The lost mate

Chapter 130: A Date

Chris and Emily sat at a cosy corner table in the dimly lit restaurant, the soft glow of candles flickering between them. The sounds of clinking glasses and quiet conversation filled the air, but for them, the world outside seemed distant, like background noise in their private bubble.

Chris leant back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he spoke, his tone serious but calm. "There’s been trouble in the council," he said, his eyes locking onto Emily’s. "Jackson’s influence, the disputes about territory... it’s all been getting worse. And then there’s Jessica."

Emily tilted her head, her brow furrowing slightly. "Jessica? What about her?"

Chris hesitated for a moment, as if weighing how much he should share. "She’s living with the pack now. "

He had explained everything that had been going on in the pack.

Emily grumbled. "That bitch ! Anne must be going through a lot. After everything with Damien... She trailed off, her eyes softening with concern.

"Yeah," Chris nodded, his expression thoughtful. "She’s got her own agenda. Always does."

Emily’s eyes flickered with worry, but she forced a small smile. "Still, Anne’s strong. She’ll get through it. Right?"

Chris reached across the table, his hand covering hers. "You okay?" he asked gently.

Emily looked up at him, her smile faltering for a second. "Yeah, I’m fine," she replied, though her gaze drifted slightly, as if her thoughts were elsewhere. "It’s just... everything with Anne. I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s going through so much, and I feel like I should be there for her. I need to be with her, you know?"

Chris nodded, understanding. "I get it. But she’s stronger than she looks, Em. She’s dealing with it in her own way."

"I know, but..." Emily sighed, leaning back in her chair. "It feels wrong to just sit here enjoying ourselves while she’s hurting. She’s my friend, Chris. She’s been there for me, and now I feel like I’m letting her down when she needs me the most."

He squeezed her hand, his expression softening. "You’re not letting her down. You being there for her in spirit matters more than you think. Besides, once we’re mated, you’ll officially be part of the pack. You’ll be there for her and for everyone else, just like you’ve always wanted."

Emily blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his words. "When we’re mated," she echoed quietly, as if she hadn’t fully absorbed the reality of it before. "So I’ll really be... like you?"

Chris smiled, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "Yeah. You’ll be one of us. Part of the pack, in every way."

Emily bit her lip, her gaze dropping to the table for a moment before she looked up at him again, her eyes filled with curiosity—and a hint of fear. "What’s it like, Chris? To turn into a werewolf?"

Chris’s smile faded slightly as he considered her question. His face grew more serious, his voice low and thoughtful. "The first time... it’s painful," he admitted. "Really painful, actually. Your body’s not used to it, and the shift feels like your bones are being pulled apart and put back together at the same time. It’s intense."

Emily’s eyes widened, her stomach twisting slightly at the description. She had always known that the transformation was something profound, something that would change her forever, but hearing it described like that, it sounded terrifying.

"But," Chris continued, his gaze steady on hers, "after that first change, it gets easier. Your body adapts. You start to feel the power inside you, and you learn how to control it. You won’t be alone in it, Emily. I’ll be there, guiding you through every step. And the pack will be there too. It’s part of the bond we share."

Emily exhaled slowly, processing his words. "It sounds... scary," she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Chris nodded. "It is. The first time is always the hardest. But after that, it becomes a part of you. You’ll feel the strength of the wolf inside you, and once you’ve embraced it, you won’t be scared anymore. You’ll understand it."

Emily stared at him, her mind racing. She trusted Chris more than anyone, but the thought of going through that kind of pain, of becoming something other than human, made her heart pound with uncertainty.

"Will I still be... me?" she asked quietly, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "Or will I lose myself?"

Chris’s expression softened, and he leant forward, cupping her face gently in his hands. "You’ll always be you, Emily. The wolf doesn’t take away who you are—it just enhances it. You’ll be stronger, faster, and more connected to the pack, to me. But you won’t lose yourself. I promise you that."

Emily felt a rush of warmth at his words, the fear easing slightly as she looked into his eyes. She trusted him—completely. And while the idea of becoming a werewolf still terrified her, the thought of doing it with Chris by her side made it seem less daunting.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice steadying as she met his gaze. "I trust you."

Chris smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "You’ll be amazing," he murmured. "And I’ll be with you every step of the way."

Chris pulled the car to a stop in front of Emily’s house, the headlights cutting through the dark street. Chris smiled at Emily, his hand resting gently on hers as he shifted in his seat.

"I had a really great time tonight," Emily said softly, her eyes gleaming in the dim light from the dashboard.

Chris leant in, his gaze locking onto hers. "Me too," he whispered, and before either of them could say another word, he kissed her—softly at first, then more deeply, savouring the warmth and comfort of the moment. Emily melted into the kiss, her hand coming up to rest on his cheek, as if she wanted to hold onto the connection for just a little longer.

They finally pulled apart. Chris brushed a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead gently.

"I’ll see you tomorrow?" he asked, his voice warm with promise.

"Definitely," Emily replied, her smile widening.

As she reached for the door handle and stepped out of the car, Chris leant back, watching her with a soft expression. But something in his peripheral vision made him freeze. Movement. At first, he thought it was just the shadows playing tricks on him, but then he saw it clearly—someone was coming out of Emily’s house.

His body tensed, his senses sharpening immediately. Emily turned to follow his gaze, and they both stood there, their hearts beating faster as a tall figure emerged from the doorway, stepping out into the light.

Alpha Richard.