My Wild Beast
Chapter 44: Friendly Faces (2)

Chapter 44: Friendly Faces (2)

This was Aiyana... She was utterly breathtaking. With high cheekbones, full lips, slightly upturned almond eyes, and clear, caramel skin, all perfection except for one silver scar sliced across her nose, she was not only stunning but fierce.

Aiyana was the kind of woman who could easily kick Nova’s ass without breaking a sweat. Honestly, at this point, who couldn’t? She radiated don’t mess with me vibes, all while looking the epitome of the perfect girl. In Nova’s world, Aiyana would’ve been a supermodel—or a jaw-dropping bikini model gracing every magazine cover.

She strutted forward like there was an invisible runway, and like with everyone on this island, she wore little to hide such curves. Silvery splodges were beneath the surface of her skin, running up the side of one thigh and the curve of her hip. Cloth wrapped tight around her chest, stopping just above her belly button, and a matching skirt hung from her hips.

Aiyana’s gaze was direct, unapologetic, and could probably see through the most thinly veiled lies. She was beautiful but more than that, she was gracefully feral. Gracefully feral with what could possibly be a resting bitch face.

"Yara," Aiyana greeted as Atia stretched his arms up behind him, walking behind Yoa and Nova casually. His appearance also made Nova relax a little more.

"Sahco isn’t here today." At Yara’s words, Atia huffed. Aiyana’s cutting eyes remained on Nova but did not stop moving at Yara’s words as she strolled by the guards, hand grazing along their solid chests.

"That is a shame," Aiyana purred, playing with one of the daggers sheathed at one of the men’s hips.

"Come on, girl. You know not to play with knives," Atia jested, though there was a slight hardness to his gaze that fell to her hand placed so causally against the croc’s hard body.

"Oh... But you know how much I like to play," Aiyana smirked.

"Ugh. Clear off, little kitty. I can’t afford to have my men recovering for days because you’re in one of your playful moods. It was cute the first few times. Not now," Yara dismissed Aiyana with a wave of her hand.

"Tell Sahco I was here," Aiyana told one of the guards. He gulped and nodded quickly.

HE GULPED. WHO WAS THIS CHIC?! She was half his size, and sure, she had to be at least 5ft9, maybe 5ft10, but that big ass man’s balls seemed to shrink in front of her! What was up with the women of this island? They were so freakin’ cool! And oh, Aiyana’s eyes flicked back to Nova, and she almost felt her soul leave her body.

Aiyana smirked, sauntering back to them. She took Nova’s hand and whisked her out of Yoa’s lap. "I think it’s time you and I have a little chat. Don’t you?" Her gaze made Nova stand straighter and pull her shoulders back as ice trickled down her spine.

Nova nodded. "Yes, ma’am."

Ma’am ?! Aiyana was about the same age as her! Jeez. Nova wanted to smack herself in the head and hide her blushing cheeks.

If Aiyana found the term strange, she didn’t let on.

Yoa stood then. "Now is not the time-"

"Now is the perfect time," Aiyana challenged him, her dark eyes flashing. Unlike Atia and Yoa’s eyes that were so vivid and bright, Aiyana’s were of a golden brown colour.

Yoa glared down at her, stepping closer to Nova. Aiyana scoffed. "Please, I can smell your scent all over her. I won’t touch a precious hair on her head." Her grip tightened around Novas. "And don’t worry about your little pest problem. Silver Feather shouldn’t be an issue for a while. Thanks to us."

While Yoa and Aiyana sussed each other out, Yara watched on in amusement, and Atia rested his hefty arm around Nova’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, we’ve got your back, little snack," he smirked.

Both Aiyana and Yoa’s attention flicked to Atia’s arm position. "You’re welcome," Aiyana hissed under her breath to Yoa before dragging Nova away.

She had no choice but to follow this, Goddess.

Unlike Yara, who she might have had more than a few qualms about following her, Nova sensed Aiyana wouldn’t cause her any harm. This stupidly breathtaking female, with the sharp looks of a warrior, was Atia’s and Yoa’s friend. It didn’t take much for her to figure out the pale leopard from earlier was Aiyana, and she’d helped take out the other jaguar that still wanted Yoa’s head.

Aiyana was no foe. Well, she wasn’t a foe to Yoa. But much like how Yoa’s words held a lot of weight, Nova sensed Aiyana was the same. It was strange how much she was beginning to rely on instincts and not second guess everyone like she might in her own world.

Her own world... That phenomenon was still surreal. But now she had to accept it and embrace it all. That was easier said than done, though.

Nova stumbled to keep up with Aiyana’s long strides. She looked behind her to see Yoa and Atia following, both discussing something. Yoa’s eyes were hard, his face stoic, his gaze set on Nova and sweeping their surroundings, while Atia waved the Crocs goodbye, almost skipping beside his friend and kept glancing in Aiyana’s direction.

If Aiyana was a threat to Nova, Yoa wouldn’t allow them to walk side by side or let her walk off at a quicker pace, further into the jungle. Like everywhere else, the jungle mostly looked the same to Nova. The trees loomed overhead, the canopy far too high, the greenery surrounding them, the bugs chirping, and birds chittering high in the trees.

Nova’s attention drew upwards momentarily as the distance between Yoa and Nova drew bigger, but her gaze locked on a beautiful pair of birds. They were closest to them but it was the words of the bird that almost made her burst into laughter. It really shouldn’t, not right now after being chased by the damned eagles and sitting with crocodiles, trying to guess if she was going to next be the meat in Yara’s stew, but it did.

The sleek black bird with vivid turquoise shades across its feathers fluttered around, dancing for the other bird, whose colours weren’t quite as striking.

"Yeah, you like that? Right?" The bird bobbed its head from side to side, hiding behind its feathers in a funny dance.

"Oh yeah baby, I’m feeling that," a feminine voice cooed, it was the female bird!

Nova didn’t think she should keep watching and listening with how they talked.

The male hopped forward a few times. "How about this.. ah cha cha cha!" His head bobbed up and down, hips moving from side to side and he sang a little tune.

"Mmm... I’ve seen better." The female flew off.

Ooft. Ruthless!

The pretty male bird froze and huffed, its puffed-up chest deflating and wings lowering. "Damn, I need to work on my moves more."

"Stop dawdling," Aiyana clipped from ahead of Nova, tugging on her hand and drawing her attention back to the ferocious feline in front of her.

"Sorry," Nova murmured.

"Don’t apologise," Aiyana glared over her shoulder.

Nova’s lips parted, about to apologise again, but the cat’s sharp look stopped her.

Aiyana stopped then and faced her. "You’re weak, and you’re not worthy to be Yoa’s mate."