Alpha Island: My Unbearable Mate

Chapter 10 A Mark

Kiara lowered herself from Eli’s lips and gave him a small smile. “Thank you for wanting to help but this is my job. You don’t have to concern yourself with it. I will handle it from here.”

“Our job.” He said, his eyes still staring at her lips.

“It is my responsibility.” She corrected him as his hand landed on her waist.

“Our responsibility…” He leaned down so that his breath pelted against her. “After all… my future mates family is also my family.” The moment she opened her mouth to respond, he gently brushed his lips over hers.

She shuddered as strange tingles ignited where his lips touched hers. She lifted her eyes to his curious if he felt it too. Judging from the look… he did. She reached up to touch her lips taking a step back. His hands slid down but still held her by his fingertips.

“That doesn’t make sense…”

“Why does it have to?” Eli smiled as he stared at her. “We don’t have to be complicated, Kia.”

She smiled as he used the nickname again. It sounded sweet and right coming from his lips. She thought about what Draven had said and about how logically it sounded like they were mates. Now she was really beginning to wonder. “If this isn’t a potion…” She looked in his eyes as he shook his head no. “Could we be…”

Eli chuckled and shook his head. “You are doing it again. It doesn’t matter. It seems you really aren’t listening to me or believing what I am saying. I don’t care whatever this is. IT makes no difference. All I know is you are the one I want. It is that simple. To hell with the why. Does that even matter? I want you. I want your strong fiery spirit.” He closed the gap between them as he stayed focused on her eyes. “I love the way you respond to my touch. I love this chemistry between us. I love your fight…” He paused as he studied her face. “I love you, Kiara. I know that scares you. I know you don’t understand it. I don’t care to analyze how I feel, and I am not asking you to feel the same way. I just need you to understand that I do feel this strongly about you.”

“You don’t have to respond to this. I don’t need you to. I just had to tell you so that I can say this next part…” His face grew serious as his shoulders rose with the breath; he took in. “I know what I am about to say now is wrong… but I… I won’t lose you. You are mine. Mentally, I have already claimed you.”

Kiara understood what he was saying. She might be trying to figure things out for herself, but the moment Belinda asked if she could have him, she felt her beast stir in anger. Mentally, she had already claimed him too. She had tried to fight against it but she couldn’t ignore the possessiveness she felt over Eli. She wetted her lips and gave him a crooked smile.

“So are you saying I have to cancel my date to the dance?” She listened to his dark chuckle as his nose touched hers. His hot breath tickled her lips as she stared into his hazel eyes.

“I’m saying if you take anyone as your date other than me… you are responsible for their death. You are going to have to take responsibility for me, Kia.”

She pulled his head forward, closing the torturous gap between them. His hot tongue invaded her mouth as she desperately tangled her fingers in his hair. He lifted her up, spreading her legs around his torso, keeping their mouths sealed together. She was reacting on the urges she was feeling. For once… not thinking about what it all meant. To hell with thinking. She didn’t give a damn about being rational. She just wanted him.

He told her he loved her. Would she be a fool if she believed him? Or is this the first step into trusting again? With Eli… things were just easy. Being with him felt natural. Kissing him was like nothing she had ever experienced. In fact, there was another fear inside of her. No one before had ever connected with her like Eli did. And if she rejected him, could she ever have this with someone else? And then there was the other question… would she want this with anyone else.

What Eli said resonated with her. He didn’t care if they were mates or not. Just that he wanted her. It was that simple for him. A part of her didn’t want to believe it… except he was ready to mark her whenever she was ready. What more proof did she need that he would stay with her? If he was ready to seal himself to her then what the hell was she doing? What was she worrying about again?

Whether he was her mate or not… she wanted him. She was drawn to him… she was connected to him. This is what Eli was trying to tell her. The mate thing didn’t matter because it is ultimately your choice. And if you have an overwhelming connection with someone, why would you deny it?

Because it seemed too good to be true. Conveniently, Eli was there the day her boyfriend found his mate. He was there to pick up the pieces. So yes, on a level she was worried it was still the effect of a potion. However, once she knew for certain that it wasn’t…

She didn’t want to think about it anymore. She just wanted to enjoy his touch and what it did to her body. She inhaled his cinnamon scent that seemed to beckon her in. Their kissing was becoming more urgent but this time she was giving into the madness. She tugged his hair, encouraging him as a fire ignited inside of her.

