Page 38 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

Hurtling forward, he slammed into Xax, dragging him away from me.

The two males slammed onto the ground.

Chapter 15

Xax

As we skidded across the grass, I grappled with Tribon, trying to flip him onto his back and pin him in place. I would not allow him to take Amanda from me. She was right that she belonged to no one, though I was still convinced she was mine. I’d destroy the world around us to protect her from someone taking her against her will.

We came to a stop when we impacted with the large stones encircling the firepit where everyone sat together a few nights a week. He flipped me onto my back and grabbed my arms.

I bucked, knocking him to the side, and followed, slamming my larger body onto his, pinning his arms by his hips.

He flailed, dislodging me, and I tumbled backward, rolling to come up in a crouch.

“Respect the gods,” I growled. “Respect me.”

Tribon leaped to his feet and stalked toward me. “Our elder should’ve tossed you out of the village rather than give you a home.”

“She did not. You have no right to do this.” My hold on my mate was tenuous. If he went to my adopted mother about this, what would she say? She loved me and would want me happy, but she’d put the clan first in this.

As traedor, Tribon was entitled to the best cuts of meat, the nicest shroom. I was an orphan who would’ve had no home if the female I called Mother hadn’t taken me in. I’d be dead by now, most likely.

“The gods did not give you to her.” Tribon leaped, the determination in his face telling me he’d defeat me, then haul Amanda to his shroom whether she protested or not. She’d amazed me with her fighting skills, but how long could she hold out against his strength and determination?

Thunder rumbled overhead, but I didn’t look that way. Let it rain. Let the world around us explode with white hot fire. Maybe then, Tribon would realize he was wrong.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Amanda back away, her face filled with fear. I hated that she was scared, that I couldn’t go to her and give her the comfort of my arms.

She hurried to my shroom and pressed her back against the stem, watching us.

“She’s mine.” Tribon leaped, but I slid to the side and tripped him as he passed. He smacked onto the ground on his chest, rolling and coming up with a bellow. Lumbering toward me, he kicked out.

Again, I twisted, and his blow missed. I was no longer the skinny youngling pleading with my clan to give me a home after my parents died. He’d find me a formidable opponent. I would never give up. I’d battle him to the death to keep her safe.

However, I’d have to be careful here. He’d chosen me as his second, though our elder had some say in this. I wasn’t worried about losing my position, but he could make my life difficult if he chose, making demands he wouldn’t of anyone else, forcing me to travel away from our clan. While I was gone, he might approach Amanda.

I needed to defeat him enough he’d admit the gods had been right, and she was mine. But if I harmed him or ground his face in the dirt too much, I’d make an enemy.

He was our traedor, and his word was respected as much as his father’s and all the males who’d served as traedor before him.

When he got to his feet, he wavered. Fresh blood erupted from a blow to the side of his skull where he must’ve hit it on a rock.

“Agree,” I said stiffly. “Don’t push this, Tribon.”

His hand rose to gently blot at the wound on his head, and when he stared down at the blood coating his hand, he growled. “I should have a mate, not you.”

“Then await the benevolence of our gods.” As our traedor, he’d refused to go with the others to plead for mates. It would be wrong of him to expect to receive one now.

“Stop.” Bork strode across the open area with Cresar not far behind. He stopped beside me, staring from Tribon to me. “What’s going on here? Have you challenged him for the role of traedor?” he asked me.

Not yet, but I suspected that day was coming. It was either that or leave our clan, something I’d hate to do. I had friends here. We were a family. But I would not allow Tribon to take Amanda from me.

“Tribon doesn’t believe the gods gave Amanda to me,” I said.

“Tribon,” Bork chided softly. “I saw the plant they sent myself.”

“You didn’t tell me that,” Tribon snarled my way.

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