The Beast

Chapter 14 - Worry

    "Maia?" I rushed out into the living room, ignoring my bedroom door that was swinging on its hinges. She sat up straight, startled by the alarm in my voice.

    "What? What happened?" She looked around her home for danger, only stopping when I blocked her vision.

    "Are you sure Arias didn't go anywhere this morning?" I couldn't help the worry that was plaguing my thoughts. What if he got caught? Or worse, what if he went back to Barlowe?

    She untucked her legs from underneath her and set her snacks on the coffee table. "No, I never heard the door open, and I didn't see him at all after I came out here." She leaned against the arm of her couch, watching me fight my inner turmoil.

    "Well I don't understand-" We both jumped and whipped around to the front door that creaked open.

    Arias' tall form ducked through the frame, and the fear I felt turned to anger. "Where the hell were you?" I shouted, furrowing my eyebrows and stomping in his direction. His eyes widened, and he stood stiff in the entranceway, watching me prepare to scold him. "Do you know how worried I was?"

    He opened his mouth to speak, but I couldn't stop the stream of word vomit that spilled from my mouth.

    "You need to say something when you leave! What if they catch you? How am I supposed to explain you to my dad?" As my fury bubbled down, I suddenly felt embarrassed from my outburst.

    What made it worse was the smirk that lit up his breathtaking features.

    "What?" I frowned, crossing my arms as I suddenly felt insecure. He pushed on the door to close it the rest of the way, and it was then that I noticed how very shirtless he was. Sweat dripped down his semi-flexed chest muscles, and I couldn't tear my eyes away as I watched it trail further and further south until it was absorbed by the material of his shorts.

    Maia cleared her throat, obviously watching the interaction as if it were a new episode of one of her shows. I jumped back, suddenly feeling hot from our close proximity. He continued to watch me, not at all concerned about his half naked physique.

    "You were worried." He teased, leaning against the wall behind him. I scoffed and brushed my hair behind my ear. He is out of his mind.

    "Yeah, okay." I struggled to make eye contact, mostly from the embarrassment that warmed my cheeks to a blushed pink.

    He smiled wide and shook his head, watching me shuffle between my feet.

    The bag I had brought with me caught my eye, and I dove for it for anything that could change the subject. "Here." I held it out for him to take, averting my eyes as he outstretched his tanned arm to take it from me. "I'm going to get you something different. Marcus doesn't really have much that will fit you."

    Arias' tall frame was limited to my brother's exercise clothes and oversized shirts that he mostly slept in. Anything that he would wear on a normal basis would be much too short on the monstrous wolf in front of me.

    He accepted them graciously, holding the strings tightly in his thick hands. "Thank you. I don't know how to repay you."
His cocky smile was gone, and replaced with a sorrowful expression.

    "You really don't have to do anything. I'm glad to help." I moved even further away, pressing my rear onto the edge of the kitchen island so he could come the rest of the way into the house.

    He studied my face for a quiet minute, searching for something that I couldn't really understand.

    My face heated up under his stare, and I could feel my palms grow clammy. What was happening to me?