Bold & Beautiful (2 page)

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Brody asked in a rushed whisper.

“That’s my mate.”

When he didn’t respond right away, I glanced sideways at him. He looked stricken, shocked.

“Well, damn.” He shook his head in dismay.

Chapter 4

AURA

I watched as Mrs. Martha disappeared towards the front of the store to help the guys. I’d never seen them before. The bigger one stood at least 6’4” with hair shaved close to his scalp. His eyes were large brown bowls of chocolate that were the only thing that didn’t have me running. His physical bulk was intimidating. The set of his jaw would have any man in town moving out of his way. But when you looked into his eyes, you saw he wasn’t as ferocious as he appeared.

It wasn’t him that I was attracted to though. I was embarrassed to admit that my body responded to the smaller of the two the moment I laid eyes on him. I’d never felt anything like it. I felt like I’d been smacked with an energy bolt. I had an inane urge to wrap myself around him, hugging him close. That made him dangerous, very dangerous.

I refused to be like my mother. She jumped from man to man. She sucked them dry and then moved on. You would think we’d be better off considering she was the classic definition of a woman after money rather than love. Of course, if she worked rather than relying on the men to pay everything, it might have made a difference.

In a small town, job opportunities were rare, especially for an inexperienced high school student. I made what little money I had doing odd jobs like cleaning for the elderly and helping Martha out from time to time when she needed me.

I heard the blender going, meaning they were still there. I prayed they didn’t hang around.

I sat at Mrs. Martha’s desk, thinking about the male I’d caught watching me. I couldn’t decide whether he was repulsed by me or merely curious.

His figure was that of a classic jock. He stood six feet with a slightly amped up, lean, athletic build. Basically, perfection that would never go for my imperfection. Even his dark brown hair was perfectly styled into a faux hawk, trimmed close and clean along the sides and tapered into the longer length above. He wore a thin, soft blue shirt that revealed some sort of tribal tattoo on his upper bicep and shoulder, flowing onto his chest. His jean shorts hung effortlessly off his hips. Bright white tennis shoes finished his ensemble and rounded out my misery.

He was the epitome of a handsome popular jock, complete with a surfer’s tan and American Eagle accessories. Regardless of whether I was drawn to him, he would never go for me. I was the fat outcast in this town. It didn’t matter that I’d been diagnosed with a thyroid issue as a child or that I had an autoimmune disease that perpetuated my body’s struggle. No one cared about the reasons why I was overweight; they only cared that I didn’t fit their idea of beauty and therefore must be punished for it. One would think that it’d be different in a small town, but I actually thought it worse. In a larger city, there would be more people in my group, or, at the least, a couple of people open to friends from all sub-groups.

I sighed, waiting a few minutes for them to hopefully leave. I didn’t want to embarrass myself. With my luck, I’d probably get lost in his soft lips with their perfect pout and he’d catch me staring. Or his friend would. I couldn’t decide which would be more humiliating.

I poked my head out of the back room, but couldn’t see anything past the line of kitchen gadgets on the counter. I took a deep breath, hoping luck was on my side today, and walked out to the seating area.

I froze, immediately spotting the pair at the table beside mine as I rounded the bar top. I inwardly groaned when they both looked directly at me. Thanks a lot, Lady Luck.

Chapter 5

JONAS

She was clearly uncomfortable. I wondered if she felt the pull as strongly as I did. I frowned, trying to recall any alphas that had been mated to a human. There was only one that I knew of.

Jim had to take things much slower. He said it was more intense for him than for Emily. He had to go at her pace, let her build up to his level. Almost a decade later, he still thought he cared about her more than she did him, but they’d at least found a comfortable median to meet both of their needs.

“Damn, bro. This is gonna be tricky. She’s definitely feeling something, but I don’t know if it’s good for you or not.” Brody took a casual sip of his blended coffee beverage.

