Page 40 of Rejected Pregnant Mate

For now, though, I just wanted him to know how much I appreciated what he'd just said.

"Nayeli," he murmured, grinning, showing all his white, straight teeth, his canines just a bit longer than normal. "When's the last time you went somewhere that wasn't the house or the cafe?"

I shrugged, leaning against the door. "I don't know. I guess the grand opening party doesn't count since it was here too."

"I'm taking you out tonight, Omega." His tone left no room for argument. "A date." He held up his hand when I opened my mouth to say it was too short notice, and that all my going-out clothes were still at my old apartment. "Nothing fancy,just someplace different where we can unwind. We've both had a hell of a few weeks, haven't we?"

"We have," I agreed, surprised. I knew, deep inside, that our relationship was changing, but knowing that Scott wanted to take me out and show me off was still something totally new. "Are you sure you don't want to...I don't know...take some time and plan something out?"

"No. Relax. You'll have a good time," he promised, and it made my heart jump. I hated being forced into social situations, but a date with Scott? That could be fun. And besides, I could use a night away from the house and the coffee shop.

"Alright, fine," I relented. "When should I be ready?"

"Six," he said, pulling his phone out. "I'm going to call Gwen in to close since she's already off work from the other shop. Head home now so you have time to do whatever you need to do. I'll watch the store."

"Okay." I didn't argue. I wasn't going to complain about getting out of the last hour of my shift. I waved goodbye and headed for the door.

I waited until I was outside to clutch my hands to my chest and grinned, feeling giddy. I was doing it again—ignoring the fact that we'd agreed this all would be temporary—maybe it was my heat, or the spell bond, but it all felt so real.

This thing with Scott...it felt like forever.

Chapter 16 - Scott

We pulled up to the bar at a little past 7 pm, Nayeli in the passenger seat, her hands folded in her lap. I'd been playing her confrontation with Mike over and over again in my head, and I was still conflicted about what it made me feel. Seeing her being so fearless had turned me on enough that I had to adjust myself in my pants, but I'd also been shocked that Nayeli had been so brave. It was at that moment that I started to consider what it would be like to have her as a permanent part of my pack, and how she might change it if she were able to.

She was beautiful tonight, her honey-blond hair loose around her shoulders. I'd skipped my usual button-up and gone with a t-shirt and jeans so she wouldn't feel obligated to dress up, and my plan had worked. She wore a pretty blue sundress with thin straps and a floral print, paired with some sandals. When I looked closer, I noticed little bumblebees on the dress's flowers, and grinned. Her outfits were never boring, and this one showed a hell of a lot of her creamy skin.

"Ready to go in?" I asked, glancing over at her.

"Sure." She offered me a smile. "I'm not usually a bar person, so this should be fun."

The place wasn't much to look at from the outside—a wooden building with a neon sign of a moon buzzing in the window, but it was a lot more charming inside. This was a shifter-only bar, which had been a conscious choice on my end. I wanted my people to see me out with Nayeli.

The ceilings were low, and the lights dim, a few wolves gathered around a single pool table in the corner. There were band posters on the wall; some faded with age, but they gave the bar character.

There was a quiet table in the back that I took her to, and as soon as we were seated, a waitress came over to us.

"What can I get ya?"

"I'll have a whiskey," I told her.

"Rum and Coke," Nayeli added, a soft smile on her lips.

"You got it." The waitress left us to ourselves, and Nayeli looked around.

"It's nice here," she said, and I could tell she meant it. "Cozy."

"I'm glad you like it." I smiled back. I couldn't stop looking at her face, and she caught my eyes, a flush creeping up her neck. Our bond buzzed, pulling me towards her, but I stayed locked in place.

"So what do we do on a date?" she asked, sipping her drink once it arrived. "We sort of did this backward, didn't we? A bond, getting married," she lowered her voice, "Sex, and now a date."

I shrugged. "When have things ever been normal for either of us?"

"True," she chuckled, swirling the straw around in her glass.

"So, tell me about yourself. Something no one else knows. Something no one else would even think to ask."

Her eyes flickered to mine for a second before she sighed. She usually wasn't quick to talk about herself or her past, the ghost of her parents always hanging over that subject, but I could see she was making an effort.

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