Page 16 of Grumpy Alien Billionaire (Mates of Veritas #2)

CHAPTER 16

LANZ

T he pet store smells like kibble and fresh pine shavings, the kind of earthy scent that makes you feel like you’re in a forest full of tiny, yapping predators. Tyler’s already halfway down the aisle, her hands pressed against the glass of a puppy pen, her face lit up like she’s just discovered the meaning of life.

“Oh my God, Lanz, look at this one!” she squeals, pointing at a ball of fluff that’s currently trying to eat its own tail. “It’s so tiny ! And look at its little ears! They’re like little triangles!”

I lean against the pen, arms crossed, watching her. “That’s a Chihuahua. They’re basically rats with delusions of grandeur.”

She gasps, mock-offended, and swats my arm. “Don’t be mean! He’s adorable. Look at his little face!” She crouches down, making cooing noises that would probably summon a pack of wolves if we were in the wild. The Chihuahua wags its tail so hard it looks like it’s about to take flight.

“Adorable,” I deadpan. “If you’re into creatures that could fit in a teacup and still have room for a biscuit.”

She sticks her tongue out at me and moves on to the next pen, where a golden retriever puppy is flopped on its back, paws in the air, looking like it’s auditioning for a doggy yoga commercial. “Oh, this one! Look at his belly! It’s so round !”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re not picking a dog based on its ability to double as a beanbag chair, Tyler.”

She ignores me, reaching her fingers through the bars to let the puppy lick them. “But he’s so sweet! And look at his eyes! They’re like little pools of melted chocolate.”

“Melted chocolate,” I repeat, deadpan. “You’re really leaning into the poetic descriptions today.”

She grins up at me, her cheeks pink. “I’m just excited, okay? I’ve never had a puppy before. My parents always said they were too much work.”

“They’re not wrong,” I say, but I can’t help the smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. Watching her like this, all wide-eyed and giddy, is… refreshing. Like seeing the world through a lens I didn’t know existed.

She moves on to the next pen, where a pug is sitting like a little Buddha, its wrinkled face scrunched up in what can only be described as existential despair. “Oh. My. God.” She turns to me, her eyes shining. “This one. This is the one.”

I glance at the pug, which is currently snorting like it’s trying to clear its sinuses. “You’re sure? It looks like it’s judging us.”

“Yes!” She claps her hands together, bouncing on her toes. “Look at his little face! He’s perfect. I’m naming him Chop Suey.”

“Chop Suey,” I repeat, trying not to laugh. “Because…?”

“Because he’s wrinkly and adorable, like a little dumpling!” she says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. She turns back to the pug, who’s now wagging its tail so hard its entire body is wiggling. “Aren’t you, Chop Suey? Yes, you are!”

I shake my head, but I can’t stop smiling. “Alright, Chop Suey it is. Let’s get him before he starts quoting Nietzsche.”

She beams at me, a, I forget about the Grolgath, the mission, the fact that I’m an alien in a human suit. All I see is her, holding that ridiculous little dog like it’s the most precious thing in the universe.

On the way back to her apartment, she cradles Chop Suey in her arms, whispering nonsense to him like he’s a baby. The pug snorts in response, his tongue lolling out of his mouth like he’s trying to catch flies. I watch her out of the corner of my eye, something warm and unfamiliar spreading through my chest.

“You’re really happy, aren’t you?” I ask, my voice softer than I intended.

She looks up at me, her smile so bright it could power a small city. “Yeah. I am. Thanks for this, Lanz. It means a lot.”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Everything feels fine as it is. And it’s all because of her.

I pull up to Tyler’s apartment, the engine of the car purring like a contented beast. Chop Suey is snoring in her arms, his little pug face scrunched up like he’s dreaming of chasing squirrels. Tyler’s smiling down at him, her fingers absently scratching behind his ears. It’s a good look on her—relaxed, happy, unburdened. I like it.

“You sure you don’t want me to come up?” I ask, leaning across the console. My hand brushes her knee, and she shivers, her cheeks flushing.

“I’m sure,” she says, but there’s a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. “You’ve got work to do, right? Alien stuff?”

“Alien stuff,” I confirm, smirking. “But it can wait.”

She shakes her head, her smile softening. “No, it can’t. You’re protecting me, remember? Go do your thing. I’ll be fine.”

I glance around the street, my eyes catching on the subtle signs of Veritas agents—a man reading a newspaper on a bench, a woman walking a dog that’s too well-trained to be just a pet. They’re good. Almost too good. But I spot them, and it eases the tightness in my chest.

“Alright,” I say, leaning in to kiss her. She meets me halfway, her lips warm and sweet. Chop Suey lets out a snort of protest, squished between us, and we both laugh.

