It was gorgeous. It was beyond words can describe. I look all over I see this glass house sitting in the middle of a woodland trail. It was a mansion to say the least. It had a huge driveway with small garden lights guiding the trail unto the front porch. Which was huge. It was decorated with outdoor furniture. With big couches surrounding a glass table. A huge grill resting on one side. A fire pit was surrounded by couches that looked like beds. On the other side there was a canopy with screens to keep the bugs out.
The big mahogany door opened from the middle tilting to the side leaving enough room to walk through.
"Whoa, can I live here?" I ask astonished.
"You're more than welcome to live with us dear." Maggie says as she walks down a long flight of stairs that are all of glass. The foyer was huge. It was adorned with expensive looking vases and trinkets. Art hanged from the walls tidying it all up. A big white fluffy carpet was centered in the living room as white couches surrounded it. Another glass table adorned the middle where a single tray of cacti rested. There was a fire place and a big flat screen. Bigger than the one the Burke's had.
Everything looked clean and prestige. As if it were ready for a photo shoot for a catalogue. Those that show you how you can decorate your home if you had the money and the mansion to go with it.
"Did you pick this place?" I ask Maggie in awed.
"Actually it's a family heirloom from Tristan's side." She gives me a small smile as if it brought her pain.
I was about to ask her about it but she quickly brighten up and suggested I let her give me a tour. I accepted instantly. This place was out of this world.
When Mark said Ash got two walk-in closets he meant it. Bass's closet and Ash's were joint by a double door. They could easily access each other's room. All Ash had to do was keep the doors open and it was simply one huge continuous space that she was already filling up. There were many bagged clothings hanging on each side. Shoes were displayed neatly on their proper shelves. A cabinet was left open and inside it had diamond bracelets, earrings, and a few necklaces. It seemed like she didn't finish setting anymore up.
On Bass's side bags lined the walls. Every color every design was displayed. Perfume bottles were scattered around making me wonder what Ash was doing right now as she just left things untidy. She was OCD like that.
Maggie continues to show me each room although I know they didn't consent to be part of the tour they let Maggie do as she pleased.
"Come, I want to show you Tristan's favorite room in this house," she pulls me along as she hurriedly makes her way down the hall. This house was three stories high and we were barely on the third floor as she decided to start from atop to bottom. At the end there were double wooden doors. She pushed them inside as they slowly opened to a large room. Bigger than Ash's walk-in closets.
The windows were more like walls as they were from floor to ceiling. The bright sun shone inside highlighting every aspect of the room. Just as the huge windows took over as walls on the opposite side the walls were bookshelves. Filled to the brim with all kinds of books. There were everywhere. On the desks that lined the room, on the floor in stacks, on the little reading nook on the corner.
Two lounge chairs sat in a corner with a small table in between. They were also filled with books.
A rug adorned the middle of the wooden polished floors. Everything else was tile or marbel but not this room. It had a cabin type of vibe. The main desk the was in the center was full of papers and books. It looked messy but I'm sure Tristan knew exactly where everything was.
"Wow, this house keeps getting better and better," I say.
"Right, I had forgotten how beautiful it was," Maggie sighs wistfully.
"Why did you leave?" I ask but she was already rushing back to the stairs. Calling for me, I quickly follow her to continue the tour.
The second floor consisted of Tristan and Maggie's room which I'm guessing was just for show as they won't be sleeping on those beds anytime soon, or at all.
Mark's room was located there as well he got the room that lead to a balcony. His room was just a mess with clothes on the floor and things scattered around. I laughed as Maggie closed the door shaking her head.
On the main floor there was a dinning room and then the kitchen. Both extravagant. The latest appliances adorn it with marble countertops and a huge island that had food on it.
"What's that for?" I ask as she continues on about how she convinced Tristan to modernize the place. How she got deals on the countertops and was able to get new cabinets as the old ones were gross.
"Oh, oh!" She says as if she finally remembers why there was food there. "That was because Mark had the bright idea of ordering from every place that delivered out here in this town to see which one tasted better."
