=Eloise=

I couldn't keep from smiling as Rocco kept a hold of my hand, the only time he actually let go of my hand was when we reached his bike.

"Here you go babe, gotta protect you at all costs, even if that means hiding your pretty face." He said as he held out his helmet toward me.

"And what about your pretty face...I kinda like it how it is."

He shrugged, I don't exactly need one as I can heal when I shift..." He filled me in "...but if it's important to you then I guess we can stop and you can pick one out after lunch."

I nodded and then took the helmet.

He got onto his bike first and I comfortably got on afterward, and as my arms went around him this time I felt the currents deep in my chest as I was pressed against his back (the feeling must've been drowned out the first night due to the excitement of the situation). He lifted one of my hands up to his mouth and then kissed the back of my hand before placing it back around his torso.

With the loud rumble of his bike we rolled down the street and this time I actually enjoyed the ride.

People on the street looked on as we drove passed them, and when we reached the restaurant he got off and then helped me off of the bike.

"Thank you." I said after removing his helmet.

He placed the helmet on the seat of his bike and then took my hand once again before he walked us inside.

The place was a quaint little bistro.

"Table for two." He said matter of factly.

"And will you be dining inside or outside Alpha Wylde?"

"I think outside will be fine...it's a nice day out." He smiled.

The hostess simply nodded her head, picked up two menus and then walked through the eatery and out the side to the outside dining area.

"Your waiter will be with you shortly."

I looked at the menu and decided on getting one of their signature sandwiches.

When the waitress came by I noticed she looked at me just a moment too long and it made me feel slightly uncomfortable.

"How may I help you today Miss...Alpha Wylde?" She asked with a polite smile.

I returned her smile with my own and placed my order first then Rocco did the same, after that I noticed that as people walked by they looked right over at us, some did double takes, and others outright stared at us.

"Rocco..."

He looked right at me.

"...is it just me or is everyone staring at us?"

He looked over at the sidewalk across from us, I followed his gaze and noticed the people who had been staring had begun to go on their way. "Sorry, they aren't exactly use to seeing me with a girl."

"Usually with guys?" I teased.

He smirked and rolled his eyes, "I'm trying to say I've never really been seen out with a girl before."

"So you've never had a girlfriend?" I asked skeptically.

He shook his head, "there's really no point when you're a Were."

"And sexual partners?"

At this I could see the shame in his eyes, "I wish I could tell you I've never been with anyone else-"

I reached out and grabbed his hand, "so long as your past stays in the past then I can't judge you on something I myself have also done with other guys."

"How many other guys?" He asked.

Of course I could tell he was fighting the urge to get mad. "Two, the first was a boy I had known since we were little, the other was a drunken mistake." I filled him in, "I don't want there to be any secrets between us Rocco."

He nodded in agreement.

When our food arrived we ate and talked easily, afterward he paid and took my hand as we exited the eatery. We left the bike parked after he decided he wanted to take his time and show me around his town.

As we walked along the sidewalks people we passed greeted us, some simply smiled as other sort of bowed their heads to show a sign of respect toward Rocco.

Rocco led me into a small athletics shop and once inside went straight to the helmets.

"This one's kinda cute." I said as I put on your typical bicycle helmet.

"Cute but not much protection for your face." He pointed out as he leaned down and openly kissed my lips.

I had to admit I adored how open he is with his affection toward me, like nothing in this world could keep him from hiding his feelings for me.

After trying a few full coverage helmets we finally agreed on one.

"Have I mentioned how much I like this jacket on you." He sounded after he paid (much to my protest). "It's very sexy My Heart."

My own heart raced as he called me his heart...a name I could definitely grow use to hearing.

"Come on, I said as I snaked out of his arms and took hold of his hand, "we've got to get you back to work My Alpha."

At this he growled and lifted me up, I wrapped my legs around his middle, my bag and new helmet on the ground as our mouths collided.

"Say it again My Heart."

"My Alpha." I said as seductively as I could.

I knew passerbys could fully see us making out in the middle of the sidewalk but neither of us really cared.

When we finally got back to his shop he walked me over to my car.

"This is crazy." I smiled.

"What?"

"This, us...it's just so easy being with you."

He let out a small chuckle before taking me into his arms once again, "and it always will be, you're my mate Eloise, nothing will ever be easier for me to be completely yours."

Then reality set in, "too bad it won't be so easy for us to actually be together...can you tell me why you and Dorian hate each other?"

At this he sighed and walked me toward a picnic table that sat near a bar-b-que pit. "In truth it's only Travers, uh...Dorian who hates me, I am defensive towards him because I know if I ever let my guard down around him he wouldn't hesitate to try and kill me."

I sat down quietly and listened on as he told me about his packs long standing grudge against the Travers.

"I know this is a weird history lesson of my pack but you've gotta understand the history before I can get into anything else." He sounded.

I nodded.

"My pack use to be run by a family called Whitfield, the Whitfield's were notorious for having son after son and so their familial linage was always strong, then one day the Newest Whitfield Alpha had a first born daughter...and females, while highly regarded in this pack, they can't exactly rule a pack the same way a male leader can...attempt after attempt and the Alpha's wife only ended up having five daughters."

My mind raced at the thought of having five children but Rocco simply went on with his story.

"When the eldest daughter became old enough she was married off to the first born son of the next most powerful family in the pack, the Wylde's." He smiled. "Luckily for the young couple, they just so happened to be mates...And so my great grandfather married into power and my great grandmother happily started a new alpha line in the Wylde name by having my grandfather and so my family went...but with the new power title of Alpha also came new responsibilities."

"But if you're the leader don't you make the rules?" I asked, echoing my same concern with Juliette about Dorian.

"You'd think that, and to an extent you are right...but certain things can't be changed unless you find a legitimate loophole, and one of those things that couldn't be changed is that a son of an Alpha is expected to marry a daughter of an Alpha to create the strongest offspring possible...so of course I was no exception to that rule and my parents arranged for me to be married to the daughter of a neighboring pack, daughter of Alpha Patrick Travers, sister of Dorian Travers."