“Get up!” I throw my pillow at the mop of blue hair that never ceases to irk me. If I could, I would hit his face, but he has that and the rest of his body buried under a mountain of covers.
A groan emerges from the lifeless bundle, then silence.
“Don’t make me have to say it twice,” I narrow my eyes, crossing over to his side. I stare at the glittering blue that always manages to distract me, blinking annoyingly when it almost blinds me with its light.
He turns slightly, and I can now see his forehead and abnormally long eyelashes. Jealousy sears through me as I gaze at the portion of his face revealed. Isn’t the girl supposed to be the pretty one?
On a whim, I reach towards him and punch the bundle as hard as I can. There are wretched moans as the man emerges like a butterfly from a cocoon, holding his arm in indignation.
“You could have just used a pillow,” he scoffs, though still spellbound under sleep. He leans his back against the headboard, watching me. I feel almost uncomfortable under his endless, measuring stare.
“Time to get up,” I state, shooting him a frightful glare when he makes no move.
“And why, exactly, is it time to get up?” he probes. I suddenly feel doubtful.
“Are we not going to school today?” I ask shakily.
He laughs heartily, sparking elation in even my heart. “No, Mona,” he corrects dreamily, “today is Saturday.”
I melt into a puddle on the hardwood floor.
“Are you serious?” I squeak, backing away from his form. He reaches out quickly to grab my arm, stopping me in my tracks.
“I’ll forgive you,” he says, his words slurred, “for a kiss.” His strong hand forces me closer, elevating my heart rate until it’s about to burst.
“Xavier!” I exclaim. He still seems to be half-asleep, yet smiling all the while.
Fright mounts as he gives a final yank, my lips inches from his. I have to stop him, but how?
With no other alternative, I punch him in the chest as hard as I can, his grip temporarily loosening. Using that opening, I tug away, running into the hallway as fast as I can.
Touching my heart, I wish for it to slow down… so I can breathe.
It is all a mystery. Why is Xavier making my chest pound so hard? Even a glimpse or a simple touch is spiking my heart. But it isn’t love, I’m sure.
It can’t be.
I try to block these suspicious thoughts from my mind, taking off down the narrow hallway like a bullet. It seems to continue on endlessly, door after door appearing until my burst of speed sputters and dies. Now I am hot and sweaty for a different reason.
It must be that “fake” love that sparks between two mates. The savage desire coursing through my blood is rampant, affecting my thinking. I can’t give in to it, for then I will find myself under Xavier’s intoxicating spell. It is the first time in my life that I am actually afraid of… loving someone.
Well, these past few days have introduced many firsts, so I suppose I should get used to it.
I finally wind up in a dark room. I straggle along the walls, hoping to find a switch of some kind. After a little searching, I finally bump into a strange, inanimate object.
Light blinds me as it floods through the room, the lamp shining like the sun.
I take in the granite countertops, the stainless steel appliances, the gigantic refrigerator, and luxurious oven with awe. It is so big, almost as huge as their movie room, and spacious. I rush to a small door with anticipation, and fling it open to reveal a stockroom of every ingredient I could ever need or want. It is big also, with a cooled section dedicated especially to meat. I knew their kitchen would be magnificent, but this exceeds all expectations.
Wandering over to an open cookbook, I gaze onto the lists of delectable food choices. My stomach grumbles annoyingly, and I at once decide to indulge in this fantasy world and make breakfast.
***
“Hey Mona,” Wes pops his head through the doorway, his golden hair shining in the light, “what are you doing?”
I pause at the refrigerator, turning my head at the sound of his voice. I smile a little, grabbing a few eggs and shutting the door afterwards. Wes weaves his way towards me, his movements fluid and smooth.
“Breakfast?” he asks in wonder, “you are actually making breakfast for us?”
“So what if I am?” I bend my head in embarrassment, knocking one egg against the bowl to crack it.
Wes ignores this remark, smiling at me brightly. He reminds me of Xavier in his puppy-like behavior, yet I have a feeling that Wes would treat anyone this way, while Xavier doesn’t care about other girls. Is this difference caused by the mating?
“I’m making-” I start after guilty feelings enter at my cruelty, but he interrupts me eagerly.
“Don’t tell me! I love both surprises and homemade breakfast,” he smiles, his teeth glistening, “Xavier will especially love anything you make. By the way, when I passed his room all the way here, he was laughing hysterically. So I was wondering…”
Yolk explodes onto the bowl, shell dribbling in shards down the side.
