Marabella

Ten Years Later

Sixteen Years Old

“I need to go see Mr. Bates after lunch,” Eziah tells me as we eat lunch with his friends. I say this because they aren’t mine. No, they are good pretenders. High-paid Hollywood actors, no one could tell apart from a bully. A wolf in sheep’s skin, literally.

They always are at the top of their roles when my brother is around. I gave up trying to tell him they hate me a long time ago. I tried to tell him that he should just have lunch by himself without me around so many times, but he never listens.

He can’t see the way they treat me when no one is looking. They know Eziah will blow up at them, so they make sure only to be outright mean to me when he isn’t near.

I have no one to back me up unless Eziah is around, and they know that. Yeah, I am just that monster they all hate.. And while they claim I am the monster and deserve this

- they are the true monsters. They are the shadows; the demons hiding in them, that attack me when I least expect.

I quickly pack my lunch away and move to follow my brother. “I will come with you,” I perk up. The last thing I want is to be stuck with all these fake people here, alone, without him.

Picking up my lunch tray, I stand up, about to follow him. Eziah shakes his head. “I won’t be gone long. I don’t need you to hold my hand,” he says jokingly, a smile on his face.

He takes my tray from my hand and sets it back down on the table. Nervously, I stare at his friends, who are watching me.

“Yeah, don’t be silly Marabella, you don’t have to leave just because your brother is,” one of them states, and I have to force down the lump that forms in my throat.

“See?” Eziah chuckles, and I reluctantly sit back down. “I will be back. Then, we can head to English together,” Eziah tells me.

He waves to his friends, and just as I expected, the moment he is out of sight, they all get up, sneering at me, moving to a different table. “Freak!” One spits at me.

I mask the hurt as another knocks my drink onto my half-eaten sandwich before he walks away. They treat me like I am a deadly plague, one they don’t want to risk catching.

I suck up the hurt and focus back on my lunch. Or at least the parts that aren’t ruined and try to ignore the stares I can feel on me. I can hear the cruel and hurtful whispers.

My appetite is suddenly gone, and I get up, dump my tray on the stack and walk out. I head for the library and nearly walk in when I spot Alicia through the glass doors. She is talking excitedly to someone. Yeah, I can’t go in there now.

Sighing, I glance around, debating where to go before giving up and going to the one place I always go to. I watch as groups of students talk and muck around; the sight makes me feel more alone.

Nothing is more lonely than being alone, while surrounded by an audience to witness the loneliness you feel, yet the ones you love and are closest to are blind to see it.

I would settle for anything, even my wolf.

I can’t wait for that day to come. My brother has his wolf already. Mom said I will have to wait until I’m eighteen. It seems unfair; but at least then, I will have a friend, someone to talk to, someone who will get me, and hopefully, who knows I’m not a monster.

Sighing heavily, I let the library door go before going to my other hiding spot. I really need to find a new one. Pushing the bathroom door open, I listen for any voices, then quickly walk to the far cubicle.

Slipping inside, I lock the door. Pushing the toilet lid down, I sit down. Grabbing my bag off my shoulder, I pull my phone from the front pocket out.

My heart skips a beat and I smile to myself when I see I have a text from Jonah. I am in the middle of replying when my phone rings in my hand. I can’t help the smile that splits onto my face when I see Jonah’s picture pop up on my phone screen.

“Hey, Jonah,” I whisper the greeting.

“There’s my favorite person. Why didn’t you write back? Are you going to come with me?” he asks.

“I thought Kyan was your favorite person,” I chuckle.

He pauses for a second. “He is my best friend, not my favorite person; that spot is reserved for you,” he tells me, and I can’t help the way my cheeks heat at his words. Gosh, I am pathetic.

He is my cousin, well, not technically. We are not blood related. He is adopted, even so, it is kind of weird, and he is twenty-two, and sees me as his geeky cousin - the way he should see me. But it doesn’t stop my cheeks from heating or me from smiling like an idiot.

