5: Strange coloured eyes

Kalista felt her face turn hot with a blush at his words. She carefully released his hand and tucked her hair behind her ear, keeping her eyes averted.

Jade who didn't like the sudden distance between them moved closer to her and slipped his arm around her waist.

Kalista stared up at him in surprise and was about to push him away when he backed her up against a large oak tree. The weirdest thing was, she didn't feel cornered or repulsed. She wanted his arms around her. She wanted to feel the texture of his lips.

Jade watched as her eyes trailed to his lips and he knew she could feel the pull he felt. She didn't just understand it yet.

"I mean it, Kalista",he whispered to her. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever come across"

And you're my mate.

He said the remaining words in his mind. He wished he could tell her what he was, and what she meant to him. But it wasn't the right time yet.

"But... you just met me",Kalista whispered and she closed her eyes when she felt his arm tighten around her waist. The feeling was unexplainable.

Jade slowly moved closer to her until his lips were just a few inches away from hers. He knew he was moving too fast on her. She was still so young, he could tell. Still in her early twenties, inexperienced and naive. But it only made him want her the more.

He leaned in closer, staring at her with his hot eyes, smouldering with the desire he felt within him. As he was about to place his lips over hers to taste her, he froze.

Her eyes.

There was something wrong with her eyes. Her gray eyes that has hypnotized him the moment he stared into them were no longer gray.

Now, they were a very different color.

One was bright gold, the colour of a shifter's eyes. The other was a startling blue, as bright as the glow of the Soul Gem.

Jade frowned suddenly. What was going on here?

Kalista still had her face lifted up and he gently cupped her cheeks.

"Kalista, your eyes...",he said softly.

"What?",Kalista whispered. She blinked once and the strange colours in her eyes disappeared. They were back to the steel gray colour.

Jade's frown deepened and he stared deeply into her eyes, watching to see if the colours would return.

They never did. Her eyes remained the same.

"Is... something wrong?",Kalista asked when Jade kept staring at her without a word. She couldn't move away from his embrace because his arm was wrapped tight around her waist and his other hand held her chin. She could only stare at his handsome face as he scrutinized her.

"Your eyes...",Jade trailed off, unable to form a coherent word. Had it been the trick of the light around them? Had he really seen her eyes turn gold and blue?

"What's wrong with my eyes?",Kalista asked, a frown taking over her expression. There was something odd with the way Jade just stared into her eyes.

Just then, they heard the sound of an approaching carriage. It managed to break the spell that had taken hold of Jade and he finally released her.

"Forgive me for startling you",he said with a charming smile. "Your eyes are utterly mesmerizing. I couldn't resist being drawn into them"

Satisfied with his explanation, Kalista beamed at the complement and turned around just as a carriage pulled by two horses stopped beside them.

Kalista recognized the rider and she smiled cheerfully at him.

"Hello, Sir Gregory",she greeted.

"My dear Kalista",Gregory smiled back at her and reached down to stroke her cheek. He was a man in his late fifty's, with a bald head and full white beard, making him look like santa clause.

"How are you doing today?",Kalista asked as she stroked the horses.

"As right as rain",Gregory answered, then his eyes moved and rested on the white haired man standing beside her. "And who's your friend?"

"Oh, this is Jade",Kalista introduced. "He's a traveller and I'm taking him to moonlight inn. He's in need of a place to stay"

"A pleasure to meet you sir",Jade nodded respectfully at the old man.

Gregory stared warily at Jade for a long while, his pale blue eyes filled with mistrust and suspicion. He clearly didn't like Jade's presence.

"We don't need your kind here",he muttered under his breath.

"Excuse me?",Jade asked and narrowed his eyes.

Gregory turned away from him and focused on Kalista who was having her own private conversation with the horses.

"I'll drop by later, Kalista",he said to her and caressed her hair lovingly. "Send my greetings to your mother"

"I will, Sir Gregory",Kalista smiled up at him, totally unaware of the tension between the old man and Jade. "Have a pleasant day"

Gregory stared at Jade one last time, his eyes no longer filled with mistrust and suspicion, but now hate and malice. They both glared at each other for a long while, before Gregory flicked the reins and urged the horses forward.

Jade stood beside Kalista, his brown eyes following Gregory until both horse and rider disappeared into the forest. Did Gregory know he was a lycan? Why else would he say they didn't need his kind there?

He would just have to keep his eyes on everyone in Northville, while also searching for the Soul Gem and protecting his mate from the maniac that almost attacked her.

Especially with the way her eyes changed colours a few minutes ago.

...

They finally arrived at the town square and Jade was amazed to see how large it was. It was an enormous circular open space, dotted with numerous buildings, bustling as people moved about from shop to shop, buying and selling, sending out greetings to familiar faces.

Jade was clearly awed because he had never been in the midst of so many humans.

As they progressed deeper into the town, people turned and stared openly at him. He could hear whispers as gossips began to spread round. He knew they were talking about him, and he could hear snatches of their hushed conversations.

"Look at his hair..."

"He looks so handsome..."

"...new to Northville..."

"I've never seen him..."

"What's he doing with her...?"

The gossips increased as Jade and Kalista moved farther into the town square. Totally unfazed, Jade grasped Kalista's hand in his, and when she turned to stare at him quizzically, he flashed one of his killer smiles that made her face go aflame again.

"The inn is just over there",Kalista said and pointed towards the end of an alley filled with different shops.

They were about to turn into the alley when someone stepped in front of them.

"I guess the freak found her partner",a voice said.

Jade slowly looked up and his gaze rested on the three boys that blocked their path. They were all young, about the same age as Kalista.

He remained quiet to see what the three young boys would do.

"Out of my way, Killian",Kalista glared at the boy that had been bullying her ever since she was six. Some things never changed, she thought.

"Why?",Killian sneered at her, totally ignoring the man standing beside her. "Too scared to fight back? You should be, you freak"

"Call her a freak one more time and you will regret it",Jade voiced out coldly. His eyes had changed to a deep shade of brown and his handsome face settled into a scowl.

Killian took a step back and assessed Jade silently. He noticed that Jade looked older, way older than him. Yet, he didn't back away. He turned to his boys and the three let out a loud guffaw.

"You got yourself a new freak bodyguard to protect you?",Killian jeered to Kalista and stepped forward, bringing his face closer to Jade boldly.

"Killian stay away!",Kalista tried to come in between the two men but Killian shoved her forcefully away. Kalista tripped on the hem of her dress and fell on the ground while the other two boys laughed mockingly at her.

Jade felt his beast come to life, furious at the way his mate was treated. He wanted to shift and tear the immature boys before him into shreds, but he placed a leash on his rage. He couldn't let the humans discover him. He still had to locate the Soul Gem.

"If you ever lay a finger on her",he grounded out in a frosty voice. "I will make sure you feel pain like you've never felt"

He turned and was about to help Kalista up when Killian raised his fist and slammed it into Jade's jaw.