Beauty and the Beasts

Eighteen

"Where are you taking me?" Jasmine asked after a while of driving in silence.

Zane had seemed very intent on not saying a single word to her, and she had tried to hold up with the silence too. But the more she tried, the more guilt rushed through her, and she had finally given up.

"I don't know either." He sighed as it left his lips, then suddenly brought the car to a stop.

He turned to Jasmine, who was surprised, her eyes wide, one hand stretched to the car dashboard to stop her from darting forward.

"What are you doing?"

He slowly turned to her, his back resting on the door. "Do you want me to apologize?"

"For what?"

"For earlier. Or what would you want? An explanation?"

Jasmine sat back. "I am not a child. I would have known how to protect myself had Andrew..."

"He beat that guy up like that, you think you stand a chance?"

Jasmine swallowed, knowing how right he really was. "But I..."

"Look at me, Jasmine."

She turned slowly, and she swallowed, her eyes taking in his deep grey eyes. She started to avert her gaze, then shook her head.

"I am sorry," she said quietly. "I will be careful."

He watched her for a bit longer, like he was expecting more.

"I..."

Zane gave a small sigh. "Where would you like to clock eighteen?"

Her head snapped up. "What?"

"It is going to be twelve in six hours. Where do you want to clock eighteen."

Jasmine swallowed, then adjusted. "I...well...would you really take me? You are my teacher."

"I am not your teacher right now. I am an older neighbour who is looking out for a younger girl who lives alone. Seems about right."

She gave a sigh and sank back into her chair. "I will be fine with just being home."

He raised a brow, but said nothing, knowing it was enough to have her talking. A minute of silence passed by, and then another, and another, before she suddenly sat up again, her hand coming to her forehead to push away strands of her hair.

"Do you not take me serious because I am so young? Is a little neighbour who needs saving all I am ever going to be?"

He raised a brow, then crossed his hands in front of him. "You should probably ask me that after twelve."

She swallowed. "I wish I had turned eighteen sooner. I wish I had met you after I turned legal."

He didn't reply, just letting it hang in the air between them.

Jasmine sighed again, then lowered her head. Zane just watched her, his eyes blinking a little each minute. Hell, how could he tell her that he was just as anxious too?

That she was...the mate he had come to find, and he needed both the necklace she wore around her neck, and everything else that she was?

He gave a small sigh, then settled back into his chair too. None spoke a word for the longest time, and Zane simply watched the sun set in front of them, his mind eagerly counting the minutes.

Andrew watched the watch in his hand, his eyes squinted. He was in front of Jasmine's home, and it was still locked and empty.

"Damn that wolf!" He cussed under his breath, his hand coming to his waist. There were only a few minutes left, and knowing Zane, he would take his wolf back once the clock struck twelve.

But he couldn't let it happen. The point of all of these would be lost.

He swallowed hard, then walked back to his car. He went in and sat, his feet tapping on the floor anxiously, his chest lightly heaving with restrained anger.

Zane turned to Jasmine who was still not saying a word to him. They had stayed out the entire six hours, and even though he did like that there was no way she would get in contact with Andrew, he hated the steely silence she met him with.

"It's late, Jasmine."

She turned to him. "What? Am I too young to have my birthday out here?"

He sighed. "Why are you so irritated by the fact that you are young?"

"You do not take me seriously, Zane."

"I wouldn't even be here if I didn't. I am not one to waste my time."

Jasmine leaned forward, her eyes boring into his. "What do you see me as?"

He sighed. "I answered this already."

"What if that's not what I want? What if I want something more?"

Zane turned to her. "You want special lessons out of class?"

She blinked, then moved away, the chest heaving with anger and hurt. She didn't expect that she would be this angry even though she was just minutes away from turning legal. Even though she was just...

She suddenly turned, then opened the door and walked out, leaving her bag. The tears blinded her ad she briskly walked farther and farther away from the car, hating herself for having her heart on her sleeve like that. For having everything on her sleeve like that, so she gave it to whomever gave her attention.

"Jasmine."

She didn't stop, then turned to the road. Cars were still moving along the road, and blindly, she started to cross, fueled to irrationality by her anger.

She had just crossed the middle of the road when the bright headlights of a car met her eyes. She stopped, the rush of rationality confusing her so much, she stood in place, not quite knowing what to do or where to go.

Before she could make sense of anything, she felt herself pulled back to safety, and she hit a hard chest, knocking the breath out of her.

She turned to Zane, her eyes wide.

"f**k, Jasmine."

She blinked, then slowly turned to him. She knew what it was. The childish infatuation with someone she knew she couldn't have. And lots more.

But...

She looked up to him, aware that it was already her birthday, her eyes squinting up to him.

He said nothing more, but she could see the breathlessness in the way his chest rose and fell.

She pushed herself up on her toes, and her hand came up to his cheek, cupping it lightly.

Zane cussed under his breath. She was right here, his for the taking, and she had come of age minutes ago.

Jasmine hesitated, her chest heaving. What if he rejected her? What if he still saw her as nothing but...

Suddenly, Zane's hand brought her close, and he leaned to her, his breath caressing her face.

"What is it that you want?" He asked, his voice light, breathy.

"Kiss me, Zane. Please."