“So, are you going to answer or continue to stay silent? I already rang your mother; she said it was fine,” Jonah asks me, and I sigh. The bell saves me from answering as it signals the next class.

“Who’s going to be there?” I ask him hesitantly.

“Just Kyan and the usual crowd,” he tells me.

“Kyan will be there?” I ask, knowing his friend does not like me. He just glares; I have no idea why he hates me, but he is always so hostile toward me.

It’s not like I haven’t tried to get along with him, it’s just every time I try he shrugs me off or dismisses me. He took an instant dislike to me the moment I met him.

It has been three years since I last saw him and I wouldn’t mind continuing on like that for a few more years. My stomach drops. If I say yes, I will have to face him since he will be there. His presence always makes me feel uneasy and unwanted.

“I have an English assignment due on Monday, so I really don’t think I can,” I tell him. Unlocking the cubicle door, I peer out to make sure no one is there. As I see no one, I rush out of the girl’s bathroom.

“Come on, it will be fun, and your mother already okayed it. Live a little,” he tells me as I step into the hall, only to run directly into Alicia.

She flicks her blonde hair over her shoulder and shoves me away, glaring at me. Her foundation is a shade darker than her skin, making an orange ring around her neck. She really needs to get some makeup tips.

She steps closer and I back away, only she shoves me, and my back smashes against the brick wall. I barely manage to stop myself from dropping the phone.

“Watch it, skank,” she spits at me before walking off.

I watch her leave, snapping out of my thoughts when Jonah’s voice comes through the phone.

“Hey, is everything alright?” Jonah asks, worry clear in his voice.

“Huh, yeah, just some girl speaking to another; she wasn’t talking to me,” I lie while I adjust my bag on my shoulder. I didn’t need him to worry unnecessarily. Besides, it is nothing I’m not used to by now.

“I should go; I am late for class,” I tell him.

“Wait, you never answered,” Jonah says, and I quickly hang up the phone. Then, I send him a rushed text to tell him that I am too busy and need to do some fake homework.

Walking to class, Eziah walks around the corner up ahead and throws his arms in the air. “Where have you been? Everyone said you left. I’ve been looking for you.”

“I had to use the bathroom,” I tell him as he loops his arm through mine.

Eziah leads us to our English class, rattling on about something Marley did. It is apparent he has a crush on her, and I listen silently, despite her being one of Alicia’s besties and one of my biggest tormentors.

I don’t have the heart to tell him how nasty she is to me. He will be an Alpha one day, and he needs to get along with the rest of the pack. And I don't want to make his life harder for him. I know how much of a burden I already am on my family. I want to just blend into the shadows, and I’m glad dad is giving the pack to him.

I have no intention of staying here after I finish school. Nope, once I have my wolf, we are going rogue and finding some forest in which to be free. Free from everyone, free from the whispers, the stares, and the bullying.

I can’t wait until I get my wolf. I won’t need anyone then because I will have her.

The day slips by quickly, and before I know it, school has finished and the bell rings.

Walking out of class, Eziah walks beside me. “I am going to head to Marley’s; you will be alright to head home by yourself?” he asks, and I look at him.

“You’re not coming home first?” I ask, trying to keep the unease out of my voice. Eziah doesn’t need to know how bloody terrified I am of catching the bus home by myself.

“No, tell dad. I will be home before dinner,” he says, and I nod, watching as he rushes off toward Marley’s last class. Exhaling, I hoist my backpack up my back higher and walk toward the bus shelter.

As I near the bus stop, I instantly notice everyone lined up, waiting and talking amongst themselves. I stop, glance at the front gate and turn my back on the stop. I officially decide that the bus ride home isn’t worth the torment.

I can walk home, and it will only take an hour. There is no way I am going to enter that transport to hell, or more like hell itself, without Eziah beside me.

I watch the bus head into the school and start walking along the Highway. When it passes me, I feel something hit me in the side of the leg; followed by sharp pain. Their cheers and laughter out the windows make me clench my teeth and look down. Someone threw a pencil, and now, it is embedded in my leg.

