Page 30 of An Alien for the Future

I grunt and the medic dips her head in apology, thinking it’s the device she’s just placed on my arm that I’m reacting to. What I’m really reacting to is the fact that this Saffion is right. But not in the way he thinks.

Donna is strong-willed. Strong-willed indeed. She is vibrant. A force to be reckoned with. A female that sets my lifeblood on fire. But maybe what the Saffion says is what is true. That she might needreassurance.

I appeared in her life and suddenly declared that she is mine. She knows nothing about me. I must make her trust me first. Make her realize I will be there for her, always.

That’s what I will do. That’s the plan. My core beat settles a little with this new course of action. Something solid that will help me retrieve the mate I feel like I’m losing.

The medic finishes taking my sample and nods to me again. Finally, the Saffion looks up from the files he’s deliberating over. His gaze skips back down to find my name. “Tovan Kamesh, you will receive word via secure comm if we find your match.”

I give him a jerk of my chin. This male knows my Donna. Possibly is her companion, too. I hesitate, wanting to say something to him, but there are no words. Everything that happened on that farm is still too fresh.

If I tell him she is my kahl, he will think I’m lying. I have no solid proof. So I jerk my chin to my chest once more and step away, but not before I hear the males behind me in line speak once more.

“Hey, Saffion, you know the female that’s available?”

Available? I pause. No, not just a pause. I freeze mid-step, my body completely tensing at the male’s words. Slowly, I turn back, my eyes narrowing as I watch the interaction.

The Saffion looks up, his expression neutral. “You’re referring to Ms. Johnson? What about her?”

The strange male leans in, a grin spreading across his face. “I heard she’s quite the catch. Living all alone out there…bet she could use some company.”

The Saffion’s red eyes narrow. “If you do not match with the human, I advise that you donotseek her out.”

The male chuckles. “She doesn’t have to be mykahlfor me to get to know her. I am breaking no law. There are other things I’m interested in, too.”

The Saffion stiffens, his ears standing tall on his head. It’s a strange sight. His species is usually docile and fearful, but it seems when it comes to these females, when it comes to Donna, he won’t hesitate to defend. That immediately puts him in my good graces.

“And whatthingsdo you refer to…” His gaze slides to the files before him as he searches for the male’s name.

“You know what I mean,” the male says. At his utterance, there’s an approving grunt from his companion.

My fists clench at my sides, a surge of anger rising in my chest. The casual disrespect in his tone, the implication behind his words—it’s more than I can bear.

Before I can think better of it, I’m moving.

“Tovan?” Arnak calls, but in three quick strides, I’m back at the table. The strange male barely has time to look up before my fist connects with his jaw.

He stumbles backward, shock and pain mingling on his face as he bares his fangs. “What in the fates?!” he sputters, one hand cradling his jaw.

I stand there, breathing heavily, my claw not even throbbing from the impact. The Saffion is on his feet now, focus darting between me and the other male.

“Tovan Kamesh!” he says, but there’s no bark in his tone. Almost as if he’s pleased I punched the male.

I know I should feel remorse, should apologize for my actions. But all I can feel is a burning need to protect Donna, even if she doesn’t want my protection.

I glare at the male before me. “Don’t you dare go near her, or in the name of the gods, I will scale you alive.”

“Frakk,” Arnak murmurs at my back. “Vicious.” But there’s a laugh in his tone.

The strange male glares at me, still rubbing his jaw. “What’s it to you, Kamesh? The female has nokahl. Until then, she is unclaimed.”

I take a step forward, halted only by Arnak’s claw on my arm.

“Stay away from her.” My gaze shifts to the other Kari watching the spectacle, my glare meeting all of theirs. “She is mine.”

A hush goes across the room as everyone looks my way.

“Tovan Kamesh,” the Saffion says, “what do you mean?” He glances back down at his files then at me.

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