Chapter 12 Date Night

Chapter 12 Date Night


Axel and I are in the car. The sound of jazz music fills the air as the warm wind of Black Pack Community blows through us. We are heading to our date night spot, and as anyone can tell, I am very nervous. I don’t know what to expect. I’ve never truly been on a date that wasn’t with Zoran.

With Axel, it’s going to feel different, mostly because he’s nothing like I am. At least seven years before he left town, he was the opposite.

I twirl my thumbs together as I look out the window, thinking to myself. This shouldn’t be weird. Axel and I are mates now. We are supposed to be together and do everything else together, so why does it feel strange being around him? Why does it feel so different? It’s just about him being my bully— it’s something else. Something I can’t truly put my finger on. 

"You don’t have to be nervous," Axel said, his eyes glancing from my hands to my face.

"What makes you think I’m nervous?"

He smiled softly. "You’re doing that thumb-twirling thing you always do when you’re nervous." 

I’m surprised he knows that. It’s been seven years since we met. How did he remember that? 

"You don’t have to be nervous with me, Nyla." He added 

The smile on his face makes me feel light, but at the same time, it’s Axel. I’ve known him for a while. He’s not like he acts. He’s not charming at all. He’s a bully. He bullied me.

We get to the restaurant and quickly take the best spot. Axel pulled the chair for me before taking his own.

The waiter walked up with a bright smile. "Good day, welcome to Olive Path Restaurant." He handed us the menu. "I’ll be your waiter today. What would you like to have?"

My eyes scanned the menu, stopping at my favorite dish. I was about to speak when Axel said, "We will have two plates of pesto pasta with grilled salmon."

The waiter wrote it down and asked, "Anything to drink?"

"I will have sparkling rosé and the lady will have?" He paused, waiting for me to speak.

"Umm… mango mojito," I replied.

He wrote it down and nodded. "Okay, I’ll be back with your order shortly."

He walked away and I asked instantly, "How did you know I was going to order that?"

He shrugged. "I don’t know. I just figured your taste buds didn’t change in seven years."

"Wait, you knew?"

"I always did. We have the same food taste," He said confidently.

"I thought you hated my food taste," I said. "Remember you said I only eat pasta because I’m short and want it to make me tall?"

He laughed. "Oh yeah, I did say that."

"It wasn’t funny. I couldn’t eat pasta in school for a whole semester."

"Oh, sorry. I didn’t know it bothered you that much."

"It did. You…" My words stopped when my gaze fell on someone sitting two tables away.

Zoran.

He was with a girl. I guess she was the one he left me for. 

I quickly turned away, not wanting Zoran to catch me staring. In that moment, the waiter returned with our food.

Axel started eating almost immediately, and I halted, thinking about Zoran. What was he doing here? Are they officially engaged now? Were they planning life together as we had to?

So many thoughts crowded my mind, but they were knocked away when Axel tapped me.

"Are you still thinking about what I said about the pasta?"

"No," I said.

"Then what is it?" He asked.

I didn’t respond. I sighed heavily and looked at Zoran. Axel looked back and then at me. He sighed heavily. "This is so humbling.”

I turned to him, my eyebrows raised.

"You know, I never thought I’d take a girl out and instead of looking at me, she’s looking at another man."

"He’s not another man, he’s my ex-boyfriend."

"That’s even worse," He said, glancing back at him. "I can’t believe you used to date that. Thank God the moon goodness brought you to me."

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

"But hey, you have me, so focus on me, okay?" He said warmly 

I nodded.

I started eating, but my mind wouldn’t stop thinking about Zoran and that girl.

My eyes started to well up with tears as I thought about it. I just don’t seem to understand. Is she prettier than me? Is she better than me? What is it about her that made him leave me? Each time I think about this, I am left with no explanation.

I quickly excused myself from Axel when I felt more tears coming out of my eyes. I headed to the bathroom, but before reaching it, someone called my name. Instantly, I froze.

It’s Zoran. I can recognize his voice anywhere without even looking at him.

I slowly turned to face him. He had that annoying but charming smile on his face.
"Hi," I said quietly.

"I didn’t expect to see you here. How are you?" He asked. Before I could open my mouth to speak, he added, "I know you’re doing fantastic. I saw you with him… Alpha Axel. What are you doing with him? He bullied you in high school, and if anything, you don’t love him—or do you?"

I paused. I didn’t respond for a moment. Then he added, "Why are you with him, Nyla?"

"He’s my mate."

He scoffed as if I had said a joke. "Mate, you say?" He stepped forward. "So you accepted him. Does Tasha know about this? Because the last time I checked, she was madly in love with him."

"That’s none of your business."

Zoran looked like he was about to speak, but his words caught in his throat when Axel’s voice filled the air.

"Move your feet away from my mate."

I faced him, and Axel’s eyes were piercing straight at Zoran. Zoran didn’t say anything, and Axel just grabbed my hand and walked me away from him.

I am so glad he did that. I don’t think I could stand Zoran for any minute longer.

Axel and I went straight to the car, not bothering to continue the date. He started the car, and we were back on the road in silence. It felt really weird.

Later on, I couldn’t help but ask, "Are you mad at me?"

He didn’t respond, so I added,

"Is it about Zoran? If it’s about Zoran, I promise you that nothing is going on between us."

"I know." He finally responded, looking at me. “You don’t have to explain yourself. I trust you." 

I couldn’t help but smile.