Alpha Island: The Lycan's Mate

Chapter 4 Friend Zoned

                The two girls had shown the guys around the campus. They did more than they normally would have but Ava could tell Mia was into Kadae. And she didn’t mind Dylan either. He made her feel… well something about him seemed different. He was so attractive that she wouldn’t dare believe he was really interested. He was just being polite because of how open Kadae, and Mia were being. After today if Brattney… Brittany didn’t soil their reputation, they would be overflowing with the ladies. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt a weird pang in her chest thinking about it. They barely knew them… she hardly knew Dylan.

                Ava listened as Mia giggled up at Kadae. The two were whispering not so discreetly to one another.

                “Hey umm Ava… I’ll catch you later, okay?” Mia looked over at Ava with a half excited smile.

                “Okay. Have fun and be safe.” Ava said and watched Mia and Kadae scamper off together. She looked up to see Dylan’s eyes were focused on her. What should she do here? This was his first day at the campus here but maybe he wanted to explore on his own?

                “I’m going to go and get some coffee…” Ava said quietly. “You are welcome to join me if you want?” She watched his eyes light up. He looked really happy suddenly like a child afraid they wouldn’t be picked on the playground but suddenly got chosen.

                “I’d love a coffee right now.” Dylan smiled widely at her.

                As the two walked down the stone hallway two figures came around from the corner. The couple were intertwined together. Arms around one another and practically rolling down the wall to keep their balance. All the while their faces were melded together. Ava stiffened and took a small retreating step backwards into Dylan’s chest. The couple became aware of another’s presence and the guy lifted up, turning his head to them. His eyes widened in shock.

                “Ava… this… this isn’t what it looks like.” Todd said as he straightened up.

                “Actually, it's exactly what it looks like.” Brittany said with her smug voice.

                “Todd, I don’t care what you do. You and I don’t have anything to do with one another anymore.” Ava looked at him in the eyes showing him how unaffected she was. Sure, it caught her off guard but she didn’t care. She was over it and what happened. And the more she had thought about it, what he did to her was cruel. It was disgustingly callous.  “In fact, Todd… I really don’t think we even work as friends. So let’s just go our separate ways, okay?”

                “Aww Ava.” Todd said, stepping towards her.

                Dylan pulled Ava to his side and kept his arm around her. “Todd?” He arched his eyebrow and smirked at the guy. “You heard her, right?”

                “Who the hell do you think you are?” Todd growled, baring his fangs slightly at Dylan.

                Dylan’s eyes darkened as they fixated on the mutt that dared to bare his teeth against him. “Be careful… pup.” Emphasizing the p sound. His eyes burned into Todd’s making the guy freeze in place. His wolf was frozen in fear of the alpha presence in front of him. A low menacing growl came from Dylan’s throat. As the lycan prince, there were some things he couldn’t even pretend to tolerate. And a werewolf snarling at him was one of them. “Stay away from Ava… or you’ll be the next one to disappear from this school.”

                The electric sparks he felt from touching Ava was almost euphoric. And luckily exactly what he needed to not savagely rip Todd apart. He guided her past Todd and Brittany, not sparing the two a second glance. When they were finally out of view he reluctantly dropped his arm from her side. “I hope you don’t mind… guys like that don’t tend to listen to reason. It takes a threat to put them in their place.” It hit him he overreacted over the situation. They didn’t know he was the lycan prince or that Ava was his mate. He hoped he didn’t scare her off.

                Ava wasn’t sure how to feel. She could fight her own battles and was about to chastise Dylan but when his arm came around her it was like she couldn’t breathe. It felt like… home and safe. She never felt like this before and she felt overwhelmed. But when she saw Todd’s reaction, she was even more curious. Todd was the future beta at his pack. His alpha had already graduated last year. He was never one to back down from a confrontation. And yet she had seen real fear in his eyes when confronting Dylan. She wetted her lips and glanced up at him. His presence was totally different now and his eyes were looking at her so gently. But a moment ago there was a murderous intent about him. His eyes were dark and there was a suffocating aura coming off of him. And then earlier in the cafeteria, the way the alpha and beta froze up was something that had never happened before either.

                Ava looked down at her shoes for a moment as she tried to collect her thoughts. “Are… are you an alpha?” Her voice was a quiet whisper.

                Dylan pursed his lips into a thin line. “If I say yes… is that a problem for you? You wouldn’t quit talking to me because of that right?”

                Ava snapped her head up and looked at him like he was crazy. What was he saying? Her not talk to him? It was the alpha’s who didn’t talk to others. Why wouldn’t she talk to him? It just made her wonder what the heck he was doing walking around with her. He was clearly someone out of her league. Of course, Todd’s alpha had told him the same thing and Todd was considered out of her league as well. Not by her but by the social status set up at the school. Still, he pursued her and they just sort of happened. Maybe she was just so desperate to be accepted she all too willingly agreed to be with Todd. If Dylan was an alpha that was leaps and bounds over Todd. She met with Dylan’s eyes and shook her head slightly.

