Page 20 of Guarded By an Alien Hunter

I take another deep breath, and then back away from Katie’s embrace. I look up and see the female named Alisha and a few other jurors watching us. They walk away, still discussing who won the bet they’d placed on whether we were pleasure mates or not.

Heat forms in my neck, chest and face. “I must stay focused,” I tell my female. “I only needed to know that you were safe.” And then I growl. “This happened because of me, because I was not focused.”

“But that's not true. You saved me. And Vander, I don’t care what they think and you shouldn’t either.”

“This danger should not have occurred in the first place,” I say, furious with myself. “It's because of how I feel about you. I took my eye off your safety; I must behave even more professional now.”

Her features soften. “It wasn't your fault,” she repeats.

“Itwasmy fault.”

And then I take her inside.

At the endof the day, I discover that the way I leaped and protected my female was caught on vid, and the part where I snarled in that human’s face are now all over the internets, even in the four sectors, because they find it humorous too.

My parents have seen it.

My siblings are laughing at me.

My Spartan Shield teammates chuckle and send humorous memes of me leaping on the male.

All of this doesn’t bother me that much, except for the part where they zoom in and show me snarling with spittle flying out of my mouth, my fangs exposed. Like a mate, tackling anopponent, telling him to not mess with my female. They even clearly have my words on audio.

The newest discussion all over social media and the news is whether Vander Best is more than Katie Ross's bodyguard? Is he her boyfriend? Are these two having an affair?

And then on top of this, they zoom in on me and my physique. I was wearing my armor. They hadn't gotten a full picture of me before, because everywhere I've gone, I've managed to keep that safe perimeter, or we stay in the house. We drive around in the dark, armored vehicle and we go underground into the courthouse. And there is no vid recordings of the trial proceedings.

I’ve followed what is being said about me, because I need to check on that for Katie’s safety. But all that was said in the past is that she has a bodyguard who is an alien with blue skin from the planet Zagway. Nothing more. They've tried to interview me, but I tell them my name, what agency I work for, and that's it, and that the rest is confidential.

This is the first time humans have seen one of my species perform as a hunter, and it's all over the internets.

Human females say they are “swooning over my blue, muscular skin.”

Others like my “thick beard.”

I even have a hashtag. Sexy alien bodyguard is trending. Xander Best plus Katie Ross is also trending. Videos are being made showing me leaping and are spliced with humans calling it a “thirst trap” and making jokes and dances. There's a song that's been made that is becoming highly popular. This has all happened in the space of one day.

I show Katie this nonsense when I arrive in the juror room. She isn't upset about it and only laughs, thinking it’s funny.

I find it horrifying. Again, I am shown being entirely unprofessional. Now my family knows that this female is myfuture name, but I've been outed as being unprofessional towards her until my assignment is over. I am highly embarrassed and angry at myself.

As I guide her out, despite my best efforts, somehow the journalists slip past my perimeter in the courthouse in the hallways and rush towards us.

I'm very angry, because I need to know how they got here, and how I can make sure it never happens again. I glance over and see Nelson looking away. I have a feeling I know my leak. I will watch him more carefully in the future.

Cameras are in my face. “Vander Best, is it true that you and Katie Ross are having an affair?”

“Is your client your girlfriend?”

“Are you two getting married?”

“Is Katie pregnant with your alien baby?”

I hear a commotion and glance over and see the human juror, Alisha, pushing aside journalists, yelling at them.

One particular female, who I’ve seen on the human news programs often, blocks my way. “Vander Best, are you taking advantage of your client while on an assignment?”

My jaw clenches. “Nothing is happening between us. This is strictly professional.”

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