Wolf Chase [26]

"Ow...ouch...OW! Woman I am in pain!" Noah whined, pulling away from her hand slightly.

Massie laughed, finding much humor in his pain. All men were strong and tough until they were faced with a tweezer on their eyebrows. Weremen were no different. She had been meticulously pulling on Noah's slight unibrow—which due to her excellent work was no longer there thank you very much.

"There, you are now officially finished." She said, tapping on the head currently laid on her lap. It was for easy access and his comfort, but even laying down did not help him stay calm throughout the whole ordeal.

"THANK GOODNESS! I've now officially survived torture!" Noah got up and went to a nearby mirror hung on the wall. "I will say though, I do like the work you did here princess."

Massie pat herself on the back. Of course she did a great job, what else could be expected from a talented hair plucker such as herself? The men finished their vigorous training earlier and one by one they entered the living room to play some fighting video game she could care less about. Over the last few days, it's become custom for Sebastian to pull her aside after her last class and take her to his house. He had not yet told her why he did this, but she easily took it in stride. While the men were outside training, she did her homework and studied. When they finished, she hung out with the Cult.

"Sebastian, I'll do your eyebrows next." Massie offered, seeing him enter the living space. She stood and drew closer to him, shaking her tweezer in front of him. He was fresh from a shower and looked as handsome as ever in comfortable sweats and a white T-shirt—a color she's come to love when it was on him. Sigh. If only he could be hers.

He looked at the tweezer in her hand as if it were an offensive object. "No."

"C'mon Seb! I'm doing you a favor." Granted, Sebastian didn't have the mini-unibrow Noah dealt with, only minor cleaning would be needed for him, but she very much liked the idea of having him close to her.

"No."

"But don't you wanna see if—"

Sebastian grabbed her arms as he gently pulled her closer. His golden eyes found hers as he repeated his most favorite word. "No."

"Ugh, fine!" She gave in, throwing her hands up in aggravation. Men could really be unnecessarily difficult.

"Jordan." His head popped up at her usage. "You. Here." Massie sat on the couch again and pat her lap to show him where she wanted him. Unlike Sebastian, he showed no protest and easily gave up the game in his hand to come to her. Again, why couldn't her heart choose someone like him?

The shaggy haired twin situated himself comfortably on her lap and closed his eyes. Massie was quick to work on his brows. Jordan didn't have a unibrow, but he had a lot of outliers at the corners.

"Why does his head have to be on your lap to do that." Sebastian asked defensively, criticizing their positioning.

Massie leveled him with a dark look before promptly ignoring him and focusing on her work. Jordan's eyebrows were at stake and she would not allow even Sebastian to get in the way. She offered him, he denied. Besides, their positioning did not have any hidden meaning. Why was he so irked by it?

Unlike Noah, Jordan didn't whine as much. He did mumble a few 'ow's here and there, but for the most part he took it like a man. When Massie finished, she beamed at her masterpiece. Jordan had thick, beautifully carved brows that any girl would envy. It truly accentuated his cuteness.

"There, all done!" Massie tapped his forehead. "Go look in the mirror."

Jordan went to the mirror and looked at his freshly done brows. "Well what do you know, it actually made a difference." He mused, looking at himself from different angles.

"I'm an artist, I know what I'm doing," Massie said self-assuredly, half joking. In reality, aside from doing eyebrows, she had no artistic bone in her body. At least when it came to drawing.

"Let's see, who's next..." Her eyes travelled to the men playing video games, but before she could call Jayden over, Sebastian planted his head on her lap.

Massie lifted an inquisitive brow. "To what do I owe this change of heart?" She asked because she wanted to hear him say she changed his mind, because he wants to be close to her, because he was jealous Jordan replaced him. Sebastian doesn't gift her with any answer.

"You didn't speak so much when you were doing Jordan's brows." Sebastian murmured, ignoring her question.

Knowing he would not give her further insight, she set herself to work, one hand grasping the edge of his head for stabilization and the other plucking away. As a way to get back at him, she purposely plucked harder than was necessary, hoping to incite a yelp of pain from this difficult wereman. Much to her disappointment he did not satisfy her yearning, instead wincing every once and a while, but never once crying in pain.

