The Beauty and the Beast (1st book of Fantasy Series)

Chapter 45- Belle's POV

I grabbed the edge of my dress and pulled it up before I started to walk down the stairs toward my cousin and my mate. My heart pounded hard in my chest while I walked towards them, feeling very nervous and excited.

My cousin smiled and bowed before he turned and walked away, leaving the king and I alone.

"Hello, Belle," Reif said when I made it down the steps, and I smiled and looked up at him. He bowed and cleared his throat while he looked at me. "You came."

I bit back a small chuckle while I curtsied, looking down just a bit. "Your Majesty," I said. "Of course, I came. I told you that I would go on a date with you."

Reif bit back a small smile and relief filled his eyes. "You look beautiful," he said softly, and I bit back a small smile.

"Thank you," I said and moved my hand across my skirt. "You do not look bad yourself."

And he didn't. His fur had been cut, and he didn't look as scraggly as he had been in the past few months. His eyes were bright and filled with compassion and peace, and my heart grew warm while I looked at him.

"I also like the bow tie." I bit back a small chuckle while I moved closer to him. "Even though it is a little crooked." I moved it to the side slightly before I pulled away and placed my hands behind my back.

Reif flicked his ears back to the side of his head and grimaced, and he looked bashful. "We tried to make it work," he said. "However, it didn't."

I bit back a small chuckle while I slowly nodded. "Would you like me to fix it?" I asked while I raised an eyebrow in question.

"Please," Reif said with a nod. "I would appreciate that a lot."

I smiled and nodded while I pulled it off from around his neck. "Whoever did it, did as good of a job as they could do, due to certain circumstances." I started to fix it for him while Reif stood still and waited patiently.

"There," I said and smoothed out his bow tie before I moved my hands back to my side. "Now, it is all fixed." I looked at him and smiled, and he smiled again.

Reif tried to look down to look at it but couldn't see it before he looked at me. "Thank you, Belle," he said before he cleared his throat and stood taller. "I appreciate it."

I smiled and nodded. "Of course," I said and cleared my throat. My cheeks turned slightly red, and I shifted on my feet while I looked away from him. "Now, what is the plan?" I asked before I looked at him again.

"Would you like to eat now?" he asked and raised an eyebrow in question. "Or would you like to do something else before we eat? I don't mind whatever you decide. We c-"

"Why don't we eat first and then we can think of something?" I asked while I bit back a small chuckle. "You haven't taken me to the rest of the kingdom yet, or the outside part of it, at least."

Reif furrowed his brows and slowly blinked in confusion. He didn't say a word while he looked at me, and I could tell that he was confused because I had been to most places outside already but by myself.

I offered him a small smile and dipped my head closer to my chest. "I would enjoy your company in exploring your lands, Your Majesty," I said, not even trying to call him by his name.

Reif playfully scowled and narrowed his eyes. "Reif," he said, teasingly. "Haven't I insisted on you calling me Reif?" he asked and raised an eyebrow in question.

I bit back a small chuckle and nodded. "I know," I said. "However, it felt better to call you "Your Majesty," in that situation."

Reif chuckled before he cleared his throat and bowed. "Ok, Your Highness," he said, and my heart skipped a beat before my cheeks turned slightly red. "Shall we go ahead and go see what they cooked for us?" he asked and raised an eyebrow in question while he held out his hand for me to take.

I smiled and slowly nodded while I took his hand. "We shall," I said, and Reif's shoulders sagged with relief. I bit back a small chuckle and raised an eyebrow in question. "What?" I asked amused. "Did you think I would have said no?"

Reif looked away and cleared his throat, tucking his tail underneath his body. His ears were tucked close to his head, and for some reason, I could tell that he was bashful. "I did," he confirmed while he nodded.

I bit back a small chuckle while I slowly nodded. "Well, come on," I said. "Let's go see what they have cooked for us."

Reif nodded and started to walk to the dining room, leading me that way. "We are the only ones eating in the dining room," he said. "Everyone else has eaten or will eat later."

I frowned while I furrowed my brows, concerned about the pack. "Bu-"

"They'll be fine, Belle," Reif said, interrupting me. He bit back a small chuckle while he squeezed my hand reassuringly. "They don't want to be a bother to us, Belle," he said softly and interrupted me again when I opened my mouth again.

I closed my mouth before I cleared my throat. "But they wouldn't be," I said and shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper. "If they need to eat th-"

"Then they will eat. There is still the kitchen that they can eat in if they want to," he said interrupting me. "They can also eat outside. There is a spot there. They will be fine, Belle. They will eat and have a place to eat."

I bit the inside of my lip while I slowly nodded and furrowed my brows. "If you are sure..." I said, and Reif chuckled and slowly nodded.

"I am," he confirmed before he cleared his throat and looked bashful. "They wanted us to eat alone as well. They are happy that we are on this date as much as I hope you are..." There was a small bit of hope in his voice while he looked at me before he looked away, growing nervous.

I bit back a small chuckle and slowly nodded, my cheeks turning red. "I am," I confirmed. "I am happy to be on this date with you."

My heart ached a little, and for a split second, I felt sad and slightly guilty before I tried to mask it and smiled, even though I knew it was a little fake.

Reif seemed to catch on my emotion change and looked at me with furrowed brows. Concert filled his eyes while he studied me, and I could tell that he was worried. "Are you ok, Belle?" he asked, concerned. "What is it?"

I smiled sadly and shook my head. "It's nothing," I said before I cleared my throat and looked away from him to compose myself before I was able to look at him again with a small smile on my face. "Why don't we enjoy this date, ya?"

Reif frowned and slowly blinked, unamused. "Then will you tell me what happened?" he asked while he raised an eyebrow in question. "Please?"

I bit back a small sigh before I slowly nodded, deciding that I should go ahead and tell him. "Tomorrow," I said, my voice barely above a whisper while I looked at him and gave him a hesitant smile. "I will tell you tomorrow. I promise."

Reif scowled and narrowed his eyes, and I could tell that he didn't want to wait until tomorrow. "I want to know sooner than that, Belle," he said, his voice firm.

I bit back a small sigh before I shook my head, deciding that it would be best not to argue with him. "Then can we talk later tonight?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "After the date, please?"

He hesitated. "But you will tell me, yes?" he asked and raised an eyebrow in question, and I offered him a small smile before I slowly nodded.

"Yes," I said. "I will tell you after the date, but please don't let this ruin the date between us, please?"

Reif bit back a low sigh before he slowly nodded, relenting. "Yes," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I will not let it affect our date." He squeezed my hand, and I offered him a small smile. "I promise."

I breathed a sigh of relief and slowly nodded, thanking the Moon Goddess for not letting him pressure me before our date. "And that is all that I ask, Reif," I said, my voice barely above a whisper before I cleared my throat and squeezed my hand. "That is all that I ask."