Tears burn my eyes as I stare at it. They speared me with a pencil! What the fuck! Sucking in a deep breath, I rip it out. It is a lead pencil; the moron who tossed it

clearly hasn’t received his pen license if he is still using a pencil. I chuckle at my thoughts continuing the long trek home.

When I’m halfway home, I hear a loud engine roar up the road, making me look up. I would recognize that sound anywhere and I shake my head with a silly grin on my face.

The red Mustang pulls up next to me, and the window winds down. “Well, before you hung up on me, I was about to tell you I would not take no for an answer,” Jonah tells me.

Folding my arms across my chest, I raise an eyebrow at him, unable to stop myself from admiring how sexy he looks. “I’m busy, I have…”

“Get in,” he cuts me off and I look down the road, trying to figure out another way to get out of going to the stupid reopening of the casino that Jonah and Kyan run together.

“You have three seconds to get in, or I will toss you in,” Jonah barks, the same as uncle Andrei does when aunt Sage refuses to listen to him. Blood related or not, those two definitely are father and son.

“One!” I shake my head and tap my foot defiantly.

“Two!” His blue eyes sparkle, and his lips tug up deviously.

“Three!” He goes to open the door, and I shriek.

“Okay, I will get in,” I tell him, racing around to the passenger side and climbing in. “I was actually looking forward to tossing you in,” Jonah laughs, and I swat his

chest with my hand as I pull my bag off my shoulder and place it between my legs.

“I waited at your bus stop for like ten minutes; did you go into town after school?” he adds as he starts the car.

“Ah, yeah, I had to get something,” I lie, placing my phone in the front pocket of my bag. When Jonah drives past the turnoff for home, I glance at him. “Ah, Jonah?” I ask, looking at him.

“You aren’t going home. I already picked up your clothes,” he tells me, turning onto the freeway, and I stare at him.

“No escaping me tonight,” he winks at me. I was hoping to convince Mom to tell him no, and now that option has gone out the window.

“I am not even old enough to be in the casino,” I tell him. If only Jonah would know how much I wish I wouldn’t be stuck in this situation.

“You don’t have to be. You won’t be going into the alcohol areas, and Kyan and I will be with you at all times. No one will say anything. Don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine with us,” Jonah assures me, although his words don't assure me at all. There it is, another window for escape closed.

“What, and mom was fine with you kidnapping me to take me to the casino?” I gasp. Are we talking about my mother? The woman who birthed me?

“Yep, what’s wrong? I haven’t seen you in a month, and now you suddenly don’t enjoy hanging out with me? Who is he then?” Jonah grumbles the last question with clear irritation lacing his words. This just got far too weird far too soon.

“Who’s who?” I ask, totally confused.

“This boyfriend you have. I’m sure that can be the only thing that makes sense for you to dodge me and refuse me every time I try to hang out with you. You got a boyfriend now, Mara?” he taunts me by poking me in the ribs.

“No, no. Of course, not.” As I shake my head, Jonah glances at me like he doesn’t believe me. If only Jonah knew I am a complete social pariah, maybe then he would understand how ridiculous his words are. There is no guy on campus who would even look at me, let alone want to touch me.

“Maybe I could just wait at your apartment? We can watch movies or anything you prefer to do after you return?” I suggest. At this point, I am ready to suggest anything just to avoid being around Kyan.

“What? No, you are coming with me. Why are you acting strange?” he asks, my stomach sinks.

Now, he too, thinks I’m strange… And although I know he doesn’t mean it that way. I still don’t like hearing that word from his lips. I don’t like it when the person I trust and have always admired all of a sudden says the same thing I hear from the others all of the time. Jonah is supposed to be my person, not another bully.

“I’m not, but your friend hates me,” I tell him with a deep frown.

Jonah sighs loudly and glances at me. “He doesn’t hate you; that’s just the way he is,” he tries to reason with me.

I furrow my brows, ready for the challenge I am about to toss at him. “Oh, really? So he is like that when Rose is with you, too?”

