Page 3

Chapter 3

Rhea

I can't keep my eyes from lingering on him as we eat. He’s incredibly handsome for an alien, and extremely tall. I keep waiting for the nerves to kick in. For my brain to tell me I need to run, but for some reason I feel safe and comfortable in this alien’s living quarters. It’s an oddly light feeling of empowerment. I can sense that he has no plans to hurt me, not if his kind gestures and careful demeanor are anything to go by.

My gaze travels across the room, taking it all in. Brightly colored, yet muted walls surround us, and everything is lit up like glow sticks. Neon hues of bright pinks, purples, blues, and greens.

His touch… I can’t stop replaying that moment in my head. Some basic instinct is going off inside me, reasoning that he’s special. Maybe we are meant to be… but that’s just not possible, right? I will have to find my bed and breakfast sooner or later, so there is no reason to form an attachment.

He drifts closer to me as we eat. Getting into my personal bubble is normally a huge red flag, but with Traxx, I find I don’t mind it so much.

He keeps looking over at me, and I finally break. “What?”

“I never thought I would meet my fated mate.”

I choke on the water I was drinking. “Your… what now?”

“Rhea, you are my mate.”

“How could you possibly know that when we’ve only just met?”

Traxx sets his food down and lifts his hand, pushing a strand of misplaced hair out of my face. “Because I know what I want…” He moves in closer to me. So close I can feel his warm breath beating against my skin, creating a tingling sensation. “And I have a tendency to always get what I want, Rhea…”

Maybe he’s telling the truth. Maybe there is something more here than I want to believe. It’s in the way he looks at me like I’m truly desired. He doesn’t seem to see my extra curves or weight that I’m self conscious over. Or maybe it’s the way tingles erupt all over my skin when he touches me, or the way my breath hitches every time I catch the scent of his pine sandalwood scent. For instance, right now… I have butterflies dipping and diving inside my stomach. I’ve never felt this way towards anyone. It’s as if we’ve been together for years. I simply feel comfortable in his presence.

We resume eating in silence. I watch and try not to giggle as he gives the pizza a once over and then sniffs it cautiously as though it may sprout wings and attack him.

These aliens are the famous Grekarians we’ve heard about on the news recently. They’ve been protecting Earth from the Necorium for years now, and they’ve asked for one small favor in return: Allow their males to find mates on Earth.

It’s not like any type of bride lottery where women dread the idea of it. It’s more along the lines of a volunteer thing. I have never thought about it until now. Maybe living with these guys wouldn’t be so bad. If they’re all like Traxx, sweet and caring, what woman wouldn’t want to be treated like this all the time?

No. I shake my head. I have things to do, places to be. I don’t need to get swept up in the idea of romance. See where my bad taste in men got me. In Alaska, away from my family and friends.

Steve creeps into my mind, and I remember the last time he cornered me in an alley. I still feel the sting of the bruises he left on my neck from the last time. A cringe shivers down my body at the memories. I won’t ever be going back there. I shake myself out of the traumatic memories and get back to our conversation. My desire to learn more about him is pressing me to ask.

“So, do all of the Grekarians live here on Earth?”

He shakes his head. “No, there are still many more back on our home planet. We no longer have any females left to further our lines. No one to produce heirs.”

I nod. “Explains why you’re looking for mates here on Earth. How do you know that we are even compatible with your species?”

“The leader of our planet has taken a human mate, and she is with child.”

“How long have they been together?” I couldn’t help the questions pouring through my mind.

Were they happy? Did she feel the same way I am right now or did she fight it? Could this thing between us actually be real? Am I willing to give it a shot?

“Two Grykar years.”

“How long is that?”

“About two of your Earth years.”

Well, at least he didn’t knock her up right away. “Is she his true mate?”

He nods.

“How do you know, though?”

“Mating marks will show up once our true mate has been found. They wrap up and circle our arms. Something similar to what humans call tattoos. We can also smell our fated mate. The scent is sweet, like strawberries in the middle of summer.”

“You know what summer is?”

“Little one, we have been researching your kind for years. Did you think we would come unprepared?”

It makes sense. Why wouldn’t they come completely prepared if their intent was to find human mates? A green light beeps on the side of the room, and he swears under his breath. I don't understand the words, so it’s probably something in his native language, but his demeanor tells me he’s not happy about it.

“What’s that?” I ask nervously.

“I am needed in the command room. I will return to you.”

“Wait, why can’t I come with you?” Panic begins to sink in as I think about being trapped in this room, alone and forgotten.

