Ch. 9 Summer Love Pt. 1

Rolling out of bed the next morning I had a bit of a pep in my step. My heart felt a bit lighter than it had in a long time. I knew it was because of Tate, but I knew I still had to be careful. Mate or not I wanted to guard myself, I knew what his father wanted and honestly, I didn't know if I could survive falling for him just to be rejected. As must as I wanted to distance myself I couldn't, there was this magnetic pull that was dragging me toward Tate that I knew I was not strong enough to withstand.

I had a week left until my summer course started with the Red Cross to get my LNA certification, after this week I would not have as much time to be able to get things in order for when I left in the fall to attend Medical School, so I was determined that I was going to get a few of the things knocked off of my list, but first I was headed to the gym. It had been a few days since I had been there, and I knew I was going to catch flack from John.

As I walked into the gym, pulling my earphones out I heard, "Well, well, well... Look who finally decided to show up."

"Oh, don't give me any of your shit John. I can miss a day here and there."

"Yeah, not without me putting your through your paces for it."

"Ok. Ok. John you win!" I said throwing my hands up in the air and bowing my head. After 3 hours of intense training I had had enough.

"Ha! What are you wimping out on me? Thought you were tougher than that." He baited.

"You know what, fine, lets go again." After one more match I was officially done. John had made me work every muscle in my body 10 times over. I will say it felt good and provided me a lot of focus, but there was still somewhere else that I wanted to be. Just then my phone pinged.

I ran home as fast as I could. Thinking to myself, 20 minutes? I can do this. I made it home in record time, thankfully that morning I had showered and shaved, so I really, just needed a quick wash off after my workout. Hurrying in the shower, I washed my hair using my favored apple blossom shampoo and conditioner. Mhmmm.. I love the smell of apples! Jumping out of the shower I just threw on a pair of black skinny jeans, a cute flowy top with white flowers, and a pair of my black booties. Running a brush through my hair and quickly drying it I think threw it up into a messy bun. Quickly adding lip gloss and mascara to my face, I looked in the mirror.

Done! Perfect! Don't need him thinking I am trying to hard. I thought to myself.

Grrr... you should want our Mate to want us. You should want to look nice for them. My wolf growled at me. I should have known that I was never allowed to have an inner monologue without her input.

Well, either way trying or not I think I look cute. I snarked back at Lily, she just huffed at me.

Mate is here! Mate is here! She was getting all excited.

Before I could make it out of my room, there was a knock at the door.

"Allison, someone is here." My mother said. "Can you go get the door?"

"Yes, Mom!" I hollered toward her room. I walked down the hallway and out into our small living room to the front door. Just as Tate was about to knock again, I flung the door open, "Hey."

Tate was standing there is true Adonis fashion, looking chiseled and drool worthy as ever. I was ogling him, but I didn't care. That was until he reached up to my face and using his index finger on my bottom jaw he pushed up. "I know I am sexy, but you almost had a little drool."

"I did not!" I stated firmly coming out of my trance. "You are such a shit ya know!"

"Obviously one you don't mind staring at." He stated.

"Whatever! So where are we go..." I started to say but was interrupted.

"Allison, who is here?" My mother hollered weakly down the hall.

"Just a friend from school. I am gonna go out for a bit." I said toward the hallway so my mother could hear me.

"Alright, dear."

Turning back to Tate, I stepped out the front door, closing it behind me. "So where to, Mr. Alpha?"

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Tate

I wanted to take Ally out somewhere I knew that we would be less likely to be bothered. No Alpha duties, no hassles from people we knew. I wanted it to just be us. But I also didn't want to tell her what we were doing, "It's a surprise." I said with a wink.

Rolling her eyes at me, I opened the door of my truck for her, so she could climb in. "You know I am capable of opening a door for myself" she said as she climbed in. Ignoring her comment, I closed the truck door after she was safely seated and walked around the back of my truck to the driver's side door.

As we drove down the road, we fell into a comfortable silence, neither of us feeling the need to speak, we were both content to just be near each other. And honestly, my wolf was making it hard to concentrate anyway.

"Mate! Mate! I cannot believe that we are with her! This is the best night ever."

"Seriously Knox? You are being annoying!" I commented to him. "Could you act more like a love-sick puppy dog?" That comment had him growling at me, just like I knew it would. "You need to chill out, before you scare her."