“He sees her more. Rose is my sister, he has no other choice but to stick around his best friend’s little sister. I believe you two just need to hang out around each other more often. You will see, once you get past the stone-cold demeanor, he isn’t half as bad as you think,” he says with a laugh.

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Stone cold? Kyan glares at me like he is hoping I will turn to ash in front of his eyes!” I don’t care what Jonah says, he’s somewhat biased in this situation anyway. We’re talking about his best friend.

It’s just like with Eziah. My brother doesn’t see past the fake mask of his friends either.

“Now, I know you’re being dramatic. You haven’t seen him in what… three years?” I nod my head.

It is only natural that I haven’t faced that guy for years. I always avoided visiting Jonah if I knew Kyan was with him.

“See, you probably imagined it,” Jonah tells me. It’s a little funny how much he believes in his words. Or maybe he is desperate to think his best friend isn’t the man I see him to be.

But now, as the silence takes over, I understand that there is no way I could ever escape the torment. Not even during weekends, the only time I get to spend away from judgment and constant harassment. “Maybe,” I whisper and turn my gaze to the window.

Marabella

Anxiety gnaws at me as I wait for Jonah to hop out of the shower.

We are staying at the penthouse above the casino that Jonah uses when he stays in the city. Each moment closer to leaving is making me feel nauseous.

I dread the thought of leaving the comfort and safety of the apartment. And even more, I dread the moment I will have to face Kyan again. It has been years since I last saw him. Maybe Jonah is right and it is all in my head. At least I hope it is.

When the door opens, steam billows out the door, making me look toward the bathroom door as Jonah steps out, and my heart skips a beat.

My eyes scan him and linger on the towel that is hanging low on his hips. His body is hard, lean, and muscular. It seems like there isn’t an ounce of fat on him. And on top of everything, Jonah is tall too.

Jonah closes the door to the bathroom quickly and turns towards me. His dark blonde tousled hair is wet and droplets spill onto his hard chest, running down his pecs. My eyes shamelessly follow the droplets as they trail down the hard ridges of his abs.

He has both his nipples pierced, something that I hadn’t noticed before, but then again, this is the first time I have seen him in this state. I have never seen Jonah this bare, or ever had time to really look at his sun kissed skin on display so openly. I can't stop my eyes from trailing all over his god-like body.

My eyes follow down to the V-line that escapes below the towel. Jonah and Uncle Andrei, I know, train rigorously because Jonah isn’t Alpha born. He will have to fight his own father for the title, or his father will hand it down to Rose, his sister, when she comes of age.

Yet, despite having always known about his training, I never truly appreciated how hard he was working to become an Alpha. The hardened muscles of his body are but a reminder of everything Jonah is doing to take over the pack. Alpha - a title I know he will be able to achieve, and truly deserves.

Uncle Andrei had been training Jonah since he was eight, preparing him for the Alpha title fight. That is yet another reason to admire Jonah and his determination to reach the goal his father set for him at a very young age.

Jonah looks up and meets my gaze. It’s all but a second, a brief moment, and his cerulean blue eyes dart away quickly before he clears his throat awkwardly.

I drop my gaze. Heat creeps up the back of my neck. It stains my cheeks in an intense, bright red blush. Jonah caught me staring! He freaking caught me red-handed.

“Shower is free,” Jonah says, just as awkwardly.

I glance up just to catch him scratching the back of his neck. Shows how uncomfortable I make him. Shit! The thought alone makes my mouth go dry as a desert, but I quickly nod my head and stand up.

As I bend down to grab my bag, more than ready to get away from the awkward situation, I’m about to open the zipper of the bag, but Jonah’s voice stops me. “I only packed your pajamas and a change of clothes for tomorrow. Did you not see the dress in the spare room?” he asks with a raised brow.

My stomach twists in knots at the thought of having to wear a dress. I’m pretty sure it shows on my face how uneasy I feel at the mention of that piece of damned fabric, let alone the thought that I will have to wear it.

I haven’t worn one since I was a child. It is out of my comfort zone. I hate how much skin dresses show, so I usually opt for jeans and a hoodie.

