Gray POV

"I've told you a hundred times before and I'll tell you again! Leave me alone Sting!" I groaned while shutting my locker for break. Ever since Natsu and I exclusively became a couple, Sting has come up to me like clockwork in between periods at school. It used to be before and after school as well but Natsu was always there to stake his claim pretty quickly. Natsu wasn't lying when he told me that he would be very protective of me as it got closer to the ritual. Ever since we got intimate for the first time a few weeks ago, the bastard has been by my side as much as possible. Not that I always complained about it, but it would be nice to have some peace and quiet every now and again. After an argument or two, it finally came down to Natsu walking with me to and from school and meeting up for lunch. Other than that we had our own time apart so we didn't kick each other's heads in, especially in class together.

"Come on Gray! Just get to know me. I'm much better than Natsu-san!"

I turned around to face Sting and jumped a little when I realised that Sting was standing very close behind me. "I thought you idolise Natsu"

Sting put a hand on the locker behind me leaning over and used his other hand to twirl a piece of my hair in his hand. "I very much do, but I want you to be with someone else. Someone who will treat you better than he does"

"Natsu and I are fine the way we are. Natsu may be a handful but I love him and I don't love you. End of" I looked right into Sting's eyes to make sure my point was clear. "Now can we please stop this little game you are playing because I am tired of it. I have a boyfriend who happens to be Natsu, everyone in the school knows it and has accepted us, why can't you?"

"Because I don't want you to be with Natsu"

I scoff "Because it is that simple. I am already halfway to being his mate Sting! He made sure of that years ago when we made our promises to each other as kids"

"True. But I'm sure you didn't know what you were really promising did you? Bet you must be really angry with Natsu about that?" He smirks "That's not treating a mate properly now is it?"

"He was young! I have already forgiven him Sting"

"But he has forced you into this unforgiving situation. He has ruined your life. You could have been with anyone else, but now because of something that was done so long ago, you are never going to be with someone else for the rest of your life!"

A lump hit at the back of my throat as I held back tears of anger. I just shake my head, not knowing what to say.

Sting cocks his head to the side "Am I hitting a nerve here?" he taunts. I tighten my fists together and grit my teeth muttering a mantra in my head to steady myself. Hold your tongue Gray. Be the better man.

"Don't" Is all I can say

"Don't what? Say what is true? Natsu has put you into this situation that you can not get out of"

"I don't want to get out of it Sting. I love him"

"Are you sure?" His question shocked me

"O-of course"

"Because since you two made your vows, that means that you shared blood already, so maybe having Natsu's blood in your system caused your feelings to manifest and make you think that you love him"

I feel my stomach lurch at the thought and shake my head again. "Dragon slayer blood doesn't do that."

"Really? So you know about a certain bite that dragon slayers can do already? It's a good thing I warned you of this now before Natsu forces you"

"I know that he has to bite me in the ritual. That's common knowledge"

"Oh no. I meant the other one. The one where a dragon slayer can bite a mate and make them fall in love with them unwillingly. That can be anytime as well. No ritual needed. It's all linked in with dragon slayers blood. A bite is our way of marking our territory and causes a change for our blood so it can merge more with yours, marking our dominance over you. It makes you 100% ours.

I shake my head again and grit my teeth, getting closer to his face. "Natsu would never do that to me and he doesn't need to because I know that I love him without the need for magical properties in his blood. So don't even think that you can twist this so that you make me hate him"

Sting chuckles "You saw straight through that eh?"

I smirk "Well I wouldn't put it past you to try and make me hate Natsu so that we would break up. I was just waiting for you to pull something like that"

"Hmm..very good Gray. Maybe you are not such a bad mate after all. It's a shame that it is wasted on Natsu. But I want Natsu to be happy and I will make sure that he is very happy. Even if it means taking drastic measures."

I lift an eyebrow in question "What do you mean?"

"Oh come on now. Do you really think it's you that I am after?"

My eyes widen "What?"

