<h4>Chapter 565: Shouldn’t fall in your way</h4>


    Flora fastidiously separated the beans from the fried rice as Zander watched her with an amused smile.


    "I thought that peculiar habit of yours had finally faded," he remarked.


    She lifted her gaze to meet his. "Haven’t you heard the old proverb? Old habits die hard," she murmured, then began eating the bean-free fried rice with the scrambled egg. "If you’vee to receive my answer, then..."


    "I have an important meeting scheduled with Sage Nightshade, the director of yourpany. We’re coborating on a new drug development, and some researchers from the Red River Pack are being selected for the team. As an Alpha, Sage wanted to meet with me beforehand," Zander exined. "Since I was already in the area, I thought I would stop by to see you. It seems, however, you’re not particrly pleased to see me."


    Flora held his gaze for a moment longer than necessary before quietly resuming her meal. He, too, began eating the foodid out on the table.


    "I am always happy when I see you," Flora finally replied after a thoughtful pause. "You were the only one who gave me a chance, even after the many mistakes I made. When others in the pack began to bully me, you were the one who offered protection. It is an honor to have a person like you in my life."


    Zander smiled and pushed the bowl with meatballs toward her. "Eat this too. You appear too thin. I suppose you’re skipping your meals again."


    "No, I’m not," Flora replied. She picked one meatball from the bowl and took a bite. Chewing, she noticed Zander checking his phone. The serious expression on his face revealed that something urgent was happening. She lowered the half-eaten meatball onto her te and asked, "Is everything alright?"


    "Hmm." Zander refocused on finishing the food from his te, a slight distraction lingering in his eyes.


    "Don’t tell me you’re being forced to get a Luna," Flora said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.


    "Yes, they are." Zander lifted his gaze to meet hers, confirming her jest with surprising sincerity. "I have asked them to wait for some more time."


    Flora lowered her eyes, quickly finishing the fried rice. She then picked up the ss of water and took a few slow sips, collecting her thoughts.


    "I’ll pay for today’s meals," Flora stated while dabbing the napkin across her mouth. Zander was done eating too, and a waiter came to clear the table before cing the bill pad down. Flora quickly reached for her wallet when Zander stopped her with a hand on her wrist.


    "You don’t let me do anything else for you. At least, let me pay the dinner bills," he stated, gently but firmly stopping her. He slid the money into the pad and thanked the waiter for the lovely meal.


    As they both stepped out of the restaurant into the cool night air, Flora suddenly sneezed. Zander was quick to take off his muffler and wrapped it around Flora’s neck. The tip of her nose was red as she stared up at him.


    "Come, I’ll drop you home," Zander said, his gaze fixed on her.


    "Let’s go over there," Flora stated, pointing to their right, toward a dimly lit area.


    "What’s there? A park? It’s alreadyte. And you have to go to work tomorrow," he opined.


    "Tomorrow, I’ve to gote," Flora replied, pulling the muffler tighter around her neck. "But you may have to leave early in the morning. You don’t need to drop me home, I’ll go by myself."


    "I was a Beta before I became an Alpha. As a Beta, I have a habit of staying awake forte hours and waking up at early hours too," Zander exined to her with aforting smile. "Let’s go there." He grasped her hand gently, and the two crossed the road to head toward the park.


    Surprisingly, the park inner part was decorated withnterns and lights. And many couples could be taking strolls there, some even making out, though quite in the dark.


    "Why have wee here? It’s a ce for couples," Zander remarked, noticing the pairs scattered on the benches and pathways.


    "No. Normal people can walk too," Flora countered, refusing his im.


    "Are you sure? All I can see are couples here," Zander answered, gesturing subtly around them, "making out with each other, wrapped in pheromones."


    Flora frowned as she looked around herself, realizing what he said was undeniably true.


    "We shall head out then," she stated, her voice sounding a little too quick, keen to escape the suffocating atmosphere of romance and pheromones.


    "No. Now that we are here, we should walk until its other end," Zander asserted, again gently holding her hand and pulling her to continue down the path. "Why did you suggest for a walk, Flora?"


    "Because we ate, and I thought a little walk would be nice, seeing many people were here," she replied, offering a flimsy excuse.


    Zander squeezed her hand lightly, his gaze softening as he looked away from the couples and back at her. "I didn’t know once you be an Alpha, the rut could be so painful without a mate. I experienced a rutst month," Zander affirmed, a shadow of genuine difort passing over his features.


    "You need a mate for that usually. But if not, then suppressants are the way," Flora answered.


    "Yeah. I had to take shots, since it was my first experience," Zander replied. They were now far from the crowd and almost at the abandoned end of the park, which led to another isted road before meeting the main one.


    "Zander, are you sure I can give you everything you want?" Flora finally turned to look at him. "I mean, the stability to your pack. They know me. No matter what I do in present, my past will always be there. And everyone knows in the pack what I did. I don’t want you to suffer because of me. My share of pain and sufferings shouldn’t fall in your way," she pronounced.


    <strong>~~~~ </strong>


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