✨✨

"You need to calm the fuck down."

"Calm down?! I don't have to calm down! You calm down!"

"Seneca,"

"It's, 'Alpha'."

"Seneca!"

I turn to him finally, stubbornly glaring down at him.

"What?" I cross my arms, looking away.

"Just calm down." Ezra rises from the bed, walking to where I'm standing. Near my closet's door. He places his hands on my shoulders, looking down at me softly.

"It's just a date." He whispers, and I nod.

Then I shove his hands off me roughly.

"It's not 'just' a date. It's 'The' date." I snap, clenching my jaw.

He sighs.

"Okay. It's 'The' Date. Whatever. Now, just calm down."

I sigh, letting my shoulders droop in defeat.

"I..." I hesitate, "I'm sorry." I blurt out quickly, looking away in embarrassment.

His jaw drops.

"Wha—" He gapes, "You—" He stammers, "Apologized?!" He burbles, "Goddess! I can't believe it!" He bellows, and the next second, he's moving forward and then he's hugging me.

Fuck.

I haven't hugged him in...years.

There is a familiar pressure in the back of my eyes.

I swallow the lump in my throat, forcing my suddenly burning eyes to calm the fuck down.

Alpha's don't cry, Seneca!

I go rigid, feeling a strange sense of something when he tightens his arms around me. I try to stop my hands from moving, but they go up on their own accord, and in a second, I'm hugging my best friend back.

Oh, how I've missed him.

"You..." He blubbers, still seemingly not out of his shock.

I chuckle thickly, with tears begging to spill down my eyes. I squeeze them shut in an effort to stop them, but that just makes them overflow and fall as two big drops on his shoulder.

He stiffens. My arms drop in surprise, and he pulls back, looking even shocked than ever.

"Was that...was that...?"

"Yeah..." I mumble, looking away shyly as I swipe my hands across my eyes, wiping any evidence away.

"Oh My Goddess!" He splutters, "You actually giggled! You fùcking giggled!" He exclaims, throwing his hands up. "Seneca. Mordecai. Giggled! This should be recorded in the fúcking History! Micajah Rye! Thank you so damn much!" He looks heavenward, blowing kisses to the air.

I shake my head, amused by his antics.

"Okay, okay. Enough." I raise my hands, palms facing him.

"Enough? It will never be enough! My best fúcking friend is back! She's back!" He almost squeals, and then he's hugging me again.

This time, I shove him off.

"Don't get used to it," I turn away, dusting invisible lint off my shoulders. He mocks pouts, crossing his arms across his chest.

"'Don't get used to it'," He mocks, making a face as he raises two hands in an air quote.

I ignore him and walk inside my walk inside my walk-in-closet, slamming the door behind me loudly, though we both know that I'm smiling.

❈ ❈ ❈

Ten minutes later, I come out, wearing a pair of light grey skinny jeans and a light blue blouse with white sleeves, and the only pair of white boots I own.

That is to say, I'm wearing light colors tonight.

Yup.

That's my attire for 'The' date.

Ezra is lying on my bed, looking at the ceiling as if it was holding the answers to all the cosmic riddles.

I go to the dresser and open the small drawer in the very bottom.

Inside, I find the small blue-velvet box and a few other things I haven't even touched in the past year. My fingers curl around the familiar texture of the box as I take it out, along with the tube of lip gloss, foundation, and eyeliner.

I apply a thin coat of foundation and then smear some lip gloss over my lips, feeling weird about applying something after leaving it free for so long. I shrug it off and wear some eyeliner on my top lid, feeling the liquid stiffen my skin as it dries.

Crap. How did I tolerate make-up before?

I shake my head and run the brush through my hair, letting the curls fall loosely, framing my face for once, instead of being pulled back high in a ponytail. I then pick up the box and snap the small lock in the front open, revealing the solitaire diamond pendant and the thin platinum chain.

I clasp it around my neck.

Okay, I guess. I'm kinda ready.

I take a once-over at the mirror and take in a shaky breath, feeling my stomach drop at the thought of the date.

'The' date.

I sigh shakily and turn around, only to find Ezra on his phone.

Again.

His fingers fly over the touch-sensitive screen as he texts someone hurriedly, and then he instantly locks his mobile, shoving it into his pocket as he looks up quickly.

He has an angelic look on his face.

"Who was that?" I raise a brow, poking my tongue into my right cheek.

"No one." He shrugs, smiling another 'I'm-so-innocent-I-don't-even-know-the-spelling-of-the-word-'kiss',' smile.

I raise both brows, pursing my lips.

He then does something he's been doing ever since we were kids.

He zips his mouth and throws the invisible key away.

I grin once again, unable to control it.

He looks surprised, yet, quickly hides it.

"You know, I don't think I'll ever get used to this." He says, looking at me with something like fondness.

"Huh?"

