Beauty and the Beasts

A New Job

Zane passed his hand through his hair once, his eyes thinning. He smelled of blood, the boy who hung around Jasmine. And he seemed to know him too. It was obvious.

"Damn it," he cussed under his breath, his eyes closing briefly. That hug hurt him more than anything else, and wished time would run faster, till she was a legal adult. Till he had all the right in the world to claim her.

Jasmine smiled as Andrew leaned on her shoulder, his eyes coming to a close.

"Are you comfortable that way?"

He nodded. "You are warm."

She nodded. "Are you going to the hospital later? After school?"

"I would rather not. I would rather spend a bit of time here. With my friend."

He leaned away, his eyes carrying a kind of slow burn intensity. It made Jasmine's breath hitch a little, but she said nothing, wondering why she suddenly thought of Zane.

She swallowed just as he brought his hand to cup her right cheek, causing her to look up to him.

"You would stay with me, won't you?"

She swallowed, but before she could reply, a sharp pain passed through her chest. She immediately moved away, her hand going to the pendant. Her brows furrowed, her lips slightly parting as she tried to process the pain.

"Is something wrong?" Andrew asked, his eyes falling on the pendant.

She shook her head. The pain was gone as fast as it had come, and it was like the one she had felt when he had first touched her.

She gasped a little. It was hard to sketch. It could have been easier to understand had it happened every time he touched her, but it wasn't.

She blinked, shaking her head. It was absurd for her to even think her pendant would hurt every time he touched her. It sounded like something straight out of some crazy paranormal world.

"Jasmine?"

She looked up, then smiled a little. "I am okay. It just.."

"Is something wrong with the pendant?" He moved his seat closer, taking advantage of the emptiness of the class as the rest have gone out for recess.

"No, it just hurt a little."

Andrew looked at it. "Maybe you should take it off. Might be a metal sticking out or something."

It made sense, and Jasmine started to reach to the nape of her neck to unclasp the chain. She gave a small sigh as her fingers sought the small hook, her eyes roaming around.

Suddenly they fell on the large entrance, and Zane was standing there, his eyes so cold they sent a chill running down her spine.

She slowly released it, immediately deciding against removing it. It felt like he had almost compelled her not to, and she cleared her throat and looked away.

"Yeah?" Andrew said, a slight rise in his voice indicating impatience.

"I think I will leave it on."

He thinned his eyes at her, then nodded slowly. "Fine, then. Tell me if it hurts again."

She pulled away from him, her eyes searching for Zane again, but he was gone, almost like he had never been there.

Jasmine walked slowly down the hallways to the school exit. It was another tiring day, and she decided to head straight to one of the more popular bars in town. They probably had an opening, and she prepared to lie about her age.

She soon got to the garage, managing to leave Andrew behind. She did not want him to know that she had to work at a bar, or he would force his help on her again. She already had so much to thank him for.

"Rushing off somewhere?"

She turned, as Zane kept his phone back in his pockets, his brows raising.

"Well, ugh...I am going somewhere."

He nodded. "Okay."

Without another word, he turned around, then entered his car. Her brows furrowed a little, wondering if she had pissed him off. He had being so friendly earlier, and it was weird he was suddenly acting like they didn't know each other.

The loud blaring sound of the car brought her out of her trance, and she looked up. His car was still parked, his eyes cold as he watched her through the front glass.

"I'll drop you," he said simply.

She swallowed. For some reason, he still felt different despite his offer. With slow steps, she moved to the car and got in.

"Thank you, professor. I was..."

"Zane. We are not in school anymore."

She nodded. "Z...Zane. Thank you, Zane."

It felt like a rush of euphoria the way his name rolled off her tongue and he briefly closed his eyes, nodding.

Oh, for the days to pass by.

"Where are we going?" he asked her after some time.

"Well, the metro bar."

"Why? You want a drink? You are underage, however."

She shook her head. "I want to work there. I need a source of income."

He turned to her. "I understand. You are underage, however."

She nodded, closing her eyes. "I know. I know, it's just..this is the life I have to live."

"Not if you choose me."

She turned. "What?"

He shrugged. "I said you wouldn't have to work at a bar that is probably illegal if they are going to hire a high school student, when you can just stay with me."

She turned slowly, her eyes a little wide. "Stay with you?"

She hated the hard thump of her chest, and the way she felt a little expectant.

He nodded, then suddenly swerved to the right, and parked the car. "I happen to have a job opening."

"Really? Where?"

He shrugged. "Back at home. It happens to have a rather large garden, so I was looking for someone to watch them for me. I would pay you however way you want."

She swallowed, excitement filling her. Excitement that she wouldn't have to deal with smelly drunk men, or go through one embarrassment after another. Excitement that he was the one she would be working for.

He smiled, his eyes darkening a little. "You can only start after you turn eighteen, though. I won't hire an underage worker."

"But Zane..."

He felt his heart almost falter at the sound of his name leaving her lips. Damn.

"That's final. If you have a problem, you can always come to me. Consider it an advance."

She broke into a big smile. "Thank you so much for all your help."

He smiled to himself, before starting the car again. More than her, he was doing himself a favor. Keeping his mate by his side, keeping his wolf by his side.

He smiled and said nothing, then reversed the car and drove them back home.

She got down once they got home, and held her bag to herself, her smile big.

"Thank you."

He nodded and walked away, leaving her standing there, her stomach giddy. She slowly walked back home, her teeth biting down on her lips, her smile small.

She found herself sitting at the window at night, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. And when she did, his bare back, the tattoo on the side, she found her heart fluttering once more.