30

Dieter's POV

"I'll take a burrito, with extra cheese. Can I also have extra meat? Then I also want some fries on the side. No beans. Please. No beans. Then I want two carne asada tacos, extra pico de gallo. Can we also get some chips and guac? Thanks." Crispin closed the menu with a smile on his face and handed it to the waiter and I watched in awe.

Had he always eaten this much food?

"And you Alpha?" The waiter asked with a smile.

"Enchilada, beans, rice." I closed the menu and handed it to her. She nodded quickly and walked away leaving us.

"Goddess, I'm so hungry." Crispin groaned as he rubbed his belly. He had been doing that a lot recently. Rubbing his stomach. Though I wonder if it was some way to soothe himself. I didn't want to ask him because it seemed he was doing it absentmindedly.

I had brought Crispin to the Mexican restaurant when we were on our pack lands. I wanted us to get away from the packhouse and try to have some time to ourselves to talk. Talk about what exactly? No idea. But it still felt like we were tiptoeing around each other. Waiting for the other to do...something.

Since reconciling we haven't touched since then. Even sleeping in the bed, we stay on our separate sides neither of us making the first move. I was waiting until Crispin made it clear that was something he wanted from me. That it was okay to grab him and kiss him. Fuck, I wanted to kiss him. Kiss him hard and fast.

"What made you bring me here? I thought you didn't like people." Crispin teased with a soft smile on his face.

"This is true." I huffed slowly, making sure he was the only that could hear. "I thought it was best we get out for a bit." I cleared my throat and looked around to make sure no one could hear what I had to say next. "I missed you and I just wanted some time with you."

"Oh." Crispin perked up at my words and a slight blush covered his cheeks. "I--I missed you too." His gaze softened even more and his words made my heart jump in excitement. A warm fuzzy feeling filled me and I wanted nothing more than to bask in it.

"I don't want this weirdness between us anymore." He sighed and relaxed his shoulders. I looked deep into his eyes and saw nothing but sincerity.

"Neither do I," I responded quickly and quietly. The restaurant was pretty full and there were many nosey wolves here as well. Perhaps bringing him out wasn't the best thing if I wanted to have a conversation with him.

"James and Ben called me yesterday. Goddess, I felt so bad I hadn't talked to them in so long."

Oh right, James and Ben. How could I completely forget the man and the reason Crispin and I met each other? I guess that goes to show how much has happened and how preoccupied my mind has been.

"How was it?"

"It was good! I guess I realized how much I missed them. And will miss them..." His voice trailed and before I could respond the waiter was back with our chips and guacamole and Crispin dived in without a second to waste.

"Are you sure moving here is okay with you?"

He had surprised me during the meeting with his suggestion of sending members of my pack to his. And then on top of that, he told me he was moving here. I wonder if he was truly picking that for himself or if he thought it was the easiest decision.

"Yes, of course." He looked up at me as he flicked his tongue out to lick his bottom lip and wipe off the guac that sat there. I watched as he did and lust began to brew in my belly. Now that things were slowly getting better between us, my body was waking up again. With the need to have and claim my mate again.

"Do you not want me to?" His words snapped me out of my lust-filled daze and I focused on him.

"What? No, I would love for you here." I hurried out as I noticed worry start to creep into his eyes. "I just wanted to make sure it was something that you wanted to do."

He let out a deep breath and relaxed, eating away at the guac yet again.

"I just don't know if I want to be a luna yet. Going from alpha to luna is a change...I don't know if I am ready for that." I knew what he was saying was serious but I found myself holding back a laugh as I watched him devour the chips before him.

"You wouldn't be a luna." I scoffed at him and reached over to finally join in his eating rather than watch him. His eyes flicked to mine and they were filled with confusion. "We would co-lead."

"Wait really?"

"Yes." Was he truly surprised at my suggestion? Crispin was a great alpha, this I knew. It took a different skill level to be able to lead a small pack. A skill level I don't have and I know that his would only benefit ours. "You're an alpha, Crispin. I expect nothing less of you."

There was something so pure that flashed through his eyes as he looked at me. Was it appreciation? No, it was more than that.

"You are a light that we desperately need. And as long as you're okay with asking Danielle and Rena to lead your pack, then I am more than happy for you to lead with me. Whenever you're ready." I reached my hand across the table, palm up. Crispin looked down at it but quickly grabbed onto it. Shooting sparks up and down my arm.

