Page 10 of The Alien's Unwilling Bride

“I’ve seen research labs less sophisticated than this,” Mila muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. She reached out, gently touching a nearby plant. Its leaves shimmered at her touch, releasing a soft, melodic hum. “Unbelievable.”

Beside her, Roq walked in silence, his posture rigid and formal as ever. But Mila noticed the way his eyes darted around, taking in their surroundings with a mix of familiarity and caution. She smirked to herself, amused by his attempts to maintain his princely composure in the face of such wild beauty.

“Do all Earthlings get this excited about dirt?” Roq finally asked, his voice deadpan. But Mila caught the flicker of amusement in his dark eyes.

She snorted, not bothering to look up from the sample she was collecting. “Only the ones who know what they’re looking at, Roq. This ‘dirt’ could hold the key to understanding Tharvis’s entire ecosystem.”

Roq’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “And here I thought you were just fond of getting your hands dirty.”

“Oh, I am,” Mila shot back, grinning. “It’s one of my many charms. You should try it sometime. Might loosen up that royal stick up your ass.”

To her surprise, Roq let out a low chuckle. The sound sent an unexpected warmth through her, which she promptly tried to ignore. She was here to work, not to... whatever this was. But, damn, when did his laugh start sounding so enticing?

As they ventured deeper into the wild lands, Mila found herself stealing glances at Roq. The alien landscape seemed to soften his edges, making him appear less like the stiff prince she’d first met and more like... well, she wasn’t quite sure. But it was interesting. And, if she was being honest with herself, a little bit attractive.

“This place might just be paradise if it weren’t for all the royal protocol,” Mila remarked, casting a sideways glance at Roq to gauge his reaction.

He raised an eyebrow, that almost-smile playing at his lips again. “Protocol has its place even in paradise,” he replied, his voice warm despite the formality of his words.

Mila rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. “Let me guess, you sleep with a rulebook under your pillow?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Roq deadpanned. “I have it memorized.”

Mila burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the alien landscape. For a moment, she forgot about the strangeness of her surroundings, the weight of her impending marriage, and the worry for her sisters. For just a moment, she was simply enjoying herself in the company of... a friend? Was that what Roq was becoming?

She shook her head, trying to clear the confusing thoughts. Since when did she start enjoying Roq’s company so much? Sure, he was good-looking—she’d noticed that from day one. But this was different. She found herself wanting to make him laugh and see that rare smile break through his princely facade.

“You know,” Mila said, her tone teasing, “if you keep making jokes like that, I might start to think there’s an actual person under all that royal posturing.”

Roq’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, her breath caught in her throat. There was something in his gaze—a warmth, a depth—she hadn’t noticed before.

“Perhaps,” he said softly, “there’s more to both of us than meets the eye.”

Her cheeks warmed, and she quickly looked away, busying herself with another plant sample. What the hell was wrong with her? She was acting like a teenager with a crush, not a grown woman on an important scientific mission.

As the last rays of sunlight faded, the atmosphere around them began to shift. The once-inviting wilderness took on a more ominous tone, the wildlife calls growing more frequent and urgent. Shadows lengthened, twisting the familiar shapes of plants into grotesque silhouettes.

Mila felt the change in the air, a prickle of unease crawling up her spine. She’d been in wild environments before and faced down dangerous situations without flinching. But something about this felt different. More primal. More dangerous.

She glanced at Roq, noticing how his posture had shifted. His shoulders were tense, his eyes scanning their surroundings with increased vigilance. It was subtle, but Mila had spent enough time studying him to notice the change. And wasn’t that a thought—when had she started paying so much attention to his body language?

“Getting scared, Roq?” she teased, but her voice lacked its usual bite.

Roq’s eyes met hers, serious and intense. “We should be cautious. The wild lands are unpredictable at night.”

Before Mila could respond, a bone-chilling roar shattered the eerie calm. She whirled around, her heart pounding as she searched for the source of the sound. In the shadows between two massive, glowing plants, she caught a glimpse of movement. Something big. Something predatory.

“Roq,” she hissed, all pretense of calm evaporating. “What the hell was that?”

But Roq didn’t have time to answer. With a speed that defied its massive size, a creature burst from the undergrowth. It was a nightmarish fusion of reptile and feline, its body covered in iridescent scales that reflected the bioluminescent glow of the surrounding plants. Its eyes blazed with an inner fire, fixed squarely on Mila.

“Damn—“ Mila swore, scrambling backward. Her mind raced, cataloging details even as she tried to put distance between herself and the predator. But the creature was too fast, its powerful limbs eating up the ground between them in seconds.

Just as Mila felt the creature’s hot breath on her skin, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her out of harm’s way. She collided with Roq’s chest, the impact knocking the breath from her lungs. For a split second, time seemed to stand still. Mila was acutely aware of Roq’s arm around her, the solid warmth of his body against hers. Her heart raced, and she wasn’t sure if it was from the near-death experience or... something else.

“Stay behind me,” Roq ordered, his voice calm but commanding. He pushed Mila behind him, placing himself between her and the circling predator.

Mila bristled at the order, her independent streak flaring to life even in the face of danger. “Like hell,” she snapped. “I’m not some damsel in distress.” But even as she protested, a part of her couldn’t help but feel... protected. Cared for. It was a foreign feeling, and she wasn’t sure she liked it.

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