Chapter 4

"What the hell are you doing here? I demand, my voice high and shrill. Quickly, I remember that Mrs. Penn is just inside, and I close the door behind me. Shifting my gaze to the incredibly handsome man, I gaze into his beautiful eyes as they look at me, and only me.

"I walk with you to school," he smiles, his expression breathtaking. His eyes are full of eagerness, reminding me of an energetic puppy as it plays with its owner. Joy runs across his features, fearless through my lack of a smile. In fact, I can't even hide a scowl.

I begin to walk down the sidewalk, him trotting impatiently beside me. After a few more unbearable moments of bending to Xavier's will, I turn to him, my features indignant. "Go away," my voice bites him, trying to shake his unbearable happiness. His smile, surprisingly, widens.

"Hey Mona... do you think I'm sexy?"

I'm ashamed of how a selfish idiot can disarm me so effectively. For a few seconds I look like a goldfish, moving my lips without any sound coming out. My cheeks are beet red as I finally stammer an unconvincing no.

He grabs me triumphantly, twirling me in a bear hug. "I knew it! Mona loves me!"

"NO!" I scream, trying to pull away from his deadly grip. To no avail, I beat my hands against his muscular chest, trying to ignore the feel of his masculine arms around my waist. "I DON'T LIKE YOU! YOU ARE A STALKER! HOW DO YOU KNOW MY NAME AND WHERE I LIVE?! WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME TO SCHOOL?!" I tug furiously at him, trying to keep control of my tomato red cheeks.

"Well, first of all, I'm not following you," he points out, "I'm walking with you." I glare at him, hoping he'll get the message, but he conveniently ignores it. "The reason I know where you live and your name," he continues, "is because I saw you running home-"

"So you followed me," I say doubtfully.

"Well, then I did... but you said I was following you now..." he protests weakly, pausing when he realizes it's no use. I hide a teasing smile that rises to the surface. I don't want to encourage this man, attractive as he is. If I release a smile, a kind word, he will never leave me alone.

Brushing past him coolly, I walk faster, taking longer steps with my short legs. My mid-length red hair flows over my shoulders, pushed behind me by the roaring wind.

"Wow, you walk fast," he comments gently. His startling green eyes crinkle with pleasure as he says, "I like to walk fast too. It uniformly matches my pace, completely negating the purpose of speeding up in the first place.

This naive man is truly insufferable.

But I have to admit once again, as I look at his perfect face, that he is beautiful. His azure hair waves in the breeze, the sun catching random strands and making them sparkle. His full, desirable lips yield to a flawless palette, a face that God must have specially crafted. A set of two intoxicatingly green eyes rest under fine brows and a wall of enviable long lashes.

I don't understand why he makes my heart beat so fast.

"Mona, I love you," he chuckles, straightening up after a long moment of silence. Shivers run down my arm. Is there no way out of this nightmare?

There's a whoosh, and a familiar pair of tanned arms lifts me into a tender embrace. "You're really clumsy," manly, musical laughter escapes from Xavier as he lifts me up. I look up into his green eyes, so incredibly beautiful, feeling myself slipping.

No, I scold myself inwardly; don't let even a hint of vulnerability show. If you do, you'll never be alone.

My face hardens as I speak, bewilderment still in my tone. "You don't say that if you don't mean it," I whisper, knowing he would hear me.

He just looks at me, confusion etched on his face. "Of course I mean it, Mona," he says in a neutral tone, "you're my mate. Of course I love you."

"Can you shut up?!" I roar, my voice burning, "I hate you!" Once the words escape my mouth, I quickly look away so he doesn't see the blush. The real emotions boiling underneath the facade.

Time seems to be suspended between us, his hand still clinging to my arm, his face shaking with shock. However, this moment quickly ceases, and Xavier does what is considered impossible to do in this type of situation.

He smiles, his relentlessness relentless. "This is something new. I've never heard of a mate who wasn't in love with his destiny," he said softly.

"You know, Mona, hate is the first step to love." His eyes grow fierce, determined, and he moves closer to me, capturing me with his beautiful eyes.

"I will make you fall in love with me." He takes my hand and I am unable to resist him. I am frozen by his gaze, his words. After holding my hand for a few seconds, he presses his lips to it then releases me.

My hand burns where his lips have touched it.

He then smiles, as if he is looking forward to the moment when I finally accept him. Which, by the way, never comes.

I glance in his direction, while refusing to meet his eyes. I'm really curious as to why he felt so determined to make me love him. It's not because he's attracted to me, because I'm too ugly for that. It can't be because of my personality, because that is the worst I have observed so far in my life.

I listen intently as he starts talking again. "You seem to think I'm a werewolf, not asking me any questions about it after seeing me transform," he says softly, "it's usually hard to accept."

"Who says I believe it?" I scoff, turning away once more so he can't see my inflamed cheeks. I mean, it's hard for me not to believe it, I've seen him turn into one of those furry beasts with sharp teeth. But I don't want to accept it. I don't want to acknowledge that my life is suddenly spiraling out of control.