“Be careful,” she whispers against my mouth, her breath hitching. “Promise me.”

I pull her closer, the puppy and all, and press my forehead to hers. “I promise. Nothing’s going to happen to you. Not while I’m around.”

She nods, her eyes searching mine for a moment before she pulls away. “I’ll see you later?”

“Count on it,” I say, watching as she gets out of the car and heads up the steps to her apartment. She turns at the door, waving, and I wait until she’s inside before driving off.

The office is quiet when I get there, the hum of the city muted by the thick glass walls. I head straight for the holocom room, the door hissing shut behind me. The air shimmers as the connection establishes, and Pyke’s face materializes in front of me, his red scales catching the light.

“Lanz,” he says, his voice gravelly. “Status?”

“Tyler’s safe,” I say, leaning against the console. “Veritas agents are in place. But we’ve got a problem.”

“The Cannery,” Pyke says, nodding. “I’ve moved all the agents I can spare into the area, but it’s less than twenty. A direct assault isn’t an option.”

“No kidding,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “We’re outnumbered ten to one. We need a different approach.”

“Agreed,” Pyke says, his golden eyes narrowing. “Bob’s been active. He’s left a trail, even if he doesn’t know it. Find it. Figure out what he’s planning.”

“Legwork,” I say, sighing. “My favorite.”

Pyke’s lips twitch, the closest he gets to a smile. “You’re good at it. And Lanz—don’t get cocky. This isn’t just about you anymore.”

I nod, the weight of his words settling on my shoulders. “I know. I’ll keep her safe.”

“See that you do,” Pyke says, and the connection cuts out, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room. I stare at the empty space where his hologram had been, my mind already racing. Bob’s out there, and he’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants. But neither am I.

"Computer, activate city-wide surveillance protocol alpha-seven."

The wall of screens flickers to life, flooding my office with a blue glow. Data streams across multiple displays - traffic cameras, cell tower pings, social media posts, credit card transactions.

"Track subject designation: Bob. Last known appearance at Doggone Elegance pet grooming."

The AI compiles the data, building a movement pattern. Red dots appear on the city map, tracking Bob's path through Sunny Cove over the past 48 hours.

"Interesting." I lean forward, studying the cluster of points. "He's visited both the St. Mary's and Good Shepherd homeless shelters."

The Grolgath have always had a weird relationship with charity. Their religious texts preach about uplifting the downtrodden, which leads to some surprisingly humanitarian behavior from a race hell-bent on temporal manipulation.

But this doesn't feel right. Bob's not the type for random acts of kindness.

I pull up my compad and dial Gordo's frequency. His furry face appears, bloodshot eyes suggesting he's nursing another hangover.

"I need you to do some recon. Bob's been sniffing around the homeless shelters. Find out why."

"You want me to play homeless?" Gordo's nose wrinkles. "I'll need hazard pay."

"Done. Just get in there and figure out what he's up to."

"Fine. But you owe me a case of Fratvoyan ale for this one."

I end the call and turn back to the monitors. What are you planning, Bob? The homeless population would make perfect cover for infiltrating Grolgath agents. Nobody looks too closely at the people society tries to ignore.

I pull out my compad. The screen lights up, and I tap out a quick message to Tyler.

How’s the puppy settling in?

The reply comes almost instantly. He’s great! Cindy’s obsessed with him too. She’s been carrying him around like a baby all afternoon.

I smirk, imagining the scene. Chop Suey probably looks like a tiny, wrinkled dictator holding court over Tyler and Cindy.

Good to hear. Sounds like he’s already running the place.

Her next message makes me pause. It’s been a while since I spent the night, though.

I raise an eyebrow, my scales shifting slightly as I grin. Subtle, Tyler. Very subtle.

I’ve got meetings until late, but I’ll send a car for you after 9. Be ready.

The response is immediate, and it’s not a text. My compad buzzes, and I open the attachment. It’s a photo—Tyler, naked, her skin glowing in the soft light of her bedroom. She’s lying on her side, one hand resting on her hip, the other holding the phone. Her lips are parted, her eyes half-lidded, and the look she’s giving the camera is pure sin.

I feel my body react instantly, a low growl rumbling in my chest. My scales ripple, the heat of arousal spreading through me. I stare at the image, my mind already racing with all the things I’m going to do to her tonight.

You’re playing a dangerous game, little human, I type, my fingers moving quickly. I hope you’re ready for the consequences.

Her reply is teasing. I’m counting on it.

I set the compad down, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. Gordo’s report should be coming in soon, and I need to be ready to move the moment it does. But my mind keeps drifting back to Tyler, to the way she looked in that photo, to the way she’s going to look when I have her in my bed tonight.

Soon, I’ll make all of her dreams come true. And mine, too.

As long as the Grolgath don’t kill us first.