She threw her head back as his lips trailed down her neck. Through the room he was guiding her backwards as her body tingled from his touch. When his teeth nipped her neck, she felt a surge of pleasure flow through her. Unable to hold it in, she moaned and pulled him deeper into the crook of her neck. His volcanic tongue traced up her neck before he laid siege to her mouth again.

His touch was sending electrifying jolts through her and was burning their bodies together. Her back was now against the wall, as one of his hands began to trail up from under her shirt. She bit onto his lip as he cupped her breast. She knew where this was headed, and she didn’t care to stop it. She needed him.

He stopped abruptly, pulling his lips away from hers, letting out an irritated growl. In a daze, she panted as she looked at his glazed over eyes. Her fingers were still curled in his hair, and she felt desperate to resume what they were doing. His fingers trembled as he slid her down so that her feet her back on the floor.

“Kiara, there is something we need to look into,” Eli said as he tried to reclaim his composure.

“What is it?” Kiara asked.

“Brock told me there is a man hanging around Ava. And it seems like she trusts him and they are close.”

“How close…” Kiara felt her chest tighten in pain as she suddenly thought about her cousin Dylan. If Ava had moved on with someone else, Dylan wouldn’t handle it. He would kill anyone after his mate. However, this could also be the enemy. And if that was the case… it was frightening. For the enemy to show themselves like this would mean they are very confident on whatever they are doing.

“Well, the guy is still alive so he must not have crossed the line yet.” Eli sighed as his fingers traced over her face. “I guess we need to put this stuff on hold…”

She could see the question in his eyes. What happened now was in the heat of the moment. Would the offer she was clearly making now be on the table later? She smiled and shrugged as she walked past him, making sure to bump her shoulder against his.

“Yes, best to put it on hold. Besides… I can’t have you thinking I let what you said go.” She turned and look at him with a crooked smile. “So you are back to being a general now?” She raised her eyes at him and listened to his chuckle.

“Maybe you should punish me for being bad.” He grinned as his eyes traced over her and then he froze. His lips parted in shock as his eyes widened. “Kiara… I-I-I—” He shook his head as he struggled for the words. “Did I… I didn’t think I…”

“Eli what is it?” Kiara asked looking at him with concern.

“Kiara…” He pursed his lips together and stepped towards her. “Your neck…”

Kiara furrowed her brows and then rushed past him to go look in the mirror. She turned her head and her lips parted in shock. What the hell was this?

Eli came up from behind her staring at her eyes in the mirror. “I swear I didn’t… I didn’t…”

Kiara reached up and touched the red mark on her neck that should have healed by now. His fangs never penetrated her skin so what was this?

__

“Dylan,” Kadae said as he tapped his alpha’s shoulder. “We need to get going or we will be late.”

Dylan watched in the distance as a man patted Ava on the head. She threw her head back laughing up at him. Who the hell was that guy? He felt a darkness swimming inside of him as he fixed his deadly glare on the stranger. If he was after Ava as his own, he was dead. If he had anything to do with what happened to her… he was dead. His beast growled, demanding the stranger’s blood. Whoever this man was… his days were limited.

He squeezed his hands together, making his knuckles turn white. Ava smiled up at this stranger like she used to with him. Her arm brushed against the stranger’s as they walked. And when he put his arm around her she didn’t brush it off.

“Dylan—” Kadae urged again as his alpha growled at him.

“To hell with being late. This is more important. You go…” Dylan snarled as his predatory gaze followed Ava and the man.

“Go ahead Kadae. I’ll stay with Dylan.” Brock patted Dylan on the back and motioned for Kadae to go ahead and go with his head. He then turned his attention to the stranger next to Ava. “Easy, now. Control your beast. If we do have to kill him, we can’t do it in front of her. You don’t want to hurt Ava, Dylan.” He felt the tension in Dylan’s shoulders begin to ease with the mention of hurting Ava. It was the key to keeping Dylan calm.

“You can’t mess your chances up with her. Even if I have to snap this stranger’s neck, we need to keep her in the dark about it.” Brock listened as Dylan snorted.

“If his neck gets snapped, I will be the one doing it.”

“You sense it though, don’t you Dylan…” Brock’s voice was almost inaudible as he followed the stranger with his gaze.

“Yes, that man… is a hybrid.” Dylan narrowed his eyes as his eyes flashed dark. Renegades are primarily made up of hybrids…