Alpha Island: The Lycan's Mate

Chapter 7 Not Coffee

          Ava closed her notebook and stood up at the end of the class. She had time before her next lesson and then she would be skipping the battle classes.

            “How was today’s lesson?” Professor White asked as Ava walked down the steps. Dylan was close behind her and kept an intense glare on the teacher.

            “You went easy on us for the first day so I appreciate it.” Ava gave him a faint smile.

            “Would you happen to have another identification chart like the one from last year? I could use one as a refresher.” Brock said, walking up to the professor.

            “Sure thing pal.” Professor White said, walking back to his desk.

            Ava turned and walked out of the class with Dylan still closely at her side. “So what did you think of the class?”

            “Honestly?” Dylan rubbed the back of his neck. “A bit boring but it’s the first day.” He already knew all of the things the professor was going over. He inwardly scoffed, professor. He was a wet nose wizard. But maybe he was good for this academy’s standards? Not for the school he went to though. The scholars that taught him were incredibly strict from day one. There was no day to ease you into classes.

            “Professor White is one of the easier professors at the school. But that is probably because he is the youngest and can relate… So when is your next class?”

            “I have some time for a coffee stop?” Dylan beamed down at her. “And then I have battle class like you do… but I am not going so if you want to meet up during that…”

            “You should just go. Once they know you are strong they practically fall at your feet.” Ava raised her eyes up at him with her faint smile.

            “That isn’t important to me. And it must not be important to you as well, huh? I mean… I can easily tell you are not an omega.” Dylan watched her shrug curiously.

            “I’m trying to keep a low profile here. All I want to do is graduate under the radar.”

            “Why? Is someone looking for you?” Dylan’s voice dropped low and he felt his whole body tense. He watched her face and could see she was hesitant to answer. “I know you don’t know me to trust me but I would never let anyone touch you.”

            “I’m sure you are strong but you can’t help me…” Ava whispered as she continued walking up to the coffee barista. “One iced caramel latte please with extra caramel and he will have…” She turned her head to face him.

            He quirked his brow and looked down at her. “I’ll have an iced coffee with sugar.” He grabbed onto Ava’s shoulder as she rummaged through her purse. “I don’t think so.” He flipped his card up to the cashier and smirked down at Ava. He watched her roll her eyes at him and he chuckled as he took his card back. The meals were free here but he learned yesterday that the coffee shop was extra and not included.

            He handed her her drink and then took his own following her outside to a bench. He didn’t want to push her because they haven’t built up a relationship. But it sounded like someone strong was after her. He wanted to tell her that he could protect her because he was strong enough. But he needed to keep up the pretenses of him being a werewolf. And the strongest he could be is just an alpha werewolf who wasn’t even stronger than a regular lycan. Let alone the lycan prince. But it had him wondering who or what was after her. She suspecting him an alpha and still said he wasn’t strong enough to help.

            He sat next to Ava and watched her greedily sip at her drink. He chuckled and nodded his head down to her drink, “That’s not coffee.”

            “Oh? What is it then?” Ava tilted her head up and met with his captivating eyes. A wide arrogant smile spread over his lips as he flashed his teeth at her.

            “That’s a glorified milkshake with caffeine,” Dylan smirked as he watched her shrug.

            “I bought it from a coffee shop. It’s coffee. And honestly, I don’t care what it’s called, it is what puts a smile on my face. And I need it every morning. I’ll admit it. I am addicted.” Ava sipped her drink heavily to show how much she loved the beverage.

            “Maybe one day you’ll be addicted to me?” Dylan watched her raise her eyes up and give him a crooked smile.

            “Hardly. I could never love you as much as I love this drink.” Ava giggled as she watched his brows furrow. Then a smile crept back over his face.

            “That isn’t fair for you to say.” He stood up and leaned his head down next to her ear. “You haven’t tasted me yet to be able to compare.” He winked down at her. “See you during our skip class. By the way, that blush on your cheeks is adorable.”