I watched as she swallowed hard. Her hands fisted the hem of her shirt. It was almost like she was trying to build the courage to walk back to her table.

She took a deep breath, causing her chest to be pushed out, amplifying my physical craving for her. I bit the inside of my cheeks hard, drawing blood, to distract myself. I felt the sting of my teeth slicing my flesh; I tasted my sweet blood coating my tongue.

She cautiously approached the table beside us, collapsing in her chair and immediately lifting the book to cover her face.

Brody grabbed my forearm. “If it’s that bad, we need to go.”

“No,” I growled, my low voice much harsher than I intended, as I jerked my arm away.

He pursed his lips, a single brow raised. “I see. Well, I’m making the executive decision that we leave. You don’t want to scare her off, do you?”

I sighed, scrubbing the back of my neck, too worked up to reply.

Anxiety didn’t allow me to sit still. She was so close yet not close enough. I wanted to taste her, to touch her. I needed to engage with her somehow. I had to know her. This persistent urge to be near her was driving me insane, wracking my brain. I couldn’t think straight. I could only feel.

I felt my wolf shredding my insides; his snarl rumbled my lungs every time I inhaled. And every breath was full of her essence, warming me with her heavenly aroma, making my mouth water, my gums ache and my body shake with need. My flesh was overly sensitive, hyperaware of her proximity.

Brody turned slightly in his chair, gaging her before looking back at me. I saw the sympathy in his gaze. He hadn’t found his mate, but he could tell I was suffering. Ever my intuitive beta; he could read me better than anyone. “Let’s go, Jonas.” He stood, shoving his chair back with his legs and grabbing his cup.

When I didn’t move, his gaze turned threatening. I knew it was the best move, to leave her while I collected myself, but leaving her felt like I’d be leaving a vital part of myself behind, no matter how long.

I watched as she picked up her iced coffee. It disappeared behind the book. I heard her take a small sip. She blindly returned the cup to the table and turned the page in her book.

I gritted my teeth, my nostrils flaring. I hated this. Anger washed away my anxiety. I was pissed. Why would nature give me my mate so young? Why would nature drop her in front of me and make me leave her?

I nearly flung my chair backwards as I abruptly stood, ready to make a run for it before I did something stupid. As much as I despised admitting it, Brody was right. It would do me no good to scare her off.

I snatched my cup off the table, inadvertently cracking the plastic cup.
Shit!

I headed for the door, nearly running to get out of there, away from the frenzy of being close to her. Brody was right behind me, tossing his cup in the trash behind mine.

I chanced a look back at her. She was watching us over the top of her book. Her gaze met mine, causing my heart to skip a beat.

“Come on.” Brody grabbed me and pulled me away from the coffee shop, away from my mate.

“I really hate you right now,” I stated through gritted teeth. I scowled at him as I tugged out of his grip.

“You’ll appreciate me later.” He didn’t even flinch.

Chapter 6

AURA

I watched as the guys left the shop, rather noisily. The smaller looked worked up about something. Even in his upset, he was still appealing. He had this hard look that rattled my bones, yet cut straight through me and tugged at my heart at the same time somehow. It was completely unexplainable; incomprehensible. People didn’t react to other people this way. It was illogical. I was a mess.

“I sense some good old teenage attraction in the air,” Mrs. Martha said.

I angled my head towards her. She was standing at the counter, wiping away non-existent dust and dirt with the same rag from earlier. “I don’t think so.” I frowned, looking at the front door again. Nothing; nobody was there, yet it felt like something or someone ought to be. It felt like a part of me was absent now that he was gone. It was the oddest feeling of existing, yet being only in a state of confused longing. It was like I was craving a specific kind of food, but didn’t know what exactly.

“Sweetie, I know when two people are attracted to each other. I’ve been around long enough to know the signs.”

I chuckled, turning in my chair to face her.  “Oh yeah?”

She smiled knowingly. “Have I ever lied to you?”