When she finished his brows, she smiled at her great work and tapped him. "Now you can get up and check it."

But rather than go to the mirror and look at her great handiwork like her previous clients, he swiftly grabbed her tweezers and got up. Massie gaped. "Hey! That's mine."

"You'll get it back later, when I drop you off at your house." Was his mere reply. His imposing form hovered over her with a vaguely satisfied expression before going to sit himself with the rest of the guys playing video games.

Massie huffed in indignation. Did he only make himself go through the whole ordeal for that—to take the tweezer away from her? He was definitely strong enough to take it out of her hand if he really wanted to, but he went through the extra step. Having now had her tweezer confiscated, she situated her beside Jordan and crossed her arms in mild agitation.

Much to her surprise, Sebastian wasn't as anti-social as he made himself out to be. He participated in the video game, and judging by the curses spewing from Noah's mouth he was rather good in it.

"Why are you grumpy?" Jordan's eyes flickered to her momentarily before returning to the large plasma screen.

"Sebastian took my tweezers away. Now I can't even do your brother's eyebrows." She complained, referring to Jayden.

Jordan quietly chuckled at her admission. "I have an idea of why he might have done that," Jordan remarked, an impish smile taking shape on his lips.

Massie edged closer. "Tell me."

"Are you familiar with how our kind proposes mating to a woman?"

"Um, no not really. Maybe biting?" Massie offered. While she may have been learning more and more of werewolves since knowing them, the topic of mating didn't fully come up. At least the method of it.

Jordan shook his head. "No. That is a part of the mating process. What I'm talking about is the actual proposal. Men can't walk around biting whatever female suits their fancy. They have to first be accepted by the female before mating happens."

Massie's eyes filled with interest. "How do weremen propose?"

"Unlike western culture, we do not propose by giving a woman a ring—though the ring has been adopted in order to fit in. But, in werewolf culture the way a man proposes is by going down on a knee and placing his head face down on her lap while she is sitting. It also must be done in the presence of more than two witnesses. Even though we obviously weren't proposing to you, if I had flipped around and dug my face into your lap, it would have looked like I was in the presence of everyone," Jordan explained.

The thorough explanation had Massie quiet for a few brief pauses. "Wow." She finally said, blinking in awe. Of all things, she would have never theorized that. How very odd.

"I know, it can sound strange." Jordan relented, seeming to take note of her astonished expression.

Massie's gaze lingered on Sebastian. Could it be that her golden-eyed beast finally developed feelings for her? It did make sense. Picking her up and taking her home each day. Even the days she worked at the Dark Falls diner he appointed himself as her chauffer; she no longer needed to ask her parents for a ride back home, something they were ever so grateful for. Perhaps Sebastian had grown to like her... Still, Massie sensed Sebastian's nature was not one to openly declare abundant love. Yeah, definitely no heart-felt poetry coming out from him anytime soon.

Her attention shifted when Keisha entered the living room and sat in the vacant spot between Sebastian and Noah. She looked as beautiful as ever, wearing hip-hugging jeans and a cute blue blouse that accentuated her ocean blue eyes. Massie would have originally sat there, but since Sebastian unfairly took her tweezer she was annoyed at him and wanted to show it by not sitting near him. The action had been pointless. It wasn't as though he noticed anyway.

Although Keisha sat between the two wereman, her body was angled towards Sebastian. They were having small conversation, but their voices were too low for Massie to decipher the words they spoke to each other. Sometimes, Noah would join in on the convo, but it was clear by the way the blue-eyed beauty rolled her eyes that she much preferred the buff wereman stayed out of it. Throughout the ordeal, Sebastian kept his gaze firmly on the game, only flickering his eyes to the woman beside him once in a while to respectfully show he was paying attention. Massie couldn't help the jealousy that stung her, they looked so comfortable and at ease speaking to each other. Sebastian's pose was relaxed, and she even noticed how he ever so slightly leaned into her when she whispered something in his ear. A slight quirk of his lips showed he found whatever she'd told him amusing, and at this Massie abruptly got up.

