Mated to the Dragon Twins
Chapter 5

"Look at me Aria, don't let anything that came out of her vile mouth getto you. she's wrong, don't let her ever think her words mean anythingto you"

Aria lifted her head and looked into her friend's eyes, she could see theguilt and pity swarming around but she could also see thedetermination and fierce side to Ariel that she always admired and gaveher the confidence that she needed in herself.

Aria squared her shoulders, wiped the tears from her cheeks and heldher head high as Ariel pushed open the doors to the cafeteria.

As they entered, silence fell across the cafeteria and all eyes snapped towhere the girls had walked in. Ariel linked their arms together as theystrolled into the cafeteria, making their way to grab their lunch. As theypassed the tables Aria could hear the whispers of the other students."She's a slut and a whore Cindy's right”

"Colton's going to be furious when he hears about this"

"I'd hate to be the downfall of my family, Cindy's right, maybe sheshould give them mercy"

Aria didn't lower her gaze as they made their way to the lunch line.despite hearing what the other students were saying and their eyes thatfollowed them.

Once they had their trays they made their way over to an empty tableand sat down to eat their lunch. Once they were seated the cafeteriaresumed its normal buzz of chit chat and noise.

"So you want to talk about Dragus and Darian now?"

Aria's eyes snapped up to Ariel at the mention of the twins.

"No, I just can't be around them Ariel. Colton will kill me if he replaces out Idon't want to get hurt again.” she sighed.

As Aria's eyes scanned the cafeteria, the doors to the cafeteria swungopen and in walked Dragus Darian Silas Marco and Carlos, Aria lookeddown and continued to eat her lunch as they came in, all the girls of theacademy wished to be mated to the notorious five, not that she had achance with any of them but a girl can dream right?

They captured every girl's gaze as they made their way through thecafeteria, ignoring the battered eyelashes, smiles and gazes of the girlsthey passed.

Ariel watched in silence as her friend looked down and her lunch, shereached across the table and lifted Aria's chin with two fingers.

"Don't ever lower your head for anyone.” she said and smiled.

Aria and Ariel chatted about their upcoming lessons and the schooldance at the end of the month, Ariel was hoping that Sila would ask herto the dance while Aria never even thought about going.

Aria listened as Ariel went on about how hot Silas was and how shehoped he would be her mate. Aria could see the attraction to Silas buthe had nothing on Dragus and Darian, each to their own she thoughtto herself.

As the girls were talking the doors to the cafeteria slammed open,leaving a very pissed off Colton standing there.

Aria sunk back into her chair as Ariel followed her gaze to the doors.Colton was scanning the cafeteria when he spotted the girls sitting atthe table, he stomped his way over to them, his eyes wild, his fistsclenched at his side. As he reached the table he grabbed hold of Aria byher hair and yanked her head back.

"What gave you the right to slap Cindy!" He spat at her as his hold onher hair tightened, pulling her head further back to look into her eyes.The cafeteria went silent once more as Aria said,

"l..1..didn't touch her Colton I swear" she stammered out.

It's like he saw red and smashed Aria’s head into the table beforegrabbing her throat. Ariel jumped up as he grabbed Aria's throat.

"Let her go, she didn't touch Cindy. I pushed her out of the way so wecould leave the bathroom” Ariel said as she tried to pull Colton off ofAria.

Colton snarled and squeezed Aria's throat until she was sputtering andcoughing,

"You will pay for your friend's mistake" he said to her before hepunched Aria in the face and she crumpled back into the seat.

As Colton drew his fist back to strike Aria again, a hand grabbed hiswrist. Colton turned to see who the hand belonged to only to comeface to face with Darian.

"I suggest you think about your next move if I were you," Darian said ina steel voice.

Colton looked into the glowing eyes of Darian for a long moment,looking at Dragus Silas Marco and Carlos before lowering his fist.Darian let go of his wrist and moved around Colton to where Aria wastrembling in Ariel's arms, trying to stop the blood from the cut on herlip with a napkin.

"I bet she's fucking you too why else would you help her" Colton spatbefore he turned on his heel and headed for the cafeteria doors.

Aria looked up at Darian who had knelt in front of her to look into hisglowing hazel eyes.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

As he gazed at her lip and the tears streaking her cheeks. Aria noddedher head and lowered her gaze, Ariel was rubbing circles on her back totry and calm her down.

"Aria look at me" he whispered but she couldn't bring herself to lookinto his eyes. The embarrassment, the hurt was too much for her tohandle so she got up and ran from the cafeteria without looking back.Aria ran as hard as she could out of the doors of the school and intothe forest that surrounded the school building.

Tears blurred her vision as she pushed her legs harder and harder,ducking and jumping over rocks until she came to a clearing. she'dnever been this far into the woods before and had no idea where shewas.

Aria collapsed on the ground panting, trying to suck air into her lungsas quickly as she could. after a few moments her breathing slowed andAria sat back and looked up to the sky.

The sky was blue without a cloud in sight. It was so peaceful and calmthe breeze rushed around her and her hair whipped back and forth.She wasn't sure how long she sat there before she heard a voice behindher.

"So this is where you've disappeared to” as she turned around therestood Dragus leaning against the tree in all his glory. his eyes trainedon her as he slowly made his way to her.

Aria had turned back around and continued to look up at the sky asDragus approached her and sat next to her.

"What happened in the cafeteria earlier Aria?" he asked but she didn'treply straight away and continued looking out across the clearing."Colton always hates me because he thinks I'm sleeping around theschool and his friends are embarrassing him and my family. I can't shiftyet and they think there's something wrong with me," she said as shelowered her gaze to look at her hands in her lap.

Aria didn't know why she confided in Dragus but it felt right to her. shefelt like she could talk to him about anything.

"Does he always do that to you, hit you I mean?" Aria nodded her headand continued to stare at her hands in her lap,

"Is that the worse he's done to you?" he asked as he gazed at her sheshook her head no and looked up at him from between her lashes.Dragus stayed quiet for a few minutes still looking at her intently.Dragus scooted closer to her and tried to pull her into a side hug butwhen Aria hissed. he looked down at her in confusion. Aria pulled backand wrapped her arms around her sides, Dragus looked at her and sawher flinch when she touched her sides.

Dragus pulled her arms from her side "can I see Aria you might needhelp?" Dragus looked into her glittering emerald eyes before shenodded her head.

Slowly Dragus lifted Aria's shirt to reveal the purple bruises up her rightside, Aria glanced at him and could see his jaw tight and his eyesglowing. She quickly pulled her shirt back down and went to stand."Why do you care Dragus? you don't have to be here with me,everyone will think that...think that......" she let her voice trail off beforeshe turned on her heel to leave.

Dragus jumped up and took hold of her arm but she wouldn't turn tolook at him. "I don't care what they think Aria, I will not let this carryon."

"You can't help me Dragus just leave it, it will only get worse” shesighed as she walked away from him. Dragus stood in the clearingwatching her retreating back disappear into the woods...