I laugh as Maggie just shakes her head. Mark never fails to get into his antics. Like I said he's the only one that is interested in food.
"I wish he'd get over it. I thought it was a phase but I guess not. The smell is just revolting," Maggie mutters as she quickly leaves the room.
Mark had left me once the tour began saying he was needed elsewhere. Which was a lie but I didn't blame him, when Maggie gives a tour she will tell you every last detail about anything. I kept mental note of the most expensive things in the house as to avoid them like the plague. I didn't want to be the one to destroy a 100K vase that is the size of my head.
Looking at the food Mark seemed to order from all different kinds of places, Chinese, Thai, pizza, and Mexican. Not from one place from all different restaurants. There was enough food here to feed all the town if need be.
"Hey, hands off my food!" Mark snarls. He reaches for the slice I was examining but I quickly stuff it in my mouth. The piece was small so I had no trouble shoving it in.
"Mmmm," I say as I chew it. I wasn't planning on eating it I was just checking it out. Since Mark snarled at me I decided to do the thing he accused me of.
Mark gasps as he slides the pizza box towards himself. "How could you?" He asks with tears in his eyes. He was good. Real good, bit dramatic, but I did feel guilt for eating one slice out of the yet full box.
"I thought you said 'sharing is caring'" I reply earning myself a glare. He hates it when someone uses his own words against him.
Bass slides in as he starts to strum at his unplugged electric guitar. He mouths lyrics to an unheard song as he continues to jam out ignoring us altogether.
"I thought I was the weird one," I say as I try to reach for the Thai food. A cold hand grips my wrist preventing me from reaching the bag. I look up to see Mark looking at Bass with furrow eyebrows and a strange expression on his face. He wasn't even looking at me but he kept his hand on my wrist preventing me from moving it.
"Where's Ash?" Mark asks Bass. Still holding me in place.
"She's out back, said something about meditating," Bass answers as he lowers his shades to look at us for the first time. His nose scrunches up as he looks at the food. He raises an eyebrow as his eyes settle onto our hands. Shaking his head he walks out without uttering another word.
"Would you like to come for breakfast tomorrow?" I ask Mark after Bass's departure.
"Would it be like today?" He hesitantly asks.
Looking him in the eye I respond, "I'll make sure of it."
Nodding his head Mark let's go of my hand as I finally reach the food. He eyes me suspiciously but proceeds to share with me.
"I swear this place reeks of wet dog," Ash complains as she storms in from the back doors. Those sliding glass doors are going to be a burden. I just know it.
"Excuse me?" I say with my mouth full.
"Not you, I'm used to your smell but out there it's like a kettle full of wet dogs," Ash shudders at the thought. I snort a laugh as Mark reaches for the noddles.
"Speaking of which, your new school will be filled with them. Are you ready to meet more of your kind?" Ash asks me out of nowhere.
I hadn't really thought about school in a while that all those insecurities I had earlier come crashing back. Putting my spoon down I shove my tray to Mark as my appetite is long gone now.
Mark glares at Ash before taking a bite from the food I was eating. He grumbled something but I wasn't paying attention.
"I haven't really thought about it," I finally say.
"I'm here to help if you want," she smiles expectantly at me.
I sigh and shake my head. Leaving her deflated as she walks out the kitchen.
"Why can't you just come to the school where Tristan is teaching?" Mark asks.
"It's a private school, that requires money."
"I can get you a scholarship if you want," Tristan states, startling me. "It won't be an issue especially if I give a big donation."
I looked at him stunned but quickly recover, "I doubt the Burke's will want to be in debt with you." By Burke's I meant myself and we all knew it.
"Well if you change your mind the offer still stands." Tristan watches Mark devour a whole taco before shaking his head and walking away. He grabbed a book that was on the table on his way out.
I laugh as Mark manages to drop an enchilada on himself instead into his mouth.
"How far can you go before it's werewolf territory?" I ask after watching Mark cry for the crumpled food.
"A mile from your house. That's as far as we can go." He says giving up trying to pick the pieces of the enchilada.
