Alpha Island: My Unbearable Mate

Chapter 8 Belinda

Kiara moved through the halls on her way to her next class. She stopped for a moment when she saw Mia and Kadae walking down the halls together. Kadae was her cousin Dylan’s beta and Mia was Ava’s best friend. Kayden must have called them for back-up. This was an all-hands-on deck sort of situation. She watched them a little longer than she should have and realized most of the students were now in their classrooms. Luckily, she was just outside of her classroom door.

The moment she walked in her eyes found Elijah. He was sitting beside a beautiful woman at a desk for two. Her eyes wandered over the room noticing that everyone was in pairs, and most were already paired up. Well except for one.

“Over here!” Draven waved Kiara over. She glanced back up and now noticed Elijah was looking at her. Crap, he saw her see him. She quickly averted her gaze and walked over to Draven.

“Well, would you look at that? We are partners again. You know this is destiny telling us we should be life partners.” As soon as Draven spoke these words a loud snarl was heard from across the room. She didn’t need to look to know who it was from. She noticed Draven tried to look past her curiously as she took her seat next to him.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I don’t know if you are any good yet… in biotic and abiotic class.” She let a small smirk rest on her lips as he leaned his head over closer.

“I’ll just have to show you how good I am—”

There was a loud slam at the other end of the room. It sounded like fists hitting the desk.

“I study the best at night, and it just so happens I don’t have a roommate. Anytime you want me to educate you—” Draven began to say but was interrupted.

“There seems to be a mistake.” Elijah growled making Kiara snap her head up to look at him. Draven leaned his chin on his hand and glanced up at him lazily.

“Oh?” Draven asked with a crooked grin. “Do tell.”

“You are switching seats with me.” Elijah’s eyes then clashed with Kiara’s. “She is mine.”

“No, I don’t think I will. Besides… she isn’t your honey pot. So back away before I take my bear spray out.” Draven smirked as Elijah let out a low dark chuckle.

“Please… all I have to do is sprinkle some holy water on you.” Elijah glared at Draven and Kiara looked back and forth between the two men. There was an unspoken challenge going on between them.

“Go hibernate.” Draven snorted keeping his eyes pinned on Elijah.

“Suck on garlic.”

“Eat some honey.”

“Get a heartbeat.”

“How about yours?” Draven smirked.

“Come and get it.” Elijah’s eyes grew dark as he presented the challenge.

“Wow, I can see we are all going to be great friends this year.” A familiar voice said as it entered the classroom. Kiara looked up as the fairy princess Shawna made her way over to them. She looked at Kiara and then two men. “Why don’t the two men share this table, and you can go take the empty seat right over there.” Shawna nodded her head at Kiara to go join the woman Elijah was sitting with earlier.

Kiara stood up and instantly Elijah pulled her towards him. The sound of a chair fell behind her and she could see Draven had stood up. She noticed the shadows beginning to move on the floor. She had to put an end to this.

She stepped back from Elijah and then stared at the two men. “The last time I checked I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself and making my own decisions. Oh? Wouldn’t you know? That is still true.” She then stomped over to the empty seat and sat in it hastily. She could almost feel everyone staring at her and she was annoyed she had been made a spectacle of.

“So, which one do you want?”

Kiara looked over at the woman sitting next to her.

“My name is Belinda; I am a lamia. That doesn’t frighten you, does it?”

Kiara looked at the woman as if she was insane. Her rich red hair was curled, and it was so bright it made her green eyes pop. She was even more beautiful up close. “My name is Kiara. No one frightens me.” Especially not a lamia, she thought to herself. A lamia was a creature that was half snake. This woman, when she shifts, would have her female torso, but her bottom half would be of a snake.

Belinda reached out grabbing Kiara’s hand and bringing it up to her nose. “Oh, well well well. What brings a lycan here? Your kind doesn’t exactly mingle with everyone else.”

Kiara yanked her hand back and glared at the woman.

“Let’s be friends. So, as friends, I’ll let you pick. Which one do you want?” Belinda asked, looking past her.

“Are you talking about Elijah and Draven?”

“I got Elijah’s name. I didn’t know the other one… but yes… them.”

Kiara’s lips parted as she turned her head to glance in the men’s direction. They were both looking forward and clearly sulking.

“If you don’t mind, I am partial to Elijah. I love bears. Do you mind if I take him?”

Kiara choked on her spit and looked at the woman like she was insane. “They can hear you!” She hissed and Belinda shrugged her shoulders.

“So what? I would tell them to their face that I want them. What’s wrong with being honest?” Belinda’s green eyes were pinned against hers and then a smile rose on her lips. “So? Can I have him?”

Kiara couldn’t find her voice as she stared at the woman. She felt angry and irritated that she wanted Elijah. But maybe that was the potion doing its job? What she had with Elijah… it wasn’t normal. It had to be the work of something… yet… she couldn’t bear to say she could have him. She listened as a loud sigh came from Elijah’s mouth. She heard the sound of a chair screeching and then heavy footsteps heading their way.