"Yes, you know it," he smiles, making my heart leap out of my chest, "I can see it in your eyes."

"Shut up," I demand, raising my nose slightly, though inwardly shaking with embarrassment. I've never talked to a boy, let alone a handsome boy, for this long. And in the very first long conversation I have with a guy, he claims to be in love with me?

This is seriously messed up.

Xavier stares at me, my face hidden behind my thick bangs. "Do you have glasses in the forest where I saved you?" He asked.

I nod in response, "Yes, but don't worry about trying to find it. I have this one," I finger my thick lenses. He looks dissatisfied, his facial expression one of sadness.

"Like this," he comments sadly, "I can't see your pretty eyes very well. Is there any way you can do without them?"

I shake my head, my cheeks blushing once more. He comes to a complete stop, bends down to be at my level. Silently, stopping me with a gentle touch, he watches me, examining my face. He frowns, his sparkling eyes crinkling a little in disappointment. "Mona," he says, "you look very different from the first time I met you."

Yeah, I think inwardly, you probably didn't realize how ugly I am until now. "Disappointed?" I ask dismissively.

"No," he smiles, "you look just as good as you did yesterday."

I choke on my own breath, shock running through me. No one, let alone a shockingly beautiful man, has ever called me beautiful, or even pretty.

"It's just," he complains, "that your bangs cover half your face, and your glasses cover your eyes. It's almost like you're hiding from me." His facial expressions bend into a frown.

I stare at him, my face now almost definitely red. This conversation is really introducing a lot of firsts for me and a ton of embarrassment. "Oh really?" I ask, trying to make my voice indifferent, disinterested.

"Yeah," he says, deep in thought. We're both silent, walking together quietly, neither of us sure what to say next.

"Hey Xavier?" I finally speak, surprising Xavier a little. He looks at me, his face disconcerted by the fact that I'm starting the conversation this time.

"Yes?" he replies, "ask me anything." His face straightens a bit.

There are so many questions I want to ask him. For one, why does he insist on calling me beautiful? What kind of fool would think I'm beautiful in the first place? Why on earth do werewolves really exist?

But instead, this question just has to escape my lips. "Why won't you leave me alone?" I ask in a biting tone, mentally slapping myself for wasting an opportunity to ask a better question.

Xavier, however, doesn't seem as disappointed as I am. "Do you really want to know?" he warns, "even I don't really know why, and what I do know might upset you."

I step back in confusion. "Uh, sure," I nod slowly. It was supposed to be a rhetorical question, but if he has an answer, I want to hear it.

"Okay," he says, "well, let me start by saying that werewolves are very similar to wolves in that they have a highly developed sense of smell."

"No duh," I mutter under my breath, earning a brief scowl from him.

"Work with me, okay?" he asks. I nod again, doubtful.

"A werewolf, in fact, has an even better nose in many ways. They are able to associate an individual person with their 'signature' scent, an underlying smell that every creature in the world has. They're all a little different, and never change from the moment the creature is born," he explains slowly, his voice soft and melodic.

"What does this have to do with-" I say, only to feel a single hand cover my moving lips. He looks at me, stunning me with his seriousness, urging me to remain silent.

"Generally," he continues, "all humans have sweet smells. However, yours is very attractive. I have no idea why, but your aroma is very attractive to me."

"Is it because I am your mate?" I ask curiously. He shakes his head.

"It's not just about mating," he says, looking away. "It was even before I mated with you." From my angle, I can see his beautifully blue hair, glistening in the bright sunlight. As he thinks, his eyebrows furrow a little in deep concentration. Finally, he turns to me, his expression hard. "I don't know why, but I... can't stay away from you," he confesses, but with a straight face. His sparkling eyes look shamefully at the ground, knowing his words are not the ones I want to hear.

The world crumbles around me, hope dashed.

"Are you saying I'm stuck with you for the rest of my life?" I ask miserably.

"I really don't know. That's why, after school, I'm going to take you back to the mansion so we can find out."

"WHAT?!" I exclaim, my interjection startling even the birds. He looks at me, his emerald eyes crinkled with sorrow.

"I knew you wouldn't be happy," he comments, his face mirroring mine, "but we both have to get over this. Maybe, in some way, my friends can help me." He grabs me once more for a spine-shattering embrace, sending electricity through my body. "Why can't you accept me more?" he complains, his voice teasing, "am I not kind enough?" His face immediately comes alive, his tone changing slightly.

Not sure what I'm doing, I raise my hand as if to slap him. I bring my hand rushing to his arrogant cheek, only to be stopped by a blur of movement. "You have to do better than that," Xavier smiles, "if you want to slap a werewolf." He pulls me closer, his hot breath trailing over my cheek. "Here's your punishment," he places a muscular hand on my chin, tilting my head up slightly. My heart beats faster as he brushes his fleshy lips over my blushing cheeks.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I yell, jumping away from his smiling form. I quickly move away from him, my voice high and shrill. He merely smiles at the obvious bewilderment beneath my anger. Without a word, he meanders ahead of me, never looking back.

For he knows I will follow.