"Don't flatter yourself. Did you really think that all of this flirting with you was for your benefit? It was to prove to Natsu that you can not be trusted but you have sadly managed to live up to the task of being loyal so far. Natsu should not have a mate like you. He should be with someone who is loyal, will always be at his side and should be able to match him in magic strength to fight alongside him and not against him. It's not too late to change your mind. You are human. Very fickle creatures who take what they want until they suddenly change their mind at the last minute. But once you do that sacred ritual there is no backing out. It is for life! This is our version of your marriages."

I grit my teeth "I am fully aware of it and I am ready to make that vow again!"

"Are you sure? I can hear your heart hammering hard against your chest when you lie and yours is beating pretty quickly right now" Sure enough, I could feel the blood pumping fast in my ears.

"I'm angry. There is a difference."

Sting scoffs. "Hate and love is such a fine line. You just need to make sure that you know which side you are on. Remember. The quicker you end it, the easier it will be on him. He is already starting to get possessive of you and once you guys mate, he will be like that all of the time. Do you really want to be with him like that for the rest of your life?"

With that he tried to walk away but I caught him in time, grabbing his jacket sleeve, pulling him back to me. "Well what about you?"

Sting smirked "What about me?"

"Would you really want all of that? Natsu being around you all of the time? Not giving you any privacy? Completing the mating ritual with him knowing that he will always be there in your face, protecting you because of your dragon natures? Surely two dominant dragon slayers would never work."

"There is only one way to find out isn't there" His eyes grew darker leaning close to me again. This time he was so close, our noses were almost touching. I could smell his musky scent flooding my nose, his magical power pulsing against my own.

"You know that your power can not even scratch the surface of mine Gray. I am a dragon slayer. Far more powerful than your little snowflake power. I know who you are and how everyone around you that you have ever loved has died. Do you really want the same fate for Natsu? Or are you just trying to make yourself feel better knowing that you can have a trusty dragon slayer around. Natsu is not your bodyguard. You are nothing in comparison to me. I am trying to protect Natsu from getting hurt from you and your curse. I am warning you now. I will have Natsu as my mate and I will make sure that Natsu knows how wrong you are for him."

Suddenly a low growl was heard next to us and heat was spreading everywhere. We both turned to look at Natsu who was covered in flames and growling at Sting baring his teeth.

"Sting. How many times have I told you to stay away from Gray"

Sting held his hands up in protest "I'm just talking to him Natsu. I want to make sure that he doesn't hurt you. You know, a dragon slayer looking after his own"

"Well Gray does not need it. Back off. This is the last time I expect to see you with him, otherwise my fist and your face will be having a nice chat"

"Okay. Okay you win. No need to burn the place down. I'll leave." Sting turned to face me "Remember what I said Gray" With that he turned and walked away.

When Sting was gone, Natsu came up to me and kissed me "What did the bastard say to you"

"Nothing"

"Didn't look like nothing. I'll punch him if he threatened you"

"No. No it's fine. Like he said. He was just testing me to see if I am a good mate for you" I know I should be telling Natsu the truth but I can not help but thinking that some of the things Sting said to me were true. I did have a 'curse' of losing all of my family and friends that I loved. Did I really want the same thing to happen to Natsu? Of course not! But I can not tell him that Sting is after him either. He would never believe me!

Natsu scowled. "Fine. Anyway I know I would normally meet you at lunch but I wanted to ask you something. Lucy is having her family winter ball this weekend. Would you want to go?"

Of course the family winter ball! How could I forget?! It is all that Lucy has been talking about for months! I smiled at Natsu and nodded "Of course" Natsu smiled.

"Great. Lucy is going to bring a car for us in the evening! Don't forget your tux" He said kissing me once more. I smiled once more as Natsu walked to his next class. I couldn't believe that he believed my lie. At least it was better than telling him about Sting's true intentions. I clenched my fist at the thought. How dare Sting think that he can take Natsu from me.

My eyes narrowed as I made a promise to myself.

I will protect Natsu, what ever it takes!

Hey all! Apologies for my lack of updating! Life has been stupidly hectic! No excuses needed. Anyway I hope you like this chapter! This is where the Sting x Natsu section of the story comes into play!

Who would you rather Natsu be with? Sting or Gray?

Don't forget to comment and let me know what you think! Hopefully uploading the next update will not take so long!