Page 2 of A Mate for Haax

Now we know the truth. My mind spins. Does our government know about these Necorium? Do they know they planned to attack today once the ship landed? All around us, women and their mates lie on the ground completely still.

It’s obvious the other males have convinced their humans to remain still below them. We all hang in the balance, breath stunted, waiting for what comes next. The worst part is the silence, as if all sound has vanished in the world while we wait for something, anything, to happen.

It feels like forever passes while we wait for the sky to clear. I would like to think it is just minutes, but it feels like hours. My muscles grow sore from all the tension pouring through them.

The sky finally clears out, and for a brief moment, we see our freedom. Other couples start to rise when, out of nowhere, a second ship flies in. Bodies hit the ground, one by one, as beams of light reflect off of them.

There is a zap of glorious colors when all I see before me is gore. Couples fall to the ground dead, carnage befalls us.

Haax did not move when the thought of being free took over. I’m glad he had the wisdom to stay put. To make sure that they were truly gone. Now, seeing what I am being forced to watch, I am glad. Bile creeps up into my throat as people are decimated before my very eyes, falling all around me in pools of blood.

Warm breath tickles my neck again. “Do not watch, dear Esme. One as beautiful as you should not have to see such devastation.” I nod below him, tears falling. I sniff the snot currently trying to make its way out of my nose. It is gruesome. “Turn your head.”

Why would they do this? It makes no sense for them to kill all of these people, only to turn around and leave. What do they get out of this act?

The second ship departs, and we all stay huddled, learning quickly from what just happened. Things tend to happen in threes around here - someone getting sick, someone losing their job, or someone dying - but after a long while, nothing else happens. My body is stiff from holding itself in the same position for so long. My arm is tingly because it’s fallen asleep.

I can feel the hard ground digging into me from below, tiny stones rooting themselves in the outside of my arms. My eyes scatter from person to person, landing on friends of mine who are here as well. How did I not know that they signed up? It doesn’t matter at this point.

“Someone help!” An agonizing cry, piercing and guttural, lifts from one of the women’s lips as she stares up at her mate. The wound to his back seems severe. Skin is peeled away from the hole where he was shot, and it smells like burnt flesh; an absolutely wretched thing. I know he will not survive. I cry for her; shed many, many tears, and thank the heavens that Haax was smart enough, cautious enough, to keep us still.

He helps me up with warm, gentle hands, and I can’t help but love the way his big hand lies against my arm; causing tingles straight to my core. Already?

“What will happen to him?” I ask no one in particular.

Haax speaks up from behind me, and I jump. “He will need to be healed. We carry healers on the ship. It may take some time, but he should have a full recovery.”

Many of the women look around in horror at the terror that has befallen us in such a short amount of time. Today was supposed to be a happy occasion, but all I see around me is death.

Haax bends down, putting one hand in the crick of my knees and another behind my back. His arms are strong and comforting. I lean my head against his chest and listen to his heart. Only, I hear two heartbeats.

He carries me away from the scene as emergency crews show up to transport the injured to hospitals close by. Aliens who were injured but had uninjured mates return to the ship to be healed before leaving.

As we pass more bodies of the fallen, pain tears through my heart like bullets piercing my flesh for them. Couples who will never get to properly meet, fall in love, and mate for life.

Today has gone from what could have been the happiest day of their lives to the most tragic ending.

I spot two of my friends, Aniston and Jacee, as we leave. “Hey, wait.” I say, looking up at Haax. “I need to go make sure they’re okay.”

His lips form a grim line of disapproval. “I would prefer for you to leave now. I cannot fathom losing my mate as many of these others have today. I will not stand for it. You are mine now.”

As our eyes lock, something clicks into place. My heart speeds up with need, and my body responds in a way it never has before with a man. I have the urge to run to him, to kiss him, to climb him, but now is not the proper time or place.

“Haax, you need to let me see them.” I plead, trying to give him my best begging face.

He sighs deeply, yet turns towards my friends.

We’re all shaken up. Luckily, both of my friends and their mates are standing together. The girls are shivering, but I don’t think it’s from the cold. They run to me with arms wide open as Haax sets me down.

“Oh, you’re okay. We were worried.” Aniston gives me a hug, and I fear for a moment I won’t be able to breathe.

“I’m okay, Ani. I’m okay.”

I watch as Haax walks over to speak with my friends’ mates. They give some sort of secret alien handshake. I will have to remember to ask him about that later.

Tears stream down their faces as we all hug and say prayers of thanks that we were saved from slaughter unlike countless others. Despair grips me.

We say our goodbyes, and I stroll back to where Haax stands, a small smile on his face, waiting for me. I can’t help but return the gesture. Dimples caress his cheeks, and I want to look at them forever.

---