Heart of the Unknown Alpha (5 page)

He ended up meeting Aryana at the bottom of the stairs. His wolf sighed loudly in his head.
Shut up. The woman has a husband and child somewhere, get over it.
He let out a big grin acting like nothing was wrong. “If you don’t mind I have reservations at a restaurant and I would like to take you to dinner to thank you for helping me. What do you say?”

Aryana, blinked. Sure she had heard wrong. “Do you just ask me to have dinner with you?” There was no way she had heard right. No guy had ever expressed interest in her except Scott and look how that had turned out. Besides ever since her life had imploded she hadn’t been interested in guys anyway.

“Sure did. I hate eating alone and since you saved my life I kinda feel like dinner is the least I can do to say thank you.”

              Aryana’s brow wrinkled in confusion. ”But the flowers…”

Darian cut her off before she could go farther. “Were because I wanted to. Dinner is to say thank you. No go get dressed. Something nice but casual”

              Confused and exhausted Aryana turned and climbed up the stairs to her room. She slipped on a cream lightweight sweater and a her favorite pale lavender skirt, slipping her feet into beige colored wedge sandals she pronounced herself ready to go. It was still warm enough out she wouldn’t need a coat.

Darian was sitting on the sofa when she came down the stairs. He rose quickly when he looked at her. She caught a quick glimpse of his green eyes before he lowered the sunglasses covering them. He gave her a small smile and nod before leading her out the door with a hand at the small of her back. Aryana wondered what he thought of her outfit. It was one of her favorites.  “So where are we going?”

              “It’s a surprise. It’s a great place though with fantastic food. I happen to know the owner and the chefs so we will be in good hands.”

              “Oh I see. Well I guess that is good then huh?”

              “Yeah it is.” Darian tried to coax a few questions out of his beautiful passenger. By the time they had gotten to the restaurant he found out that she was an only child like him. He also found out that he had been right, the older man with her in the picture on her desk was her father. He had passed away not long ago.  She did photographic and videography enhancement and editing for a living and enjoyed what she did.

Aryana’s eyes widened and she gaped as they pulled up to the restaurant parking lot.
Moonlight Sonata
read the sign out front. It was one of the best restaurants in the area. The Chef was rumored to be cordon bleu and having worked in the Queens palaces over in England. It was also one of the most expensive places with reservations being very difficult to get. She had been here only a few other times. All of them involving her former fiancé and his family.  Swallowing her nerves she let Darian help her from the vehicle. With luck her ex wouldn’t be here tonight and she could enjoy her meal.

Darian watched Aryana’s eyes grow wary at first, then a flicker of pain cross them before she brought down the shutters and buried whatever was going on in her head.  She gave him a small smile as he opened her door and helped her out. Sliding one hand to the small of her back as he guided her into the restaurant and tucked his glasses into his shirt pocket with the other.

Aryana was surprised when she walked into the restaurant and Darian greeted the maître’ de by name and they were quickly shown to a table slightly secluded from everyone else towards the side of the restaurant. Their table was situated right in front of large floor to ceiling windows with thick panes of glass that showed off the wooded lot behind the restaurant.

              The lighting was kept at a comfortable level and candles flickered gently on the table. The tables were spaced far enough apart to give a feeling of privacy while speaking without fear of being overheard.  With the crisp white linen table covers and deep chocolate napkins it spoke of the elegance and luxury that came with money.

Darian glanced around. He wasn’t too worried about Stephen trying anything here. Most the staff knew who he was and they were not about to let anything happen since they too, were pack. The chef was an old friend and he knew the food would be fabulous.

              A young wolf dressed in white shirt, black pants and tie came to get their drink order. Following Aryana’s lead he ordered a sweet tea and then proceeded to order them the spinach, lemon and artichoke dip with dark pumpernickel bread for an appetizer then the main course for both of them without looking at the menu. After the young waiter had hustled off to get their drinks he sat back and watched Aryana as she studied the restaurant. She was so beautiful and judging by her care of him at his most vulnerable she had a good heart, so where were her husband and child?

              Aryana looked around the restaurant mentally crossing her fingers that Scott wasn’t there. After scanning the entire room and not seeing him she turned her gaze out the window and studied the forest beyond.

Set a little ways into the woods it wasn’t really that secluded but it felt a continent away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the world. The sun had started to set and the view of the sky starting to turn a dusty blue then purple streaked with vibrant shades of orange, with hot pink and yellow, contrasted beautifully with the deep greens, browns and blacks of the trees outside. It was all very soothing and she felt herself begin to relax a tiny bit.

The waiter returned with their drinks and appetizer and waited while they both took sips of the tea and Darian sampled the appetizer. Being assured everything was to their satisfaction he silently left them as quickly as he had appeared.

They nibbled on their appetizer in comfortable silence for awhile. Darian seemed preoccupied and she didn’t want to intrude on his thoughts. So she let her mind go over her encounter with her new client and Tony’s suggestions about getting out more. While she didn’t really feel like trying again, and wasn’t sure she was even healed enough to, maybe she should try to get some kind of a social life again.  Maybe not dating exactly but at least she could try to make more friends. Ones that wouldn’t disappear when things got tough for her, not that there was even much left for things to get tough over.

So caught up in her own musings she only realized Darian was speaking to her when she caught the very tail end of a question he had asked. “Oh ah, sorry. What did you say?”

              Darian had to smile, she was just cute when she was caught off guard. “I asked what it is that you do for fun, besides swimming in a lake I mean.” He chuckled softly letting her know he was just teasing her on the last part.

              “Well, I used to do photography and I spent a lot of time outdoors, hiking, and just taking walks but I don’t really have the time anymore for that stuff. I work as much as I can now. It just keeps me to busy. How about you?”