To distract herself momentarily she decided to go to the kitchen and grab a snack. Massie was annoyed at how jealous she felt over a conversation, it's really not as though they were outwardly making moves on each other. They were just...being friendly, although she was certain Keisha's intentions were anything but. Sebastian wasn't hers, so it's not as though she should be bothered by another girl's competition. It just sucked that her competition was a gorgeous, strong, she-wolf that had known him for far longer.

Grabbing onto a sour green apple, Massie plopped herself onto a chair in the empty kitchen. Judging by the clock hung near the refrigerator Sebastian would likely be taking her home in about an hour. The loud crunches of her biting filled the quiet room.

"You're here again. How fortunate of us to have you in our home." The sarcasm that dripped from the feminine voice told otherwise.

Recognizing who it came from, Massie faced the newcomer with distaste. "I'm glad to know someone else enjoys my presence here." Massie said dryly.

"Quite the opposite. You're like an annoying bug that refuses to go away, I'd very much like to squash you. You've been here for three days straight this week, don't you know by now you've overstayed your welcome?" Keisha's posture was one of irritation, it was obvious she'd want nothing more than to see her disappear.

I rolled my eyes. Since meeting me the first day of school she'd been unnecessarily malicious. Come to think of it, at the time she probably sensed I had matura and was very much displeased at having someone like me around. She probably feared I could possibly steal away her precious Sebastian. Well, I can't say her fears were unfounded—I ended up falling for the guy and look where I found myself.

"If you have a problem with me coming so often you should take it up with Sebastian, as he is the one who drives me here almost every day—rather willingly might I add. He practically steals me away from my locker at the end of class." I smiled saucily and placed a hand on my hip.

Keisha's eyes became furious hurricanes. She took a threatening step towards me but I held my ground, unwilling to be alarmed by her offensive posture.

"Listen human-freak, don't get any wild ideas into your head. Sebastian is mine, and the only reason he brings you here is to keep you close so that you don't spill our secrets to the rest of the town."

I rocked back in the face of her words, taken aback by their meaning.

Keisha laughed derisively, mocking me. "What? Did you think any of them actually want to be friends with you? Sebastian, Noah, Jordan... they're only tolerating you so that you keep your mouth shut. You're nothing more than a girl with too much information. It's all you'll ever be. I suggest you find your way out of this town and never return again."

I glared at the acidic woman in front of me. Usually I tried to get along with people, but there are some individuals who aren't worth the effort. "Well since that's all I'll ever be, why are you so concerned about my presence here? You seem awfully triggered for someone who finds me so irrelevant."

The she-wolf growled, surprising me with the malevolence held behind it. True, I understood if Keisha was peeved Sebastian was giving me attention (I experienced a minor bout of jealousy myself only moments ago) but the harmful intent Keisha radiated felt ridiculously unnecessary.

"Don't test me." She warned.

My hands balled into fists, I hated people who intimidated others through physical means. "Or else what? What are you gonna do?" I threw indignantly.

It did cross my mind that I should probably keep my mouth shut and seek refuge in the living room with the guys, where I knew for certain Keisha would not step out of line. But who's to say that if I escaped now she wouldn't corner me again and be as aggressive? I had to hold my foot down, or else the she would not take me seriously.

"I will can and will destroy you."

My eyes widened as the once beautiful Keisha had her teeth morph into dangerous, sharp canines. They looked horrendously off in such a perfect face. Her hands shifted as well, and she held her claws up maliciously as she took predatory steps towards me, eyes glinting with satisfaction at the fear that crossed my features. Still, I refused to be shaken.

"What do you think you're doing!"

Keisha paused at the cry of Hailey's voice. The glare once directed at me was now aimed at the younger she-wolf. Hailey stepped in front of me, fixing Kesha with a glare of her own.

Keisha quickly morphed back to her previous form. "Mind your own business pup. We were just having a conversation," she hissed.

"Don't feed me that, I saw what you were doing!" Hailey charged.

