Chapter 92: Night Drive
Rosalie:
My fingers remained wrapped around Zaiden’s forearm for several long seconds before I finally realized what I had done. Heat immediately climbed into my cheeks, yet this time... I didn’t let go.
Zaiden had already stopped walking. Slowly, he turned back to face me, his gray eyes settling quietly on my face as though waiting for me to explain why I had stopped him. Unfortunately, I wasn’t entirely sure myself. My body had acted much faster than my brain.
I opened my mouth once, then closed it again before finally blurting out the very first idea that came to mind. "Let’s... go for a drive." The words left my lips so naturally that I almost convinced myself I had planned them all along.
However, judging by the slight lift of Zaiden’s eyebrows, he hadn’t expected that answer any more than I had.
"A drive?" he repeated, his deep voice carrying equal parts curiosity and surprise.
I nodded before my confidence had the chance to disappear. "Yes." My mind hurriedly caught up with my impulsive decision, and suddenly it didn’t seem strange anymore. Quite the opposite. It felt... right. "You came all the way here on your birthday just because you wanted to have dinner with me." My voice softened as I looked into his eyes. "I don’t know if I can make today special for you... but I’d like to try."
I instinctively glanced toward my wristwatch. It was only a few minutes before nine. There was still plenty of time left before the day ended. Looking back at him, I asked, "Did you bring your car?" When he gave a small nod, I smiled a little wider. "Then let’s go on a drive."
For the first time since I’d met him, Zaiden genuinely looked... uncertain. It wasn’t dramatic. Just the faintest hesitation crossing his usually unreadable face. I almost laughed at the discovery that even the powerful Rogue Alpha could occasionally be caught off guard.
Before he could question my sudden plan any further, I gently nudged him toward the entrance. "Go start the car," I said. "I’ll lock everything and be right there."
He studied me for another brief second before giving another quiet nod and obediently walking outside.
The moment he stepped onto the sidewalk, I hurried toward the partially lowered shutter and carefully peeked through one of the narrow gaps. My heart pounded while I searched the street for any familiar faces. Fortunately, Shadow Creek had already settled into its usual nighttime calm. A couple walked hand in hand several shops away, an elderly man slowly made his way home carrying groceries, and two teenagers rode bicycles down the opposite side of the road. None of them spared even a glance toward Zaiden as he crossed the street.
I silently thanked the Moon Goddess before finishing the closing routine as quickly as I could. The cash drawer was locked. The day’s earnings safely stored away. I slipped my phone into my backpack, switched off every remaining light, double-checked the front door, and finally locked it behind me. Taking one last glance at the bookstore that had become such an important part of my life, I smiled softly before making my way across the street.
Waiting beneath one of the streetlamps sat a simple black sedan. It wasn’t the luxury vehicle Zaiden normally used whenever I saw him around Eiden’s house. Instead, it looked wonderfully ordinary. Perfect for disappearing into traffic unnoticed.
I opened the passenger door before slipping inside. The familiar scent of leather mixed with Zaiden’s clean cologne quietly greeted me. Buckling my seatbelt, I turned toward him just as he rested both hands on the steering wheel.
"Where to?" he asked simply.
I looked through the windshield for a thoughtful moment before answering honestly. "Somewhere people won’t recognize you."
A tiny smile curved the corner of his lips. It wasn’t large or dramatic, yet seeing it appear because of something I had said somehow filled my chest with a quiet warmth.
Without another word, he started the engine. The peaceful hum of the car filled the silence as we slowly left Shadow Creek behind and the drive itself quickly became my favorite part of the evening.
Streetlights gradually disappeared behind us until rows of trees replaced buildings, followed by rolling hills and stretches of untouched forest. The air outside grew cooler, carrying the scent of pine and fresh earth through the slightly lowered windows. A gentle breeze danced through my hair, making several loose strands brush against my cheeks. Above us stretched an impossibly clear night sky where a half moon hung surrounded by countless stars. Away from the town, they seemed brighter somehow, almost close enough to touch. Soft music flowed quietly from the speakers, neither too loud nor too quiet, creating the perfect background to the comfortable silence settling between us.
Oddly enough... we didn’t need conversation. Not every silence demanded to be filled. Some silences simply existed to be shared.
Every now and then I found myself stealing tiny glances toward Zaiden. His attention remained fixed on the winding mountain roads ahead, one hand resting loosely against the steering wheel while the other occasionally shifted gears with effortless precision. The moonlight slipping through the windshield highlighted the sharp lines of his profile, softening the usually intimidating features just enough to make him appear... peaceful.
There was something strangely comforting about simply sitting beside him like this. No politics. No pack responsibilities. No conversations about revenge, training, or wolves. Just two people driving beneath a sky full of stars.
At one point, the back of my hand accidentally brushed against his where it rested near the gear shift. Neither of us pulled away immediately. The contact lasted no more than a heartbeat. Yet the mate bond instantly awakened between us, warm and familiar now after weeks of growing closer.
My wolf stirred contentedly inside me, sending a wave of quiet affection through our shared consciousness. I instinctively curled my fingers slightly before withdrawing my hand again, pretending to admire the scenery outside. From the corner of my eye, however, I noticed Zaiden’s thumb flex almost imperceptibly on the steering wheel. Neither of us acknowledged the moment.
Somehow, that made it feel even more significant.
Time slipped away unnoticed. Only when rows of unfamiliar buildings began replacing forests once again did I realize we had been driving for quite a while.
Curious, I turned toward him. "Where are we?"
Zaiden glanced briefly toward one of the roadside signs before answering. "A small town past our borders."
I frowned thoughtfully. "I don’t think I have ever heard of this town’s name before."
"You probably haven’t." His voice remained calm. "It’s one of the closest human towns outside Nightfang territory."
Understanding slowly dawned on me. "And no one here is likely to recognize you."
He gave a small nod.
Looking through the windshield, I spotted warm lights spilling from little cafés, family-owned restaurants, and cozy shops lining the quiet streets. This was my first time visiting a human town.
Turning back toward him, I pointed farther down the road. "Let’s find somewhere to park. And then..." I smiled, feeling unexpectedly excited by my own spontaneous plan, "...let’s find ourselves a cozy diner and celebrate your birthday with dinner."
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