Chapter 29

The car soon pulled up outside a posh looking restaurant. There was a red carpet leading from the edge of the pavement, right up to the front doors. Silver posts with red rope fenced off the red carpet and an outside seating area, which was covered under black canopies, bearing the restaurant’s name in gold lettering. Xavier carefully opened the car door and slid out before briefly leaning back in to lend me his hand. Graciously, I held his hand daintily in mine and excited the car, staring up at the restaurant in awe.

“It looks really posh!” I gasped. “I can’t go in there!”

“You look absolutely fine, my love,” Xavier breathed. “Come on, let’s go and get us a table.”

I nodded nervously and walked towards the glass doors while Xavier’s arm was draped casually around my waist. As we got nearer, a waiter pulled open the door and bowed as we walked through.

“Welcome to Marchiano’s. Do you have a reservation?” he queried, looking at us both intently.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, we do,” Xavier confirmed loudly. “Under the name of Black, I believe.”

I watched as the waiter’s face turned a deathly shade of white before he quickly looked down at the register that he was stood next to. “Um yes, of course. Here you are sir!” he stuttered nervously as he looked down a long list of names. He looked at me briefly before averting his eyes and waving his hand. “If you both would like to follow me please so that I can seat you.”

We followed the waiter into a dimly lit room filled with tables that sat plenty of couples, either eating delicious food or quietly talking amongst themselves. We found ourselves being seated towards the back of the room, set in an alcove. Soft floaty romantic music filled the air, and the odd clatter of plates or the chink of cutlery rang out. Candles lined the deep red walls, sending shadows fluttering across the room.

I gingerly sat down on the red leather bench and watched Xavier sit down opposite me. The table had a white silk tablecloth covering it, with red napkins folded artistically and placed into the polished wine glasses. At the same time, silver cutlery with a mirrored shine was displayed neatly in front of us. A wicker basket filled with salt and pepper grinders and crusty bread rolls took centre stage of the table. The room felt warm and cosy, and the atmosphere was calm and relaxing. The waiter suddenly appeared from nowhere with two black leather-encased menus and handed them both to Xavier.

“Menus for you both” he purred. “Would you like anything off the wine menu or from the bar?”

“Ahh yes, we will have a bottle of Pinot Noir please,” Xavier replied, briefly taking his eyes off me, and looking up at the waiter.

“Of course. I will bring it straight over, and then I will take your food orders.”

I watched him scurry off, almost tripping over his own feet in the process towards the bar.

“I think someone is a little starstruck,” I mused, grinning across to Xavier.

“Well, it’s not every day you get to serve your Alpha his tea, is it?” he chuckled. “Anyway, what do you fancy on having to eat babe?”

I looked down at the menu and scanned the dishes hungrily. There were pizzas and burgers, salads and pasta dishes, seafood dishes and meaty dishes. My eyes landed on the creamy tagliatelle with chicken, mushrooms and garlic, and my stomach rumbled in approval.

“I think I’ll have the creamy chicken and mushroom tagliatelle with some garlic bread on the side. What about you?”

Xavier nodded at me. “That sounds like a good choice. I think I’ll go for the steak and chips for myself.”

I snapped shut the menu and placed it gently on the side of the table where Xavier also placed his. Without making a noise, the waiter came back with a large bottle of red wine in his hands and expertly opened the bottle, not even spilling a single drop and filled both of our wine glasses.

“Are you ready to order?” he inquired, picking up the menus and pulling out a little pad and a pen from his pocket.

“Yes, she will have the creamy chicken and mushroom tagliatelle and the steak for me. Also, can I have some garlic bread to go with the pasta?” Xavier asked politely.

“Of course, you can!” the waiter replied, scribbling hastily on his pad. “Is there anything else?”

“No, thank you!” Xavier continued, briefly smiling at the waiter before looking back at me.

Taking that as his cue to leave, the waiter turned hotly on his heel and marched towards the kitchen, the swing doors loudly slamming behind him. I turned my head to look at Xavier, and I smiled cheekily at him.

“Do you have that effect on everyone?” I grinned.

“What effect? I don’t have a clue what you are on about,” Xavier stuttered mockingly, his eyes glinting in the candlelight.

“Oh, come on, don’t give me that. Soon as someone realises who you are, they are either scared to be around you or gasping at you in awe,” I laughed jokingly.

“It’s because of who I am,” Xavier shrugged. “I am the Alpha. The main one. The leader. The Boss, if you will,” he shrugged casually. “Everyone knows what I am capable of. I’m kind of the big bad wolf that everybody loves and adores!”

I shook my head and laughed at him gently, leaning back against the bench. “You are so full of yourself, aren’t you,” I giggled, smiling at him warmly.