"This," He gestures to me, "This bright-color-wearing, smiling Alpha, who freaks out over a date and giggles at my jokes." He shakes his head. "In my mind, you are the grumpy old lady, and I'm the ever-bubbly chocolate boy." He says seriously, tilting his head to the side with a frown.

What the fuck?

"Old lady?" I glare, "You!" My fingers fold into fists involuntarily and before I know it, I'm rushing forward. He anticipates my move, blocking it. "No!" He protests, trying to protect himself from a scorned Alpha as he grabs my hands by the wrists. I try to withdraw it from his grip, but he doesn't loosen, but, I don't give up either. I forcefully move my fists and hit him once or twice, before he gives up and lets my hands free, and hits me back as well.

It's a full-on fight now.

Beware, my Beta. You don't know what's in store for you.

❈ ❈ ❈

There's a soft knock on the door.

"Come...in..." I pant, trying to catch my breath.

The door swings open with a soft whine.

My sweet Mate's head full of platinum blond hair peeks in first, and then the cutest pair of big blue eyes follow. His full pink lips tilt down in a confused look, as he wrinkles his nose at us.

My heart skips a beat at the sight of him.

"Um, what's going on?" He asks uncertainly, observing me sprawled on the floor, and Ezra lying flat on his back a few feet away from me, breathing heavily just like me.

Yes. It was a tie.

"Um," I quickly sit up. "I'm sorry, I got carried away in a fight." I'm standing up now, dusting my pants.

Thankfully, my floor is too clean as always, so it doesn't dirty my clothes.

"Is...Is that make-up?!" Cage exclaims, and I look up to see him almost gaping in shock.

What's with all the shock today? Can't a girl wear make-up for Goddess' sake?

"Yeah," I acquiesce, trying not to be embarrassed by it.

"Oh." His lips pop open as they form a perfect 'O', his glasses that have slid on the bridge of his nose adding the perfect amount of cuteness to his already cute expression.

I blush.

"Don't..." Cage shakes his head, scanning me from head-to-toe.

"Don't what?"

"Don't change. I...I like you the way you are." He smiles adorably, his pale blue eyes, the color of the sky before sunrise, twinkles as he smiles.

I blush harder.

Fuck.

"I...Um, gimme five minutes!" I call and rush into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

A chorus of deep male laughter fills my ears before I close it, but I ignore them and run to the wash basin.

❈ ❈ ❈

I come out of the bathroom with my stride being a self-conscious one, feeling anxious. Cage and Ezra are sitting on the bed, laughing about something. They fall silent when I enter the room.

Hm..Something is wrong.

I ignore their weird behavior and walk to Cage, hoping that he likes my appearance now.

His face lights up when he sees me.

Just what I'd hoped for.

He grins that smile brighter than the sun, immediately assuring my doubtful self. His eyes travel from top to bottom, and I see the way they darken subtly with desire and soften and melt with a strong emotion that I've recently learned to pin as love.

Love.

The word itself sometimes sounds like a dream.

'Ahhh...I don't think I can wait till tonight.'

Yup, that's my Wolf.

'Shut up.'

'Why should I? Our Mate looks so fucking sexy, I just want to lick—'

'ENOUGH!'

'Okay...okay...(sigh) I'll stop,'

But she doesn't.

Instead, She sends a mental image of us throwing him against the wall and ravaging him.

'Ohhh mannnnn,' I moan, unable to resist.

'HA! I knew you couldn't resist! I win!' She almost does a mental happy dance.

'You winning, equals me winning, doofus.' I retort.

'Oh—'

"Alpha?" A hand is waving in front of my face, and I snap up to see Ezra smirking.

He clearly knows what's been running on my mind.

If only my Cage knew...

"Wow." Cage whispers and I grin.

"You don't want to know what I'm thinking," I comment, winking lasciviously.

He blushes, and I slowly step forward.

A cough makes me jump back.

I throw Ezra a dirty look. He smirks again.

"The ate hasn't begun yet." He shrugs.

"Ate? Oh, you mean, 'Date'? You left the 'D'."

He smirks. Again.

I cringe hard, realizing what he's about to tell now.

"Oh. Don't worry my Alpha. You'll get the 'D' later." He winks, laughing when Cage blushes tomato red at that.

Shit. I fell right into that one.

"Cage. Shall we move?" I ask, diverting the conversation.

"Y-Yeah." He blushes once again, when Ezra nudges him with his elbow playfully, waggling his brows and making kissing faces at him.

Darned Ezra.

Cage extends his arm and I loop mine through his, leaving the room. On my way out, I turn around and stick my tongue out at Ezra, who freezes in his place, looking stunned and frozen in shock.

'You're in for more surprises, my friend.' I call over the Telelink, saluting him with two fingers on my free hand.

He slowly raises his hand, saluting me back, as a slow, steady grin spreads across his face.

'Bring it on.' He smiles and I smile back.

Maybe I can love after all. Maybe, just maybe, I deserve it.

Just maybe.

❈ ❈ ❈