Hayden shakes his head. “No, there’s nothing wrong with being proud. Tell me about yourself, but fuck, be humble, don’t list things off like you expect me to beg you for your knot.”
I choke on my drink. “Dear goddess, I love how forward you are.”
“Do you?” His brown eyes sparkle. Right as I’m about to open my mouth, the server returns, handing me the check. I slide my credit card into the folder and hand it back to her. I don’t miss the way Hayden’s smile drops, or the look of disappointment that crosses his face.
Is he upset that I’m paying? Am I acting like all those other alphas, flaunting my money rather than being…humble? My lion roars, angry that we made our omega upset.
No, not our omega.
I specifically remember telling Hayden this was my treat, but maybe he forgot. ‘Or maybe he’s disappointed that our date is over,’my lion suggests. I glance over at Hayden, but he’s gathering his things and sliding his jacket on, covering all that smooth brown skin. There’s a deep frown on his face now, and my heart sinks.
I don’t want to be like those alphas he talked about. I want to prove to him that I’m different, that I enjoy his company, and that I want to get to know him. Fuck, what am I doing? This is my last day in town. But as soon as the thought comes to mind, I’m already finding excuses to come visit. To come back and see him. The city is only a few hours from my pack. I can visit him on the weekends.
My mother always said she expected I would fall in love with a shifter that isn’t a lion, like me, and I kind of believed it. But I never expected to be interested in a human.
Hayden stands, and it’s a little rude, considering my credit card is still with the server, but I don’t blame him. Not after all the stories of failed dates and alphaholes.
“How do you feel about dessert?” I blurt. Anything to get him to not walk away from me.
His head jerks up. “Dessert?” he asks hesitantly. Suddenly, my lion is raging again. Wanting to come forth and defend this pretty omega from all the men who treated him like an object. I make a silent vow to prove to this man that I see him. That I want to see all of him.
“I mean, sure. It’s my last night in the city, and I’m enjoying your company. Maybe you can show me the nightlife? Give me a reason to come back sooner?”
Hayden blinks, stunned. He collapses back into his seat like a puppet with its strings cut. “I’m not really in the mood to go dancing at a club or go bar hopping,” he says slowly.
I nod, agreeing. “Me either. That’s not what I meant by nightlife. Small-town boy here, remember? What I meant is maybe we can find a place to grab dessert. We can walk downtown and look at all the Christmas lights. I heard it’s pretty here at nighttime.”
“It is,” he replies, still sounding shocked. “Really pretty. This year is the last year they plan on lighting the wishing tree. It’s sad, really, and I was kind of hoping to see it one last time.”
“A wishing tree?” I ask, not quite sure what that means. The server returns, and I sign the receipt, placing my card back in my wallet and standing. I slide my peacoat on and wrap my scarf around my neck. Then, I hold my hand out, similar to the way Fergison did just two hours before. But unlike earlier, Hayden beams up at me with that breathtaking smile and places his hand in mine.
He tugs on my hand playfully, leading the way. I love that he isn’t timid with me. Hayden glances over his shoulder. “Let me show you. You’ll love it, and who knows, maybe one of your wishes will come true.”
As soon as we make it outside, the air is crisp on my face, and the sound of the city’s traffic surrounds us. But rather than being too cold or too loud, I feel awake. Or more accurately, the city makes me feel alive. But when I glance down at Hayden, I realize it’s not the city at all. It’s this little omega next to me, lighting me up like a Christmas tree.
Chapter three
Hayden
The twinkling lights illuminate our path. I’ve always dreamed of enjoying the city’s Christmas lights with an alpha, but I never dreamed of taking a stranger here. Though really, considering our talks and shared experiences, is Thorne truly a stranger? It sounds crazy, but it’s almost as if my inner omega is telling me I can trust this gorgeous man.
As if hearing my thoughts, he peers down at me with a sexy smirk.
“Hi,” I say, suddenly feeling shy. I must look ridiculous next to such a poised alpha. Thorne is in a nice suit and a peacoat. Meanwhile, my puffy black jacket has a bright blue hoodie attached to it, giving me a casual appearance.
“Hey,” he replies, reaching for my gloved hand and lacing our fingers. Despite the material between us, I can still feel his warmth.
My heart skips a beat. When I tugged on his hand in the restaurant, I could easily blame my hand holding on the fact that I was just showing him the way, butthis… this is intimate and romantic.
Thorne leans in close. “You’re blushing,” he says, tone laced with humor.
“Shut it, Alpha.” I tug on his hand. “It’s just around the corner. You’ll see.”
“So, tell me, what exactly is a wishing tree?”
“It’s like a normal Christmas tree decorated with lights and ornaments, but aside from all the baubles, the tree is decorated with strips of paper. Wishes people write down and hang on the tree, hoping they come true. They hold the event here in the town square with a few food trucks and hot chocolate stands.My mother used to take my brother and me here when we were younger. Since then, I’ve loved coming here every year to write out my wishes and hang them on the tree.”
“That’s actually really sweet.”
