Page 54 of The Alien Warrior's Heart

It had not been his intention to be so rough with her. The human female was fragile. Zar knew this and he had tried to remember to have some control. But his instincts took over the moment he entered her body.

Si-moon had been tight. So welcoming to his invasion. So, so enjoyable to grab and stroke. He’d grunted when Si-Moon bit his shoulder, but it had not been because she hurt him. It was because he’d lost control at the same moment that she did.

He’d rammed her against the wall, pumping her full of his seed. He’d opened his mouth in a silent roar that she had been too caught up her in her own pleasure to notice.

Dangerous human.

The elders had never spoken of what mating a female would do to a male. The way the heat would tear through his body and singe his veins. The way his beastly instincts crowded his mind. The way his heras expanded to the point of combustion.

So much had been left out of their instructions.

So much had been discovered tonight as he claimed his human.

Si-Moon.

Mating her had cemented their bond. Now, she was officially his. Her safety, her comfort, her pleasure, and her needs rested on his shoulders. It was the responsibility of the male to care for, honor and uphold his female.

Zar did not doubt he would be able to fulfil these roles. He had been trained as a child to honor females. Like the son of a terros groomed to become terros of his own tribas one day, he had studied and learned to become a good mate.

A good mate.

Yes.

And he would be all these things and more to Si-moon.

But this was not the thought that bothered him.

He could no longer run from his tribas, from Korben and the mission of saving Clavas and the Healer.

Zar had a responsibility to his species. If not for the serum, he could have died in this cave tonight. Many of his comrades would not have medicine on hand. They needed the Healer.

It was time to face his terros.

Zar clenched his jaw and considered his options. He could run. He could take Si-Moon and disappear somewhere far, but he owed it to Korben to show up.

The terros had been a friend. Zar could not simply disappear without first explaining what he had done. He would not expect understanding or even forgiveness.

Neh. Forgiveness was not his goal.

Accountability. This was about letting his terros know where his heras lay.

Zar tapped his interface as he thought about the message Lans had sent. It was still unread, and it would remain so. He would not communicate with his tribas until Si-Moon was out of earshot.

“Zar?” Si-Moon touched his hand softly.

He glanced at her and shook off his heavy thoughts. She seemed intuitive to his moods and he did not want to startle her. The choices he had made were his alone and he would not change any of it.

“Are you okay, Plutonian?” Chozo spoke from behind him. “You look upset.”

Zar gritted his teeth.

Denizi.

He was wrong.

He would change one thing.

That.