This was completely out of the ordinary for me but I was willing to do whatever it took to show Crispin how much he meant to me. How much his choosing me means to me. I'll never be anything less than grateful.

"Since when did you get all sappy?" He teased, but his eyes were tearing up. I let out a huff of amusement and went back to eating my chips.

"Since I realized how blessed I was to have you." A thick and heavy blush rose on his cheeks and I couldn't help but smirk at him.

"You need to shut up right now." I was slightly taken aback by his words but only for a moment. A sweet and heavy scent hit my nose and a growl rumbled in my chest. His arousal was loud and I wondered if anyone else could smell it. If they could I'd kill them.

It seems both of us were yearning for something other than hand holds and arm grabs. We hadn't even kissed since the fight and I was aching to taste him again. In more ways than one. But that would have to wait until later. I don't want us to get distracted again. Not until we solve the issues between us. But I don't think I can wait that much longer.

"Fine. I'll shut up." I smirked at him and leaned back into the booth.

"You never told me, but how did you and James meet?" I could almost laugh at the memory.

"Quite a funny story. James, Finnick, and I are childhood friends. James likes to call us the three musketeers."

"Of course he does." Crispin laughed lightly.

"We met when we were about ten years old. We would go to this alpha training camp in the middle of nowhere which is how we met. And for all our adolescent years the three of us would travel to each other's pack and visit each other. But once the time came for us to lead we did not see much of each other. We still keep in contact when we can, but we understand life is busy."

Life was much easier growing up, void of the knowledge of a sacrifice. And I was able to just be a child. Have friends, and live a fun life. James and Finnick were the opposites of me. Both were loud, fun and loved being the center of attention. I on the other hand was the dark and brooding shadow. I don't know why they chose me to be my friend, but I am happy they did.

They are the only people who have known me before I knew what a sacrifice was before I changed. Perhaps I should tell them--

"I should have told you this before, but Finnick was flirting with me a bit after the summit," Crispin said pulling me from my thoughts.

"I'll kill him." The words flew out before I could fully filter myself but would I have? No.

"Dieter!" Crispin let out a hardy laugh and threw his head back. I loved seeing him like this. So happy. So carefree. "You can't kill him."

"Why not?" I had to resist the urge to pout, how childish.

"He is one of your best friends!" He chuckled and began to rub his belly again. The question was on the tip of my tongue, but I silenced myself.

"I only have one best friend." I corrected right before our waiter came and sat out food before us. Crispin's eyes lit up as he looked at the three plates before him. I wondered if he was going to be able to eat it all.

"Oh right, sorry." He put his hands up in fake surrender and began to dive in. "Finnick is a cool guy from what I can tell. You should give them a call whenever you can."

I took his advice and I stored it in a safe place. Though Koa was a person I went to daily it doesn't negate the fact that Finnick and James have been by my side for many years. They were wolves I could count on. Yes, perhaps I will tell them that.

"You are turning me into a softie you know?" I told him and he laughed as he bit into his taco. Which was already halfway gone.

"When am I going to meet Koa? You talk about him so much, I want to know what all the praise is about." For a moment I heard a hint of jealousy in his words. I looked at him and I saw it swimming in the back of his eyes.

"Are you jealous?" Crispin went still only for a moment and scoffed at me.

"Jealous? Why would I be jealous?" His words said one thing but his eyes said another. He was.

"That I am giving my praise to him and not you." He flicked his eyes to mine for a moment but went back to focusing on his food. I of course noticed how his cheeks heated up when I said praise...this must mean one thing.

"Do you wish for my praise Crispin?" Lust swirled in my belly yet again. My voice was so low that only he could hear it. His eyes were glued to his plates but his fork was still and unmoving.

"I--I--" He stuttered but didn't finish his sentence. I'll take that as a yes.

"If you want my praise, you have to earn it." I took a bite of my burrito and watched as Crispin was still unmoving but his arousal hit my nose and I knew I was on the right path.

"How?" It was so faint I almost missed it. It was like a whisper in the wind. But it shot straight to my dick and made me ache for him.

"You're a smart boy, you'll figure it out."

His eyes finally met mine and there was a burning desire in them. It made it incredibly hard to breathe and I wanted to pounce on him in the moment. But I couldn't. Not yet.

But I will claim my Crispin again...and soon.