“No,” I conceded.

Her eyes glittered. “The less bulky of those two was smitten. He was watching your every move, but his look was more than that of a curious boy. He was trying to figure out how to approach you. Trust me when I say he’ll be back.” She gave me a poignant look and tossed the rag into the sink before facing me again. “And you. You’re fighting your interest, afraid he doesn’t feel the same.” I immediately sobered at her words, feeling my cheeks heat. “Don’t worry, sweetie. Your secret’s safe with me.” She winked.

I shook my head. “It’s no use, Mrs. M. Maybe he seemed interested, but trust me when I say I’m not his type. Guys built like him never go for girls built like me.” I couldn’t keep the sadness out of my voice.

I’d accepted myself. I’d embraced my curves. I was no longer trying to hide them. I wasn’t ashamed of my figure anymore. The doctor, in a very direct way, had said there was nothing I could do to change my size. I would never be thin. I could lift weights and maybe tone up a bit, but I wouldn’t lose more than five pounds, if any. I’d stopped responding to hormone therapy years ago and was a general basket case in the medical realm. I’d come full circle on it though.

Just because I’d accepted my fate didn’t mean my mother had or anyone else in this town had though. I knew it was the inside that counted, but when you were judged by the outside every day, it seemed obsolete.

“Aura, I may not be up to par on my social etiquette in teen circles, but I know when a guy likes a girl. That boy nearly drooled when you came back out front. Mark my words. He will make a move sometime soon.”

I sighed. “That’d be nice.”

Her eyes crinkled in the corners as she gazed at me. “Don’t be so downtrodden, girl. Your Wilbur will come along, and he’ll love every part of you, even the parts you don’t love about yourself.”

I smiled, thinking of Mrs. Martha’s husband. They’d been married nearly thirty years in a perpetual state of romantic bliss. He was always fussing over her. He surprised her with flowers regularly, helped her out on the weekends at the coffee shop and peppered her with compliments every chance he got. Reversely, she was constantly baking him little treats and doing simple things to show him how much she loved him too. They had the kind of marriage I wanted in the future.

For the moment, I just wanted a guy to give me a chance, to not disregard me immediately because I wore a size sixteen rather than a two.

“Thanks, Mrs. Martha.”

“Anytime, sweetie.”

I refocused on my book as she moved on to cleaning the appliances. Maybe she was right. Maybe there was a guy out there who would love all of me, even the parts I struggled to love.

Chapter 7

JONAS

The entire ride back to the house was silent. Brody kept giving me a sympathetic look as he fidgeted from time to time. It was like an awkward first date gone wrong.

I’d always believed everything happened for a reason. Finding my mate the first day we moved to town sort of proved the point, but it didn’t make it any easier to deal with.

I was on edge, giving the steering wheel the death grip the entire drive home. I was surprised I managed not to break it. My wolf was angry with me, and I was angry with myself for leaving her.

I threw the Jeep into park and yanked the keys out. I bounded out of the car, ready to take off for the woods and run free.

“You know that’s not a good idea. You’re going to go right for her.” Brody’s voice cut into my thoughts.

I turned on him, ready to rip him apart.

“Will!” he yelled for my dad.

Damn it.
He just had to pull the alpha card.

My dad came hurdling out of the house. “What’s wrong?”

I glared at my future beta. I flexed my fingers and rolled my shoulders, still trying to relieve some of my tightness.

Brody didn’t bat a lash. He gave me a pointed look, telling me silently to calm down and think rationally. “Talk to him. He can help you.” He walked away.

“What’s going on, son?” My dad was an older version of me. Our looks were nearly identical, down to our matching tribal tattoos that we got on my sixteenth birthday. His hair was cut in a different style and beginning to change color, and his skin had a few more spots and wrinkles than mine, but his eyes were the same brown as my own, only with a few creases in the corners. We were so alike, yet a generation apart, which was felt at times like these.