Chapter 60: Chapter 60

Elari

“My eyes?” I muttered in a panic. “What do you mean?” I acted dumb even though the panic was ever so real. “Rivan.” I was only half acting when I grabbed hold of the front of his jacket with my trembling fingers. “What’s wrong with my eyes?”

For a second he looked at me strangely and then he wrapped me in his arms again , his hand running up and down my back just like Kades had just done. Only there was no real comfort in rivans touch.

“It’s ok.” He soothed. “It’s all going to be ok, I don’t want you to freak out but-“ grabbing hold of my arms he held me out at arms length. “But your wolf has manifested.”

“What?” I trembled but not because of shock. More because I needed my act to be believable. “That can’t be right I’m not,” I broke off with a ragged breath.

“It must have just happened. I knew your aura felt off all day. The stress of finding out your father is a monster must have forced it.”

My father had forced it but not in the way he was thinking. She must have come out into my eyes when I had been with Kade. He probably saw and didn’t even warn me.

Every time I thought we understood each other, Kade went and proved he was an asshole all over again.

“I’m too young-“ I sobbed giving the words performance of my life. I just hoped he bought it. I hated lying to him and my other friends but what other choice did I have.

“I won’t tell anyone.” Rivans arms tightened around me, pulling me into his body. Which felt weird and wrong on so many levels. “It’s just your eyes so far, no one else needs to know. Not even our friends.”

From my place cuddled up against his chest, I lifted my head. “I am not sure they are my friends anymore.”

“Sure they are. And I’m still your boyfriend if you want me to be.” Rivan said in a husky voice. “I know I acted like a jerk when I found out and I promise to make it up to you.”

“You want to be my boyfriend?” I quickly searched his face with my eyes. It wasn’t lost on me that he hadn’t mentioned that we had just been pretending to be together.

In fact it hadn’t been lost on me for a while that he didn’t act like it was make believe. I knew Rivan had a crush on me. I’d suspected before the Yule dance and knew when he tried to kiss me there but this felt different.

“You know I like you.” He said, reading my thoughts. “I’ve liked you since we first met. I knew you were different. And we make a good team don’t we? We look good together. So yeah I want to be your boyfriend.”

All I could do was blink at him in shock. “Rivan-“

“I don’t want to pretend anymore. I have feelings for you Elari. And I really do care about you. My family is poweful. I mean not Phyrros poweful but we are up there. If you chose me, I could protect you. My family would protect you as well. They already can’t wait to meet you.”

I tore myself out of his arms. My face strained. “You told them who I was?”

He looked at me blankly. “Not who you are related to.” He shook his head. “I would never do that. But I’ve spoke about you. They know there’s a girl in school in like.”

I blushed. “Why would you do that?”

Again he looked confused. “Because I like you. And I think you like me. Bonds have been forged on less.”

Wait what? My head snapped up. My breathing came in pants. He had just been talking about being boyfriend and girlfriend? Now he was talking about mate bonds.

That was one hell of a jump.

“Rivan, I-“ I muttered.

“I just want you to keep me in mind ok.” Completely reading my look wrong, he drew me back into his arms. “We can date and get to know each other but it makes sense that my father approaches yours- your step father.” He amended quickly. “And put my name forward. He has to listen to you if you choose me too.”

“You’re not my mate Rivan.”

“You don’t know that.” He said roughly. “Mate bonds take time. We could be mates. It would make sense with how attracted I am to you.”

I opened my mouth to tell him I did know he wasn’t my mate because I was goddess fated to my stepbrother but at the last minute I nodded. “We can date. I do like you.”

Frowning I closed my eyes. What the hell had made me say that? I did like Rivan, that was true. But as a friend.

“You don’t know how happy that makes me Elari.” He pulled me in closer. “And I’ll look after you. I will be a good mate and a good protector. I will make you happy both here in school and when we leave. I won’t ever let anyone hurt you.”

He meant every word he said. I could see the truth in his eyes. He beamed down at me. “You’ve just made me so unbelievably happy Elari. I can’t wait to tell the world-“

Scooping me up he swung me around in a wide circle.

My feet off the floor meant I had no choice but to grip hold of him. “Rivan put me down.”

He did so slowly, letting me slide down his body. “I knew you were meant to be mine. I will never let you down.” His face lowered over mine. His lips hovered for a second giving me a chance to pull away.

And then he was kissing me. Softly at first. And then harder, as he bent me backwards.

There wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop it. I let him kiss me and felt nothing at all.

When Kade kissed me my whole body came alive. My nerves tingled and my heart beat too fast but when Rivan did I felt nothing at all.

Even though I think I had just agreed to be his girlfriend.

Even though I was pretty sure I had somehow just agreed to be his mate.

Which was impossible because I already had one of those