Your Boyfriend, My Mate

. Seventeen .

"There you are" I smiled as I watched Chanel gracefully saunter into the room, "I was just about to go and find you." I spoke, but as I said it I couldn't help but take note of her posture.

Her head was held high and her shoulders were back, her pretty face appeared stony but her eyes were lost in thought. Something was definitely going on with her.

"Everything alright?"

My words seemed to shake her from whatever she was thinking about and she offered me a soft smile as she came over and linked her arm with mine. "I'm fine now...where's lover boy?"

I rolled my eyes at her silly nickname for Cesare. "He went to inform the cooks that dinner is about to start."

"Then we should probably make our way to the dining room." She acknowledged.

"If you would do me the honor Ms Addams," a deep voice sounded from behind us. We turned to find Cesare's uncle smiling right at us, or rather right at Chanel.

She sneered at him, "Evalina and I are perfectly capable of seeing ourselves into the dining room."

"To that I have no doubts pussycat, but what kind of host would I be if I allowed such lovely women to be unescorted into the dining room."

Chanel seemed to huff indignantly, as an outsider looking in I could clearly see that these two were too alike to get along, at least I don't have to worry about them messing around...all of Chanel's love affairs got south quickly and end messily.

"The cook said the food should be getting to the table in less than five minutes." Cesare announced as came over to my side, "shall we head to the dining room?"

I took his hand and looked at Chanel, she sighed before giving me the fakest smile ever and nodded her consent for me to go with Cesare.

As Cesare led me out of the room I couldn't help but hear Luca's cocky words "How about it Pussycat?"

But if I knew my friend well enough I knew she wouldn't take his arm, and as Cesare held my chair out for me I found that I was right, Chanel stomped into the room, and ever the gentleman, Cesare went and helped her into her chair as he had done with me.

She kindly offered him a soft smile of thanks before it turned into an obvious grimace full of loathing as Luca confidently took his seat at the head of the table, the seat right across from Chanel who took the opposite head chair.

I noticed the way he looked at her, something about her actions seemed to egg him on, he even went so far as to boldly wink at her, Chanel merely looked away from him and struck up a conversation with Cesare.

"So Evalina, Cesare tells me you two are mates." Luca sounded casually as one of the servers began pouring wine.

I turned in my seat slightly to give him my full attention. "That's right" I smiled.

"And how do you think his parents will react when they find out?"

"I'm not quite sure, while his parents are lovely people I have a feeling that his father will be less than enthusiastic than his mother."

He chuckled a little "that sounds about right." He admitted, "my apologizes Evalina, nothing against you personally, it's just that my older brother only likes what another person can bring to the table, and Giovanni has always been obsessed with power."

"Sounds like my older sister."

Once more he laughed, "seems you and I have more in common than one would initially think little one."

He took a sip of his wine and I mocked his action, the thick liquid was chilled and bitterly sweet, it wasn't bad but it wasn't great...then again I'm no wine expert.

"They should never underestimate the younger siblings" he said much more seriously now. "We may be younger but that only means we are more driven because we have a lot more to prove."

I couldn't believe that I found myself agreeing with him. In this moment he didn't seem like the same guy who was picking on Chanel merely minutes ago.

When the food came out the conversations died down momentarily. Everyone enjoyed the savory foods and then Luca began the conversations once more.

"Addams...Chanel Addams, such a common last name." Luca sounded suddenly. "Tell me Ms Addams, what pack do you hail from?"

Chanel literally looked like she could very well murder Luca for putting her on the spot. But when she noticed Cesare and I looking at her she blushed deeply, the action foreign on my normally brazen friend.

"Oh, uh, it's not too far from here." She half heartedly answered, never once liking up from her plate.

"Really?" Luca pressed, then went silent, I looked over at him and he seemed to be thinking hard about something, then his mouth fell open a bit, "New Jersey?"

Chanel sighed and before nodding her head yes.

"Short Hills...you wouldn't happen to be related to Alpha Garland Addams would you?"

At that Chanel snapped her head up and glared at him, she looked like she wanted to tell Luca off for prying but she held her tongue, "you want to do this, fine." She said throwing down her napkin onto her plate.

I knew dinner was over.

"Yes...My name is Chanel Richmond-Addams I am the only child of Alpha Garland and Whitney Addams..." She stated before looking over at me in an apologetic sort of way, I gave her a small smile, not entirely sure what she had to feel bad about.

"Now what about you Don Heartbreaker, oh excuse me I meant Alpha Minicci, is it true that you have had just about every unmated girl within a fifty mile radius in your bed at one time or another?" She asked.

I might have thought it a valid question, but she didn't stop there.

"Your poor mate," she added, "I couldn't possibly imagine being with a man who so willingly gives himself to women whose names he doesn't even bother remembering."

This time it was Luca's turn to respond.

He wiped the corners of his mouth with the pristinely white cloth napkin before calmly placing it down next to his plate, he slowly stood up. "I do not pretend to be anything other than who I am." He stated, but it was clear he was speaking directly to Chanel. "As for my mate, I know she will be my equal in everyway, looks, smarts, and rebellion, I don't expect her to like the life that I've lived before her, but I would hope that as my mate she could learn to accept me as I am and know that I am willing to grow WITH her and accept her for who she is and all that she may have done as well."

The two stared at each other for a moment, the longer it lasted the more awkward it got. I looked over at Cesare and he looked at me slightly confused himself.

"W-we should probably get going." I voiced a little unsure before standing up.

Cesare walked Chanel and I to the front door, Luca had all but disappeared in a room by the front door, he had slammed the door behind him, clearly stating he wished to be alone.

"I'm sorry that the evening didn't go as planned" Cesare sighed, "Luca is usually a lot more nonchalant about most things, and Chanel I'm sorry if he caused you any offense."

She shook her head, "I think we both acted out unreasonably...more so me." She sounded. I looked over at her and she seemed unwell all of a sudden.

Cesare helped her into the car and it left us alone once more.

"I wanted tonight to go so much better than it did" he sighed.

I couldn't help but reach up and touch his cheek, "we can't let what happened tonight effect us" I smiled, "can I see you tomorrow?"

I knew I was being a bit bolder than I normally am.

At this he smiled, "I'll be here until Sunday" then he pulled out his phone. "What's you're number?"

I quickly gave it to him the number to the cellphone Chanel and I share and then let myself into the car. As the car drove away from the house I watched Cesare kiss his fingers and wave me away.