“Mona?” Wes stares at my clenched fist in confusion.
My hand trembles as I turn away to the sink to wash off the slime now adorning my palm. The water burns as it slips down my fingers, some splashing upon my face. But no matter how hard I try, I cannot wash away the blush from my cheeks.
I turn back to Wes, smiling awkwardly. “I’m okay. It was an accident,” I attempt to reassure him.
“Are you su-”
“Yes. I’m,” I take the beater and punch the glob in the bowl, “Perfectly. Fine.”
“No you aren’t.” His voice is firm and resolute.
Bitter words stay captive behind my lips, beating against its confinements. We both look at the crumbled shell mixed in with the yolk in silence, I desperately trying to hide the redness in my features.
“I’ll just… come back later then,” Wes bows slightly, and then exits the room, his footsteps pounding through the hallway.
I pick up the clear bowl, trumping over to the sink, and pour it down the drain, watching the egg disappear once and for all. Irritation grows within me, boiling inside my chest. Calming is impossible. He tricked me.
Xavier…
What am I going to do with you?
***
“Oh, you’re back,” I smile as Wes leads the way into the kitchen, followed by a slew of werewolves. Yi has the bed head, his ruffled black hair sticking straight up. His eyes are bloodshot, as if he just had a bad night’s sleep.
“Are you better now?” Wes asks concernedly.
“Yes.” I gesture to the dining room right next to the kitchen. “Just go sit in there and I will bring out the food soon.”
“You’re amazing, Mona,” Wes laughs, coming close and wrapping an arm around my waist. I stiffen a little, amazed at the way it seems completely different when Xavier touches me. Xavier tends to send sparks of flame through my body, while Wes freezes me like an icicle. With another happy-go-lucky grin, he sneaks forward and kisses my cheek.
I smack him on the arm, slightly angered but still playful. “What are you thinking, trying to steal a kiss from me?” I ask in a teasing tone. But inwardly, I am wondering why, exactly, I feel nothing when Wes’s truly delicious lips brush against my skin.
“It is like a greeting with Wes. He kisses everybody,” Jake shrugs, “all his girls. I suggest you get used to it.”
“And I suppose you do the same thing?” I raise one eyebrow.
“We all do,” Ray says, and then turns to Jake. “You haven’t told her about the club yet, have you?”
Jake shakes his head, “I thought we were going to have to quit because Xavier finally got mated. I was going to close it for this week.”
“What club?” I ask, even more curious because Ray is talking.
“Um, well…” Jake starts, and then trails off.
“We’ll tell you over breakfast,” Wes finishes for him, “don’t worry about it right now.”
Yi just stares at his shoes, not talking. What’s wrong with him? It is as if he is afraid to look at me.
Wes looks over his shoulder into the hallway, and his eyes widen. “Hurry guys, into the dining room,” he pushes them out of the kitchen with great force. As he exits, he shoots me a wink.
I take the French toast I had prepared and laid two on each plate. After scattering powdered sugar on it, as well as adding a tiny bowl of syrup and butter, it soon looks professional. After a healthy dab of whipped cream and a small strawberry, they are meals fit for a king. My cooking skills really haven’t deteriorated.
“That looks really good,” a voice murmurs beside my ear. I smile slightly, not looking up, drunk in my own pleasurable thoughts.
“Thanks.”
“Where did you learn to cook?”
“I used to help at the orphanage. The cook would always give me extra scraps if I washed the dishes, and eventually she let me cook most of the food for her while she was the one to get paid. But I didn’t mind, because the cook was nice to me… and it was better than playing with the other kids.” I stop in my tracks, staring at the granite sadly.
“What happened? Ms. Penn found out?”
“Of course,” I laugh shakily, “Ms. Penn knows everything. At first she wanted me to continue cooking so she wouldn’t have to pay the cook, but then, once she realized I was happy to do it, she fired the cook and hired another one. She banished me from the kitchen for just being happy.”
“I’m sorry,” the voice sparks electricity in my blood, arousing desire within me. Wait… it is as if I am waking from a dream, the fog lifted, and then I look up at his face.
“Xavier,” I back away from the devilishly handsome figure.
“You didn’t know it was me?” he asks innocently, “I made no attempt to disguise myself.”
“That’s not the point,” I say, anger boiling in my blood, “you were completely awake the whole time, even when you tried to kiss me? You laughed at me?”
