Alpha Island: My Enemy Mate

Chapter 13

KAYDEN

Some of the girls gasped while others laughed. Or I'd better say cackled, pointing at a Rory.

I never understood why women were like that. Instead of supporting each other, they were always the ones to bring each other down. My sister Kiara had it tough back in my childhood because of other people's jealousy too. Even princesses didn't have a fairytale life.

I was waiting for Rory to put them back in their places. Knowing that little dragon, it was going to be spectacular. However, this time she did not reply; if anything, I could have sworn she looked pale. What was going on?

"So, are the rumours true?" The group of girls continued, knowing really well that we were there and could hear everything they said. "And is that really her?"

"Of course, it is!" one of them, a dragon, stepped forward. She had pitch black short hair and a b*tchy expression on her face. My wolf hated her the moment we noticed her. "She may have put glamour on her to hide, but my father is working in the Palace. I have seen her plenty of times, and this glamour doesn't work on me. That's Rory the Traitor! The one who was banished from the Dragon Court!"

My eyes went to Aurora, and I saw how tightly her lips were pursed and how her fists were clenched, and yet she still hadn't said a word.

"Maybe we should speak with the headmaster, and they can throw her out of here at all? I don't want to be studying with traitors!" the brunette went on, playing with her hair, a vicious smirk curling her lips.

"You are right, Darcy," one of the minions chimed in. "if she's working with the renegades, then she should be out of here. Safety comes first!"

For some reason, I couldn't stand it anymore. The rational part of me told me that I should probably be worried about the possibility of Rory working with the Renegades indeed, however, my war general intuition told me that this couldn't have been true. Yes, Rory was a hybrid, because there was definitely a wolf in her, and most Renegades were hybrids too. This was their main problem with the four great clans - they weren't a part of it and didn't share our collective power. Therefore they wanted to destroy us - to change the world's order and to gain power that was denied to them.

But Rory wasn't like that. From the short time I've known her, I could tell that she couldn't care less about power. Not to mention that she clearly was not proud of being a hybrid. And on top of everything, she was loyal. Loyal to her Kingdom and her cousin Darren. I couldn't see the scenario where she betrayed that dragon prince.

That group of girls kept laughing and talking loudly, and I couldn't take this anymore. The wolf in me wanted to tear them apart for… some reason.

"So, when do we petition the headmaster?" That Darcy was just asking for trouble. "I can go and ask for an appointment with him today!"

"Well, that's one way to prove to everyone you are dumb!" I heard myself saying, and now the attention of the group was on me.

"And you are?" Darcy pursed her lips when her eyes glided over me.

"I guess although your Dad works at the palace, he isn't that big in there!" I chuckled. "Otherwise, you would know who I am too! What does he do there? Wash toilets or something?"

The brunette went pale at my words, and I realised that I wasn't too far from the truth. Was that why she wanted to get back at Rory?

"You aren't a dragon at all!" the girl finally found how to respond. "That's why I don't know you!"

"You don't know me because I only meet the elite," I retorted easily. "But all that is beside the point. Insulting a member of the royal family is punishable if you forget. And did you seriously think that a traitor would be sent to study in one of the best schools in the world instead of being kept in the Palace for safety reasons?"

Darcy's lips trembled. She did not think of that. However, she found what to reply very soon.

"Of course, you defend her!" she narrowed her eyes at me. "You feel that she is a mutt just like you!"

A growl left my chest at her words.

"Choose your words very carefully when you are in front of me!" I snarled at the girl, who once again went pale. "These are the kind of words that may get you into trouble. And not the good kind!"

"What can a werewolf do to me?!" Darcy was dumb, indeed.

I was next to her in less than a second, with my hand wrapped around her neck and her legs kicking in the air.

"First of all, I am a lycan," I sneered. "And as I have already said, choose your words, Darcy." I chose the dirtiest part of the field to throw her in. There were a lot of squelching noises as she was getting out of the puddle while none of the group that was so bold just a few seconds ago rushed to support her and help her out.

I wanted to do something else, say something else, but this was when Rory appeared by my side and wrapped her hand around mine, making me lose all kinds of control.

"That's enough," she whispered when our eyes locked. I noticed beautiful purple lightning in her irises and instantly knew she wasn't happy, which frustrated me.

"What is going on here?" Loki appeared next to us while Darren and Skylar were already gone from the picture.

"He attacked me!" Darcy pointed at me with her index finger, shaking from anger in the mud.

I expected the warlock to scold me, but once again, the prince in disguise surprised me.

"Good!" he said, hands in his pockets.

"What?" Darcy's face contorted. She couldn't comprehend what was going on. "H-how?"

"This is a battle class, isn't it?" Loki grinned, not even trying to hide his amusement. I was starting to understand why Rory liked him. Although I still didn't like that fact myself.

"Y-yes," Darcy tried to stand, but I could swear a vine grew out of the mud and brought her back in when she attempted to get out.

"Then I don't understand why you are complaining?" the warlock tilted his head, observing the mess. "You should be happy you got to practice!"

"This isn't–" Darcy was ready to cry. "I will be complaining!"

"Yeah, yeah, very interesting," he brushed her off. "Fifty push-ups on the spot, please."

"You can't do that!" the girl wined, but I wasn't feeling sorry for that. "You aren't even my teacher!"

"I am your substitute teacher now!" Now Loki was simply sneering. "Professor Thorn is busy, and he asked me to help out."