                “Of course not. Why would that make me not talk to you? If anything… why are you wasting your time with me?” Ava shut her mouth and winced at herself. She was acting like she really was an omega. She wasn’t but she couldn’t reveal who she was. Ava shook her head… “Look it doesn’t matter to me who or what you are. But you should consider yourself here. Alpha’s have an easy time in school. Everyone likes them and they are treated well. Don’t ruin that for yourself… okay?”

                Dylan smiled down at her. “You don’t get it, do you? I don’t care what everyone here thinks. If I like someone then I am going to hang out with them. I like you, Ava. I like your personality.” He shrugged. “So, if it’s okay with you I’d like to be friends.”

                “Well, you can’t just say let's be friends, and poof we are friends. But let’s just see where it takes us.” Ava smiled at him and his very possessive looking eyes. She cleared her throat, “Anyways about that coffee…”

                Dylan gazed at her and breathed in deeply. He didn’t want to get friend zoned. He needed to make his intentions clear. Sure, it seemed crazy for just meeting but she was his mate. Her scent was a drug to him and he needed it. From somewhere inside of him he could feel his alpha blood rising giving him the confidence he needed. The confidence he always had except when it came to her.

                “Ava…” He watched her tilt her head to the side slightly. “I’m not saying right now… But I like you. I like your personality. I would like to be more than friends. I just thought I should make that clear… that I am interested in you. Let’s get to know each other… and see where things take us. I… I feel drawn to you.” He watched her face turn to shock. Her mouth opened slightly and he could hear her swallow deeply.

                Wait… wait… wait… Did he just admit that he was really interested in her? Ava licked her lips nervously. The most attractive man she had ever met is saying he is interested in her… Maybe it is a joke? He is a hot shot alpha looking to make fun of her. The truth is what Todd had done to her may have scarred her a bit. She lost some trust and maybe even faith in others. Was he really drawn to her? Or was it a joke? Though she could admit that she felt drawn to him as well. But hell look at him?! Who wouldn’t be? Mr. s*x pheromones right there. She’d love to break her off a piece of that… She needed to stop right there. She was trying to figure this guy out.

                She knew she was a bit guarded. She looked into his eyes… he had beautiful sky-blue eyes. He looked so determined. It didn’t look like he was teasing her. But things would change as the school year went on. With his looks and him being an alpha he would be able to have any girl he wanted. And there were many here from very prominent families. Plus, after what happened last year, she had convinced herself she needed to just wait for her mate.

                “I’m sorry… I can see that was too forward of me.” Dylan said sadly. “I just wanted to be honest with you. I wanted you to at least think about it.”

                His blue pooling eyes looked so sad as he continued to look at her. She sighed and brushed her hair back behind her ear. “After what happened last year… let’s just try being friends for now. Let’s see how that goes. Besides, once classes start tomorrow you will be getting introduced to so many different people. You don’t want to set your sight on me already. Not without seeing everyone-”

                “I don’t need to see anyone else, Ava.” Dylan's deep baritone voice said confidently. “I’ll wait for you. And in the meantime… I’ll be your friend and whatever else you need from me.”

                He was coming on a bit strong for her but at the same time, her chest felt excited. Her heart stupidly raced as she listened to his voice. He smiled at her and nodded his head behind him.

                “Let’s go get that coffee and you can tell me what to expect tomorrow. What are the professors like? I have my schedule on my phone. Let's compare. Maybe we can walk to classes together?”  Dylan quickly switched gears into something more comfortable. He made his intentions known and she didn’t flat out reject him. And thank goodness she didn’t. He had a feeling he would have gone caveman and lifted her up over his shoulder carrying her outside the barrier. Okay, maybe he wouldn’t but hell if he hasn’t envisioned doing the very thing several times since he met her. He would hoist his woman over his shoulders, carry her outside of the barriers. With her new mate senses, he would lower her with her legs wrapping around his body. Where their lips would meet desperately for a passionate kiss. No, he hasn’t thought about it….

                This was not at all how he pictured meeting his fated mate. But… maybe this was actually a gift. He would get to know her without her having the mate pull. And if he could get her to fall for him… as just a guy… it would mean even more. He wasn’t a lycan here. He wasn’t the lycan prince here. He was just another man trying to pursue a girl. His girl. The only girl that could ever fill his heart. The other half of his soul. The one he was already willing to give his life for. And whatever secret she was hiding he would be there for her. He would protect her from the world if he had to.

                Ava’s lips curved up and she nodded her head. For now… if he wanted to be her friend, she could always use another one of those. She wasn’t going to hold her breath though. After classes things would be different for him, she was certain of that. Oh well… she would at least enjoy his company today.