Chapter 62: The Date

Chapter 62: The Date Zane~ When I grabbed my bag and chased after Natalie to Paris, I had no idea I was diving headfirst into the strangest corners of the supernatural world. Logic? Yeah, that didn’t apply to my life anymore. I narrowed my eyes at Jacob and his brothers, their mischievous smiles sending an uneasy chill down my spine. They all stood there, arms crossed, watching me like I was some sort of experiment. "Why are you all looking at me like that?" I asked cautiously. Fox was the first to speak, flipping his fiery red hair back dramatically. "As long as you have us, you will never be basic again." I rolled my eyes. "What are you talking about?" Jacob threw an arm around my shoulders, grinning. "Don’t worry, Your Highness. We’re going to help you prepare the perfect first date." I stared at them in disbelief. "You? Helping me? That doesn’t sound reassuring." Eagle smirked. "Have some faith, Prince Charming." I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Fine. Whatever. You can help. but I swear, if any of you try to pull something weird or scary, I’m revoking your invitation. I don’t want Natalie running for the hills before I even get the chance to woo her." They all laughed, clearly unfazed by my warning. After some playful arguing, debating, and a few ridiculous suggestions (Bubble thought it would be hilarious to take her on a date in the middle of a ’harmless’ thunderstorm for dramatic effect), we finally agreed that Saturday would be the perfect day for the date. That gave me two days to prepare, and I wasn’t sure whether I should be excited or terrified of what Jacob and his brothers were planning. Later that day, I picked up Alexander from school. He came running toward me, his little arms flailing in excitement. I scooped him up, ruffling his messy hair as he giggled. "Daddy! Are we picking up Mummy Natalie too?" he asked eagerly. I smiled. "Of course we are." We drove to Natalie’s college, and as we stood outside the car, waiting for her, anticipation built in my chest. Then, she appeared. Her long beautiful hair swayed with the wind, and her captivating eyes locked onto us. The moment Alexander and I saw her, we both reacted like excited children being handed candy. Thankfully, Sebastian wasn’t here to see, if he was, he wouldn’t have let it go. Natalie laughed at our expressions, warmth flooding her face. She rushed forward, lifting Alexander into her arms and peppering kisses all over his cute face. He shrieked with laughter, squirming. "Mummy, stop!" Alexander begged between giggles. "Never!" she teased, placing one last kiss on his nose before setting him down on his feet. Then, she turned her attention to me and without thinking twice, I opened my arms wide, silently inviting her in. A beautiful blush covered her cheeks, but she didn’t hesitate, instead, she shyly stepped into my embrace, wrapping her arms around me tightly. I buried my face in her hair, inhaling her scent. My hands caressed her back as I murmured, "Missed you today." She giggled softly, the sound sending warmth straight to my heart. I pulled back slightly, cupping her face. Without another word, I kissed her—softly, slowly, savoring her taste. Her fingers curled into my jacket as she melted into the kiss, and I wanted to drown in the feeling of her lips against mine. But then, Alexander’s loud squeal broke the moment. We turned to look at him, and he was beaming at us, his big doe eyes filled with happiness. "Daddy," he said, practically bouncing in excitement. "Does this mean Natalie is finally going to be my real mommy?" My heart clenched. Metallic streaks of heat raced through my chest, and I threw my head back, laughing. I crouched to Alexander’s level, whispering conspiratorially, "I’m working on it, buddy. Wish me luck." Alexander squealed again, clapping his hands. Natalie, blushing deeply, laughed as she pulled him into her arms. That evening, the three of us curled up in the movie room. The lights were dim, and we all snuggled together on the couch, sharing a bowl of popcorn. Natalie leaned against me, her warmth intoxicating, while Alexander rested his head on her chest, eyes drooping with sleep. The movie played in the background, but I barely paid attention. I was too lost in the comfort of having them both with me. By the time the credits rolled, Alexander had fallen asleep. I carefully picked him up, and Natalie followed me as we took him to his room. We tucked him in, kissing his forehead before quietly stepping out. As we walked down the hall, Natalie turned toward her room. "Where are you going?" I asked, stopping her. She blinked. "To my room. To sleep." I pouted. "Did you forget what we promised yesterday?" She frowned slightly. "What do you mean?" I crossed my arms, feigning offense. "We agreed that you wouldn’t sleep alone anymore." Her lips parted in realization before she burst into laughter. "I thought you had forgotten." I placed a hand over my chest dramatically. "Me? Forget something