Untameable

Nine-Embarrassed

Erik POV

Jealousy. A powerful human emotion, yet why do I feel it so strongly? Ever since I laid eyes on Trisha that fateful day, I had wished I would be the one in her embrace. I had used a blood illusion to ensure she thought I had been her same age when she met me. Only when she turned 17, had I been able to lift it to allow her to see my true eternal 20 year old body, since I could pass for a boy in his late teens. Just like the Royals could.

Once she was of age, I had been planning on making her my beloved. That all changed when I realized what she was to that…mutt Royal. I would be a fool to believe I could best the Crown Prince in combat. At least right now. Even if he had rejected his own birthright and revoked the extra power that birthright gave him. My own birthright was taken from me because I was the forbidden child. I shouldn’t have been allowed to live after my birth.

I clenched my jaw as I forced a smile and Trisha did her victory pose. Who am I to stand between 2 fated? It was a pointless endeavor. Mated to a beast as strong as he, the bond would kill her if he didn’t seal it. I could only assume the great Prince didn’t act because he was trying to hide her identity, but if I could easily tell, so could others. I saw his pitiful efforts to win her heart, and it took a great deal of self control not to pounce on her when he elicited such phermonal responses from her like he did in P.E..

The faerie may have dampened the scent, but it was still there, even now, lingering in the air like an incense.

However, Trisha was oddly resistant, and remained oblivious despite everything going on around her. A part of me wanted to see her rebel against him, so when he came up behind her as the bell rang, I didn’t warn her. I knew he wasn’t Daisy’s brother, and Trisha wouldn’t be happy when she learned they lied to her.

But, Gavin’s inability to keep his hands to himself was about to backfire. I leaned back on my elbows where I lay, and watched the show unfold before me.

Trisha POV

I placed my phone in my pocket and was about to turn around, when suddenly an arm wound around mine. I barely registered the pleasure shocks that rippled upon the contact as my eyes narrowed and abruptly I turned and slammed the heel of my hand into the perpetrator’s nose.

But as I did so, I found it took a great deal of effort because my swinging hand and arm suddenly felt as if it were made of lead and had steel balls and chains attached, as if fighting the action. “Haven’t I told you not to-” But my words cut off and my eyes widened when I realized the person who touched me had been Gavin. Not Preston or one of my other admirers.

Gavin staggered back, clutching his nose as a small trickle of blood left his right nostril. For a brief moment I swore his pupils expanded to the whites of his eyes, turning his eyes black. And he looked at me like a predator…a lustful predator, with unruly and unkempt desire hidden in its depths. I swallowed and blinked.

But when I did, his eyes were once more vibrant emerald pools. I must’ve imagined it. Then Gavin laughed and my lips parted as shivers ran down my spine at the sound.

“Damn, didn’t think I’d be on the receiving end of one of your punches my first day,” he chuckled, wiping the blood away with a napkin Daisy hurried to offer him. My cheeks turned red. I couldn’t bring myself to apologize, though. He’d touched me without permission. Without warning.

It had triggered my past memories. Of my traumas. I clenched my fists. Why did my chest hurt when I hit him? Why had my arm seemed to try and stop me from punching him of its own will?

It was then I noticed that the entire cafeteria had fallen silent and were staring. Most were in shock, as if horrified I had the audacity to conduct myself in such a manner. Or maybe because I just struck the new kid with a royal background in the face.

Some seemed fearful for some reason, and a few faces glared as if I just committed a crime. I huffed and decided instead of sticking around, I would retrieve my art supplies. Behind me I heard Erik laugh, though he tried to stifle it. When I looked to Daisy before I stomped off, her expression was hard to read, but I saw her lips curl in an effort to hide an amused smirk.

I’m not sure why I was so embarrassed all of a sudden and why I couldn’t bring myself to say anything as I sped down the hall. I just knew I had to get away, and I still had to gather my art stuff.

Only when I got to my art classroom, my stuff was nowhere to be found. “Where is it!?” I exclaimed, looking under the desk and on and around the surrounding desks for the 10th time. As I said the words, our art teacher, Mr. Briggs, came striding in. Seeing me, he was surprised.

“What are you doing here, Ms. Jinx?” he asked me. I despised my last name and hated it when my teachers referred to me by it. I wished I could change it, but I couldn’t . At least not until I was 18.

“When I went to the nurse’s office, I left some stuff behind. I came back for it, but it’s not here. Do you know what happened to it?” I asked, getting down on the floor to look under the desks once more. A part of me had a feeling I already knew, but I dreaded that option.

I would rather one of my admirers stole it than what I suspected was true. But, alas, fate is unkind to me. Mr. Briggs voiced what I was in denial of, “Ah yes. Mr. Aurstone collected it and said he would return it to you.” I drug a hand down my face with a groan. I didn’t want to face him after punching him.

