Page 9 of Alien Protector's Mate

Mr. Morgan scrawled his signature across the papers quickly, signing her away without even a look at her.

“When do I get paid?” he demanded as he pushed the signed forms back across the desk.

The chime on the door behind them jangled as a group of young women piled through it, their laughter and excited chatter filling the space.

One girl, her auburn hair styled in an intricate braid, gestured animatedly as she spoke. “Oh em gee! I can’t believe we’re finally here! My sister’s workmate’s cousin met her mate through this program, and she says it’s the best thing that ever happened to her.”

Another, a petite blonde with a smattering of freckles across her nose, nodded eagerly. “I know, right! Can you imagine it? Meeting a handsome alien warrior who’ll cherish you forever…” She sighed dreamily. “It’s like something out of a romance novel!”

As Mr. Morgan moved to the side to let them pass, Jade saw her chance. Time seemed to slow as adrenaline surged through her body and, without thinking about it, she darted past them and slipped out through the still-open door.

The cool night air hit her face as she burst out onto the street. For a split second, she froze, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar surroundings and the enormity of what she’d just done.

Then she heard Mr. Morgan’s enraged bellow from inside the building. “Dammit, girl! Get back here!”

Panic lent wings to her feet. She ran, her heart pounding in her ears.

Behind her, she heard Mr. Morgan’s heavy footsteps and labored breathing as he gave chase. But she was younger, faster, and fueled by desperation. She darted down a narrow alley and then another, zigzagging through the unfamiliar streets in an attempt to lose her pursuer.

The sounds of the chase faded, but she didn’t slow down. She ran until her lungs burned and her legs ached, right through the industrial area until she was back on the bustling streets filled with shops. Slowing down, she merged in with the evening crowd, hiding herself within them.

She had no idea where she was going, but she was out. She had escaped. And no matter what happened, she was never going back to the Morgans.

The harsh smell of exhaust fumes from the traffic mingled with enticing aromas from nearby restaurants that made her stomach growl in protest and reminded her she hadn’t eaten since the quarter-bite of nutri-block she’d had this morning.

She shivered as she wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly very aware of how out of place she must look in her threadbare jacket and ill-fitting clothes. Her hair was damp with sweat, clinging to her forehead and neck as she tried to catch her breath and gather her thoughts.

What now?The question echoed in her mind. She had escaped, yes, but now she was alone in a strange part of the city with no money, no ID, and nowhere to go. She bit her lip as she realized how fucked she was, and she looked around, as though the answers to her problems might leap out at her from thin air.

As her steps slowed, panic threatening to overwhelm her, a group of teens passed by, their excited chatter drawing her attention. They were a few years younger than her and had backpacks slung over their shoulders, their faces alight with anticipation.

“I can’t believe we’re actually going to Devan Station!” one girl exclaimed, not even seeing Jade as she walked right past her. “Do you think we’ll see any Lathar warriors up close?”

“Is that all you can think about? The men?” Her friend laughed and playfully shoved at her shoulder. “We’re supposed to be focusing on the cultural exchange. Remember?”

“Oh, come on,” someone chimed in from behind them. “You can’t tell me you’re not at least a little curious about those alien hunks.”

Their laughter faded as they moved past, but Jade’s mind whirled with a new, possibly insane idea. A field trip to Devan Station? This could be her chance. Without giving herself time to second-guess, she fell into step behind the group, careful to maintain a distance that would both make her seem a part of the group to onlookers but wouldn’t arouse suspicion if any of the teens looked back and saw her.

They made their way toward the spaceport, and her heart raced with nerves and exhilaration. The sprawling complex loomed before them, its sleek, futuristic architecture the total opposite to the city around it. She couldn’t help gawping for a moment. She’d never seen anything like it outside of holo-vids. Then she reminded herself she was supposed to be part of the group and, thus, should have seen the space port before.

The group ahead of her moved quickly and clearly knew where they were going. She followed in their wake, her eyes darting nervously from side to side as she took in the bustling crowds and the security checkpoints. She watched carefully as the students presented their IDs and tickets at the security booths. She didn’t have either, so what did she do now?

She lingered in the center of the departures area, pretending to study a large holographic map of the spaceport. Grabbing some promo flexi-flyers, she took them back to a seating area and made a show of leafing through them. In reality, she was watching everything around her.

The school group had long since gone, but a steady stream of people flowed through departures. A traveler dropped onto the bench next to her, his attention all on his personal comm unit as he frowned and then looked up at the departures board hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the hall.

“Shit, I’m late!” he hissed and took off again. He’d almost been swallowed up by the crowds before she realized he’d left his hat on the bench—a peak cap from some sports team or other.

“Hey, your hat!” she called out after him, but he was gone, disappearing past security before she could catch his attention.

Looking down at it, she debated leaving it there… then shoved it on her own head, hiding her hair.

Returning to the benches, she found a perch on the end for a moment. She’d noticed what looked like a service entrance a bit before the security checkpoints. A steady stream of people in matching uniforms moved through it, their badges identifying them as cleaning staff and maintenance workers.

Pretending to look at a flexi-flyer on trade routes from the spaceport, she wandered closer to the service entrance, her movements as casual and unhurried as she could make them. She positioned herself near a bank of vending machines, pursing her lips as she pretended to deliberate over her choices. All the while she watched the service entrance and the comings and goings of the staff.

As luck would have it, a shift change seemed to be underway. Exhausted-looking workers walked out, replaced by only slightly less tired-looking employees streaming in. Not all of them were in uniform anymore, and there didn’t seem to be any security pads on the door, just a bored-looking guard. Her breath caught in her throat. This might be her only chance.

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