so important? I could never." She rolled her eyes, smiling. "Alright, alright. So, where are we sleeping tonight?" I thought for a moment before smirking. "My room." Before she could react, I swept her off her feet. She yelped, laughing as I carried her bridal-style. "That was unnecessary, you know," she giggled. "Shh," I murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. I carried her into my room and placed her gently on the bed. As she settled in, I propped myself up on my elbow, gazing at her. "Natalie," I murmured. She turned to me, curiosity in her eyes. "Yes?" I took a deep breath, feeling my pulse quicken. "Go on a date with me." Her eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, she just stared. Then, slowly, her lips curled into a soft, breathtaking smile. "Are you asking me out properly, Mr. Cole Lucky?" I smirked. "Yes, Miss Cross. I am." She bit her lip, clearly holding back her excitement, then nodded. "I’d love to." Warmth flooded my chest. I reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek. "Good." She leaned into my touch, her eyes filled with something that made my heart ache in the best way. That night, we kissed, we cuddled like the world had only the two of us in it. Natalie was perfect, and she was mine to love. And soon, I’d make sure the whole world knew it. ********** I stood in my grand sitting room, arms crossed, staring at Jacob as he grinned like he had just set up the biggest prank of the century. His brothers—Tiger, Eagle, Bubble, and Fox—stood nearby, looking way too pleased with themselves. "So, let me get this straight," I said slowly. "You all agreed that the best place for my first date with Natalie is Tiger’s personal forest?" I turned to the silent, golden-haired man. "Personal forest? You have a personal forest?" Tiger smirked. "I own all the forests on Earth. But I have favorites." I blinked at him. Then at Jacob. Then at Bubble, Eagle, and Fox. I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples. "Alright, no. I have put up with a lot of weird things in my life, but up until today, none of you have explained why ethereal beings like you are hovering around me and Natalie when you have the entire world to look after. There’s something you’re not telling me." I narrowed my eyes. "Your behavior is way too strange." The room went silent for a beat before I pointed at Jacob. "And you, you’re the weirdest of them all. Who or what are you, Jacob? Because after all this time, I still have no damn clue." Jacob burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. The others joined in, their laughter like music in the air. Even Tiger, who rarely smiled, shook his head in amusement. "Relax, Your Highness," Jacob teased. "Rest assured, we would never harm you, Natalie, or Alexander. We’re here to protect you. And even if it doesn’t look like it, we’re doing the job we came to Earth to do." I stared at them, exasperated. "Whatever. Just don’t ruin my date." They all smirked, nodding. "Promise," Bubble said with a wink. Tiger gestured for me to follow, leading me to that strange, unused room in my house—the one I had mentioned before, the one that acted like a portal to the forest. I exhaled, already knowing what was coming. The door rippled like liquid gold before swinging open, revealing a breathtaking forest drenched in golden sunlight. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of rain and fresh leaves, while the distant calls of birds and the rustling of foliage whispered through the trees. "You and Natalie will be safe here," Tiger said. "The animals won’t bother you, and you shouldn’t bother them. Everything in this forest listens to me, so no harm will come to either of you." I nodded, still taking in the sheer beauty of the place. Tiger then added, "When you enter the forest, follow the birds." I exhaled. "Of course. Birds. Because why not?" I turned on my heel and went to get Natalie. Natalie had been buzzing with excitement about our date. She even asked me what to wear, and I just told her to keep it simple and comfortable. So when I knocked on her door, I had no clue what to expect. But the moment it swung open, my breath caught in my throat. She stood there in a simple yellow dress, her long hair falling perfectly down her back. The fabric hugged her frame in just the right way, and when she looked up at me with those soft, hesitant eyes, I realized something dangerous. I was in trouble. "You look..." I swallowed. "Beautiful." A pink flush dusted her cheeks. "Thank you." I held out my hand. "Come with me." She hesitated but placed her hand in mine. Warm. Soft. I held on a little longer than necessary before leading her to the hidden room. As soon as we stepped through the enchanted doorway, I felt her fingers tighten around mine. "Wow..." she whispered in awe. "This is... unbelievable." Golden light filtered through the leaves, and a gentle breeze swayed the trees as if welcoming us. Small glowing birds fluttered around us, leading the way through