Chapter 45. A Date With Vampire Prince I

Book:The Alpha's Ex-Mate Published:2024-11-6

*Selena*
Oh, Goddess! What had I gotten myself into? Agreeing to go to lunch with Prince Damon on impulse just to annoy Zander seemed like a brilliant idea at the time, but now I was freaking out. I barely knew anything about Prince Damon, and the thought of going to lunch with him was nerve-wracking.
Agh!
Sometimes I wished I could just bang my head against a rock instead of acting on impulse.
But whenever Zander was around, my brain seemed to shut down, and rational thinking went out the window.
As I had the entire day off, I thought I could focus on some work after this lunch debacle. It was just a lunch, right?! It would be over before I knew it, or maybe I could find a way to end it early or come up with a few good excuses.
Lost in my thoughts and planning an escape from this sudden date with the vampire prince, I was suddenly yanked to a corner, startling me out of my reverie.
“Emile, you scared me,” I huffed, recognizing her.
“It’s been a week since you joined this pack. When are you going to finish this task?” Emile asked with a disdainful expression on her face.
The task!
“Emile, you’re talking about the most impenetrable data system in the world. Hacking into it isn’t easy, and my last attempt was a near-disaster. But I’ve been working on my program, and it’s almost ready. Tonight, I’ll hack into Moonglow’s security system,” I declared with a hint of determination in my voice.
“Tonight?” she warned, her sharp gaze fixed on me.
“Tonight,” I assured her.
Emile left swiftly, ensuring no one spotted us together.
After retreating to my room, I took the time to prepare for this unexpected lunch. I settled on a sophisticated black midi dress that accentuated my figure, paired with elegant heels. A light touch of makeup enhanced my features, and I gathered my hair in a high ponytail.
As I returned to the hall, I noticed that everyone had dispersed to attend to their own tasks, and even Zander was nowhere to be found. However, to my surprise, the Vampire Prince was still there, waiting patiently for me. His presence commanded attention, and I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of nerves as he complimented me.
“You look beautiful, Arabella,” he said with a warm smile, extending his hand towards me. I chuckled softly and placed my hand in his.
“Ah, I was wondering why you hadn’t called me Arabella yet,” I teased.
He responded with a charming smirk, clearly enjoying the playful banter.
“So you want me to call you Arabella?” he inquired, and I quickly shook my head.
“No!” I gasped, my eyes widening. “I mean, I’ve heard the name Arabella from you many times before, and I was just curious to know more about her. So, tell me, Prince…” I began to ask, but he smoothly interrupted me.
“Damon,” he interjected, his eyes narrowing slightly as he corrected me. With that, he led me towards his car, an air of mystery surrounding him.
“Yes, I mean tell me, Damon, who is Arabella?” I asked, watching him intently, my curiosity piqued.
“I have told you that Arabella was a beautiful queen,” he shrugged, smiling.
“No, I want to know everything about her,” I insisted desperately.
“I will tell you everything about Arabella,” he replied, his tone playful and teasing. “But first, you have to have lunch with me.”
I rolled my eyes, unable to resist a smile. He was undeniably a flirt, and though I tried not to let it affect me, there was something about his charm that was difficult to ignore. I had heard about Vampire’s charm and now I could say they all were true.
He graciously opened the passenger door for me, assisting me in settling into the comfortable seat. With a gentle touch, he secured my safety belt, displaying a chivalrous side that I didn’t expect from a powerful vampire prince. As he closed the door and made his way to the driver’s seat, he skillfully inserted the key into the ignition, setting the car in motion towards our destination.
The car glided smoothly, and soon we arrived at a luxurious five-star hotel where Prince Damon was staying. I couldn’t help but eye him with suspicion, unsure of what this lunch date had in store.
He laughed, seemingly reading my thoughts.
“Don’t worry, I won’t take advantage of you after getting you drunk,” he said with a playful shrug.
“You can’t, because I don’t drink,” I lied, trying to gauge his reaction.
“Oh, my bad luck,” he sighed with mock regret, adding a playful touch to his remorseful tone.
Inside the hotel, he guided me to a pre-booked table, and as I looked around the opulent atmosphere and heard the soft music, memories of my first date with Zander flooded my mind. This place held sentimental value, reminding me of the time he had taken me here and even booked the entire hotel for our private time together. The realization that now people’s interest centered around Prince Damon being here with a girl, made me feel a pang of resentment.
I hated Zander. Yes, I hated him.
We were no longer mates, and he had already moved on and was about to get married. So why couldn’t I do the same? Why was I finding it so hard to let any man come close to me? It felt like a curse, being trapped in the aftermath of loving a cruel demon.