Although she couldn''tpare to Analise, Vera was still far ahead of most others.
Besides, as the eldest daughter of the Khielson family, her pride and magnanimity wouldn''t allow her to be petty.
At this moment, Vera figured that Analise''s slight difort or reluctance to be pulled along likely stemmed from being too used to solitude, perhaps fromcking friends in the past.
Vera was beginning to understand why Analise always seemed to keep a certain distance between them.
"Let''s go. I''ve already made the reservation. They''ll start serving once we''re seated." Vera smiled and took the male driver''s hand, waiting for Analise to enter The Harmonique with them.
Once inside, they headed straight to a private dining room Vera had booked in advance. Once seated, the wait staff immediately started serving their dishes.
Vera chatted casually with Analise as they ate, talking about the everyday matters in the Stormw Alliance. She also brought up how Scott had saved her during the previous Vexoth invasion.
She didn''t feel embarrassed talking about her past attempts at pursuing Scott. She was quite open about it with Analise.
By the end of the meal, Analise more or less understood Vera''s intentions.
Vera really did just want to be friends. She wasn''t trying topete for her man. As for Fiy and the other male, they both had that devoted husband energy, subtlypeting over who could take better care of their female.
Each kept refilling Vera''s and Analise''s respective tes and topping off their water, trying to show just how attentive they could be to their mate.
In the end, Fiy lost.
Why? Because that other male casually revealed the tattoo on his left wrist. Fiy nearly bent the utensils in his hand.
"Ana, can we go shopping again tomorrow?" Fiy pulled Analise aside after the meal, pouting and begging. "I want to hurry up and form a contract with you as soon as I can."
"The Interster Contract Bureau is right on Golden Street," he said, shaking her hand gently. "Ana... please?"
"Ms. Khielson is still here." Analise pinched the meat of his palm and said sternly, "You can''t even wait one more day? If you keep acting like this might just make you wait longer."
Fiy looked even more aggrieved, but he didn''t dare argue.
"Ms. Chamber, your male partner is even clingier and more spoiled than mine. How did you train him so
well? Vera suddenly asked,
Wbbing Analise''s arm.
Analise froze and nced around in rm.
"Did she just ask that out loud in front of everyone without even pulling me aside?"
she thought in a panic.
"What''s wrong?" Vera began to feel nervous after seeing Analise ncing around anxiously. "Is something off?"
She instinctively tensed up,
wondering if another therian unde et
control had infiltrated t
area Was Analise''s sensing ability
really that sharp?
"It... It''s nothing." Analise awkwardly rubbed her nose. "He''s just like that. Dogs love to act spoiled."
"But... Isn''t he a wolf therian?" Vera eyed Finaly''s ears, suddenly unsure.
"He is." Analise nodded. "But wolves and dogs are canines. They''re simr enough."
"Oh..." Vera didn''t really get the logic, but she nodded thoughtfully.
They wandered around Golden Street for a while. Both Analise and Vera picked
out a few outfits, and they even exchanged gifts.
Vera had spent a long time choosing something, had it wrapped, and gifted it to Analise as a celebration of their new friendship.
Analise politely reciprocated by buying her a gift in return.
Now that she was sure Vera had no hidden agenda, Analise felt she could genuinely treat her as a friend.
After an afternoon of shopping, Vera dropped Analise off at Scott''s vi. Before leaving, she reminded Analise to hang out with her more often.
"Greetings, Ms. Chamber."
Just as Analise stepped into the vi, a male she didn''t recognize came forward. There was a bit of soil clinging to his hands.