“No, I haven’t been in the spare room yet,” I admit. To be honest, all I have done so far is chuck my bag on the couch and hope I will find a way out of having to attend.

I shake my head, and Jonah wanders off down the hall. He returns a moment later, a dark blue floor-length dress in his hands.

“Is it formal attire?” I ask. My voice sounds more like a shriek than the sound I know as my voice. And now, I feel even worse than I did the moment Jonah brought a dress up. Goddess help me.

“I mean, if you don't like it, I can always get Lucas to rush down and pick you another one?” Jonah asks. The funny thing is that he looks just as uncomfortable and out of the element as I feel.

Jonah also isn’t someone who enjoys formal functions and I know he only attends them when Kyan insists he has to.

I shake my head. There is no need for me to give him a harder time than he is already having with me. “No, I like it. I just thought I could wear my jeans. I didn't realize it was formal wear,” I tell him nervously.

“Kyan prefers a certain image. Believe me, I am not too happy about wearing a suit but…” Jonah stops himself as if he has already said too much and shrugs. He looks over his shoulder toward the spare bedroom. “There are heels in the room. I will hang this up for you,” he says and waves the dress in his hand.

A muffled groan escapes my lips. And now, I’m just going to make a complete ass of myself.

Everyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I struggle to walk in flats, let alone high heels. Why is my mother making him take me to this?

She knows I hate having to go to functions, especially formal ones, and anything connected to them. Even the very mention of an event raises goosebumps all over my skin.

I didn’t even attend my tenth grade formal. I opted out of it the moment I understood that was possible. I attended the ceremony, but I wore black slacks and a shirt, and soon after, I headed home, instead of joining the others for the formal. Mom knew there was no way I would have gone, so agreed to let me leave before the formal started if I at least attended the ceremony.

I didn’t want to go to begin with. I knew the formal was nothing but another chance for them to torment me.

Plus, it was also the day after mom disfigured Jasmine. They were best friends and still are, but mom said Jasmine stepped out of line when a petition went around for me to be pulled from contact sports. The petition said I was a risk to other students after I nearly killed my teacher. I didn’t mean for that to happen. But it wasn’t like anyone but my parents wanted to listen to me.

Eziah is always quick to act, though. However, with that, I also see the vast difference in how everyone views us. Although we are twins, we are so different. It is sometimes so painfully obvious that sometimes all I see is our differences and my flaws, while he seemingly has none.

He is hailed a hero, and I, well, I am hailed a parasite. The bad omen of my pack.

Not that anyone is brave enough to say anything in front of my family.

Anyway, mom found out when the petition was handed to the school board. Let’s say it didn’t go down well. After some digging, mom found out Jasmine had been the one to originally mention it. Marley never forgave me, and neither did Alicia. Marley blamed me for her mother getting hurt, and said I told her of the petition.

Mom slapped Jasmine and humiliated her in front of the school assembly. Her claws slipped from her fingers and raked down Jasmine’s face. That’s how bad it was. And yet, I couldn’t find it in myself to blame mom for her reaction. I saw the pain she felt every time someone said hurtful things. The same as now.

Jasmine never healed, and I think my mother used her powers to ensure it. To make it a clear warning to those that spoke out about me. Mom made an example of Jasmine, unfortunately that didn’t work in my favor, I just never bothered to tell her that. It wasn’t worth the added stress on her or the extra drama I knew would follow by telling her.

Alicia’s mother, Rebecca, was forced to submit in front of everyone and apologize to me. I was humiliated. I understood why mom did it - a show of consequences, but it never helped my situation and only made me become even more isolated, and hated.

Alicia was my brother’s girlfriend at the time, and he took it further when he dumped her in front of everyone present, making her hate me tenfold. Eziah claimed in front of everyone that he wouldn't be with anyone that would shun his sister.

And while all those things never changed anything, especially how people viewed me, I couldn’t stop the questions that invaded my mind. My family has always watched out for me. They still do, but sometimes their actions only make things harder for me.

I shake the memory away. Getting lost in my thoughts has never been a good thing.

