Chapter 5)Such A Drag

After the dress, it was hair and makeup and this and that and all this stuff that did take most of the day.

I didnt get to look in the mirror much this whole time, but I caught a glimpse of myself in a window on our way to my aunt and uncles office — which Jason has taken over — and I dont look terrible.

Its not what I would have done for myself — the makeups a little heavy — but it could have been worse.

I will be wiping some of it off, though. They made my freckles disappear under all this concealer! That was probably the point, but I look weird without them. Like Im my evil twin with noticeable skin or something. Not to mention the blush. They went crazy with it. I look like a clown that just got complimented on my shoes, but they said, and I "e, "weve got to add some color to those lifeless cheeks."

Well, Im sorry, not enough blood flows through my veins for that.

The eyes are pretty loud too. Although Im afraid if I try to wipe off the blue-purple hombre thing going on, it will ruin everything and make me look even more like a clown. And thats not the look Im going for either.

The hairs fine. Its just two simple french braids running down over my shoulder and stopping near the middle of my back. It really makes all the different colors I have running through my hair look beautiful. The styles nothing too extreme. What they wanted to do at first, though, was. They were so adamant about wanting to dye my crazy colored dark brown, nearly black hair, BLONDE. Blonde! Out of all shades! They ranted about how great it would be for the look and how it would make my green eyes pop and blah blah blah. First of all, my eyes arent always green. Second of all. . .

. . . Well, I just have no desire to be a blonde.

And Im afraid of commitment and change, so I keep my hair the same forever, but that has very little to do with it.

I had to pin the hair stylists wrists behind her back to keep her from doing it. The warriors and Blondie tried to stop me(this also took up quite a bit of time) but I was not letting go until I knew my hair wasnt dyed.

And now, here we are. We were walking down the hall to meet Wolfie. Hair still perfectly brown and rainbow.

I wonder what hell think.

No, I dont. I dont care.

. . . Yes, I do.

But he will never know that.

Blondie knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Wolfie called from inside.

"Its Emily."

So Blondies name is Emily.

"Come in," he responded.

We did as he said and opened the door. I looked around and noticed he hadnt done much to the office. Hes sitting at the larger of the two desks — my aunts — and hes moved it to the center of the room. Theres also a bunch of papers — probably her stuff — that fill the trash can next to him.

Well, at least now my aunts desk is finally getting cleaned out.

Thats pretty much it of what he changed. My uncles things havent even been touched.

We stepped into the room and found him looking down at a couple of documents. I recognize a few of them as my aunts, and others I dont recognize at all.

Blondie — or Emily placed her hand at the small of my back and ushered me forward until I was in front of his desk. My eyes wander down to some of his papers while hes busy.

"Ill be done in just a second." He glanced up at us, then went back to his work. "I just need to —" he stopped and looked up again, seeming a little startled. ". . . Finish this."

Ha.

He sat there staring at me for a bit. Eyes unblinking and trained on me.

None of his people seemed to know what to do.

"Well, chop-chop, I dont believe in being fashionably late," I exclaimed with a clap in the hopes of snapping him out of his minor brain malfunction.

Partially because it was giving me butterflies.

He blinked. "Right! Wait, what time is it?" He checked his watch. "Four thirty-two! We wont have any time for traffic. Zach, tell that to the driver and have him start the car."

"Yes, alpha."

I whipped around, and there stood Happy the beta.

When did he get here?!

Before I could even think twice about it, he was gone.

After stacking all his papers, Jason stood up, and Im just now noticing that hes not wearing what he was before. Now hes wearing black slacks and a white button-up.

Yum.

Im not even mad at that one. The way that shirt fits are not doing him any wrong.

He reached over and grabbed his jacket, and I watched the muscles flex in his back and arms as he slipped it on.

YUM!!

Okay, that one made me feel a little like a creep.

He started making his long strides towards the door and grabbed my arm on the way, dragging me along behind him.

Stupid sparks erupted.

"Geez, how do you walk so fast?" I questioned, annoyed with being dragged around.