Xavier covers his mouth to stifle another chuckle. “Oh, I thought you were actually mad-”
“What do you mean, ‘actually mad’?!” I snap, feeling rather immature under Xavier’s laughing gaze.
“I thought you were mad about something important,” he clarifies laughingly. I punch him in the arm, and he staggers back a little. I start to see red, almost forgetting why I am mad at him.
“You’re so mean, Xavier! Why would you laugh about one little mistake…” I punch him again, fury emanating from me.
“I laughed because of how cute you were,” he smiles, stopping me in my tracks, “I just had to try and kiss you.” My clenched fist hovers right beside his arm, all force evaporated.
“You get so angry and embarrassed over little things… I think it’s adorable,” Xavier winks, whirling me towards him with his hand and plopping his lips on my cheek. Immediately passion and lust arise, flowing between us both. I look to the ground, breaking away from his grasp. My breathing is heavy, face flushed. How can his kisses affect me so much?
“Are you serious?” my voice is tiny, squeaky.
Xavier nods, reaching forward with one finger and tilting my face upwards. He laughs in amusement. “You’re blushing,” he observes, a smirk slowly creeping onto his features.
I yank his hand away, anger sparked once more. “I’m not!” I protest uselessly, picking up a few of the plates hurriedly.
“Whatever you say,” he says, voice dripping with amused sarcasm. I have never heard him use sarcasm before.
He follows me into the dining room, where everyone is seated and perfectly still. I narrow my eyes at the mischievous werewolves, knowing exactly why they are so quiet. “You heard it all, didn’t you?” I ask, expressionless.
All of them, excluding Ray and Yi, break out into a sly smile. “Having a lover’s spat?” Jake teases, elbowing Xavier who just sat down next to him.
“Just shut up,” I place one plate in front of Xavier, then hesitate before giving Jake his share, “or I won’t give you breakfast.”
“Okay, okay,” Jake concedes defeat, though still grinning. I place the other plates in front of Ray and Wes, then retreat to grab Yi’s.
Shouts immediately erupt from the dining room. “This is fantastic!”
“I love French toast!”
“I love you Mona!”
“That’s my mate you’re talking about…”
I inwardly laugh, entering the room once more with my plate and Yi’s plate. Yi is staring at the table, almost completely lifeless. I put the plate in front of him, and then gently touch his shoulder. “Yi?” I ask.
He tilts his head sharply to meet my gaze, anger in his features. “Don’t touch me,” he snaps, jumping to his feet. Immediately he turns away from me, facing the others. “I’m going to eat in the courtyard today,” he states robotically, then picks up his plate and brushes past me.
“What’s with him?” I ask worriedly, sitting down in his old spot. They just shake their heads.
“He was staring at you as if he had seen a ghost yesterday…” Wes points out, “and has been sort of weird ever since.”
I take the first bite of my home-made breakfast, reveling at the sweetness I am finally able to indulge in. No matter how annoying Xavier may be, I still feel lucky that things have turned out this way.
“Let’s not talk about Yi,” Wes dismisses after a long, awkward silence, “tell her about the club, Jake.”
“Yeah,” I agree, “what club?”
“We own a nightclub in the city called Moonlight. It is one of the most exclusive clubs you will find anywhere in the state,” Jake says, “and it is also how we make our money.”
“It is also where we get our woman of the week,” Ray interrupts, smiling.
“Ray… just shut up,” Xavier cuts in. Ray lazily ambles from the table to the door, exiting to go who-knows-where.
“I’m done,” he throws over his shoulder, and I look at his perfectly clean plate. How can he eat so fast?
“Anyways,” Jake continues, “we only open on Saturday nights, and charge an astronomical entrance fee. All the rich and famous locals go there.”
“Woman of the week?” I probe, to Wes’s obvious dismay.
“Don’t think bad of me…” he stresses.
“We enter the nightclub every two weeks and… auction ourselves off, if that makes any sense,” Jake tries to explain. My eyes widen.
“A bachelor auction!” I exclaim, “is it just you guys or do you auction off more men?”
“Nah, only werewolves will do,” Wes laughs, “we don’t need any more bachelors than the five, no, four ones right here.”
“Women pay serious bucks for boyfriends,” Jake says, “especially if they are wanted by their other rich friends.”
So that’s how they have so much money…
I stand up while I listen, taking their perfectly clean plates to the kitchen. “So the money’s not for charity or something?” I call from the sink.