Bold & Beautiful (6 page)

Bob looked at me and then Aura again before he left us standing there.

When Aura faced me, she’d plastered an overly enthused smile on her face. “Thanks again for the ride, Jonas. I can walk myself to my door. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She began backing away.

Fear and anxiety snaked through my veins. Something was very wrong here and she was trying to shut me out of it. I didn’t know if she was trying to protect me or protect herself.

“My dad always taught me to make sure it’s safe inside before I leave a woman alone.” The sentence didn’t even make sense to me, but I was desperate.

Looking at the five-story building, I could tell it wasn’t the nicest place in town, but my instincts told me there was more. My wolf was demanding to know more.

The smile disappeared from her face. “Jonas, please just go.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, the plea in her small voice strong.

“As soon as I make sure you’re safe inside.” I set my jaw, focusing my hard gaze on her.

I hated being such a dick, but I didn’t know how else to make sure she was truly okay. I got the sick feeling like she hadn’t been for a while, but no one cared enough to check. My instincts as her mate had me pushing the envelope. I never ignored my instincts; they’d always protected me and my wolf. They drove every decision I’d made and would make in the future for the pack.

Chapter 18

AURA

Panic washed through me, followed by dread. Jonas was a persistent fuck, just like Brody said. I knew that look from Bob; I understood his words. I didn’t want Jonas to though. I didn’t need anyone finding out the truth of my situation. People in this town didn’t need something else to make fun of me for.

At the determination in his stance though, I found myself ambling towards the building. I opened the front door and strolled right to the stairs going up the center of the building with apartments on either side. I hadn’t even taken two steps yet when Jonas slid my book bag off of me.

“I’ll carry this,” he said.

I nodded in agreement and kept going up. My heartbeat grew louder and more erratic the closer we got to my apartment. By the time we reached the fourth floor, my palms were sweating and my body was trembling. I’d tried to think of someway to slip inside without him following, but he was too strong, too quick, and I was too big, my book bag too bulky.

There was no way around it. It looked like the guy I’d seen twice and knew very little about was going to learn a lot about me very quickly.

I slipped my key out of my pocket and unlocked the door. I turned to face him, blocking the doorknob. Fear forced me to try again to dissuade him from entering. “Um, thanks again. I’m good from here.”

He frowned. My backpack was in one hand, but he put the other hand on the doorframe beside my head. He leaned in. “I don’t know what you’re trying to hide, Aura, but trust me when I say there’s nothing that could make me lose interest in you.”

I gazed into his eyes, shocked to find that he was telling the truth. I looked past him at the stairwell before returning my gaze to him. My stomach twisted in knots. “You’re just going to peek inside and then leave, right?”

He pushed off the doorframe, dropping his arm back to his side. He gave me a tight, reassuring smile. “Right.”

“Okay.” I slid to the side, allowing him to pass.

Chapter 19

JONAS

Hearing her irregular heartbeat didn’t sit well with me. Her hesitation to let me inside further drove my neuroticism. I braced myself, unsure of what I’d find behind the door.

Inside seemed… well, normal. The apartment looked outdated, but in working order. There wasn’t much furniture, but the furniture that was there seemed of high quality. I heard Aura enter behind me. She waited by the door as I checked the kitchen and bedrooms. My pulse sped up at the sight of her room.

A twin-sized bed was pushed into a corner with a small nightstand beside it. A few books were piled on top of it. The only other piece of furniture in the room was a tall dresser. The intimacy of seeing her personal space was a shock to my soul, an extra beat to my heart.

Back in the living room, I found Aura waiting by the door still. She was fidgeting terribly. It was obvious she was extremely uncomfortable. I felt bad for pushing the issue. The last thing I wanted to do was upset her, and apparently I’d done so for no reason.

I set her book bag on the couch. I gave her a small smile. “You’re safe.”

She let out the breath she’d been holding. “Thanks.”

“Guess I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

She nodded. She continued to fiddle with her fingers like she wouldn’t be completely calm until I left. I’d really messed up this time. I guess it was curiosity rather than real concern driving my instincts now. I was too far-gone, my need to claim her clouding my judgment.

I looked around the living room one last time. There were no lights on the ceiling like I was accustomed to. Instead I noticed a tall floor lamp in the corner. The least I could do was turn it on. I couldn’t see her reaching the nob on its side without climbing.

As I made my way towards it, Aura shouted, “No!”

I immediately halted and turned to face her. The nagging feeling returned. There was nothing but distress in her features.

“Um, I… prefer the dark,” she stumbled.

It clicked for me. The electric company worker’s comment, the color draining from her face then her not wanting to let me in.

I stalked to the kitchen and flipped the switch, but nothing happened. I walked back down the hall to the bathroom, but again, the lights didn’t turn on.

I remembered her walking into class with dripping wet hair. There was no way she walked all those miles without at least part of her hair drying.

I turned the nobs on the faucet, but nothing came out. I tried the shower with the same result.

Anger rose up inside me before I could clamp down on it. Who the hell let their child live in this? I didn’t even want to know where she showered this morning. I fisted my hands, my limbs shaking frantically.

“Shit.” My wolf was clawing close to my surface. I’d slipped. I focused on breathing through it. Now was definitely not the time.

“Are you okay, Jonas?” Her concern for me cut me deep. She cared about others, yet no one gave a rat’s ass about her it seemed.

I spun around and yanked her to me. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, hugging her snugly to me. She stiffened for a moment before returning the gesture. When her arms came around my stomach and her face snuggled into my chest, the Earth stood still. My wolf immediately stopped, sitting back and taking comfort in feeling her around us. It suddenly didn’t matter what was going on around us, it only mattered that she was here, that I was here with her.