"Keep up," he threw over his shoulder instead of answering my question.

"Um, excuse me? You can get back to me on that after you put on a pair of three-inch heels," I shot back.

"Youll be waiting a while from that. Might as well just speed up now," he replied.

Oh, you little —

He yanked me forward, cutting off my mental come back.

I tried to stay in step with him, but I kept stumbling over my own feet—stupid heels. We got to the stairs outside the house, and he started heading down them. Very quickly. I stepped down the first step, and my ankle immediately twisted painfully underneath me. I lost my footing — obviously — and started preparing myself to face the plant.

I waited a few milliseconds.

Nothing.

What the heck?

I peaked an eye open.

I found myself hovering a few feet off the ground. I turned my head to see Jason, still with his hand around my forearm, but now, the other is wrapped around my waist, keeping me from crashing into the ground(because, of course, what kind of hate-love story doesnt have someone falling helplessly into another someones arms intense eye roll). He hasnt picked me back up, so were still in this sort of dipping position(because yeah). Hes standing over me, looking down at my not so frail figure.

Not frail, yet, were here with me hanging relatively helpless in his arms.

It sounds like something a frail person would do to me.

I wouldnt say I like it.

Nevertheless, butterflies exploded in my stomach.

I opened my mouth, not knowing what to say or do. This is so weird! With his face so close to mine and eyes boring into me.

Theyre beautiful.

I wouldnt say I like it.

Why does his gaze paralyze me? This has never happened before. Is this all because of the stupid mate bond? Thats how it works? It just makes him completely irresistible?

And. . . Alluring.

And beautiful.

And amazing smelling.

And — AH!

I wouldnt say I like it. Just like I hate the undeniable beauty in his eyes and ability to make my knees wobble out of. . . What?! Admiration of his perfectness?

The logical side of me is saying hes a normal person(possibly below average) who just goes through the motions to fit in. Youve seen nothing extraordinary about him. Hes courageous enough to act on. My reasoning: he took over a house to please his power-hungry werewolf friends! To rise in their ranks. To gain control among them.

On the contrary, every other side of me is saying, mate mate mate! You NEED this being in your life FOREVER! He is the best, most perfect, most fantastic thing in the universe. No matter how impeccably stupid and brutal he is to get along with under the circumstances.

Even that side of me knows my life would be SO MUCH easier without him.

Though, the logical side of me also says,

(I know, I talk to myself a lot in my head, deal with it.)

If you try to get away from the matehood, it will feel like someone is ripping a piece of your heart out and trying to shove it back in, inside out.

Literally. Not just emotionally.

So. . . The mate bond wins.

In turn, I feel like a dear caught in incredibly mesmerizing headlights.

I wouldnt say I like it.

I wouldnt say I like it with a burning passion.

So to get out of this highly uncomfortable position, I did the first thing that came to mind.

I know I said I wouldnt do it, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Thanks," I stated casually, just to break the ice.

Acting skills are on point. I bet he couldnt even tell I was drooling over him.

He nodded and slowly brought me back up to his side, still staring intensely into my eyes. "No problem, wouldnt want to mess up that pretty face of yours."

Hehe, thanks.

I hate you.

"But of course you would say that, wouldnt want to mess up that not superficial reputation of yours," I smiled back at him.

He looked unamused.

Good.

Now that were not in that position, I can see more than just unicorns and rainbows and think clearly.

He started walking again, and now I had time to take in my surroundings.

The place is empty, except for multiple werewolves prowling around. Guards, Im assuming. Some are in human form, and others are in wolf form.

"Everyone is under house arrest until further notice when we can get some rules in place," Jason explained, already knowing what I was thinking.

I grimaced.

I wouldnt say I like this.

. . . Those are my friends. My family.

I glanced up and caught him looking down at me. He immediately turned his head back to the front, trying to act like he wasnt just staring at me.

I took in a deep breath.

Sorry, Wolfie. Youre in for a ride.

Im getting my house back