She felt a hand cover hers and lift her to her feet. She glanced up to see Elijah staring at Belinda. “It’s only her. She is the only woman in the world for me.” He then looked around the classroom. “I belong to this woman, and she is mine…” His eyes clashed with Draven’s before he turned back to Kiara. He looked down at her with a soft smile. “Whenever she is ready…” He said in a sensual whisper.

“Class has started.” Shawna reminded everyone politely.

Elijah began to pull Kiara towards the door and then glanced over at Shawna. “This is a mate issue…” He continued to say as he led Kiara out of the class.

“Eli!” Kiara felt how his hand squeezed hers as he made quick strides down the hall. She could almost feel a darkness around him as an invisible anger swarmed around him. He pulled her into a room, shutting and locking the door behind him. She glanced around, noticing the small study room for a second before she was pressed back against the wall.

“So?” He asked in almost a growl. “Can she have me?”

Kiara’s lips parted and he crashed into them. His tongue searched for hers aggressively as his hand held her against him. He bit on her lower lip sucking it into his mouth. He tugged on her lip as his hand wandered over her body. She moaned as his hand raised to cup her breast over her shirt. His heat sizzled through her fabric, and she found herself arching into him.

“Eli…” Her fingers entangled in his hair as he demanded the response, he knew she was capable of giving him.

“Can she?” He growled again into her lips breathing in her breath. When she didn’t respond, he bit her bottom lip, punishing her, then smashed his lips against hers.

Kiara felt his rough yet passionate kisses pressing into her. His lips were devouring hers as he held her body tight against his own. Their tongues danced together wildly, and her fingers tugged his hair as she tried to deepen it. He groaned against her lips obliging to her demands. She was now the one taking over and soon she had him pinned against the wall.

She wasn’t sure what came over her, but she even growled with her lycan as she attacked his lips. He allowed her to do what she wanted to him; he was a willing victim. Her hands traveled down from his neck to his back urgently. She was breathing so fast as she assaulted his lip. Suddenly she broke away from him in shock when she felt the warm dampness on her skin. She was panting against his lips and then her eyes trailed to her hands.

“I’m… I’m so sorry.” She stepped back pulling her hands away from him. At one point, during their passionate moment, her lycan surfaced on its own. Her fingernails became claws that dug into him. His shirt was rip and he had claw marks down his neck. Red blood was oozing from him. She was mortified. Terrified. Her beast had NEVER reacted like that before.

His hand reached out snaking around her waist pulling her back into him. She leaned her head on his chest as she muttered her apologies.

“I’m so sorry… I didn’t…”

“Kiara…” Eli buried his nose in her hair as he smiled. “Baby we are animals. This stuff happens. Especially, when we try to deny our beasts of what they want. Your lycan was speaking to you there. Maybe you should listen?”

“I hurt you!”

“Kiara.” Eli leaned back looking at her with a crooked grin. “You didn’t hurt me. This was just some enjoyable foreplay. It only made me more excited. It proves how much you want me whether you want to admit it or not.”

He leaned his head in and slowly took in her lips. Gently sucking and kissing them. “It’s okay. Everything is okay. And you don’t have to claim me. It doesn’t matter. You don’t ever have to worry about losing me, Kiara. I’ll always choose you. Only you.”

Kiara closed her eyes and tried to think. This didn’t make sense. Her beast never surfaced with out her willing it. Could this be the effect of a potion?

“What if these feelings aren’t real…” She whispered and looked at his furrowed brows.

“Just hear me out… these feelings… they just came on. They are… intense. We both drank the alcohol in the fairy kingdom. What if it was laced with something to cause confusion… what if—”

“Are you saying these feelings aren’t real? That they are the effects of a potion?” He arched his brow as a smirk played on his lips.

“Think about it—”

He pressed into her his nose tracing over her face. “Good…” His nipped at her cheek as he trailed to her lips. “Kiara… you feel this strongly about me too.” His voice was almost a growl.

“Elijah! Focus.” Kiara listened to his chuckle.

“We haven’t been drugged or put under a spell. Don’t you think that stuff has all been checked thoroughly? Besides, we weren’t the first to get into the alcohol. There was nothing wrong with it. So, you just gave me a prize… you are admitting you feel the same way about me.” His teeth nibbled on her earlobe as his hot breath sent a shudder through her. “Kiara… do you really think a simple potion would affect us?”

“It’s… its not a potion in the alcohol?” Kiara asked in a whisper as Eli softly kissed her neck. “I’m going to need proof of that. If a strong enough one was made it could affect us.” She breathed out and he sighed.

“You want to travel back to the fairy kingdom and test it for ourselves? I mean, that is probably the easiest way. Or I can ask Shawna? She can easily have that stuff tested.”

Kiara sighed and shook her head slowly. She stepped away from him and rubbed her head. She felt crazy. Was she going crazy? How was she feeling like this? She had to believe it was a potion because if it wasn’t… what was all this? Why did the idea of another woman wanting him make her angry? But what terrified her… was that she felt the urge to mark him. When her lycan beast began to emerge, it was wanting to claim Eli.

