Chapter 6 The Date That Wasn't A Date

Celeste had survived rogue attacks, political negotiations, and a pack of rabid toddlers at a Luna's blessing ceremony, but, none of that could even compare to the sheer torture of getting ready for this so-called "date" with Hunter Blackwood.

How could it even be called a date. This wasn't a date. It was a pure hostage situation. There was just no other way, m that was the only way to describe it.

Celeste scowled at herself in the mirror as she finished pulling her hair into a casually high ponytail. "It's not like I care. It's not like this means anything."

Luna, her wolf, on the other hand, was practically vibrating. "DATE. MATE. EXCITEMENT. LOVE."

Celeste pointed at her reflection. "We do not love him."

Luna's tail wagged, and Celeste growled. "Betrayal."

By the time she stormed downstairs, she found Hunter leaning against the front door, looking annoyingly handsome.

Celeste narrowed her eyes. "You're wearing a shirt."

Hunter grinned. "Surprised?"

"A little." She eyed his black t-shirt and fitted jeans. "But also relieved. At least I don't have to spend the entire night dodging comments about your abs."

Hunter smirked. "You don't have to dodge anything, mate. You can look all you want."

Celeste sighed aggressively.

Hunter held out his hand. "Ready?"

Celeste crossed her arms. "Where are we going?"

Hunter's grin widened. "You'll see."

Celeste did not like surprises, and she especially did not like Hunter-shaped surprises, but she didn't plan on backing out either, so, instead, she huffed and followed him.

Fifteen minutes later, Celeste found herself standing in front of an old, abandoned bowling alley.

She blinked. "Are we... breaking in?"

Hunter chuckled. "No, Alpha Law-Abiding Citizen. I had it open just for us."

Celeste turned to him. "You... rented out an entire bowling alley?"

Hunter shrugged. "I figured if we were gonna have a date, it should be something fun."

Celeste narrowed her eyes. "Fun. This man was up to something."

But before she could accuse him of plotting, Hunter grabbed her wrist and tugged her inside.

Celeste crossed her arms as she stared at the lanes. "Just so we're clear, I'm terrible at bowling."

Hunter smirked. "I'll go easy on you."

Celeste snorted. "You say that now, but if I win, I expect free breakfasts for a month."

Hunter chuckled. "Fine. But if I win?" He leaned in. "I get another date."

Celeste's stomach did a weird flip, and she blamed the Moon Goddess.

"Fine," she muttered. "Prepare to lose."

The game started off disastrously, for both of them.

Celeste threw her first ball with too much force, launching it into the gutter, while Hunter tried to show off by bowling backwards., and you can imagine that that did not go well.

By the fifth round, they were tied at complete mediocrity.

"This is embarrassing," Celeste muttered.

Hunter chuckled. "Speak for yourself. I think I'm doing great."

"You're losing."

Hunter grinned. "But I look good doing it."

Celeste threw a bowling pin at him.

Somewhere in the middle of the game, Celeste started to actually have fun.

Hunter, who was always so annoyingly competitive and completely ridiculous, was actually making her laugh.

Between his dramatic victory dances (despite knocking down only two pins) and his unnecessary commentary ("Watch and learn, mate, this is how a real Alpha bowls. Gutter ball."), Celeste found herself relaxing.

Relaxing with Hunter was kind of dangerous because relaxing led to liking him, and liking him led to things she was NOT prepared for, especially considering the fact that he was actually kind of charming, or that he kept glancing at her like she was the only person in the room.

Worst of all, was, that her wolf was melting into a lovesick puddle every time he smiled.

Luna sighed dreamily. "MATE. LOVE. FATE."

Celeste picked up her bowling ball and seriously considered dropping it on her own foot.

By the final round, Hunter was only two points ahead.

Celeste narrowed her eyes. "One shot left."

Hunter grinned. "Pressure getting to you?"

Celeste took a deep breath, focused, and threw the ball. It rolled straight down the lane and knocked over every single pin.

It's was the perfect strike. Celeste froze, and Hunter stared.

Then, the entire alley erupted into victory music, confetti cannons firing from the ceiling.

Celeste jumped. "What the hell?!"

Hunter winced. "Okay, so... maybe I had them set up a celebration in case you won."

Celeste turned to him, wide-eyed. "You thought I'd win?"

Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. "I was hoping."

Celeste blinked, and her heart did something stupid.

Before she could process the sheer ridiculousness of the moment, Hunter took a step forward, and suddenly, they were way too close.

Celeste swallowed. "Hunter..."

Hunter's gaze dropped to her lips, Celeste's wolf howled, and Celeste's brain short-circuited.

For one terrifying, exhilarating second, she thought he was going to kiss her, and she thought she wanted him to.

But something always has to go wrong. The fire alarm went off. A deafening siren filled the alley, and sprinklers exploded to life.

Celeste screamed, and Hunter cursed.

Within seconds, they were completely drenched.

Celeste wiped her face, glaring. "What. Just. Happened."

Hunter, blinking through the water, muttered, "I thin the confetti cannons may have set off the alarm."

Celeste stared at him and burst out laughing.

Hunter grinned. "What?"

"This is the worst date ever."

Hunter chuckled. "But you're having fun."

Celeste, still soaking wet, sighed. "Unfortunately."

Hunter smirked. "So... another date?"

Celeste shook her head. She was in so much trouble.

A few minutes later, Celeste and Hunter stood outside the bowling alley, still soaked to the bone.

Celeste crossed her arms, shivering slightly. "This is your fault."

Hunter raised an eyebrow. "My fault? I didn't tell the confetti cannons to go rogue."

Celeste glared. "You set them up!"

Hunter smirked. "Because I believed in you."

Celeste's brain short-circuited. "That is not a defence."

Hunter chuckled. "It worked though, didn't it?"

Celeste groaned, running a hand through her wet hair. "You are so infuriating."

Hunter grinned. "And yet, you had fun."

Celeste hesitated. She wanted to deny it, to mock him, to pretend this hadn't been one of the best nights she'd had in a very long time.

But lying to herself was exhausting, so instead, she sighed. "Maybe...a little."

Hunter tilted his head, studying her. For the first time all night, his usual teasing smirk faded into something softer, something almost dangerous.

Celeste's chest tightened. "No. No, no, no. I can not, I will not fall for him. This can't happen."

Just because her wolf was in love didn't mean she had to be.

Before Hunter could say something that might make her heart do something stupid, she turned away.

"I'm going home."

Hunter chuckled. "Need a ride?"

Celeste scoffed. "Absolutely not."

Hunter smirked. "What if I promise to keep my hands to myself?"

Celeste snorted. "You'd combust on impact."

Hunter laughed. "Fair."

Celeste took a step toward her car but paused when Hunter called after her, "So, when's our next date?"

Celeste spun around. "Excuse me?"

Hunter gave her a lazy grin. "We had a deal, mate. You won. I owe you a month of breakfast." He took a step closer. "But I still think we need a tiebreaker."

Celeste narrowed her eyes. "A tiebreaker."

Hunter shrugged. "We both lost that fight on the training grounds."

Celeste groaned. "That does not mean-"

Hunter winked. "See you soon, sweetheart."

Then, before she could argue, he shifted into his wolf and sprinted off into the night.

Celeste stood there, fuming, while Luna howled in joy.