It was bad enough my body was responding to him in such ludicrous ways that were foreign to me. The strange pleasure spark sensations, the arousal that seemed beyond my control, and my inability to get back at him with a snappy comeback and how hard it has been to strike him. I shook my head and stood. I grumbled a thanks to Mr. Briggs and headed out the door.

I needed my portfolio to complete my next assignment and the weekly project, but I was unwilling to go back to see Gavin. I couldn’t have a crush! I swore off men! I might as well gather my books and hurry off to AP History, because lunch would end soon.

Gavin POV

I watched as Trisha fled out into the hall. Eon had already healed me but not before she caused my nose to bleed. However, when she punched us, Eon was immediately casting every s****l punishment he could think of in my mind.

It was sexy as hell that my little mate had the confidence to actually strike me. I knew the mate bond would never let her legitimately hurt me, as I had seen it take effect to try and stop the blow, so the hit was a lot weaker than it would have been.

‘Our mate is strong AND feisty. I can’t wait to see her in bed. Without all those annoying human clothes in the way…'

For once I could say nothing to Eon in retort. I didn’t want to. Her rebellion against auras and now me in general, had me wanting to tease the dangerous waters myself now. How far could I push her before she gave in to the bond? Would I have to do much?

Erik’s stifled laughter brought me out of my impressed stupor. I glared, and then noticed all eyes were on me. I stood straighter. Everyone was staring because an insubordinate-a human no less-managed to strike me and get away without so much as a scratch. I knew some would grow suspicious as to her status because of that. Usually, assaulting a Royal was considered treason and a punishable offense of the highest degree.

‘What are you waiting for!? You are the Crown Prince, they have no right to stare! It’s our business!’

It’s only natural, Eon. A human did just heel strike a Royal, even with the pull of the mate bond trying to stop her.

‘I don’t care! What we do with our mate is OUR business!!!’

I sighed. He was right. I had to re-establish my resolve and dominance. “What are you all staring at? The Rogue Human cannot hurt me. I intentionally provoked her. I allowed her to hit me,” I snarled, releasing my aura. The crowd immediately averted their eyes and bowed in submission, some even cowering and baring their necks.

The last sentence was only partially true.

I hadn’t expected her to physically lash out at me, but had I really had any intent of stopping her, I could have with ease. But a part of me wanted to know how hard she could hit. But due to the mate bond, even that curiosity had been thwarted.

A small ripple of “Yes, Prince Alpha,” was murmured from the surrounding crowd. I glowered once more, slowly dragging my gaze across every individual, daring them to challenge me. Then I withdrew my aura before the cafeteria slowly returned to its normal hustle and bustle. I heard the hushed whispers of the Pack and Supernatural kind discussing what happened in disbelief.

“You better not break her heart,” I was surprised that the vampire was the one addressing me so formally. He stood and brushed himself off. He met my eyes in a challenge and I growled in warning, but he was unaffected. “Threaten me all you want, you can’t hurt me. I’ve known Trisha for years. She trusts me and you need me. If I don’t approve you, she never will. Prince or not, her life is more valuable to me than 1 million of yours.”

My eyes narrowed.

‘How dare an underling such as he, challenge and defy us!? Threaten us!? She is our mate, not his! Who does he think he is!’

He’s right though, Eon. Trisha seems very close with him. We cannot risk losing her trust.

‘She’ll forgive us. She has to, she’s our mate.’

Normally I’d agree, but given she fought the effects of the mate bond and actually drew blood, I’m inclined to disagree. This vampire may be crucial to helping sway her before the bond takes us both.

Eon growled, but said no more. Instead, turned his rump to me and retreated to the back of my mind. “What are you to her?” I manage, gritting my teeth as I forced myself to accept that I couldn’t retaliate against him. “I’m no threat to your intentions with her if that’s what you mean. Regretfully, she sees me only as her best friend and brother.”

‘That vampire wants our mate for himself! Kill him, kill him now!!!’

Eon’s snarl required I take a step back as I clenched my jaw and fought to maintain control. Eon was obviously already becoming a bit feral just resisting the bond for the short time we had. “What use are you of to me?” I grated out.

The vampire scoffed. “Daisy may have opened the door for you to have an excuse to get near her, but I hold the keys to her heart.” At his words, I knew I had to bite my tongue. Some nearby supernatural kind had begun eavesdropping. At this rate, my secret wouldn’t be a secret for long.

“Fine. But let’s go where there are less ears to pry,” I nodded to Daisy who cleared the lunch table. She then joined us as I lead the way to the back of the school where the bus run ran through. Finding a secluded corner, far from prying ears, I turned to face the vampire. I folded my arms over my chest and with great strain asked, “What are you proposing?”

The vampire smirked.