"So you can walk me that far?" I ask.
"I can drive you that far. I rather not walk." Mark states as he takes a slice from the other pizza boxes.
"You can drive yourself. I mean we did spend a whole summer teaching you," Ash walks back in wearing a sweater dress with thigh high boots.
"That too," Mark points out.
"I don't have a car," I state as a matter of fact.
"Take my mustang," Mark says as he reaches for an egg roll.
Ash scrunches her nose as Mark bites into it making grease drip from his chin. He moans as he takes another bite. "Delicious."
"I don't know about that, I can just take the bus. I'm sure there's a bus or something." I hope there is because walking as much as I don't mind, I rather not.
"There is, oh my gosh! What if you meet another of your kind and you fall in love! Or you meet a new best friend and became your own little pack!" Ash says excitedly.
I cringe at the thought. I rather walk.
"What if you find your mate?" Ash asks after a moment.
"Don't jinx me!" I scream. Surprising them as Mark stops eating halfway through spoonful of rice. Ash pouts.
"Why oh why would you even say that?" I says pinching the bridge of my nose.
"It's just a thought. I mean it is an option. You're the small town lone wolf." Ash says wistfully.
"No I'm not!" I said gritting my teeth. I was becoming irritated again. It seems to be easier to annoy me than before.
"Whoa there cranky, no need to get mad," Bass waltzes in.
"I'm not angry," I grumble.
"Maybe it's because you haven't shifted in so long that your wolf feels caged in," Maggie suggest as she walks in with her laptop. She sits on the bar stool on the island pushing away a box of pizza that Mark has yet to eat.
She sets the computer down and looks up at me with a sweet smile.
"Maybe," is all I said. I knew it was. I suspected as much.
"Ash look at the new releases, aren't they just stunning?" Maggie says changing the subject. I love her for that. She knew exactly when the subject needed to be changed. Ash rushed to her side gushing over everything Maggie showed her.
Looking at them gave me a pang of longing. Shaking those thoughts I cleared my throat before proceeding to say everything that I'll regret in a few days time.
"Ash, how about you lend me clothes to wear for school and maybe even help me pick things out." I say quickly before I could stop myself.
Ash head snapped at me looking bewildered she eyed me suspiciously before smiling. She gave a high pitch squeal as she rushes over to me to crush me in a hug. She runs to Maggie and jumps before clapping her hands excitedly and leaving the room.
"I think you broke her," Bass says as he tried to tune his electric guitar. He was sitting on one of the chairs with his feet on top of another. The table that was clearly smaller than their lavish dinning room table, which was decorated with fake fruit. Bass had music books opened as he tried to play a song only to have his guitar screech in protest.
"BASS!!!" a shout sounded from above, "come help me!" Ash shouted.
"Great, now I'm going to be a mule and carry all her closet back downstairs. You know how long it took me to take all of that upstairs? We're in the third floor for crying out loud," Bass complained as he walked out the room.
"Poor Bass," is all I knew to say.
Ash came in with both hands full of bagged hangers. She laid one load on top of a chair before walking to Maggie and handing her the rest. Maggie unzipped the first one and peeked inside. Gasping she gave me a knowing smile.
Days, did I say days? I meant minutes. An hour hasn't passed and I already fully regretted everything.
Bass came strolling in with triple of what Ash was carrying. He laid it all on the table. Just as I thought he was about to sit back down he strolls right back out whistling.
"Ash, you do realize my closet isn't as big as yours. It's the size of your shower basically," I say as she continues to sort through the clothes. Only unzipping a bit to see what was inside.
A snort comes from Mark, "her shower is bigger than your whole room, including that closet."
I didn't really check their bathrooms as Maggie demeaned it unworthy of a tour stop, which I understood.
Okay, "Ash it's as big as this cabinet," I say pointing to the nearest one. It was big but not bigger than my room.
"Oh shush, you're going to love these," she beams.
Bass comes back in with a box. He sets it on the counter and walks away. With my eyes I try to compel him to sit his butt down and not bring anymore things but he just walks right out.
