CHAPTER 35

Isla's POV

I quivered under his piercing gaze, her heart pounding as fear intertwined with confusion. My voice trembled as I finally confessed, but not entirely, “I… I accidentally discovered I could transform.” The words hung in the air, heavy and uncertain.

Adrian's eyes darkened with frustration, his patience slipping away. "Lies! Still lies!"

“I am not lying to you, Adrian. You are just too consumed by your jealousy to see the truth,” I whispered, trying to avert his gaze, but my voice lacked the conviction I needed.

He didn't concede. Without warning, he cornered me, his grip firm yet not cruel. Tingles spiraled through my body, making my breath hitch. He towered over me, leaning closer. The shock of it left me breathless. But what came next made my body tense in ways I didn’t understand.

Adrian's breath brushed against my ear, sending goosebumps as I bit my lip. He chuckled, his voice low and possessive as he whispered, “Then you must know by now… I am your mate.”

His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. I felt an extreme pull tugging under my skin, tightening around my heart and soul like an iron chain. My body betrayed me, the mate bond surging through me, overwhelming my senses, almost maddening.

“Adrian, stop,” I breathed, breathing heavily. But the words came out weak. His name on my lips felt strange, felt like a confession to his question.

His teeth grazed the sensitive skin of my ear, sending a shockwave of pain and... pleasure. An unexpected wave of heat rushed through me, catching me off guard. My body betrayed my hesitation, responding to him despite the turmoil that churned inside my mind.

“Adrian...” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper, my hesitation melting away.

His hands roamed over my body with an urgency that made my pulse quicken. He traced a path from my waist, upwards, until his fingers rested on my chest. He pressed on them slowly, making me pant, as I closed my eyes feeling flustered.

But the warmth of his palms seeped through the thin fabric of my shirt, igniting a fire that threatened to consume me. He chuckled, satisfied with my reaction before moving his mouth moved to my neck, lips brushing against my skin. And without any warning, his teeth sank in just enough to send sparks through my nerves.

"Aah!" A gasp escaped my lips as the pain gave way to a burning desire that I couldn’t control.

My body instinctively arched toward him, the force of the mate bond overwhelming every logical thought I had left. It was as if my resistance was slipping away with every caress, every touch... I couldn’t fight it anymore. The bond tugged at something deep inside me, pushing me closer to him, urging me to give in to the undeniable connection between us.

“Isla,” he said my name in a husky deep baritone voice, making me whimper. “You don’t understand what you are doing to me now.”

Maybe I did. Because I was feeling something overwhelming, beyond my control for Adrian as well.

Adrian’s breath was ragged as his deft hands moved more urgently, sliding under the hem of the shirt clinging to my body.

"Don't!" I whispered, not really stopping him.

His gaze locked onto mine, intense and hungry to devour me. “You are mine, Isla,” he growled, his voice rough and commanding. “Only mine.”

My heart pounded against my chest, the weight of his words sinking into me. I bit my lips, not finding the right words to speak or bring myself to protest. I was drawn to him in a way I couldn’t explain. There was no room for hesitation now.

The shirt lifted off in one swift movement, leaving me vulnerable. I shivered, not because of the cool night air brushing against my exposed body. It was because of his lustful gaze echoing his possessiveness, scanning every inch of my skin, illuminated by the faint moonlight passing through the window.

“Oh!... Adrian,” I whimpered, wanting more.

He knew it too. His hands gripped me tighter, and his mouth found the sensitive spot on my neck, where the mate bond pulsed the strongest.

"Urgh!" I moaned, unable to hold back anymore. I pulled him closer, needing more of him, needing to feel every inch of him.

The tension flared between us, palpable and electric as sparks flew everywhere. Fireworks erupted inside my heart and my stomach flip-flopped, making it impossible to focus on anything but him. And the way he looked at me made my heart flutter.

“You are beautiful,” he whispered, his lips brushing my ear, sending tingles racing down my spine.

I gulped hard, wanting to tell him how attracted I was to him, to tell him how handsome he looked when he smiled... when he looked at me with those loving eyes... but I was lost in them, lost in the moment.

Adrian’s hands explored freely, sliding over my every curve and hollow, his fingers exploring every inch of me with admiration. He moved slowly, almost deliberately, as if savoring the moment. I gasped at the sensation, the intimacy of it sending a rush of warmth through me.

It felt like he was mapping out every part of me, claiming me as his. And the thought alone made me thrilled and terrified. The tension between us mounted, thick and heady, like an invisible force pushing us toward the inevitable.

“Adrian…” I gasped, my voice barely a whisper as I reached for him, needing to feel him closer.

He groaned softly, his lips brushing against my ear again. “God! What are you doing to me, Isla,” he groaned, his voice thick with desire. “I will never let you go.”

The words sent a rush of heat through me, and I found myself leaning into him. My fingers threaded through his hair as I pulled him closer.

"Isla!" He groaned, looking at me with intensity. His eyes darkened as they lowered towards my lips. I gulped hard, as I looked into his supple, inviting ones. This time, I too, wanted to kiss him.

I leaned closer, closing the gap between our lips. And in a sudden movement, he pushed me closer, his hand around my neck. He kissed me deeply, his lips pressing against mine with a passion that took my breath away. I could feel the strength of his emotions in every kiss, every touch. And in that moment,  whatever differences we had between us vanished as I kissed him back.

We were no longer just Isla and Adrian. We were mates, bound by something far greater than either of us could resist.