“Someone has to love me, and if no one else will, then it may as well be myself,” he smirked, winking cheekily.

I raised an eyebrow and eyed him carefully. “You know what my feelings are for you!” I sniffed.

“Yes, I do, and I am a fortunate man. Or I will be!” he smiled gently, reaching over and gently cupping my hand with his.

The small squeak of a swing door being pushed open alerted us to our food arriving. Our eyes swivelled towards our waiter carrying two large plates over towards us, and we watched as he deftly placed them on the table in front of us.

“Your food is here. I hope you enjoy your meal. Is there anything else I can do for you?” the waiter sang cheerily.

“No, thank you!” I replied, smiling softly.

The waiter bowed his head and backed off slowly towards another table. I looked down at my plate at the soft heap of yellow pasta, swimming in a creamy sauce with tender white chicken breast chunks and sliced silver mushrooms. The smell of garlic lingered in the air from my garlic bread, and I sniffed hungrily. Deep down, I could feel my wolf licking her chops in appreciation. I looked over at Xavier’s plate at his steak. The faint tinge of blood had begun to leak out. The steak still sizzled with little beads of fat and oil dotting the rim of the plate. Homemade chips that glistened from the cooking oil sat in a heap, soaking up the juices from the steak and two large eggs with golden yellow yolks, fit to burst, lay sunny side up.

“This looks so good!” I purred in delight, gleefully looking up at Xavier, who was also eying up his food hungrily.

“Tuck in my love,” he nodded, grinning casually, grabbing his knife and fork, and trying to hack at the steak.

I picked up my fork and twirled the creamy pasta around enticingly, before popping it into my mouth, feeling the sauce running down my throat.

Mmmmm.

“So, tell me more about you then. What sort of things are you in to? What do you like or dislike? Tell me everything!” Xavier asked gently, swallowing a large mouthful of food.

“Everything?” I giggled nervously. “Um, okay. Well, I hate the countryside, but I prefer the city. I hate morning training and anything to do with exercise. I rather have long lie-ins in my bed. I do like coffee, though and cocktails and lots of clothes shopping and my favourite colour is purple!”

“So, you don’t like living in the packhouse then?” Xavier queried, looking at me puzzled.

“I wasn’t keen on the idea in the beginning if I am honest with you, but now I’ve moved in and settled down, it’s really not that bad after all. There are definitely some good points about the packhouse!” I grinned casually.

“Oh, is there now? I wonder what they could be?” Xavier wondered loudly, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “And why didn’t you want to come to the packhouse then?”

“Well, I didn’t want to find a Mate and start my own family. I wanted to stay in the city with my friends and continue living a carefree life that I had become used too,” I replied thoughtfully.“Anyway, what about you, then? Tell me about yourself now!” I ordered, pointing my knife over at him and waving it around in a circular motion.

“Well, I run a huge and successful pack. I have a beautiful packhouse that I share with my trainee members. I’m terribly busy running a tight ship, but in my spare time, I like to train and get fit in the gyms to keep my physique up, and I like the colour black. Oh, and I have an incredibly special person in my life right now, who is more special to me than life itself.”

I beamed at his last sentence, feeling my heart flutter. I could feel my wolf pricking up her ears but not saying a word. I had a feeling she was keeping her beady eye on him and was slowly coming around to Xavier’s sweet charm.

The clink of a fork hitting the bottom of an empty plate rang out, and I glanced down to see that I had eaten all my food. I looked across at Xavier and watched as he neatly laid his cutlery onto his empty plate. From out of nowhere, the waiter appeared and promptly collected our dirty dishes.

“Would you like the dessert menu?”

I shook my head and sighed contentedly. “No, thank you. I am full thanks.”

Xavier nodded and sat back on the bench. “Could we have the bill please?”

“Of course!” the waiter replied before walking off once again.

He promptly returned with the bill in his hand and handed it over to Xavier. Xavier took it gently and glanced down at the receipt, before reaching into his jacket and pulling out his leather wallet. He flipped it open briskly and pulled out a few notes before handing them over to the waiter, along with the receipt.

“Keep the change!” Xavier said loudly, before standing up and holding out his arm for me to hold on to.

We casually made our way back through the restaurant which had begun to get quieter as the evening progressed and made our way back outside to the waiting car. Xavier opened the door and gestured for me to enter the car first. Soon as I clambered in, Xavier swiftly followed, slamming the door behind me, and lifting his arm, allowing me to cuddle into him.

“Thank you for tonight,” I whispered, looking up at him happily.

“That’s quite all right, my love. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” Xavier said gently, rubbing his fingers on the side of my leg.

Suddenly, something that Hannah had said to me earlier popped up in my mind. I knew I had to find out more.

“Xavier, what is the Bonding Ceremony?”