark! And don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt!”

“You found your mate?” I put down the wooden spoon and leaned in on her neck to observe the mark.

“Well, I found him years ago. But we rekindled things this afternoon!” She grabbed me by the shoulders and hugged me tightly. “Girl, I’m so fucking happy! I’m in love!” She shrieked as she jumped up and down with me still in her arms.

“Tell me everything like right now!” I ordered, laughing.

As Roxanne told me all about Ryan, from their past and all the way to their present, I couldn’t help myself but feel a little envious of hers and her mate’s relationship. They were both werewolves and high ranking ones at that and they just seemed to be a perfect fit for each other. When she was done recounting her story, I told her how happy I was for her and I genuinely meant it, even though part of me pined for such a happy ending.

An hour later, Carson and Grace returned home and helped Roxanne and I finish setting up the table. Afterwards, we all went and cleaned up for the evening. Around seven, the doorbell rang and Roxanne bolted towards the lobby yelling that her mate was here. Ryan and an older man appeared in the living room with Roxanne. Both men shared similar traits and I could tell they were related. Carson introduced me to both Ryan and his father Ronan Lafleur.

“Hey thief!” Ryan grinned while offering his hand to shake.

“It was one car!” I smiled back gripping his hand firmly.

“It always starts with the small stuff, doesn’t it?” He replied laughing.

The whole room joined in, including myself, leaving only Ronan confused. Carson and Grace pulled him away into the other room promising him a drink and a full explanation.

“Funny guy, huh?” I looked back at Ryan, still amused.

“I’ve got my moments!”

Ryan sat down on the couch and pulled Roxanne on his lap. Within seconds, both mates were making out and canoodling in front of me. As much as I was happy for them, the sight left me somewhat nauseous. Looking away, I was trying to come up with a pretext to leave the room when the doorbell rang again. The lovers didn’t even seem to notice but I was more than happy to leave them alone. As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted by a lot more unfamiliar faces.

“Mina!” A tall brown haired man leaped into my arms and spun me around. “So glad to finally meet you in person!”

“Uhhh….” I couldn’t form any other sound completely taken aback by his embrace.

“Put her down, Doofus! Can’t you see she’s scared? She doesn’t know you!” An extremely beautiful blonde scolded him which earned her a death stare from him. The seemingly sweet man put me down and tapped Mme on the shoulder twice, smiling.

“Don’t mind my mate.” A gorgeous petite brunette spoke as she wrapped her arm around his waist. “He’s crazy affectionate but means well.” She winked at me and I nodded back at her. “I’m Jenny and this is my mate Jason.”

“I’m Sheila!” The tall and lean blonde said with a smile.

“I’m Anderson and she’s Raleigh, my mate.” The second man in the group spoke. He was a bit taller than Jason was and had brown hair as well, although he kept his in a short buzz cut. He was holding hands with another beautiful blonde girl. She was shorter than him but still pretty tall and had a lot more curves than the first two women.

“Hi, Mina!” She waved at me.

“Hi, Raleigh!” I smiled back at her. “Hi, everyone!” I waved to all of them. They all looked really good but it was no surprise to me.

“Are we going to stay in this lobby forever or can we move inside?”

My body stiffened at the sound of the voice coming from behind the group. They all snickered and I heard a couple of ‘Shut up’ thrown in the air. They walked past me, towards the living room and I was hoping they could drag me along with them seeing as I didn’t want to be left alone with Benjamin. He stood in front of me with his black hair slicked back. He wore a fitting white collared shirt tucked in a pair of black slacks. I was so busy eyeing him down that it took me a while to notice his own eyes were wandering all over my body. I suddenly felt very self-conscious of how I looked. I chose to wear a long golden maxi dress with blue flowers. It had a heart-shaped neckline that, paired with my favourite push-up bra, showed off my cleavage and my naked neck. I wore my curls in a tight bun and framed my face with some loose curls. When I got dressed, I thought I looked nice but standing in front of him, I wasn’t so confident anymore.

“You look beautiful.” He broke our silence first and our eyes met. It felt as though time had stood still for both him and I and nothing else mattered. My heart fluttered at his words and I remained lost in his gaze. He moved in closer and intuitively, I followed suit. We were mere inches away from each other when an intense burst of laughter and cheers erupted from the living room and helped break our trance. I cleared my throat, turned around and walked away, leaving him all alone as he had left me earlier.

Once in the living room, I saw Roxanne and Ryan surrounded by their friends who were congratulating them on mating. A smile formed on my lips from seeing how happy the couple was. Benjamin walked in after me and understood promptly what was happening. He went over to the couple and held them both in his arms.

“It was about time!” He poked some fun at the two and moved away.

The girls managed to pull away Roxanne and were begging her for more details when Grace walked in and ushered all of us to the dinning room for dinner.