"She's not scared, Lily is just as excited as I am."

Realizing that Lily must be her wolf, I shook my head at myself. It bothered me that Knox and Lily were communicating without Allison and I knowing it. Just one of those fun wolfy things that we were going to have to deal with. I wish that Knox would just be happy being with her and stop trying to push things, especially since he knew that we had a time limit.

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Allison

We had been driving for about a half hour when I couldn't handle the silence anymore. It wasn't that it was an awkward silence, it was just that Lily refused to leave me alone! She wanted to come out and be with 'her mate' as she was so nicely putting it. So, I was having to constantly struggle against her and needed a distraction so she would back off.

Tate had his right arm resting on the arm rest beside him, so I reached over and just set my left hand on his arm. Instantly there was a warming sensation that traveled from my fingers up my arm causing me to shudder. "So..." I timidly started, "Are you ever going to tell me where we are going?"

"What would be the fun in that?" He chided.

"I am not really one for surprises. I like to know what is going on."

"Well, we are just going to have to change that. Surprises are fun, they give us something to look forward to." He said with a smile. Oh, that smile was magnificent, I could look at that every moment of the day, it just made my heart happy. A few minutes later, we pulled into a field with cars parked all around. "We're here."

Looking around I realized where he had brought us, "Watson County Fair? This is awesome! I haven't been to a fair in years!" I said, I knew that there was wonder in my eyes. "You have done good, Tate. This was a good surprise." I smiled. "Let's go!"

"What do you want to do first? This is all about you. Take me where you will." Tate said, grabbing my hand. There were those warm tingles again.

"Umm...Fried dough, games, rides. I want all of it!" I said really fast, tugging Tate toward the midway.

The first stop that we made was to the midway games, where the carnies were all shouting to the guests, trying to get them to come to their games. "Hey there pretty lady," one of the carnies said as Tate and I were walking closer, Tate let out a slight growl, but I just squeezed his hand. He instantly relaxed, but he was staring down the guy at the booth. "Tell your boyfriend that you want to play! 1 play for $3 or 2 for $5." I looked at Tate, he shrugged his shoulders and next thing I knew we were sitting at one of those water games where you had to race the other people to top by shooting water into the mouth of a clown.

3 other people sat down at the game with us, but I was not interested in actually playing, as the game started with a pop of the music, Tate was focused on winning. I on the other hand turned my water gun on Tate, as the water first hit him, I could see the shock on his face. Next thing I knew his water gun was turned to me. I jumped up from the game and took off, Tate not far behind me.

"You know that was not very nice." He said as he grabbed me, pulling me into his arms.

"I don't know what you are talking about?" I said feigning innocence.

"Yeah, I am sure you don't." He said grinning at me. "Come on next game, lets get you a stuffed animal."

After a couple of hours, walking through the fair I now had 2 stuffed animals, one of which was a large purple unicorn, that I have named Magic. We have stuffed our faces with fair food and the night was starting to wind down.

"Hey, let's do one last ride before we leave." Tate said. I just nodded my head and he pulled me toward the Ferris Wheel. I was hesitant about Ferris Wheels, I never liked the thought of being stuck up at the top. But being stuck anywhere Tate was going I was good with.

As the Ferris Wheel climbed to the top, the view was breath taking, "Beautiful," I whispered.

"I couldn't agree more." Tate whispered into my ear.

I turned my face, only a mere inch from his face I looked deep in his eyes, "Could you be anymore cliché?" I questioned.

"Oh, you have no idea." And before I could do anything, Tate's lips were on mine. His silky, soft lips were kissing me, and I wanted more. Him sensing this, he put the palm of his hand on the back of my head, wrapping his fingers in my hair and pulling me impossibly closer.

This moment was heaven, I think I must have died and gone to heaven, because I knew I was in love. Completely and utterly in love with Tate Blackwell. I knew that there was no going back now, so I just fully gave into the moment, to my feelings, because there was no where else that I wanted to be, no one else I wanted to be with.

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A/N

A bit of a longer chapter, this is where things are going to start getting better. Their relationship is going to start growing.

What are your thoughts? I see that the story is gaining views, but still no comments. I really would love to hear what you all think so far.