Since I remember myself, my thoughts have had nothing good to say or remind me of.

They become a dark trap, and eventually, suck me in deep. All those thoughts do is remind me just how much I don’t belong. Here, with my family and society in general. I just don’t fit in.

“Marabella, are you ok?” Jonah asks as he walks back in the room, already dressed and ready to go. Now, he is wearing black slacks and a dress shirt.

The buttons of the shirt are still undone as he pushes his belt through the loops of his pants. This time, I fight the urge to look at him and avert my gaze to the floor. I can’t allow my eyes to roam over his body all over again. It will do nothing but make the situation uncomfortable again.

And I don't want to make Jonah feel so uncomfortable that he stops talking to me.

He is the only person with whom I actually enjoy speaking.

“Yeah, sorry. I will be quick,” I mutter under my breath as I escape the room and rush into the bathroom.

I shut the door and quickly click the lock in place. I know Jonah is respectful of my privacy and would never barge into the bathroom while I am here, but I always lock the doors, even without the obvious need to do so.

My hands shake as I remove my clothes and turn the shower on. I quickly step in and wet my hair, and then reach for the bar of soap. The dark tan of my skin makes the scars that lace my thighs stand out even more. I quickly avert my gaze from my mutilated body.

Instead, I focus on taking a shower and washing. When I am done, I quickly wrap the thick gray towel around me and then pop my head out of the bathroom door. Once I make sure the coast is clear, I let out a sigh of relief. Jonah is nowhere in sight, and I quickly make a dash for the room.

I lock the door again, a force of freaking habit, and try to calm my racing heart. I dry myself and apply some body lotion.

Jonah has already hung the dress on the back of the door. There is a slight tremble to my hand as I slowly bring it up and touch the silky dark sapphire blue fabric.

I realize quickly that the dress is figure-hugging, and that realization makes my stomach squeeze uncomfortably. Just great! I sigh in defeat as my eyes scan the room. I need to find the damn heels I will have to wear. I know I will make a fool of myself by wearing them, but it doesn’t look like anyone but me really cares.

The heels are sitting next to the dresser, and I groan. I will break my neck in those. The thought doesn’t seem as eerie as I think of one positive thing I can get out of it - I can avoid going, if I break my neck. I chuckle at my own thoughts. One could wish.

Jonah would probably still drag me along at my mother’s request. Besides, she, the same as Jonah, always says I need to go out more.

Slipping the dress on, I see the back is see-through lace, and the front dips low, showing off more cleavage than I’m uncomfortable with. To top off my misery, my bra can’t be worn without looking out of place, and being noticeable. So, no bra, terrific. The fabric is tight against my large bust and hips, the dress cascades to the floor. As beautiful as the dress is, it just isn't me.

Staring in the mirror, I feel like an imposter. I look out of place and feel uncomfortable in my own skin. Too much of me is on display. I don't belong in this world, definitely not in a dress like this.

As I unhook my bra, I quickly remove it and put the top half of the dress back on. Then, I awkwardly pull up the zip that holds the lace together at my back. Guess I will just have to suck it up and deal with it. Towel is drying my unruly wavy hair that falls to just below my butt. I try to figure out what to do with it.

I’ve never been good at doing my hair, and mostly left it in a ponytail or bun. But this is a formal event so I can’t leave it down. Plus, it will drive me insane. I wonder if Jonah would mind if I leave it down. It could curtain me like a shield.

Sometimes I regret never cutting it, but I always have loved the feel of the brush, when mom would run it through my hair. It is something I held dear to me.

Every night she would come in and brush it, even now. I think it is her way of checking on me, her way of getting me completely alone to talk. But these days, it has grown into our everyday routine.

I wish mom could be here. She would braid my hair for me. I doubt very much I can do it myself. Should I even try it? Deciding against it, I reach for my brush.

Sighing, I run my brush through it and pull it into a ponytail when I hear a knock on the door.

“Marabella, we need to head down soon,” Jonah calls out from the other side of the door.