            Ava raised her hand to her cheek as she listened to him chuckle walking away. Her heart was pounding and for a moment when his hot breath beat against her ear she felt weird tingles down her body. Why was he affecting her so much? It was aggravating and thrilling. Yet, that cheeky attitude he had… it was like he knew exactly what he was doing to her. Where did his confidence come from? He seemed more shy yesterday. Damn alpha’s and their arrogance. Thinking no one would ever turn them down.

            She reached down and gripped her cup with both hands. Her cheeks felt hot and her heart was still humming. And deep inside of her she felt like something wanted to break out.

            “Ava!”

            She looked up to see her friend Mia walking over to her. Perfect she needed a distraction.

            _

            Dylan needed to walk away from her. All he wanted to do was shout to her that he was her mate and take her out of the barrier to prove it. It was agony having her so close and not desire him as he did her. The more he was around her the more he was becoming inexplicitly hers and she didn’t even know it.  He was fastened to her. All he could think of was her. Damn, he was forgetting why he was here in the first place. His sole focus was on her now. Until he walked through one of the halls and saw the fairy princess Shawna.

            Shawna was sitting on a bench filing her fingernails. Her golden hair was set perfectly behind her. She lifted her deep blue ocean eyes up and met them with Dylan. She offered him a weak uninterested smile as he approached the bench.

            “Do you need my help with anything?” Shawna said, looking back down at her fingernails. She felt above all of this and couldn’t care less about the academy's troubles.

            “No.” Dylan said tersely.

            “Well let me know if you require my assistance.”

            Dylan scoffed. “Don’t worry about it, I'll handle the situation.”

            “I tried to tell my parents I didn’t need to come here. Not with you, Darren and Loki.” Shawna said in annoyance.

            “Yeah like I said I’ll handle it. I don’t expect much help from a flower child, a prankster, and a fire snorting gecko.” Dylan growled. The princess just continued to do her nails unfazed. She wasn’t even listening to him.

            “Well as long as you have it covered.” She said disinterestedly.

            “Seriously Shawna go home. I don’t want to have to explain to your parents how you ended up the next person who disappeared.”

            “If only they’d let me just go back home. Such a waste of time.” Shawna clicked her tongue as she began to focus on her next hand.

            “Well, I don’t want to bother you with such an important task. You might mess up and file them uneven and then the universe would be a mess. Just continue doing what you do best. I think there is a flower garden around here where you can plant seeds or something.”

            Shawna lifted her eyes up to him and blinked unimpressed. “Wow… someone didn’t get his bone this morning. Carry on pup. You are ruining my vibe.”

            Dylan squeezed his hands in a fist and stormed away. He knew that petal pusher wasn’t going to be of any help. And he didn’t expect much from the warlock prince Loki. The only thing he cared about was his next practical joke. Completely useless. And then Darren… there wasn’t room for both him and his smug attitude. In his mind he imagined the dragon carried a mirror in his pocket. The only person superior enough to talk to Darren would be Darren. He smirked a bit imagining the reptile consulting with his mirror for advice. On a sad note it probably wasn't far from the truth.

            He inhaled a deep breath through his nose as he walked to class. This was all going to come down to him and Kadae to figure this out. So far it has been quiet. Maybe with luck with the new school year, the disappearances would stop too? It was too much to hope for though.

            It didn’t make sense. People weren’t just vanishing. Was a dragon flying them away? Hmm… if it is a dragon and Darren finds out he would probably cover it up so as not to disgrace his family. Yeah, the more he thought about it there was just no way he could trust him. Boats weren’t transporting people away… bodies were never found. Someone flying them away was a real possibility. Was it foul play? Or were students just escaping a rough life?

            What if they were being taken though… His mind drifted back to his sweet Ava. He wanted her off of this damn island and back at his kingdom where she would be safe. One thing was certain… if anyone touched what was his he would kill them. Ava didn’t know it but his beast declared it, that she was his.