Beautiful Things

Chapter 5-Mate

SHE WAS CLOSE. HE could tell. The wolf was a human boy now, laying on a couch inside of a small bungalow. He shot straight up, his eyes flashing as he pushed his way to the front door. An old Chevy truck roared into the driveway, and that's when he saw her.

♡

"This is the place, trust me," I argued, narrowing my eyes at Brian. Nobody ever warned me having a twin would be so aggravating. He mumbled something under his breath after realizing I was right, and pulled to a stop at the front of a cute little building. I stepped out of the truck, immediately pulling my hair into a ponytail and retrieving our guns from the back. I got back down, my arms trembling a little with the weight I carried. I glued my eyes to the ground, which helped a little, until I slammed right into something hard. I yelped, and dropped the rifles.

I had not crashed into an 'it', but a 'who', instead. And that 'who' had somehow caught the guns I was sure had fallen onto the ground. That 'who', who was also magnificently gorgeous and that 'who', who I was sure would bring out the worst in every teenage girl with any amount of hormones. He had these amber-brown eyes and dark coal black hair that Snow White would kill for, not to mention the muscles you could see through his shirt. There was also something about the way he smelled... I can't quite explain it, but it was something that made me want to make out with him right on the spot. It probably wasn't a good thing.

I took a step back, smiled graciously, and explained my situation. The boy looked a bit dazed-I mean, who wouldn't? I must like look like a bear in all these layers-but then finally spoke.

"Yeah. The hunting grounds are that way, you can check in with my grandmother inside..." he trailed off, pointing towards the bungalow, but didn't take his eyes off me the whole time; almost as if he didn't trust me. Not that I minded a little bit of eye contact, seems how I could gaze into those pools of Tuscan sun all day.

"Mhmm, yup." I said distractedly, and jumped a little bit when Brian ran past me, tapping my shoulder.

"Come on, Bailey." He narrowed his eyes and mouthed, you already have a boyfriend.

"Coming," I growled at my brother, trying to take the guns from Mister Gold Eyes. He shook his head at me, flashing me a smile that made my heart throb like Livvy's must when she fangirls over some boy band.

"I'll carry them for you," he said, turning away from me.

"Oh. Okay," I shrugged, and skipped a little so I was at pace with him. His strides were much longer than mine, and he had a good six inches on me, so one footstep of his was the equivalent to three of mine. "What's your name?"

"Oscar. And you're Bailey? I heard your brother."

"Yeah. He's my twin, his name's Brian. He's boring. I'm the better, female, more attractive version of him."

"I can see that," Oscar chuckled, holding the door open for me.

"Yup," I blushed awkwardly, messing with the phone in my back pocket as I walked in.

"So are you and your brother just here for the summer, or...?" He began, setting down the guns on a marble counter that made them look very out of place. My brother was to the side, in deep conversation with an old woman who must be Oscar's grandmother.

"Yeah, just for the hunting."

"C'mon, Bae!" Brian's voice called behind me. I turned, waving a quick goodbye to Oscar before starting to leave.

"Hold on a second," I felt a hand reach forward and touch my shoulder.

"Huh?" I turned around to see Oscar writing something on a piece of paper.

"My phone number, in case you need anything." He handed me the slip of paper, and my face grew hot.

"Thanks," I smiled, before shuffling out of the room and stuffing the paper into my back pocket along with my phone. "See ya."

"See ya," he threw me a wave, a small smile curling his lips at the corners. It was very attractive, if I do say so myself.

I smiled, waved, and left the room after my brother.

♡

She walked out the door, and it physically hurt him to watch her go. He clenched his stomach, twisting his shirt in one hand.

"So it's her?" An old woman's voice shook slightly, and she stepped into Oscar's view. She was shortened by age and hunched slightly over her cane.

"Yeah," Oscar choked out. He brought his eyes up to meet his grandmothers rheumatic white orbs.

"Your mind will break slowly if you don't mark her soon." She informed him hastily.

"I'm aware," Oscar growled. He had never liked the marking process, and he wouldn't force it onto his mate even if it would mentally kill him to be rejected.

"Time is of the essence, Oscar." Her words filled him with dread as he stared at his grandmother. If there was a moment one realized their life would change indefinitely, if was this moment for Oscar. For the better or the worse, he would see.