“Yep, be out in a sec,” I tell him as my eyes find the glittery black heels. A nervous sigh leaves me as I try to shove the thoughts away. I guess time is up, I can't avoid them now.

Grabbing them, I open the door only to bump into Jonah. Smacking into his hard chest, his hands grip my arms to steady me. Note to self: muscle looks nice, but damn, they are not fun to smack into. Is any part of him soft?

“You ok?” Jonah asks, letting me go and stepping back.

His eyes darken as they run the length of me and a growl escapes him, making me jump. My eyes dart to him. His wolf comes forward and makes me step back. That movement makes him shake his head, his eyes return to their blue color. “Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you,” he mutters, and I realize my heart is still thumping erratically.

Jonah looks me over again and he presses his lips together. “I know you don’t want to go, but you could put some effort into doing your hair,” he says disapprovingly.

My face heats, my hair is untameable. I suck at being a girl, shamefully so. I really don’t know how to deal with it, but Jonah’s words make me wish I at least tried now.

Jonah grips my arms, spins me around and I hear his breath hitch before feeling his fingers trail up my spine. “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he growls. His words startle me. Does he really think that or is he being polite? Jonah never says things like that, he is a lot like his father, a man of few words.

I look at him over my shoulder and his eyes flicker again, his gaze on my neck, and I feel the blood rush to my face, my stomach a mess of butterflies.

“Jonah?” I whisper, and his gaze moves to mine.

“Huh?” He scrubs a hand down his face. “Oh, right,” he says, reaching his hand toward my hair. I pull away from him, wondering what he is doing. “Stay still, eyes ahead,” he mutters.

Turning back, I stare at the wall, obeying his command. What is he thinking?

A shiver runs up my spine as his fingers graze the back of my neck and he clears his throat, tugging my hair tie from my hair. My hair falls down my back to just below my bottom in long waves.

“Jonah, I can’t leave it down. It will drive me insane,” I protest, turning to look at him. He steps around me, moving to the dresser and grabbing my brush and coming over to me.

His hand moves to my hip, as he leads me further into the open plan living room.

He sits on the leather couch, tugging me down to sit between his legs.

“I’m braiding it, just keep still for me,” Jonah announces in a low tone. Is it me, or is it that Jonah is having trouble containing himself?

“You can braid? Not even I can braid,” I tell him in surprise. He runs the brush down my in silence. Is there more on his mind than he shows? Jonah sure is acting weird.

Jonah taps my thigh. “Sit up, you're sitting on your hair.” I lift my bottom and he pulls the hair out from under me.

“And yes, I can. I used to braid Rose's hair, she always said mom was too rough with the brush, mom taught me,” Jonah chuckles. I’m impressed because not even I can braid.

“Mom blamed Rose, said she squirmed too much and went to hack at it with scissors one day and dad snapped at her. It was always a battle for mom to do her hair every morning, so she taught me and I was the one who did it for her from her first day of school until she could do it herself,” Jonah tells me.

“Will Rose be here tonight? Gosh, I miss her,” I ask, hoping she would be; I could use some company.

“No, she has exams next week, and she wants to study. Plus, she hates being at formal events, just like Mom and you,” he murmurs the last word below my ear while leaning forward. His voice sends goosebumps down my spine.

His fingers move easily through my hair, and it doesn't take him long before he is nearly finished. His fingers move quickly and gently.

“How is Rose?” I ask him, trying not to focus on how his thighs feel on either side of mine. I can practically feel the heat radiating from his closeness.

“Good, I spoke with her earlier. She had a boyfriend for a bit and Dad did not approve. She wants to transfer to your school next year after she and he had a fight. Dad said maybe she could, but only if she behaves,” Jonah explains.

“Behaves?” I ask him.

“Yes, Rose and mom got into a fight after she caught Rose skipping school to hang out with Tyran, man did dad kick his ass,” Jonah chuckles.

“I’m surprised you didn’t,” I tell him. I know how close he is to his sister, surely Jonah would do anything to defend her, and her honor.

“I never said I didn't. Why do you think I was back at home? She deserves better.” I can almost hear the smug smile on his lips.