“I do not feel comfortable with you just walking around the compound without a guide. Let me see if I can find one of the other females to accompany you.”

He pulls up what looks like a watch on his arm and speaks into it. I bite my lip, nervous that he is leaving me. I know only him in this compound and hesitate to wonder if every other male here is as gentlemanly as Traxx.

He seems to read my thoughts as he says, “You are safe here, Rhea. I will not let anything happen to you. I will return as soon as I can so we can continue to get to know one another. I am very much enjoying spending time with you.”

A knock interrupts us and he hits the button beside the door, allowing it to slide open. Beyond it stands a tiny blueish-green alien. “Commander Traxx.” He nods back at what I’m assuming is a female alien, although she does not look like one of his kind. She has three boobs, front and center, no modesty here apparently.

“Madera. Thank you for coming to escort my mate around the compound. She will need some new clothes, please see that she gets them.”

“As you wish, captain.”

Before he leaves, he pauses and turns to look at me one last time. “I promise to return. Madera has been trained in combat, so if the need arises she can also protect you as I expect she would.” He finishes, looking to her for confirmation, and she nods. One more glance at me and he turns to walk away, his shoulders stiff and commanding. My eyes are drawn back to the creature standing in front of me.

I know I should stop staring, but I can’t seem to bring myself to look away from her. She crinkles her nose in distaste as she looks over my clothes. The ones I’ve been in since Traxx found me. I totally forgot to bring clothing with me when I walked from my car. Maybe Traxx can take me back a little later to get them?

Taking a minute to study her while she does the same to me, I try to remember what species of alien she is. A Merink, I think to myself, finally remembering my classes in school. I always knew they existed, I just assumed they lived on their own planet. Some sort of myth or legend, maybe. But these aliens are very real. This experience so far has been eye opening, and I’m kind of surprised that I’m not freaking out more.

“Let’s get you something else to wear. Come with me.” She scampers away in front of me, and I follow. Traxx has already left me, so I have no choice. As we leave his room, we pass other alien males in the hallway.

The compound is all brightly colored in blue and green hues matching their scales and skin tone just like his room. Metal artwork hangs from the walls as we pass. The lights above us shine brightly, lighting our pathway. Again with the neon colors.

I still can’t believe I’m here. It’s like something out of a movie. In the center of the compound, there sits a garden. Trees luminate the space in bright lights, almost as if they’re covered in multicolored lightning bugs.

It is a lush alien world. The plants in the garden are similar to Earth plants, only they have a glimmering effect, and I wonder if they are here because of the prince’s mate. I slow to look and Madera snaps at me, huffing that she is having to babysit me, I'm sure.

The males we pass in the hall look at me with curiosity, and I wonder if they are all here to find a mate. I don’t even know if we are compatible, even though Traxx tries to convince me we are. Scales line their shoulders and arms in green variations. A stark difference to Traxx who has blue and purple scaled skin.

These aliens are so tall and muscular, versus my short, curvy stature. I have a little extra love in my curves. I will never be one of those skinny, model-like girls.

I’ve always been judged for the way I look, but here, I am not. Traxx looks at me as if I am the most gorgeous girl in the world, a treasure, and I wonder if it is because he truly believes it or if it’s the mate bond he seems to think is between us.

The farther we move down the corridor, the brighter the colors become. It’s distracting, and I hardly notice the alien who had to move out of my way so we didn’t collide. How are these aliens so tall? I tilt my head up to see his face. Incredibly masculine and all sharp lines.

“Are you all right, human?”

I nod, because I’m not entirely sure what else to say.

The Merink moves us along down the hall, and I stay aware of who is around me to avoid another situation. We turn and walk down a second corridor that dead ends at a steel door. “These are the usual human guest quarters. They are stocked with more appropriate clothing. While you are in the compound you must dress as a Grekarian. It is customary.”

My heart beats faster. What type of clothing does a Grekarian wear? I’m not skinny like other girls who look good in everything. What if I don’t look good in these clothes or I don’t like them? Are they revealing or flattering? Fear grips me as I fight with myself, trying to decide if staying here, even a moment longer, is worth it at all. The metal door slides open before us and I stand there, planted to the ground.

The Merink realizes I am no longer following her and turns to grab me.

What is Traxx doing right now? My mind keeps drifting off to thoughts of him. It’s an odd experience. No one has completely consumed my thoughts as much as he now does in such a short time.

“Your new clothes are in the closet there.” The Merink points to the doors on the left side of the room. Tentatively, I look into the closet and hope that I’ll find something comfortable and flattering. Here goes nothing.