Alpha Island: My Unbearable Mate

Chapter 11 Maybe...me too

“Are you going to study with me tonight?”

Ava looked over at the man beside her and shrugged her shoulders. “Are you just wanting to study?” She watched as a crooked grin reached his lips.

“Yes, but not just the books…” His tone was suggestive, and he winked at her.

Ava laughed up at him shaking her head. Caspar was a dear friend of hers. He was one of the ones traveling with her and Sky on their trip. He was sent as an upper-class student to keep them safe while they earned their real-world credit. Along the way they became close, and the lines of their friendship began to blur. Not just their friendship though. Sometimes life events get blurry, but Caspar always helps her remember. He has been wanting to move their friendship to the next level. Not just on the blurry line that it was. She really liked him but for some reason she just wasn’t ready.

However, he was now a constant in her life. He was always around to help her. Not a day went by when they weren’t around each other. She supposed it made sense for them to be together. Maybe she should give him a chance?

“We can study books.” She smiled and scrunched her nose up at him. He chuckled and nodded his head.

“Alright beautiful. Books it is.” Caspar stared at her, holding her gaze. “I’ll see you later.” He winked at her before walking down the walkway in the other direction.

Ava glanced up at the setting sun for a moment before she turned to head back to the Jelly Bean for her evening shift. She ended up bumping right into someone solid. She felt a strange tingling sensation that made her almost lean into the arms that were now resting on her shoulders. She glanced up to see the man she had met the night before.

“Oh uhm Dylan… I am so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.” She said as she licked her lips forcing herself out of his arms.

“No need to apologize. I didn’t mind.” Dylan smiled at her, letting his eyes linger on her wet lips for a moment. “Where are you headed?”

“I’m on my way to work and I’m actually going to be late. Sorry, we can talk later!” Ava yelled as she sprinted down the path.

Dylan watched her until she disappeared before he started to make his way to the Jelly Bean where she worked.

“Hey, you’ve got a class to teach.” Brock said, stepping in front of Dylan.

“To hell with the class. That isn’t what is important.”

“But keeping up with pretenses is. She will be watched over…” Brock saw the scowl on Dylan’s face. “Look, I am done for the day. How about if I promise I will be the one to watch her until you are done?”

“You won’t take your eyes off her?” Dylan looked at Brock, who nodded his head firmly.

“You have my word.”

“Fine. I want some answers though. I want to know all about that runt who touched my mate.”

“We are working on it.” Brock watched how Dylan clenched his fists angrily. “It’s going to be okay. Remember we can’t do anything to upset the girls.”

“Yeah.” Dylan said, taking a deep breath, calming down. “I don’t want to upset them… let me know if anything happens.” He sighed and turned back to the building. He had taken on the role as a professor here and had a class to teach. He could care less about it, but it gave him the cover he needed to stay at the school and watch Ava.

It was hard. All he wanted to do was hover over her and protect her. Darren had hated the idea of not being in constant sight of Sky too. However, they both knew their girls and they could scare easily. Especially if they still thought they had secrets to keep. They needed a good cover. And that meant not always being able to watch the girls. So, they came up with the idea of shifts. There would always be eyes on the girls at some point during the day.

He reached the door to his room and took in a deep breath to compose himself. With his shoulders back he opened the door to see a relieved Kadae waiting for him.

“Hello, I am your battle strategist, Professor Chains.”

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Kiara stood there staring at her mark in the mirror. Her fingers traced over it while Eli stood there looking at her anxiously.

“Okay we can’t focus on this right now didn’t you say there was a man hanging around Ava?” Kiara turned and watched as Eli nodded his head.

“Yes, but he just told me that he promised your cousin he would personally watch over Ava.” Eli pursed his lips together as he looked at her with concern. “Let me have a look at it.”

“No… it’s fine. I’m going to get a shower.” Kiara said as she practically shut the door on him.

“Kiara… I’ll be right here if you need me.” Eli said and leaned against the door as he listened to the shower turn on.

Kiara stood there looking at the mirror as it began to fog up. She stared at the spot and then looked at her reflection. Heal it… heal it… heal it. She tore away from the sink and stripped her clothes getting into the pelleting water.

How was she going to explain this? A wave of embarrassment washed over her as she concentrated on healing her neck. On some level she wanted his mark. She wanted to bear it and just pretend everything could be perfect between them. She wanted it so badly that when Eli left a hickey on her neck, she didn’t heal it. She didn’t even realize she was doing it. Just like before when her beast surfaced trying to mark Eli. These things were just happening.

