Changing Everything

Ivy's POV

I hum lightly as I look out the back window of the limo as it drives up whatever road we're on. We've been on the road for quite a while. I forgot really how much distance is in between our packs and the human towns. Honestly, I haven't been out of the packlands much since the incident, so all this territory is new to me. Still, it isn't too interesting, mostly greenery and old, tall trees lining the side of the road.

Nate has hardly said a word on the trip so far, he's been on his phone taking multiple calls which I can only assume is due to the reason that he needs to head back to the palace a day early. I'm curious as to what could be so urgent that he had to rush out of Red Moon like it was on fire, but I mean it really isn't any of my business. I'm a guest travelling with him, not his personal assistant or anyone close to him to even be privileged to know.

I continue to hum quietly, losing myself in the melody of the song until I see lights, and sure enough we're entering town. I see some people walking the streets as we drive by a wide range of buildings and houses before pulling into a parking lot. It's then that Nate speaks.

"We're at the restaurant. Hungry?" I turn to look at him and nod. "Yes, definitely." The door opens beside him, and he exits the limo and I follow behind. Nate extends his hand as I get to the door, and I take it as he helps me out of the car. I smooth down my dress and take a quick look down to make sure the rest of my outfit is fine.

Nate places his hand on the small of my back and leans into my ear. "You look perfect, don't worry." His voice is low and makes me shiver a little. He leads us through the front door of the restaurant, his hand never leaving my back until we're seated at one of booths near the back of the restaurant.

Private. Secluded.

Good lord.

Nathaniel's POV

I'm glad I had calls to keep my attention off Ivy in the car, because God damn, she looked exquisite. I heard her humming during the drive, and I know she was doing it quietly to respect the calls I was on. Respecting me with no hesitation. I did manage to take a few glances of her in between calls, admiring her from head to toe; from that fiery hair to those legs covered with those sheer tights.

I know I've said it multiple times, but this girl is going to be the death of me. The Moon Goddess sure knows how to pair mates. She's everything I could ever possibly want in a woman, and I still don't know everything about her yet.

I heard her heart pick up when I whispered in her ear and complimented her, and I felt Kiba's pride swell within me to have gotten a reaction from our mate. Her heart still beats slightly faster now as we're sitting at the table looking at menus. I already ordered some wine for us, and now we're trying to decide on food.

"Are you sure?" She questions, as I had told her to choose whatever she wanted to eat. I nod in response, "Pick whatever you'd like."

She hesitates for a few moments, squinting and bringing the menu up closer to her face. I chuckle slightly, and she looks at me with a smirk on her face. "The print is so damn small, how can you even read it?" She questions before laughing along with me.

"You're not wrong, but I usually get the same thing every time I'm here, so I don't even need to look at it anymore."

She looks up at me again. "What do you usually get then?" She places her menu down on the table and I move closer to her to point it out on the menu. She leans in to see where I'm pointing, a bit of her hair falling in her face. Instinctively I reach and tuck it behind her ear, and she turns her head to face me, our faces mere inches apart. I hear her heart race as she stares at me and I stare back into those emerald, green eyes, not breaking contact once.

She doesn't break eye contact either. "I think I'll get the same as you if that's okay." I nod. "Of course."

I hear our waiter clear his throat, and we both look at him as he places two glasses and the wine bottle down on the table. "Have you decided on your orders?"

"Two orders of the medium-rare steak with baked potatoes and mixed house vegetables, please." He nods and is gone as fast as he arrived. I reach for the bottle of wine and pull the opened cork out of the top with a slight pop and pour mine and Ivy's glasses about half-full.

I hand Ivy's to her, and she smiles. "Thank you."

There's a slight pause before she decides to speak.

"So, is there anything I should know about being at the palace? I've never been there before so I don't want to look stupid in front of your parents."

Understandable for her to be concerned about how to behave, so I try to reassure her. "No, not really. My parents are low-key. Knowing them, they wouldn't care less about formalities and such unless it's a more formal meeting, which it's not. I wouldn't worry too much about it, honestly."

She sips her wine slowly, and nods as she places her glass in front of her on the table. She looks more serious and soon I know why.

"What about you? What do you expect from me during my visit?" She questions, and I catch on quickly. She's trying to judge if my nice behaviour towards her was just for show at her pack, and if I'm going to impose things on her while she's gone. I get why she feels the need to question, but I know it's coming from a place of fear and unease.

I sip my own wine before responding. "There are no expectations."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Have I given you a reason not to?"

She shakes her head. "No. you haven't. I'm sorry, it's just..." she trails off.

"It's just what?" I question and she stares at her wine glass. When she doesn't answer, I continue. "Ivy, I don't expect anything from you. You're coming as a guest and as a performer for the ball. I sure as hell don't rule like that asshat Alpha of your pack, and when you get to visit my pack one day, you'll clearly see what a real Alpha is supposed to be like."

"I would like that someday." She pauses as if she's fighting about saying something to me, opening up to me. Then she hits me with a confession. "I was planning on leaving before you came to Red Moon." She picks up her glass and gulps the rest of her wine down.

She was going to run. Become a rogue.

"What stopped you?" She looks me straight in the eyes then. "You came early."

Our waiter returns with our food, placing our plates in front of us alongside with cutlery and another bottle of wine. "Well, I'm glad my coming early stopped you, cause then I wouldn't be aware of things and most importantly, I wouldn't have gotten to spend time with you again at the pack and right now."

I see her shoulders relax slightly, and I reach over and fill her wine glass again as she smells her plate. "I guess you're right. I am sorry for being so defensive. It's a natural response at this point. Let's talk about something else and dig into this food! It smells wonderful."

"I'm down." Is all I say before cutting into my steak and offering her the first bite of my meal. I know she doesn't know that she's my mate, but it's tradition regardless. She looks down at the piece of steak on my fork and then leans in takes that bite into her mouth. I hear her sigh slightly as she covers her mouth to chew, and her eyes widen.

"That is so good! I'm glad I took your advice and ordered it!"She says still with her mouth covered.

We eat for next half hour or so, chatting about Iron Wolf and her performing, as well as likes, dislikes, and favourite things. We have a good amount in common I find, and she seems to be more comfortable with me now that we've had a good amount of time together.

I open the door of the restaurant for her to walk out ahead of me and as we walk to the car she turns and walks backwards trying to speak to me. "That was great. Thank you for taking me out." I go to respond, but she trips, and I rush forward to catch her before she hits the pavement. My left arm is wrapped about her waist, pulling her up and into me. She places her hands on my shoulders as I hold her and she's breathing heavily and staring up at me.

I pull her up back to her feet and she keeps her hands on me, the muted tingling sensation of our bond running through my skin under my clothes.