Once Upon A Demon [ ON HOLD ]

4.

shinee is love, shinee is life

CHAPTER FOUR

"Thank you for showing me around."

Gareth smiles at me. It had been extremely helpful to find a friend on the first day of college. Gareth had been kind enough to ignore the curious gazes surrounding me, the new girl, and offered to show me around. I'd enjoyed the classes as well. "If you don't mind, can you drop me off?" I nod, not prying. "My brother was supposed to come, but he said he couldn't make it." He adds. I nod again. "Sure," I confirm. He shoots me another wide smile, all teeth and as much as I keep telling myself that I'm not attracted to him, I am. Why wouldn't I be? He's tall, handsome, kind and also a...wolf?

His scent kicks in as he gets into my car. I knew there was something different about him but I never expected him to be a wolf. I'd been so distracted the whole time that I hadn't noticed I'd spent half a day with a wolf. A wolf that could sniff out that I was a demon. He could kill me. I stiffen.

I knew it wouldn't be possible for ordinary wolves to scent me because of the potion but I wasn't very sure if that would work out for very long. Not if I accidentally kept interacting with every wolf in the pack. The potion was a gift from a witch of my own age, Mala Nina Morgan, from when I lived in New Orleans for a year. She was my roommate and also my guide to the immortal world. My parents had kept to themselves so I didn't know much about the immortals until I met her.

"To the left." Gareth points. It's the pack house. He gets out. Just when I think he's going to bid goodbye and get inside, he walks to my side, opening my door. "Come inside." He says – commands. I shake my head. "It's late. I have to leave." I say. Gareth doesn't budge; neither do I. "Some other day?" Hopefully, he asks. "Some other day." I smile.

"You have a beautiful smile." Unwantedly, heat begins to creep up my cheeks. I don't say anything. Gareth winks as he leaves. I look away, hoping he hadn't caught my prominent blush. As I leave, I spare him a glance through the mirror. Like he knows I'm looking at him, he turns back and shoots a smirk. I laugh, shaking my head. Beautiful, beautiful man.

Pity he's a wolf.

"Any more questions?"

Jamie and I sat on the couch, cookies, and milk in front of us. Grandma went to sleep. I'd finished my shift at the shop so here we were, getting to know more about each other. I sit up, adjusting my pillow. Jamie follows my actions with a curious gaze. "You said that mates were picked out? Does that mean that you have no soul-mates?"

Jamie nods. "Unlike the stories published around, there is no destined mate for a wolf. At least from what I've seen, there's never been something like that." She explains. I narrow my eyes, "What do you mean?" Jamie pauses before answering. "Everyone I've ever been around, in my pack and when we visit others, there have been no cases of soul mates. But..." She trails off. I roll my eyes. "But what?" I question, impatiently. "But...a long time ago, an Alpha announced he'd found his true mate." My ears perk up. "It was quite a shocker since that'd never happened before. Many took it as a false announcement until more and more cases begin popping up every year, with Alphas, with ordinary wolves..." Jamie says.

"Your Alpha...?" I trail.

"Rowan's not his true mate." Jamie rolls her eyes. "Bitch thinks she is, but take one look at him and you realize that they're not meant to be together. In some ways, I pity her." She says. "Why?" I question. "Her life's a disaster. She was disregarded when she was small and now, her father's tossing her onto a monster so he can clean his hands. She'll never be happy." Jamie finishes. "What about you?" I ask. "What about me?" Jamie looks puzzled. "Lucien...?" Jamie sinks into the pillow. "Not my true mate." She says. I don't ask anything further. "I saw him today, after my shift at the shop. I know now. I know why he didn't defend me." She looks down. "I think...I think he found his true mate." I suck in a breath. "Her name's Clarice. Seems she came here from another pack. And oh god, god, they looked so happy." Jamie sighs. I don't speak a word.

Jamie meets my puzzled gaze.

"Why you thought I'd cry, didn't you? What'd you expect? I throw a fit, break things, and make a scene?" She asks, a naughty smile on her face. Then she shakes her head. "I'd known from the moment we'd met that we had no future – we aren't true mates. I'd loved him. He'd loved me. Now he loves someone else. It's over. The end." Jamie finishes and on cue, the doorbell rings. "I'll get it." She gets up. That girl surprises me every day. The door closes with an abrupt thud. "Why are you here?" Jamie asks. I tune into the conversation. "To see you." Lucien? Why was he here? "Why did you want to see me?" Jamie questions, boldly. Her voice doesn't falter, not once. However, Lucien surprises me.

"Because I love you."

I can hear Jamie suck in a breath. "What?" She asks. Lucien doesn't reply. "You shouldn't be doing this," Jamie says. "Why the hell not?" Lucien counters. "Because you have a mate. What would she think of you?" A pause. Silence. Then chuckles. "Mate?" I hear Lucien say. "Yes, mate, Clarice. Ring a bell?" Jamie's sarcastic tone makes me smile. "Clarice?" Almost like realization hit him, Lucien speaks. 'She's my sister.' 'She's my childhood friend.' What's he going to say? Who is she to him?

"She's my cousin." Oh well, I was close.

"Cousin?" Jamie asks. "Cousin. Like my sister." Lucien confirms. Is Jamie relived? She waits for a moment before speaking, "Doesn't matter. Get out. My girlfriend's not fond of our kind very much." She says. "Girlfriend?" Lucien tests the word on his tongue like it's new. "Yeah, girlfriend," Jamie says. "So...you like women now?" A laugh bubbles up inside of me. "Have you...you know...gotten physical with her...?" He growl-whispers. Oh my god! I silently laugh, trying not to make a sound.

Jamie doesn't reply.

I'm still laughing.

Lucien's shocked.

"Yes." My laughter stops. "Yes, she's my...girlfriend. Yes, I have gotten...physical...with her." She's struggling to get the word out. Lucien stays quiet for a minute. "I mean, I don't blame you, she's hot...but you love me...don't you?" Wow, that's two men complimenting me in one day. "No...my feelings towards you have changed...so please...leave." Jamie commands. This time, Lucien complies, probably because he needs time to get his mind around the changes that happened. The very fake changes. "I'm not giving up." He says; I hear the porch steps creak as he leaves. "Good luck," Jamie says back. "This is not over." I hear her scoff.

The front door closes. I yawn.

"Sleepy?" Jamie asks. I nod, "Who was that outside?" Jamie picks up the pillows, avoiding my gaze, maybe embarrassed that she'd been overthinking about something so stupid. "Some drunken idiot asking for directions." She avoids my gaze. I smile at her, sneakily. She narrows her eyes. "Did you hear anything?" I shake my head, "Nope, not a thing. Why?" Jamie smiles warmly. "No reason." A blush creeps up her neck. Looks like everyone's been blushing a lot today. She clears her throat.

Suddenly, I feel uneasy. As though someone's watching me. I shake the feeling off immediately. I get up, Jamie following me. We part ways, she towards the guest – her room and me towards mine. We step into our rooms and she turns around to give me a smile. I call out. "Oh, I almost forgot." She's curious. I smirk.

"Goodnight girlfriend."

I wink.