Page 10 of A Mate Betrayed

“Yes, but now the shackles of the past are gone and you can choose a new mate.”

He held up his hand.“Since I’ve given up on relationships, I’m not looking for a new mate.”

She smiled.“Regardless.There’s not an albatross around your neck anymore.With each hour that passes, the unbearable weight that had been on your chest will get lighter and lighter.”

“Thank you, Savannah,” he said.“How much do I owe you?”

She held up a hand.“Please.It’s my pleasure to help you.”

“Well, if you need any work done, let me know.I’ll be happy to help out.”

“Deal.”She held out her hand, and he shook it.“Have a good night with Kinleigh.”

He frowned.“How did you know about Kinleigh?”

“You weren’t the only who needed to sever a tie.”

She winked and went to help a new customer.Intrigued, Daire left Savannah’s, wondering how the evening would turn out.

****

“Welcome to The Unicorn,” Daire said, smiling as he held open the door.

The warm lighting inside the bar cast a cozy glow.Industrial modern touches were interspersed with rich wooden textures.The long linear counter was lined with people as they sat, drinking with friends and family to unwind.The shelves behind the bar were meticulously organized, with two bartenders moving in a careful dance around each other as they served customers.The low hum of voices only added to the ambiance.

“Why is it called The Unicorn?”she asked.

“No one knows for sure, but my personal opinion is that it was meant to draw curious people in, and it worked.It has the right mix of sophistication and casual style.”

“Daire, you old dog, I see you finally managed to bring a pretty lady in here.”

They both turned.A tall, good-looking man stood there with a mischievous glint in his almost translucent blue eyes.She’d never seen such a color before.

“Hey,” Daire greeted.“Kinleigh, this is The Unicorn’s owner, Asher Reidman.Ash, this is my friend, Kinleigh Shire.”

Reaching out, Asher took Kinleigh's hand and brought her knuckles to his lips, giving them a theatrical kiss that made her giggle.Daire rolled his eyes, but a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

“Don't mind him, Kinleigh, he likes to think he's some kind of Casanova,” Daire said, a touch of mock exasperation lacing his voice.

Asher winked, patting Daire on the shoulder.“Just trying to show this lovely lady how arealgentleman acts," he teased, before finally backing off.“All right, you two lovebirds, I'll let you be.Enjoy your date, and I’ll send one of the servers to get your order.”

Daire led her to a secluded booth.It allowed them a sliver of privacy despite the place being crowded.As soon as they sat down, a server came by to take their order.

“I could get used to this,” she said.

“Yeah?”

“We don’t really have anything like this in my pack.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope,” she said.“My dad is the type of alpha who likes tradition.”

“Ah,” Daire said.“Like the ones in Northern Canada?”

“Not quite that strict, but progress takes time.”She shrugged.“I think if my mother was still alive, she would’ve encouraged him to move a little more quickly into the twenty-first century.”

“Sorry about your mom.”

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