"You look amazing," Fen told me once I stepped out of the bathroom.

His arms snaked around my waist and he kissed the area of my neck where his mark would eventually lay, causing me to shiver.

"You look pretty amazing yourself," I said, my eyes trailing over him appreciatively.

I'd heard the stories about Fen when he used to be a gamma—the polished look, the way he used to command a room with his presence—but I'd never seen it firsthand until today. Seeing him like this now, dressed to the nines, made my breath catch in my throat. The sleek black shirt hugged his frame in all the right places, and the tailored pants completed the look perfectly.

He looked effortlessly stunning, and it almost made me feel bad, knowing I'd likely be undoing all that hard work tonight. Almost.

"If you'd stop touching me, I would be," I scolded but there was still a smile on my face. "If you keep it up, I'm going to drag you back to the room and we won't go anywhere."

He laughed at that, his hand brushing lightly against my cheek before he leaned in for a quick kiss. "Patience," he whispered, his lips brushing mine. "Tonight, we're doing things right."

I couldn't help but grin at his words, though the lingering heat from his touch made it difficult to think straight. "Doing things right, huh?" I teased, my voice betraying the excitement bubbling inside me.

Fen stepped back slightly, his eyes sparkling with a mix of affection and something more primal. "That's right. I owe you a proper night out, and I plan on making it perfect."

I laughed softly. "You're setting the bar pretty high, you know."

He smirked, his confidence shining through. "I like a challenge."

Before I could say anything else, he grabbed my hand and led me out the door. As we made our way down to the car.

"So where are you taking me?" I asked as he took the car keys out of his pocket.

My car keys. It was safe to say that many warnings were given about what would happen if he damaged my vehicle.

"It's a surprise," he reminded me as he pulled out of the driveway and started on the road.

"Give me a hint."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because it's more fun this way," Fen replied with a grin, his eyes flicking over to me before returning to the road.

I groaned in mock frustration, slumping back in my seat. "You know I hate surprises."

"I know," he said, his grin widening. "That's why I'm doing it."

I shot him a look, but the truth was, I was more excited than annoyed. Fen had a way of keeping things interesting, and even though I was itching to know where we were going, the mystery of it all made the evening feel even more special.

"Fine," I conceded with a sigh, though a smile played at the corners of my lips. "But this better be worth all the suspense."

"It will be," Fen promised, his tone softening just a touch. He reached over, resting his hand on my knee, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Tonight's for us, and I want it to be something you'll never forget."

That sent a rush of warmth through me, and I found myself leaning into his touch without even realizing it. There was something about his words, the way he said them, that made me realize this night wasn't just about a nice dinner or a date. This was something more, something that felt like a turning point for us.

The drive didn't take too long, and soon enough, Fen pulled up to a place I didn't recognize—a small, cozy-looking restaurant tucked away on a quiet street. The lights were dimmed just right, giving it an intimate feel, and there were only a few other cars in the lot.

He parked and shot me a quick glance, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Ready?"

I raised an eyebrow as I took in the restaurant. "This is where you're taking me?"

"Trust me," he said, already getting out of the car to come around and open my door for me which had me playfully rolling my eyes, but I accepted his cute gesture nonetheless.

The second my feet hit the pavement, I took his offered hand, feeling that familiar spark between us as I followed him inside. The restaurant was even more charming than it looked from the outside—warm, and inviting, with soft music playing in the background.

Fen asked, his voice close to my ear as we were seated. "I considered taking you to one of those 'fancy' restaurants in the center of town, but it didn't feel right. Not to mention, you've probably been there before, right?"

He wasn't wrong. I'd been to most mainstream places in Oakwood either with friends, on a few dates, or just because I wanted to treat myself, so him going out of his way to find a place I hadn't gone was nice.

"You're right."

"Do you like it?" He asked with eyes that reminded me of a puppy waiting for a treat.

I gave him a small smile, appreciating the thought he'd put into it. "I love it."

Fen's face lit up at my words, the small hint of uncertainty fading from his eyes. He squeezed my hand lightly across the table, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my skin. "Good," he said softly as if my approval meant everything to him.

As we settled into the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant, a waiter came by to take our drink orders. Most of the other customers around us had wine, but I opted against ordering it, knowing who my mate was. The last thing I wanted was for him to be drunk on our date, no matter how amusing and adorable he could be. I wanted us to both enjoy and remember the night.

After the waiter left, Fen leaned back slightly, his gaze locked on me. "So, how's it feel? A proper date with no interruptions, no distractions?"

I chuckled, swirling the water in my glass. "It feels... nice. Like we actually get to be normal for once."

Fen's grin widened. "Normal, huh? I don't think anyone's ever called me that before."

"Well, I didn't say you were normal," I teased, giving him a playful nudge with my foot under the table. "I just meant this... this feels right."

