Page 3 of Taming the Alien Outlaw (Brides of the Bohnari #2)

Olivia

I stare in horror at the enormous, alien wolf-thing that stalks toward Janik.

When he’d grabbed my arm, I whirled to cuss him out, but after I saw the gun in his hand and the fierce expression on his face, I snapped my mouth closed.

I may not want him manhandling me, but I know when to shut up.

Which is a good thing, since I’m now stuck up in a tree, praying that whatever that beast is doesn’t kill the damn Bohnari.

That only makes me more pissed at Janik than I already am.

First, he kidnaps me. Then he acts like being his prisoner— guest, my ass —is some privilege.

Now, I might have to watch him die and I’ll be stuck up here until the animal decides it’s done and leaves or that I’ll be its next meal. Fuck that.

“Jackass.” I need to build up my anger so the fear doesn’t take control. A few more swear words aimed at Janik and I feel better. Or at least slightly less afraid.

Until the wolf thing charges. Against my will, I scream and slam my fist against my mouth to stifle any more trying to escape.

Why doesn’t he shoot it? He had his blaster out, but put it away.

The wolf slams into Janik and the two roll along the ground.

The beast snaps its jaws at the Bohnari, who jerks his head this way and the other, avoiding the gnashing teeth.

Even from up here, they look like they’ll do some serious damage.

Somehow, Janik throws the animal off him and scrambles to his feet, only for the showdown to start all over again.

The two face off, slowly moving in a circle, neither taking their eyes off the other.

It’s clear they’re each sizing their opponent up.

The Bohnari snarls out something in a language my translator doesn’t recognize.

It sounds like a taunt. To my surprise, there isn’t a scratch on him.

Now that I’m getting a better look, the wolf is gigantic.

The top of its head is higher than Janik’s waist, and he’s not a short guy.

Its coarse-looking fur is a mix of various shades of copper, with flecks of blue-green.

If not for the fact it could rip my head off in a single bite with those teeth, it really is a stunning creature.

They continue circling each other until I sense a change in the wolf.

It’s obviously only been toying with Janik.

It tenses and leaps forward so fast I barely see it move.

The male is on the ground, pinned beneath the massive animal.

Before I can yell, or do something to distract it, the wolf clamps its mouth around the Bohnari’s neck. Janik screams in agony.

“No!” The word is ripped from my throat.

Tears pour down my face, and a blinding rage comes over me. Even more so than when the big jerk threw me over his shoulder and stole me from Preska. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but I scramble down from my perch. I need to protect Janik, although part of me says it’s too late.

“Get away from him!” I charge forward, flailing my arms above my head, trying to make myself as large and intimidating as possible. “Go! Get away! Now!”

The wolf releases its hold and backs slowly away with its head cocked and eyes locked on mine. I stop next to Janik’s body, but don’t glance down. I refuse to look away from the beast.

Great sobs heave up from my chest. He can’t be dead. He just can’t be.

“Olivia?”

It takes a second for me to process the fact that the Bohnari is sitting up and staring at me strangely. And that he knows my name. It takes longer for me to realize there’s no blood. The sobs slow and quiet until I take in a shuddering breath.

“Where’s the blood?” My whole body is buzzing with a strange energy and the question sounds hollow. Almost like it came from someone else.

Janik pats his neck and looks at the palm of his hand. Nothing. Not a single trace of blood is on his skin. Anywhere.

“Mak, sit. Stay.” My captor rises to his feet and points at the wolf, who doesn’t move, other than to plop onto its butt.

I blink and glance back and forth between the Bohnari—who won’t meet my eyes—and the animal. The confusion remains strong. Until the fog slowly clears. I swipe at the still damp tear streaks.

“Is that your pet ?”

“Mak wouldn’t consider herself so. More like…companion.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? I thought you were being attacked. Mauled. Killed . And you didn’t tell me this was just some goddamn game you and your pet were playing?

” I stomp toward Janik and jab my finger into his chest. “I thought you were dead or dying and you let me think that. You let me think I was going to die! Either by being stranded out here or thinking that wolf was going to eat me next.”

Every word is punctuated with another hard jab to Janik’s chest, forcing him to step back and away from me.

But I keep advancing and stabbing my fingertip against his chest harder each time, taking every ounce of my anger out on him.

