Page 37 of Dealing With Drak

I feel raw and cut open, but it’s not technically his fault. I can’t stay mad at Drak for making mistakes, even huge, dangerous ones. I wasn’t lying when I admitted to caring for him. I just don’t know how to handle it.

Drak treats me better than any man ever has. He’s been a selfless friend—helpful from the start—and I can’t hide how he’s been making me feel. No one makes me smile like he does. No one cares for me the way that he does. I don’t think I deserve it, but denying to myself that I want it is no longer possible.

“Do not be sorry, An-nana,” he says softly, unsticking some hair from my tear-stained face and brushing it behind my ear. “I never wished to worry you.”

I know he didn’t. Drak wouldn’t have picked that venomous little asshole up if he knew how dangerous they were to humans.

I have no idea if the venom would do anything to him since his genetic makeup is different from mine, but I didn’t care to find out. If it bit him and he died, I would probably die too, sobbing in the woods for him to wake up.

“I think we’ve had enough searching for today,” I admit, still extremely unsettled. “Let’s start a fire and see if it attracts anything.”

Normally, we’d do this after nightfall, but I’m too tired to wait. Fearing for Drak’s life took all of my energy and drained me dry.

“I will gather the tree bits,” he volunteers, patting my shoulders gently.

“Be careful,” I demand, a stern edge to my tone.

Drak nods once and grins at me before running off to grab firewood.

While he’s gone, I use the steel toe of my boot to dig up some grass, pushing it away to form a small circle we can use to make the fire. The plants and grass around us don’t seem to be particularly wet, so I’m not too worried about lighting a fire here.

Today has been… too much.

I saw my alien companion get peed on by a deer, shower naked in the waterfall with his dick fully out, and then feared for his life while he cradled a fucking killer snake. Honestly, this might be the weirdest day of my life, and there’s no shortage of weirdness when you’re living in an apocalypse.

My heart is still returning to its normal rhythm when Drak comes back, a huge stack of wood balancing in his hands. It’s probably much more than we require, but I’m not going to complain about it. He even knew to bring thin branches along with the thick ones which will make for a much smoother start to our flames.

“Shall I make the tower?” he asks, dropping the pile at his feet next to the dirt pit.

He loves the way humans make fire in a little cone shape.

“If you want.” I can do it, but if he wants to, he can have at it.

Judging by his smirk, he’s all too pleased to have the pleasure.

“I will craft you the best tower,” he declares, immediately getting to work.

Like an idiot, I just stare at him, watching while he moves around all of the lumber. I don’t think I’ll ever get over just how big the Aprixians are. Drak could have actually crushed me to death in our hug earlier, but he was immensely gentle—which means they likely have experience managing their strength.

I wonder if it’s in their instincts to be gentle with small things to ensure they can raise kids, or maybe it’s just because I’m a woman. Aprix has a small population of women compared to their many men, but from what I’ve heard, Drak is one of the few aliens here who’s had sex before.

“Stevie said you’ve chosen mated before, is that right?”

Drak freezes, giving me a bewildered look. “Why do you ask this?”

“Well, we’re friends, aren’t we?” I ask him, chewing on my lip. “That’s what you’ve been saying for a while now.”

Pride puffs his chest. “We are the best of friends, An-nana.”

“Well, friends talk about mating,” I inform him, clicking my tongue. “Unless you don’t want to?”

“I… it is complicated,” he admits, rubbing his neck. “I have been with females before, yes. But they were not chosen matings, they ended quickly.”

So, chosen mating is like fuck buddies or relationships without a soul seed lighting, but not random hookups, I gather.

Beginning to build the fire again, Drak asks, “Why do you ask about mating, An-nana?”

Blushing, I avoid his eyes in favor of picking at my clothes. “Just curious.”

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