"I'm glad we got here," Fen admitted. "There was a time when I didn't know if you and I would ever be together so I'm glad I was wrong."

"Me too," I said softly, my gaze meeting his. "It's been a long road to get here, hasn't it?"

Fen nodded, his eyes holding mine. "Yeah, but it was worth every step."

For a moment, we just sat there, the soft hum of the restaurant around us fading into the background. It was like time slowed down, and all that mattered was the two of us, sitting across from each other, basking in the reality of what we'd become. There was a peace between us that I hadn't known I needed until now.

"I know I can be a lot," Fen added, his voice low and sincere. "But I want you to know that I don't take any of this for granted. Not you, not us. You mean everything to me, Cronan."

I blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. It wasn't often that Fen let his guard down this much, and seeing this vulnerable side of him made my heart swell.

"You mean everything to me too, Fen," I said, reaching out to take his hand. "And for what it's worth, I don't think you're 'a lot.' I think you're exactly what I need. If you're a lot then I am too. There's not many people who would've stuck around for as long as you have."

A slow, genuine smile spread across his face. "You really know how to get to me, you know that?"

I laughed lightly, squeezing his hand. "I try."

Fen smiled, his thumb tracing circles on my hand as he seemed to mull something over. "You know," he started, his tone thoughtful, "I've been thinking about what you said before. About maybe working at a restaurant."

I looked at him, curious. "Yeah?"

He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I think I could be good at it. Maybe even work as a chef. I mean, I enjoy cooking when I get the chance, and it's something I could see myself doing long-term. Plus, it would give us some stability."

I grinned, the idea of Fen in a kitchen, wielding knives and ingredients with the same precision he once did as a gamma, amusing me. "I can definitely see it. You'd probably be one of those chefs who runs the kitchen like a drill sergeant, though."

Fen laughed at that, shaking his head. "Maybe. But I think I'd enjoy it. And I'd get to come home and cook for you, too."

I leaned back in my seat, letting the thought sink in. The idea of Fen finding a new passion, something that could ground him after everything, felt nice. "I think you'd make a great chef," I said, sincerity in my voice. "And I'd love to be your taste tester."

He smirked. "Good. I'll need someone to try all my experiments."

I chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Deal. But I'll expect nothing less than gourmet meals."

"Of course," Fen replied, playfully bowing his head. "Only the best for you."

"Well, while you're whipping up gourmet dishes, I'll probably have to start looking for something myself."

Fen raised an eyebrow. "You thinking of getting back into the job hunt?"

"Yeah," I admitted. "It's time. I can't just sit around forever. I need to start figuring out what my next move is."

I knew my mate well enough to know that he'd advocate for me not working if that's what I wanted, not to mention I still had money from my grandparents, but I didn't like the idea. I wanted to have something to do during the days, especially with Fen being out of the house more now. Dad had been wrong about a lot of things, but he was right about one: it was time for me to find a job again. The question was just what that job would be.

Fen nodded thoughtfully, his gaze softening as he studied me. "You'll find something, Cronan. You've got more skills than you give yourself credit for." He leaned in a little, his tone light but sincere. "Besides, you're not the type to just sit around, and I know that drives you nuts. You'll figure it out."

I chuckled softly, appreciating his support. "Yeah, I guess I just don't know what I want to do yet. I mean, I know I don't want to go back to anything too corporate, but there's got to be something out there."

Fen nodded, his eyes narrowing in thought as he considered my words. "You ever thought about starting something of your own? I could see you running your own business."

That idea hadn't really crossed my mind, but hearing Fen say it with such certainty made me pause. "Maybe. I don't know what it'd be, though. I'm not exactly the entrepreneurial type."

"You don't have to have it all figured out yet," Fen said, squeezing my hand. "We've got time. Just take it slow, and when the right thing comes along, you'll know."

I smiled at his words just as our drinks arrived and we ordered our food. Fen ordered a grilled salmon with a side of roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. The salmon was perfectly seared, with a golden crust, and the vegetables—zucchini, carrots, and bell peppers—were lightly seasoned. I, on the other hand, got a medium-rare steak, seared to a golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside. It was served with a side of roasted potatoes and garlic-buttered green beans.

Both our orders arrived fairly quickly which was another point on the board for Fen. I knew when I planned our next date, I'd have to pick a place that was just as amazing.

"You really went all out, didn't you?" I asked, taking a bite of the perfectly cooked steak.

Fen shrugged, though his pleased smile betrayed him. "You deserve it. I wanted to give you a night that was about us—something different, something memorable."

"Well, you've certainly succeeded," I said with a grin. "And I'm going to make sure you remember it too when I inevitably ruin that outfit later."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You really are something, you know that?"

"I try."

His smile didn't fade and I hoped it never would. Never again.

AN:

We're almost there! I thought about doing a more "exciting" date scene for these two, but after everything, it made more sense for them to have a relaxed date. Especially with what the next chapter is lol.