Mated to the Dragon Twins novel Chapter 5

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

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

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

As they entered, silence fell across the cafeteria and all eyes snapped to where the girls had walked in. Ariel linked their arms together as they strolled into the cafeteria, making their way to grab their lunch. As they passed 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 she should 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 that followed them.

Once they had their trays they made their way over to an empty table and sat down to eat their lunch. Once they were seated the cafeteria resumed 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 finds out I don't want to get hurt again." she sighed.

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

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

Ariel watched in silence as her friend looked down and her lunch, she reached 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 school dance at the end of the month, Ariel was hoping that Sila would ask her to the dance while Aria never even thought about going.

Aria listened as Ariel went on about how hot Silas was and how she hoped he would be her mate. Aria could see the attraction to Silas but he had nothing on Dragus and Darian, each to their own she thought to 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 at the table, he stomped his way over to them, his eyes wild, his fists clenched at his side. As he reached the table he grabbed hold of Aria by her hair and yanked her head back.

"What gave you the right to slap Cindy!" He spat at her as his hold on her hair tightened, pulling her head further back to look into her eyes.

The cafeteria went silent once more as Aria said,

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

It's like he saw red and smashed Aria's head into the table before grabbing 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 we could leave the bathroom" Ariel said as she tried to pull Colton off of Aria.

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

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