"But–" Darcy's lips twitched as she finally began to understand the situation.

"It's going to be one hundred if you don't start now!" Loki hopped on top of the metallic fence and sat there comfortably, looking at his watch. Darcy had to oblige and started counting the push-ups while her so-called friends giggled. "I don't know why you are all laughing, ladies," the warlock threw them a questioning glance. "After all, it was an order for all of you!"

Their smiles dropped, and so did they, starting their exercises.

"Rory, Kayden!" Loki finally paid us some attention. "You are both dismissed. I heard you have a curse to fix."

His grin deepened as he was mocking us too, but Aurora simply nodded and pulled me away by my hand. Which I did not mind in the slightest.

Ever since I met this girl, I wasn't myself around her. She was right that I tried to find her after the wedding, looking even for the smallest piece of information or for an occasion for us to meet. This wasn't like me at all, but there was something refreshing in the way she looked at me… as if she wanted to murder me, but not really.

I was used to victories, especially on the love playfield. Girls were naturally falling into my arms, even the ones who played hard to get. But somehow, I was always coming out awkward around Rory, and most of our encounters did not end well. Except for that kiss the other night. The kiss that made it hard to ignore the fact that I… liked her.

Okay, I may be more than liked her.

I had to put all those covers around her at night because I simply couldn't sleep next to her looking so… perfect. And when she accidentally threw her arms and a leg around me, my wolf urged me to act on it. So, I absolutely had to swaddle her and slept on the sofa just as she suggested. Luckily, I woke up first, and she had no idea.

She finally brought me to the woods part of the polygon and stared at me as if she wanted to electrocute me again. The odd part was that I wouldn't mind that either.

"What?" I asked her, feeling that I wouldn't like the reply.

"Never do that again!" she hissed at me.

"Do what? Defend your honour?" I raised my brow.

"Yes," she let out an exasperated sigh and locked eyes with me. "I am not some damsel in distress! I can take care of myself!"

"Well, you weren't doing a great job there!" Anger rose at the pit of my stomach. "A simple thank you wouldn't kill you, Rory."

"Oh, thank you for bringing even more attention to me than I wanted," she gave me a fake smile and rolled her eyes, folding her hands. "If you didn't notice, I wanted to stay low."

"Even when they call you a traitor behind your back?!" I snapped. "It's not okay! They should be–"

"Just stop it!" she snapped, and my lips parted in shock when I noticed her eyes glistening with tears. I knew she wouldn't let them fall. Anyone but her. But why was she like that?

"What happened, Rory?" I asked her gently, and all I wanted now was to hug her. But she was like a little hedgehog. The little aggressive and very beautiful hedgehog I was more attracted to than I liked to admit. Damn it.

"It's–" she contemplated for a moment and looked me in the eye again. Somehow I knew that she was making a very important decision now. Then, finally, she sighed and continued. "Fine! Since we are stuck together, you are going to find this out anyway!"

"Just so that you know, your secrets will be safe with me," I assured her and meant every word. "But I expect the same in return."

Truth be told, I didn't have many secrets. But I knew that it would be easier for her if we had this deal between us.

She bit her lip nervously, not realising what kind of effect it was making on a young and healthy man who was practically glued to her. Or any man, for that matter, considering how gorgeous she was.

"I was set up," she said, and my attention went to her situation at once.

"Set up?" I furrowed my brows. Who would do such a thing?

"Yes," she nodded, clearly annoyed by having to tell me. "My dearest fiancé stabbed me in the back."

I had to do my best not to snarl at the mention of her fiancé. Was she engaged? Was she taken? Where could I find this guy to get rid of him?

"He planted evidence in my room, suggesting that I was working with the renegades and–" Rory stopped talking and looked down. For the first time since we met, she looked down.

"It's okay," I brushed my hand over her shoulder, squeezing it softly. "You can tell me everything. No judgement from me."

Something in me felt like she needed it, and Rory started talking. She told me about everything, starting from how that scumbag was cheating on her and what he planned to do and finishing with how her family reacted. I went from composed to shocked to angry within minutes of listening to her story. What she was going through was awful.

"Your dragon family is… undiscerning!" I summed things up.

"Don't say that!" she rubbed her forehead, closing her eyes just for a minute. "They are… dealing with a lot."

"This would have never happened with the lycans!" I told her confidently. "We are loyal, and that–"

"Oh, please!" she stopped me at once. "Don't overestimate yourselves. After all, my lycan mother had no trouble dumping me and never even bothered contacting me or at least asking if I was still alive. Loyal my a*s."

I choked on my own words. Was that what happened to her?

"Rory…" I had no right words for her and felt like the worst person in the world. I wanted to reassure her and help her, but somehow I just made it worse.

"Just forget all of it," she shook her head as if she couldn't believe she shared all that with me. She wanted to walk away, but I grasped her hand and pulled her into my embrace forcefully.

Yes, that probably wasn't how it was supposed to be done, but I was still new at all this… whatever that was.

"What are you–" she looked up at me, and I realised that I was about to kiss her again. A part of her was realising it too. I could tell from simply looking at her amethyst eyes.

And it made my heart beat a little bit faster knowing that she wasn't pushing me away…

I leaned lower, inhaling her scent and ready to taste her soft lips once again when a voice disrupted us.

"You'd better take your hands off her, mutt!"