a winding path of flowers. Natalie gasped softly when a butterfly landed on her hand, its wings shimmering like liquid sapphire. "It’s beautiful," she murmured. I watched her instead of the forest. "Yeah. It is." We followed the birds until we reached a massive tree, its branches forming a natural canopy. Beneath it, a round table was set with silverware, wine glasses, and candlelit lanterns. Soft music played from somewhere, adding to the dreamlike atmosphere.The ethereal brothers really outdid themselves. Natalie laughed in delight when a parrot landed on the table and, in perfect English, read off a menu. Then, Fox appeared out of nowhere, a mischievous grin on his face. "I will be your chef tonight!" Natalie covered her mouth, eyes wide with amusement. "This is amazing." Fox snapped his fingers, and like magic, plates of food appeared. Juicy steak with rosemary butter. Freshly baked bread. Wine that smelled divine. Natalie’s eyes sparkled as she took it all in. "Sir, this is perfect." I reached across the table, taking her hand. "I wanted tonight to be special." Her fingers curled around mine. "It already is." After dinner, I stood and held out a hand. "Dance with me?" She hesitated, but I saw the flicker of excitement in her eyes. Slowly, she placed her hand in mine, and I pulled her close. We swayed under the canopy of trees, the soft music weaving around us. She was warm against me, her scent intoxicating. I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger on her cheek. "Sir..." she whispered, looking up at me. I smirked. "You trust me, right?" She blinked. "Of course." "Then..." I stepped back, feeling my bones shift, my skin ripple. The transformation was effortless. When I landed on all fours, my massive gray and white wolf form towered over her. Then, I laid on the ground before her and gestured with my head for her to get on my back. Natalie gasped, but then she laughed—a pure, joyous sound. "The last person who ever gave me a wolf ride was my father," she said softly. I gave her a wolfy grin and barked, sticking my tongue out slightly. Natalie laughed again sweetly before she nodded to my silent request. She climbed onto my back, her fingers curling into my fur; and when I was sure she was well seated. I ran. The night was alive around us—fireflies drifting like tiny lanterns, the soft rustle of leaves in the wind, the distant hoot of an owl. But none of it mattered. Not when she was laughing like that. Natalie’s joy was infectious, a melody that echoed through the trees as I carried her on my back, running through the forest with effortless speed. I felt the way her fingers curled into my fur, how her body moved with mine, trusting, unafraid. Other creatures joined us—deer bounding alongside, a fox darting through the underbrush, even a bear lumbering nearby as if caught in the same spell of the moment. It was wild. It was perfect. By the time I finally slowed, the sky had deepened into a sea of stars, and Natalie slid off my back, breathless and beaming. "Thank you, Sir! That was so much fun!" she said, excitement shining in her eyes. But I wasn’t done. I stepped back, shifting effortlessly, my clothes reforming as I knelt before her under the moonlight. "Natalie," I said, my voice low, rough with emotion. "Will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" Her breath caught, and for a moment, she just stared at me, wide-eyed. Then tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as she smiled—radiant, breathtaking. "Yes," she whispered. "I will be your girlfriend." A rush of relief, of pure happiness, surged through me. "Thank you so much, my love. You won’t ever regret this decision." I said. I pulled her close, crashing my lips onto hers in a deep, soul-stealing kiss. She melted into me, her hands threading through my hair, her warmth pressing against me in a way that made my entire being hum with need. And then, out of nowhere, Red roared loud in my mind. "Mark her!" I stiffened, "What? Red, what’s wrong?" But Red didn’t respond. It was like something had hijacked him, taking over in an instant. Before I could fully process it, he turned on me—fighting, struggling, trying to seize control. My hands clenched around Natalie, too tight, too sudden—before I even realized what I was doing. "No, Red! Not yet." I gritted my teeth, trying to shove Red back, to drown him out. But he was relentless. A storm raging in my head. A hunger clawing at my soul. I felt my lips move without thinking, trailing down her jaw, her throat. My breath hitched. I could feel her pulse—quick, erratic, intoxicating. Then—before I could stop myself— I bit her. Her sharp gasp sent a jolt through me, like a live wire snapping against my skin. The second my teeth broke through, something inside me detonated—raw, electric, undeniable. A tidal wave of claiming, possession, belonging. Then Red let out a deep, guttural growl, his triumph vibrating through me. "MATE. MINE." The realization of Red’s words knocked the wind out of me.