"Whoa, what is going on here?" Jordan sauntered into the kitchen, his gaze shifting from Hailey's defensive posture in front of me to the animosity between her and Keisha.

Hailey pointed at the blue-eyed she-wolf. "Keisha was—"

"None of your business!" Keisha repeated, staring down at Hailey, but the little girl refused to back down. It was clear Keisha was not only annoyed Hailey interrupted her "talk" with me, but also her obvious intention of ratting everything to Jordan.

I suddenly felt lost and exhausted at the recent turn of events. "Take me to my house."

At my admission, Hailey looked up questioningly. Her features told me she didn't understand why I wasn't outing Keisha's behavior. Jordan also seemed suspicious and discontent with the lack of answers given to him.

"Alright. I'll go tell Sebastian to—"

"No, you can take me home." I interrupted. This seemed to disconcert him even more. He looked as though he were about to protest but I stopped him. "Just take me home. Please, Jordan."

Jordan stopped and pursed his lips, seeming to come to a conclusion. "Fine, let's go."

I squeezed Hailey's hand reassuringly and followed the shaggy-haired man to the front of the house, completely ignoring Keisha. As I left, her eyes held confusion and mild alarm. Good. She had no idea whether or not I planned to out her, and that would bother her for the rest of the day. That is, unless Hailey told everyone else, but I kind of hoped she didn't. I wasn't sure of the way I wanted to go about this.

Inside the car, Jordan continually gave me curious looks. I knew questions were burning in his mind.

"Jordan, why has Sebastian brought me to your home almost every day? Why are you guys friends with me?" I asked. I watched the trees breeze by us in a blur of green and brown.

A hand went up to scratch the back of his head. "To be honest...I'm not really sure why Sebastian's been doing that. You'd have to ask him yourself. But as to being your friends—why wouldn't we be? You know our secret, and despite that you're strangely not weirded out by us. I would expect you to want to stay away from us, especially after that corcorus wolf injured you in the forest..." He took a deep breath. "You should be afraid of us Massie, you're the one I should be asking why you're friends with us—hey, is that what you guys were arguing about?"

"You could say that," I answered vaguely.

"Massie." He pushed, evidently dissatisfied by my answer.

I groaned. Would it be considered cowardly to tell him the truth?

In the end, his continual glances and the slight tugs when he pulled on the ends of my hair won out. "Fine. I will tell you what happened. But you have to promise to not tell Sebastian or anyone else."

This was something that needed to be settled between Keisha and I alone. I didn't want any of them interfering and make her think for a second she succeeded in intimidating me.

"Why must you place me in such a precarious place. No one?"

"No one Jordan." I stressed.

After a moment, he said. "Go ahead, I promise not to tell."

"Well, I was in the kitchen—minding my own business might I add, when Keisha went in and started being all rude. Pretty much saying she was tired of seeing my go to her house so often and that Sebastian was hers." At the last statement, Jordan's eyebrows skyrocketed upwards. I continued. "She said the only reason you guys were even speaking to me was so that I wouldn't spill your secrets, that I'm nothing more than 'a girl who knows too much information', that I should leave. From there, things escalated...she got really angry at me and said she would destroy me. She went as far as changing her teeth and claws." Jordan's mouth dropped in horror. "She started getting close to me but then Hailey intervened and she backed off. Moments later you came, and here we are." I said, summarizing the events in the most concise way I could.

I didn't want to alarm him with the information, but if his expression was any indication, he was very much regretting promising to not tell anyone.

"Gosh, Massie, I'm so sorry! What she did was wrong, you have to at least let me tell—"

"No! You promised!" I reminded, stopping him from going any further. Jordan's hands tightened on the steering wheel and he clenched his jaw. I could feel the waves of displeasure come from him.

He parked in front of my house and turned to face me. "Not telling anyone about this is stupid and you know it! What are you trying to prove by not telling anyone?! She's not your typical catty high school girl, she's a full on werewolf. She must be disciplined for this!" Jordan argued, his voice full of conviction.

I sighed. Should I let the others find out?