It was insane. She never lost control when she was with Jhett. With Eli, it was like she was always fighting to stay in control. She wanted him, already she felt possessive over him, and this terrified her. She didn’t want to feel for someone already. Especially not for someone she barely knew.

“Kiara?” Eli was looking at her with concern. “Hey… I can almost promise you this isn’t a potion—”

“Then what is this?” Kiara chewed on her inner lip as she stared at him. Belinda had said what was wrong with being honest. The problem was that if she was being honest with herself… it didn’t make sense. In no way did it make any sense to be attached to Eli. Not just attached… she desired him on a level that frightened her. A spell? A potion? What is it and why?

As she stood there, she felt her beast stirring angrily. Why was she becoming so feral and possessive all of the sudden? Was it because of what Belinda said? Then it suddenly hit her. The subtle scent of Belinda’s perfume tickled her nose as her eyes widened. Some of Belinda’s scent brushed off on Eli’s side. It was only a trace, but it was there. And her lycan was raging over it. This was why her beast came out.

Her eyes wandered over Eli’s top part of his shirt. It was ripped and stained in his blood. He was completely healed but the evidence of her losing control was there. She was so close to marking him… so incredibly close. He moved another step closer to her and she took in a steadying breath. She needed to speak to him calmly while trying to be as honest as she dared.

“Eli, please have Shawna check into it. I am guessing that will be faster than making counter potions and randomly trying them.” She watched as he arched his eyebrow but then slowly nodded his head.

“I’ll ask her if that will make you feel better… I—”

“Wait… I have more to say.” She said in a calm voice that masked her internal turmoil. “You can’t understand what I am feeling, so I need to be honest with you. I hate to admit this… but what happened with Jhett has had an effect on me. I don’t want to feel that again… I don’t want to feel for anyone right now. And the fact that I am already… it terrifies me. I know you aren’t Jhett, but this is still fresh. The thing is… I don’t miss him. I should though, right? I mean I was going to take him as my mate. And now with you…” She took in a deep steadying breath. She hated baring herself so much. She trusted him and she didn’t trust him. It was hard to explain.

“I’m sorry Kiara. I keep overstepping. I know you want space, but when I see you, I want to hold you. I want to keep you close. I want you to be mine. I can’t stand another man looking at you. You… it’s okay that you don’t miss Jhett. It just means he wasn’t the person for you. Also, it is okay to want me like I want you.” Eli shook his head and shrugged. “Bears aren’t pack animals. We don’t have the same attachment that others do. We can be happy living solitary lives, but with you… I feel like I can’t move without you. Whatever this feeling is… I don’t want to deny it. I want you. I’m a very forward guy, Kiara. I don’t deny myself of what I want. I’m trying though for you. Another man trying to move in on you is going to always make me react. I meant what I said in the beginning. I won’t let another man move in on my territory.”

Kiara could see a darkness flickering in his eyes. His arms were bulging as his nostrils flared. He was thinking of a specific person as he said this.

“You are talking about Draven, aren’t you?” Kiara watched as he nodded his head.

“I recognized his scent from the jacket you wore last night. That is who you were with?”

“It was a coincidence. And then we ended up having potions together and also—”

“So he is in your other class?” He watched as she nodded and he growled, scowling as he turned his head. “He is interested in you, you know that, right?”

Kiara laughed and shook her head. “No, I don’t. He is just a flirt. People don’t typically fall for people in less than 24 hours.”

“I did with you.”

His voice stilled her heart. She met with his warm hazel eyes, and it felt like the earth moved. It was as if he was her center. Draven was attractive and she liked him, but Elijah was… important to her. Whether that be because of a potion or spell or some insane chemistry… she desired him. No, that wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t just desire. He felt like… part of her.

She cleared her throat and looked at his shirt. “You need to change. I’m really sorry for that.” She watched as a gentle smile reached his face before a devious smirk took over.

“You don’t need to be sorry for that, I quite enjoyed it, but you can always make it up to me…” He watched as she smiled shaking her head. “Are we still on for lunch?”

“Actually, I want to start doing some research on the Ava and Sky situation. I’m skipping battle class and going to spend the rest of the day looking for something.” She watched as he nodded his head.

“You’ll be in the library?” He asked.

“Yes, somewhere in there. I heard it is quite large.”

“I’ll bring you something to eat later.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I need to actually; I can’t go that long without seeing you.” Elijah winked at her as he looked her over. She seemed more relaxed now. He wanted to hold her once more. He wanted to fill himself with her scent. Instead, he mustered up his self-control to turn for the door.

“Ladies first.”

“Thank you.” Kiara walked past him and back into the empty hall. She turned to meet with his eyes as they both stood there. “I guess I’ll see you in a little bit then.”

“Kiara—” He stopped. “Uhm, a cheeseburger sound good?” It wasn’t what he really wanted to say but he decided against it.

“Yes, with extra pickles.”

He laughed as she turned and walked away. He watched her for a moment before he finally left. He slowly picked his feet up as he walked down the long hall. He glanced at his shirt and smiled before he exited the building. The memories from earlier flooded in his mind. The way she reacted to him and craved him. Da.mn…

Yeah, he was going to need to take a cold shower first.