Page 10 of The Alien's Runaway Bride

The spell was broken by the buzz of Raelee’s phone. She reluctantly pulled her hand away to check it, her expression morphing from surprise to determination.

“Change of plans,” she said, a new energy in her voice. “How do you feel about a little detour?”

Vexor grinned, feeling more alive than he had in centuries. “Lead the way, Emily. I have a feeling that wherever you’re going, it’s exactly where I need to be.”

As they turned off the main road onto a winding forest path, Vexor silently vowed to win Raelee’s heart—not as a prince, not as part of a political arrangement, but as a man who was quickly, irrevocably falling in love with the remarkable woman beside him.

The road ahead was uncertain, full of challenges neither of them could foresee. But in that moment, with the new day dawning and endless possibilities stretching out before them, Vexor knew one thing for certain: his life would never be the same again.

FIVE

The gravel crunched under the tires as Raelee guided the car down the winding path back to Maya’s grandfather’s cabin. Towering pines loomed on either side, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers in the fading light. The engine’s purr faded to a low rumble as she eased the vehicle to a stop, the headlights illuminating the rustic wooden structure before them.

For a moment, Raelee sat still, her hands gripping the steering wheel. Her old car was now gone which meant Maya had driven it back, leaving the cabin vacant once again. Raelee prayed her best friend was safe from her father’s power. Something she should’ve thought about at the beginning of this absurd scheme.

The adrenaline that had fueled their escape began to ebb, leaving her feeling drained and slightly shaky. She glanced at Vex who sat quietly in the passenger seat, his eyes scanning their surroundings with alert intensity.

“Well,” Raelee said, breaking the silence, “welcome to Casa del Middle of Nowhere. Population: two fugitives and whatever woodland creatures are currently judging our life choices.”

Vexor’s lips quirked in what might have been the ghost of a smile. “It seems... quaint,” he offered, his deep voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Raelee snorted. “Quaint is one word for it. I was thinking more along the lines of ‘one horror movie cliché away from a terrible Netflix original’, but, hey, to each their own.” She paused, eyeing him mischievously. “Don’t worry, though. If any axe-wielding maniacs show up, I’ll protect you.”

Vexor raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes glinting with humor. “I appreciate the offer, but I think I can handle myself.”

“Oh really?” Raelee challenged, a grin tugging at her lips. “And here I thought those muscles were just for show.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a flush crept up her neck. Had she really just said that out loud? But Vexor didn’t seem offended. If anything, he looked... pleased?

They exited the car, the cool night air a shock after hours in the heated vehicle. Raelee stretched, her muscles protesting after the long drive. She couldn’t help but notice Vexor’s gaze lingering on her as she arched her back, working out the kinks.

Get it together, Arison,she chided herself.Now is not the time to be ogling the mysterious stranger who may or may not be your knight in shining armor. Or Secret Service. Or both. God, what even is my life right now?

Shaking off the thought, Raelee led the way to the cabin’s front door. The key was right where Maya had taken it from when they arrived earlier, tucked under a weathered gnome statue.

“I think your garden decoration has seen better days,” Vexor commented, eyeing the chipped gnome dubiously.

Raelee chuckled. “Hey, don’t knock Gnomeo. He’s been guarding this cabin since before I was born. Show some respect for your elders.”

As she turned the lock, Raelee sent up a silent thank you to her best friend. Maya might be a human tornado of chaos most of the time, but when it counted, she always came through.

Raelee fumbled for the light switch, and the lights flickered to life, casting a warm glow over the space. She had to admit it wasn’t much—a main room with a stone fireplace, a tiny kitchenette, and a bedroom and bathroom down a short hallway—but right now, it looked like the Ritz-Carlton.

“Home sweet home,” Raelee announced, spreading her arms wide. “At least for the next... however long it takes for the world’s most ridiculous manhunt to die down. Make yourself comfortable. Mi casa es su casa and all that jazz.”

Vexor nodded, setting their bags by the worn leather couch. He moved with a cautious grace as if he was trying not to take up too much space in the small cabin. It was almost endearing, seeing this mountain of a man trying to make himself smaller.

Raelee busied herself by checking the supplies Maya nor she had bothered with earlier. To her surprise, everything they might need for a few days’ stay was neatly laid out on the kitchen counter—non-perishable food, bottled water, first aid supplies, even a few changes of clothes. Looked like Maya knew Rae would be returning.

“Your friend is very thorough,” Vexor commented, coming to stand beside her.

Raelee nodded, a lump forming in her throat. “Yeah, she’s... she’s the best. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

As if summoned by the thought, Raelee’s burner phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see a text.

Maya:Coast clear for now. What have you been up to?

Raelee:Oh, you know, just making new friends.She attached a photo of Vex she took without him noticing, just in case she came up dead and the police needed a clue to her killer.

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