“That’s why you came back?” I question.

“Yes, I wasn't planning on going home until I spoke to Rose this morning. I was only planning on picking you up, but when she rang me and said her boyfriend upset her, I ducked home real quick,” Jonah tells me.

“Bet Rose wasn't happy,” I mutter the reply. I can easily claim that I know Rose well enough to imagine how she felt when Jonah appeared to teach this boyfriend a lesson.

“Not at all, but once I met him, I understood why dad didn't like him. Cocky shit, I wasn't impressed,” Jonah snarls.

“Why weren't you impressed?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Because she can do better than him for one, and secondly he mouthed off at my father when I got there, saying he was going to claim Rose as his chosen. Rose looked like she was about to slap him but she didn't get a chance,” Jonah chuckles as if the messed up situation amuses him more than it could worry him.

“Yes, she was always daddy’s girl,” I chuckle, and Jonah nods. That is totally something Rose would do, so I can’t help but smile.

“Yes, dad told him he wasn't to step on pack territory again. He was the Beta’s son from the White River Pack, so now Rose wants to transfer schools.” I nod.

Rose is somewhat similar to me, we are both nerdy and maybe that’s why we get along so well. Although she is more sociable than me, wildly so, and she is a little miss popular at her school.

“There. All done,” Jonah tells me as he drapes my braid over my shoulder to show me.

I touch it, looking over at him behind me. “Thank you,” I tell him and he pats my side, wanting me to get up.

I quickly move to sit beside him. Grabbing the heels, I slip them on, doing up the buckles. Pushing off the lounge, Jonah grips my arm, pulling me to a standing position. I am now the same height as him and feel so unsteady on my feet. I gulp down at the high heels. Please don’t make me fall.

“Jonah these are way too high,” I shriek, clutching his forearm for balance.

“You will be fine. I won’t let you fall. Your mother warned me and said you hated heels when I rang to ask if I could kidnap you. But you can't wear sneakers with your dress,” he reasons.

“What? So mom didn't force you to bring me along? It’s alright Jonah, I know Mom asked you to take me, she thinks I spend too much time alone,” I tell him, shaking my head at his lie.

No one would willingly go through so much hassle to spend time with me, no matter how good of a person they are.

“Ah, no Mara. I rang her last week to see if I could bring you,” Jonah says. I raise an eyebrow at him and he shrugs, watching me.

“So you asked. She didn't force you to take me. This isn’t a pity thing?” I ask incredulously.

“Yes, I asked. Is that so hard to believe? I actually like hanging out with you.” I roll my eyes disbelievingly and he growls, gripping my chin.

His eyes lock with mine. “Just so you know Mara, I see you. I always have. You can hide shit from everyone else, but not me. I see through it. Just like you lied earlier about that girl calling you a skank.” My cheeks flush with embarrassment. Shit, I didn’t expect him to figure that out.

“A skank. Well, yeah, not everyone likes me,” I reply dryly. Why can’t we just forget this and change the topic?

“But I know you’re not one,” Jonah says, letting my chin go.

“How do you know? I could be and you would have no way to tell,” I ask defiantly. “Because I can smell your innocence. If you were a skank, you wouldn’t be a virgin,”

Jonah chuckles.

My face heats even more at his words. Ground, please just open and swallow me whole.

“Hey, nothing to be ashamed about. It’s a good thing, you should save yourself for your mate.”

“Are you going to tell Mom and Dad?” I ask nervously. I really don’t want that to get back to them. I just want to carry on keeping a low key profile for as long as possible.

“About the girl? No, why are you always bullied by her? Do I need to tell them?” he asks, looking at me sharply. My eyes widen, and I shake my head.

“No, it was a one off. I ran into her by accident,” I lie quickly. He doesn’t look like he believes me, but before he can say anything else, someone knocks on the door.

“That would be Kyan,” he says, gripping my hand and tugging me along.

I hear keys in the door and it suddenly pushes open, and Kyan steps in, closing the door. His back is to us as we walk toward him.