What have I done? I think to myself. Mark laughs as he continues to shove food into his mouth.
"This will blow your mind," Ash states as she goes for the box Bass had brought in. "Remember that perfume me and Bass tempered with, to hide your scent?" she asks me. Nodding my head I see as she pulls a bottle of perfume out.
"Well, we perfected it." Ash states as Bass strolls back in holding another box. "We managed to make it scented!" Ash squeals.
"Don't tell me it smells fruity," I grumble.
"First you criticize because it doesn't smell like anything now you're criticizing it because it's fruity, make up your mind please," Bass rubs his temples before plotting back onto his chair.
Shame washes over me as I hung my head not saying anything else. He was right when they first came up with the concept after I told them my father was running from something they managed to come up with a prototype. It would hide my wolf scent from everyone but the effects wouldn't last. I had to keep reapplying it every few hours.
I had complained that it was a perfume therefore it should smell like something. Which earned me glares from them. Now I was complaining because it wasn't the right smell, talk about being ungrateful.
"Sorry," I mumble as Ash continued. "Well now you can reapply it twice a day to keep it hidden and smell amazing while at it. Want to try?" She opens the bottle ready to spray me but I quickly raise my hand as if to block it.
"I volunteer Mark for this demonstration," I say as Mark continues to eat not paying attending.
Ash sprays him as he's taking a bite out of a burrito. He turns and glares at his sister before going back in enjoying each bite. The perfume smelled great. Wasn't as fruity as I thought it might be. Mark's rotting stench had diminished leaving a sweet smell instead.
"It's not completely gone but it's tolerable," I state taking another whiff earning me a puzzled look from Mark.
"Yeah well we created it to be designed specifically to you. Anyone else that decides to spray will have their scent diminished but not entirely hidden." She explains, capping the bottle up and putting it back into the box.
"We made enough for a year or so, so don't use it all up," Bass says as he hums.
"Anyway, I found clothes that you'll love!" Ash gushes. "And no they aren't brand new, the tags are long gone and aren't refundable."
"Wow, you really went all out to make it foolproof," I say giving in. No point in arguing with Ash about fashion.
"As for the car, you can use any one in the garage, it's be easier than in the bus or asking the Burke's to drive you," Mark suggests after he's done eating.
"Yes, you are more than welcome to anything here," Maggie agrees as she looks up from her computer. "Do you still have that cellphone?"
"Yes," I reply pulling it out of my pocket. It's off since I don't really use it.
"Good, I ordered you a new one and a new laptop they arrive tomorrow. I also contacted that bed delivery that didn't make it and managed to get you an upgrade. Should be there when you get home," Maggie says. Before I can say anything she raises her eyebrow as if to see if I would defy her but I shut my mouth.
"She says thank you," Mark says for me.
"You're very welcome, now my dears I need to find me a new hobby," Maggie pushes her stool back as she stands Tristans comes in. "Well dear how do you feel about being an event planner?" He asked her hopefully.
"Hmm, depends on the event," she says jokingly. They both walk out arm in arm as Tristan explains to her about an event at the school he's teaching.
"Wanna go see the cars to see which one you'll be driving?" Mark asks.
"Why don't you just drive a different one each week?" Bass suggests as he finally finds the right placement on his guitar. He strums happily out the glass doors. Ash follows him as do Mark and I.
They had a whole row of cars, fast ones, luxurious ones, and there was the classics. I was stunned as I only seen Mark drive one or two. They all bicker about which one should go first and then to which I would alternate from.
"Whoa, whoa, I haven't agreed to this," I said snapping out of my daze.
"Yeah well it's this or the cramped bus," Ash retorts crossing her arms.
"Which one was it?" I dumbly ask. They all laugh as they all agree on the challenger. Mark hands me the keys telling me to start practicing as I should drive back the Burke's. It's gotten a lot darker now and I really was getting tired I agreed to take it for a ride.
I still wasn't sure I wanted to drive any of them but it was better that being a burden and asking the Burke's to drive me. Since none of the Holts can cross border lines I guess I was truly on my own.