Beastly

A blush rose to my cheeks and I cleared my throat as I tore my eyes away from him, looking out at the lake again.

"I never knew my parents." I said, hoping my voice came out strong enough "Frankly, the only parents that I've ever had are Ben and Maria. They taught me what it was to truly love and be loved, regardless of who you are."

"They are really important to you."

I laughed a little "I'd do anything for them. They really helped me through a lot and took care of me without even knowing me. It was because I met them that I got to become a ballet dancer."

"You really like it?"

"Like it? I love it! I started dancing when I came out of therapy. Of course, I wasn't fully recovered, so I guess dancing for me was what gardening was for you; a coping mechanism. Along the line though, it made me so happy that I decided to become a teacher."

I remembered how the little girls in the dance studio were always excited to come in every day. The sound of Cassie's voice as she encouraged them and the little moments that we would have snack breaks. I really did enjoy what my life was like.

"Things have changed and obviously, I can't do what I used to months ago, but I won't ever stop loving ballet." I said and turned to him with a big stupid smile on my face "It's kind of ironic how getting on stage to perform in front of people was a remedy to my anxiety."

"Not really. I think it's beautiful. Just like you." he said

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm just wondering."

"About?"

"If I was born to a normal family and had grown up a normal person..." he frowned a little, the clenching of his jaw visible "If I wasn't such a monster, would you have loved me enough for your eyes to light up the way they just did?"

My mind couldn't imagine Xander and I meeting in another circumstance. We had both been born into a world and a time that had dealt us difficult cards, made us do things normal people would never do and develop relationships destined by fate.

was lucky enough to have a redeeming moment that had saved me from my suffering. I wondered if Xander's redeeming moment had been the moment he had given the title of 'Alpha'. Then again, even years

feed me enough..." I started, smiling slightly "I might consider

bit before he started chuckling, probably not

are you? A

you! I'm not the one that does those

scowled, realising what I had

what Alexander? You were much

kept scowling at him, it was a rare sight to see

.............

chocolate cake was wonderful!" I gushed, for the thousandth time as we drove home. I heard Xander's small groan beside me and directed a glare at him "Don't you dare do that. It's

have a good time." he said and I could

Mainly because the food was so pleasing, I had ended up meeting the cook and asking her for recipes. Of course, she was not supposed to tell but because it was me, I was given access and had promised in excitement to not tell another soul. The chocolate cake was the nail on my coffin

out things about him that I never imagined could be true. Like the fact that his favourite food was Chicken Biryani or that he wished he could paint or the fact that he liked cats more than he liked puppies. The sheer amount of intimacy that had been built between us tonight was unexpected, but I welcomed it. There were no romantic feelings attached and I felt knowing more helped me to be

and only remembered halfway here. Xander had assured me it was alright and told

I said as we pulled into the driveway "You're not expecting me to

had finished speaking, he had come down from the car and I shook my head as he crossed over to my side and pulled the door open. I exited and let him shut the door behind me as I climbed up the steps to the front door. His footfalls were behind me as I pulled

his two

for tonight." I said, genuinely glad I had ended up going out with him "Even though

a few steps closer to

you dance with me?" he