              “I read, play a few video games on occasion, mostly I just love being outside and being active.  I cook when I have the time.”

              Their food arrived cutting off anything else he would have said. The appetizer dishes were quickly cleared away and their meals in front of them. Darian waited till after she had taken her first bite before continuing. “So where is your husband? Don’t tell my you’re the type that marries then lives totally separate lives in separate houses?”

              Aryana choked on her food. The question had been totally unexpected. She grabbed her tea and took a large sip of it to help her swallow, catching her breathe she looked at her plate and began toying with her knife handle. Very quietly, her eyes watering she replied “I don’t have a husband.”

              Darian watched as she was taken off guard with his question, it was not the reaction he had been expecting. When she had started to choke on her food he had almost panicked thinking he would have to leap across the table and perform the Heimlich. When he caught her soft reply he sat momentarily stunned.  His heart started to thud dully in his chest.
She wasn’t married? SHE WASN’T MARRIED!
As it sank in he felt his wolf grin and start prancing,
down boy, just cause she isn’t married doesn’t mean she isn’t taken.

“What about your boyfriend? Why isn’t her around?” Darian asked as he cut a large bite of tender steak and popped it into his mouth.  To his dismay Aryana stopped fidgeting with her silverware and seemed to lose all interest in her food a she put both her hands in her lap.

She stayed silent so long Darian though she wasn’t going to answer him. Just as she started to open her mouth the man from the pictures walked by their table, stopping when he saw them. The tall blonde on his arm slightly pouted at having been delayed from her promised meal.  The man turned to her and nodded for her to continue on, instructing her to order him a large whiskey on the rocks and to get herself a small white wine.

Darian’s wolf started a low growl in his ear. He could feel the hair on his neck stand up. Something wasn’t right about this guy but for Aryana’s sake he would be polite even though every instinct AND his wolf were telling him to rip the man’s throat out.

              Aryana’s eyes widened as Scott stopped at their table, the blonde being sent ahead to do as she was told. God had she ever been that way? Knowing how cutting Scott could be Aryana braced herself. She was not that same person now, she could handle this and give back as good as she was given. She held her tongue forcing Scott to make the first move. His gaze rove over her and Darian and their table taking in everything.

              “Well Aryana, never thought I would see you in here again. Looking, well, like you always did.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk “Trying to move up in the world again?”

              “Scott.” That was all she said one word. Her voice had an edge to it her eyes had gone chilly.

              “And who is this little companion of yours for the evening?” Darian watched this exchange as this Scott guy gave him an appraising glance and apparently found him lacking. “I would have thought you would try higher up the food chain this time around.”

              Darian watched as Aryana’s eyes narrowed slightly at the insult. His wolf was growling low and menacing in his ear, he could feel his fingers stiffen on the table. This was not going to be good.

              “Who I have dinner with is my business not yours Scott.  Your date should be your priority not standing here trying to be insulting while appearing like Mr. Congeniality.” Aryana felt the herself stiffen in her seat. This asshole had robbed her of EVERYTHING. He had caused more pain during her father’s illness and death then any person had a right to. He had shattered her spirit and her dreams of a future and now he was here trying to destroy any chance of normalcy she had regained.

              Scott leered at her “And you should know all about having priorities mixed up right darling? After all you’re the one who put a dying old senile waste of space before your future husband and responsibilities. Too worried about that dried up bastard  to pay any attention to your own wedding and fiancé. You never did have your head straight. I am glad he died when he did.  Made me see just how unfit you were to be a proper wife to me, a most undemanding and forgiving person, let alone anyone else.”

Aryana gasped and her eyes went huge at the mention of her beloved father and the insults that the man before her had just hurled.. Before she could form a reply Scott turned his focus back to Darian.

              “I am guessing you havent fucked her yet either. I mean why else would someone of your standing waste so much money bringing a person like her here?” turning his head back to Aryana he locked eyes with her before he continued “I mean that IS all she is good for is to play around with, always was and always will be a..” Scott paused as if looking for the right word, she say the malicious gleam in his eye as it sparkled “somewhat decent enough whore, who knows? Maybe you…”

Darian was out of his seat and had his hand grabbing the front of the other man’s shirt before Aryana could blink, cutting off the rest of Scotts sentence.  For a second she thought she saw Darian’s eyes glow. She watched stunned as suddenly about four of the male wait staff appeared and circled around the two men.

              Darian bent his head so  Scott was forced to look him straight in the eyes. False bravado and fear blatant in her ex’s face and gaze. Next Darian slowly bent his head and put his lips next to Scotts ear and whispered something she couldn’t hear. Slowly Darian pulled back and then released the man just as the maître de appeared behind the circle of men.

              Taking in the scene at a glance the maître de forced his way between the two men and stared at Scott with a bored expression on his face. “Sir, I am sorry but I must ask you to leave the premises. Moonlight Sonata is not a corner bar and as such we cannot allow our patrons to engage in this type of behavior.” He gave a stiff short nod to the waiter on Scotts left and the man grabbed Scott by the upper arm, prepared to drag him through the restaurant if need be.

              Scott shrugged off the hand and straightened his collar, smiling like he was the winner in this exchange. “Oh don’t worry, I  plan on leaving. I wouldn’t come back here if you paid me now that I know you let,” He looked at Aryana with a haughty look and sniffed as if in disgust “street corner workers in here.”

              Aryana’s eyes burned with tears of humiliation.  She watched with watery eyes as Scott was escorted out of the restaurant by the maître de and three of the waiters. They were followed shortly by the fourth waiter and the blonde who shot daggers at Aryana as she passed. Appetite lost Aryana just stared down at her plate and willed herself to not cry, to just hold it together until she was safely home and behind closed doors and curtains..