Tears of rage fall. I’ve never been so mad at another person in my life. Not even Craig, who deserved it.

“What kind of cruel asshole does that? Oh, yeah, the same kind who will sabotage machinery to kill another person. God, I hate you so much right now.”

I stab once more into Janik’s chest and he grabs my hand, holding it tightly against him and caressing the back of my fingers with his thumb.

“Olivia, look at me.”

His face is blurry through my tears.

“I’m sorry. Mak and I always play this game when I return to the rainforest and have since she was a pup. I didn’t think about how it would look to you. It was not an honorable thing to do, and I’m truly sorry. Will you forgive me?” There is no mistaking the remorse in his tone.

All the adrenaline leaves my body at once, and I sag with the weight of it. Janik pulls me against his chest and wraps his arms around me as I sob from the crash. He gently strokes my hair and back. By the time I’ve finished crying, his shirt is soaked. Not that I care. He deserves it, the bastard.

It’s been a long time since anyone has held me—comforted me—like this.

While I might hate that it’s Janik doing it, I don’t move.

The jerk smells so good. Like cinnamon and vanilla.

He’s also warm, and within the shade of the rainforest, the damp air is cool against my skin.

I shiver, and I’m not sure it has anything to do with the temperature.

There’s a hard nudge to my side. I glance over and nearly shriek at the sight of the alien wolf standing so close and staring at me with its— her —dark eyes, but I swallow the sound down. Carefully, I draw away from Janik in case this…pet is not only protective of him, but also gets jealous.

“Here. Give her this, and you’ll have a new friend.” In his hand is a type of fruit I’ve seen in the market in Preska.

“She’ll probably take my fingers off with it. No, thank you.”

The bastard laughs. “Mak is as gentle as a binji.”

I snort. “I have no idea what that even is, so sorry if I don’t believe you. I saw the way she attacked and put you on your ass. Didn’t you also say she’s protective of you?”

“The attack—as you put it—is all part of our game. She also sees you have no ill intentions toward me.” He shrugs in a far too human gesture and moves as if he’s going to put the treat back in his pocket. “If you’re too afraid, though…”

“No ill intentions? I guess she can’t read my mind then, because I plan on making every day of your life absolutely miserable.” I practically snarl and yank the fruit from his grasp. “Give me the damn thing.”

Janik smirks, but nothing more. Carefully, I hold out the food barely clasped in the very tips of my fingers.

The ones I’d like to keep. We didn’t have pets in the bottom tier.

Mangy strays roamed the streets scavenging for anything to eat, but they didn’t belong to anyone. Bottomers couldn’t afford them.

Mak sits, but leans forward and sniffs the treat. I try not to yank my hand back, but it trembles. To my surprise, she does, in fact, gently take it from me before chewing until it’s gone. With her wet nose, she nudges my hand, seeking more.

I laugh at the tickling sensation it causes. “Sorry, that’s all I’ve got for you.”

“Don’t be greedy, Mak.” Janik scolds her, but he ruffles the fur on top of her head with a smile.

That smile snaps me back to reality. I’m a prisoner, and I still don’t like him. “Maybe she learned about being greedy from you.”

My remark wipes the smirk off his face. For a second, I’m almost sorry for what I said, but then I remember Konek. I may not have known him, but the guy in front of me is responsible for his death.

“It’s getting dark. Let’s go before a predator crosses our path, and there won’t be any kind of game played.” Janik gestures for me to proceed, but in a completely different direction I’d been going. At least I think it is.

As much as it pains me to admit, he’s right.

Dusk had already been approaching when I left Quinn’s mating ceremony to get her gift.

My heart lurches. If what Janik said is true and Lorik was merely hurt, then he had to have made it back to the palace by now.

Which means at least Horek knows I’ve gone missing. Most likely Alik, too.

I start walking. “You’re going to regret taking me, once the commander and prince find out I’m gone.”

“Who’s to say I don’t already?”

“Then take me back to Preska.” Maybe Janik will actually listen.

“Unfortunately, I can’t do that.” He closes the distance and walks beside me. Mak goes bounding off ahead of us.

“Why not? All you have to do is drop me off at the border, and I’ll find the nearest guard to escort me back to the dormitory.” Easy enough.

He glances over at me and in the waning light, his teeth gleam brightly with that familiar cocky grin. “Because I don’t want to.”