My Step-Dad Is My Mate
Chapter 23

"Why did you take me here?" I asked Aiden as I glanced around thedark themed restaurant.

"What's wrong with it?" He asked and placed his menu down casuallywhile he flagged down a waiter.

"Aiden look around. This place is full of couples. I mean you could oftaken me to a Pizza place or something.”

It's true. This place is filled with couples. Holding hands, kissing,touching each other.

I don't even want to know what that couple in the corner is doing."Relax Danica. Most of these people are just friends like us."

"You suck all your friend's faces?" I asked with a raised brow and Aidenchuckled.

"Hello, good evening. May I take your order?" A young waitress saidsoftly while she stood by our table with a small notebook in hand."Aiden can we just leave?" I asked but he rolled his eyes at me thentook my hand.

"Come on. Just at least order something I worked hard to get areservation here.”

I sighed and turned to look at the waitress who looked slightlyuncomfortable. Her scent indicated to me she was human. Weird.

"I'l have a fried rice with chicken and steamed vegetables please. Ohand a slice of cookie cake.” The waitress wrote down my order while Istruggled to get my hand out of Aiden's but it's like he had my fingersin a death grip. What the hell is he doing?

"I'l have the steamed salmon.” He said and the waitress gave us both abrief nod then rushed off.

"Aiden." I called and he looked at me.

"Can you let my hand go?"

"Oh. I'm sorry." He chuckled nervously then released my hand and Ialmost sighed in relief.

"Danica!" A shrill voice yelled and I almost jumped out of my seat. "It'sbeen so long!"

I turned to see who it was and I think the entire restaurant did thesame.

It was llene. Wow what's she doing here?

"llene.” I plastered a fake smile on my face and got up to greet her. Shegave me a big hug then a kiss on both cheeks.

"I haven't seen you in forever! I see you have a date.” She said thenwiggled her brows at me.

"Oh no no. He's just my friend. Ilene this is-"

"Beta Aiden" She finished for me and I was kinda speechless for amoment.

"Alpha Ilene.” Aiden said and with the frown he wore on his face, it wasobvious he didn't like her.

"You never told me you had found your mate Aiden and you Danica!Never told me you were mated to a Beta.” lene exclaimed in what Ithink was to be a seductive tone.

"We aren't mates.” Aiden and I answered together and I could if sworethe tone of his voice was angry.

"Oh. What a shame. You two look cute together." Ilene said with ashrug.

"Why are you here Ilene?" I asked, hoping to change the conversation."Oh" she exclaimed and clapped her hands excitedly,” I'm meeting myfiancé here for dinner.”

"You know damn well he isn't marrying you." Aiden said while he took agulp of his water.

"Lord..." I mumbled and scratched my head awkwardly while Ileneglared at Aiden's head.

"Shut the hell up Aiden. You don't know what you're saying. Kadenloves me."

The mention of his name sparked my attention.

"Kaden?" I asked and Ilene nodded proudly.

"Yes. Alpha Kaden. He's my fiancé."

"The hell he is." Aiden coughed.

"Your orders..." The waitress came back with two covered plates inhand.

I won't lie, the thought of Kaden marrying Ilene bothered me....alot, Ijust don't know why.

"Danica, you still want to leave?" Aiden asked me and I nodded.

"Uh yeah..Let's go see the movie."

I grabbed my purse from the table and straightened my dressawkwardly.

"Oh why are you leaving?” Ilene asked and I held back a scowl.

“I'm not all that hungry plus I don't uh..want to miss the premier.Mocking Jay Part 2."

"Oh Em Gee! Hash Tag Hunger Games Fan! Maybe we'll meet up againlater. Bye babes.” She exclaimed then blew me a kiss but I'm justlooking at Ilene like she's something out of a Looney toon.

"Bye Ilene...” I gave her a quick wave then pulled Aiden.

"So you don't want your orders?" The waitress asked after being silentfor like the past 2 minutes, I forgot about her.

"Oh I'll take them. My date will be here any minute. Danica looks likeshe has good taste.” llene grabbed the plates then put them on thetable.

"I don't know how anyone can deal with her." Aiden sighed quietlywhile I was deep in thought.

"Is Your Alpha really marrying her?" I asked him but he gave me a halfshrug.

"Last I checked, he wasn't but we haven't spoken much about it latelyso I don't know.”

I don't know what it is but I hope he doesn't marry her.

Kaden's POV

I sighed and parked my car a few cars down from the restaurant I wassupposed to meet Ilene at.

Why am I doing this? I don't know but I just know I already don't like it.As soon as I stepped out of the car, I was slapped.

Slapped by the scent that's been torturing me for over a week now.

I eyed every person standing on the sidewalk or passing me by. How isit I always come by after the scent has gone?

I breathed in the strawberry aroma and it led straight to the restaurant.How ironic.

Please don't tell me it's llene.

Clearing my throat and fixing my tie, I strode into the building. Noteven 20 seconds in upon my entrance, I heard the loud cries that couldonly be Ilene calling me.

I made my way over to her, but my focus was on that scent...But it wasleading me straight to her.

"Kaden! I'm so glad you could make it." She screeched and I avoidedthe eyes of the people staring at us because of her loud self.

llene hugged me and I realized the scent was all over her but it wasn'thers. And it was all over the table.

I'm not going insane am 1?

"llene. Why do you smell like that?" I asked her and she looked at mefunny.

"Like what?

"Like....I don't know... Someone else."

She looked like she was thinking for a minute then she snapped herfingers.

"Oh well I saw my best friend and she hugged me so her scent musthave got on me-"

So llene is friends with whoever owns that scent.

"-and she was on a date with your Beta and -"

"Excuse me?" I asked her," Did you just say she was on a date withAiden?"

"Well she said it wasn't a date but come on, look at this place. It sowas." llene exclaimed then gave me an annoying laugh.

"Aren't we supposed to be planning our wedding?" Ilene said while shesat down and uncovered the two plates which were on the table. "Iordered for us.” She said and I eyed her suspiciously.

"You ordered this?" I pointed to the plates filled with the steaming foodand she nodded fervently.

"Now sit and eat, let's discuss who's going to be on our guest list.” Shesaid excitedly and I groaned.

"llene” I said and patted the back of her hand while I sat down. She isgoing to understand tonight that we are not and never will get married.Danica's POV

"Did you really have to buy the super large bucket?"

"Of course Dani. I'm a Big boy. I require a lot of food. Plus a certainsomeone made us miss dinner.”

"We could have stayed if you wanted." I said to Aiden as we entered themovie theater looking for a seat.

"Yeah we could of but Ilene gets under my skin. You have no idea." Hetold me then gave a fake shudder.

I giggled and took a sat in the back. Aiden sat next to me and alreadybegan munching on his popcorn.

"Pig much?" I punched his arm then bent down to undo my heels.These things are killing me.

"Do you have anything planned after the movie or are you bringing mehome after?"

Aiden didn't answer.

"Aiden?"

Still no answer.

I finally undid the other heel then sat upright.

"Hey why didn't you answer me?" I poked his arm but he only growled.What's the matter with him?

Aiden's eyes were glued to the theater entrance, at a girl who wasstaring right back at him with her arm linked to another guy's.

"Mine." Aiden growled lowly and I opened my eyes wide.

Oh shit.