She stepped out of the shower and noticed there were night clothes set just inside on the floor. Eli had set them inside knowing she didn’t have anything to wear. She smiled as she grabbed the clothes to get dressed. It was very considerate of him. She now had to explain the embarrassing situation even though she wasn’t exactly sure what she would say.

She turned and looked at the mirror and noticed the mark had finally faded during her shower. She was trying to decide if maybe she actually was mental wanting to walk around with a fake mark like that. What was wrong with her beast?

She opened the door, and she felt her chest squeeze in pain. Eli was sitting on the bed with his head buried in his hands. When he looked up at her his face looked shattered. His eyes met with hers and he slowly stood up.

“I’m sorry Kiara. I would never take advantage of you. Please don’t hate me. Don’t push me away. I… I didn’t mean to…”

Her heart broke for him. Here she was worried over embarrassment, and he was out there beating himself up over it. He didn’t do anything wrong.

“Eli…” Her voice was almost a sobbing cry as she ran to him and threw her arms around his torso. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m sorry. I should have told you before I showered but I was embarrassed. It was me. Just like before, my beast surfaced on its own. I wasn’t healing the mark. It was just a love bite. Oh Eli… I’m so sorry you were out here blaming yourself.” She looked up at him and watched the relief wash over his face. He collapsed down to sit on the bed and let out a loud sigh.

“I was so worried. I know you’ve been through so much. I was afraid you would hate me. And I love you so much… I couldn’t bear it if you hated me.”

Kiara pursed her lips together. His voice was so soft and vulnerable. She sat down next to him and leaned her head on his arm.

“How do you do it? How do you just say exactly how you are feeling? How do you have such an open heart like that?” Kiara wanted to expose herself like Eli was to her. She wanted to be able to do what he was doing. She wanted to embrace this feeling she had. She felt him slide his arm around her, pulling her into his chest.

“My beautiful Kia. I’d rather risk your breaking my heart than risk not ever having it. I know we will be great together. We work… so well together. Your scent drives my entire being crazy. I don’t want to leave words unspoken. That way I will know that even if it doesn’t work out that I did everything that I could. Well… everything but chain you up and lock you in my bedroom. Honestly it has crossed my mind if you reject me so don’t count it out.” He felt her shoulders move with laughter and he gently kissed the top of her damp head. He moved his hand over her arm and rubbed his fingers over her skin lightly.

“What if you change your mind?”

“What do I need to do to convince you I won’t? You know I’m ready to claim you as mine when ever you are ready. Do you want a magical oath? Because I will give it.”

“I can be challenging, Eli. I can have a temper—”

“I prefer feisty.” Eli corrected with a smile. She leaned away from him to look at his face and he reached his hand up to brush her damp hair behind her ear. “Let’s get you tucked into bed.” He stood up and pulled her up into his chest. With his other arm he pulled back the blankets and with one swift motion he lifted her up. He smiled as she gasped, and he gently laid her in bed. Tucking in the most precious person in the world.

“Kiara, you are worth everything.” He whispered kissing her forehead. “There is nothing about you that would make me not want you. Get some rest beautiful.” He straightened up and turned off the lights, walking to the door.

“You aren’t staying with me?” Kiara asked timidly as he turned around to look at her. It was a mixture of surprise and excitement.

“It’s okay if I do?”

“As long as you don’t sleep naked.” Kiara smiled, biting her bottom lip and listened to his chuckle.

“I think we had enough excitement for one day.” He pulled his shirt off over his head and crawled into the bed next to her. He slid under the covers and pulled her body into his chest. “I’ll sleep much better blanketed in your scent.”

She nuzzled her head onto his chest as she inhaled his heady cinnamon scent. She felt it relaxing her whole body. “I think I’ll also sleep better next to you.”

“Eli…”

“Mmm?”

“I’m sorry I am so difficult.”

Eli smiled as he squeezed her body lightly against him. “It’s challenging, remember? And what feral creature doesn’t like a challenge?”

She smiled as she felt his lips brush over her forehead.

“I love you.” Eli whispered as he drifted off to sleep.

Kiara waited a moment as she listened to his heavy breathing. “Maybe… me too.” She barely whispered out in the darkness next to the sleeping man beside her. She closed her eyes and allowed his scent to lull her to sleep.

She wasn’t expecting this. She at first didn’t want it. But maybe Eli was right… she would regret it if she ended up losing Eli by pushing him away. And would it be best to never try? Either way, the heart would get hurt, so was she really protecting it by not trying?

She felt his head lean down as he nuzzled his nose into her arm. His arms cocooned her against him, and his steady heart beckoned her in. She wanted this… she wanted him. Tomorrow she was going to muster the courage and ask him out on a date.