I vowed then and there to take care of her. She was my mate. She would always be my mate. And even though she didn’t know it yet, she was an honorary member of my pack. It meant that we would take care of her. The pack would pay her bills until she was old enough for me to claim her.

When she pulled back, I reluctantly let go of her. I wanted to hold her forever. She fit perfectly in my arms, but I knew that wasn’t possible right now. I pushed through the fog in my brain and focused on her.

“What time will your parents be home?”

She averted her gaze and shrugged.

“No. Don’t do that, Aura. Please. Be honest with me.”

“My mom went out of town.”

Her mom has money to go out of town, but not to pay the bills? “You’re coming with me.”

“No! She… she left me money. I’ll be fine, really, Jonas.”

“Where is it?”

She swallowed hard. I followed her out to the dining room. Sure enough, on the table was a folded piece of paper. I also saw money poking out of the side.

“I’ll take you wherever you need to go to pay the bill, but at the very least you need air conditioning. It’s hot as hell outside.”

Her hands shook as she picked up the piece of paper. I saw red the moment she opened it and revealed all one-dollar bills. I read the note over her shoulder; whether it was ethical or not I didn’t care.

This was all the cash Roger had. Don’t spend it all in one place ;)

I’ll call you in a few days.

Love ya, Mom

I pulled my phone out from my pocket. I text Brody to come up to Aura’s apartment.

“Go pack some clothes.” Aura gave me a tortured look. I cupped her face. “Please don’t fight me on this.” Tears welled in her eyes. She kept batting her lashes, trying to keep them at bay. “Go.” I kissed her forehead and turned her towards her bedroom.

She closed her bedroom door right when Brody knocked on the apartment door. I opened it, not bothering to close it after. I quickly caught him up on what was going on.

“Damn. That’s some bullshit.” He rubbed his head, his gaze carrying over the space. “We should check the fridge and freezer, make sure there’s nothing that would smell bad if it spoiled.”

“Good thinking.” I sprinted to the refrigerator. The freezer held one bag of who knew what inside and the fridge had a half eaten carton of eggs and a nearly rotted apple.

Rage wasn’t even the word for it. I had rage, but I was dismayed, shocked, more than anything. I’d heard the stories; I knew there were people who lived like this, but I hadn’t known anyone personally. Even the low-income families I’d known always seemed to have food thanks to food stamps.

I blinked and suddenly my vision was black and white.
Shit!

Chapter 20

AURA

Jonas didn’t judge me, yet I recalled the vivid disdain on his face. He judged my mom; he judged my family because of my living situation. I couldn’t blame him. It’s not that my mother was a bad mother; she was just a careless mother. She didn’t think things through. She didn’t think about how much food cost when she left me twelve one-dollar bills. She didn’t remember that the electric bill or water bill was past due when she agreed to go out of town. I resented her for her carelessness at times, but I’d learned to deal with it. I’d been lucky enough to never go without for too long or without a back up resource; mainly Mrs. Martha.

I shoved two clean pairs of panties, a bra, a pair of pajamas and an outfit for school tomorrow in an old book bag. My toothbrush, brush and travel toiletries were already in my current backpack.

I opened my bedroom door only to find Brody standing in my way.

“Go back inside, Aura,” he ordered, blocking my exit. He was slightly hunched over, his arms spread outwards.

“What’s wrong?” Unease rose within me.

“Please, just trust me,” he snapped.

I heard a loud growl before an animal attacked Brody. I shrieked as Brody threw him off of him as if he weighed nothing. In a split second Brody shifted in front of me, his clothes shredding before he landed on all fours… a… a… wolf?

I whimpered, stumbling backwards into my bedroom. I immediately shut my door, leaning my back against it.

I shook my head, my body trembling. I had to have imagined it. It’d been a long day. I didn’t take my medicine that morning… I…

I screamed as growls echoed nearby before something hit my bedroom door. Wood splintering sent my heart racing beyond what I thought capable. My head was pounding, every heavy breath echoing in my ears.

“Oh my God…. Oh, my God… Oh. My. God. Jonas and Brody are werewolves.” The realization was like a bucket of ice water being dumped on me.

I didn’t know how long I sat inside my bedroom. The chaos outside my room seemed to die down at least five minutes before someone knocked on my bedroom door.

“Aura?” It was Jonas.

I slowly rose up off the floor. “Yeah?”

He hesitated for a moment. “Are you alright?”

I remembered they always warned us in elementary school to approach animals cautiously, no quick movements or else you could scare them. I didn’t know if werewolves were technically animals, but I didn’t want to risk it. I took my time turning the doorknob and opening it.

At the sight of Jonas and Brody standing side by side with my mother’s pink towels around their waist, I burst into laughter. I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to hold back. The image of two well-muscled, masculine men wrapped in petal pink towels was a sight to behold.

They exchanged a look before angling their heads back towards me.

Jonas’ face drew down, worry marring his beautiful features. At his concern, the humor of moments ago fled. He was clearly upset over what had happened. I imagined that I wasn’t supposed to find out the truth of their heritage at all. I’d been so worried about him finding out my lifestyle secret when all along he had one of his own, and it was slightly larger than mine.

“I’m fine. A little spooked, but…” I thought about it for a moment. Oddly, I didn’t have an ounce of fear in me right now. Even before, it was shock moreso than anything that had me reacting the way I did. The same draw I had to Jonas before was ever present, urging me to lean into his touch again, wanting to be wrapped in his arms again. “I’m not afraid of you.” I met his gaze. I lifted my hand to touch his cheek.