Page 8 of Her Alien Guardian

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. “I’ll… I’ll obey. For now.”

I felt Alpha’s body relax slightly, tension I hadn’t even realized he was carrying melting away. “Thank you, Tessara,” he said, and the genuine gratitude in his voice nearly brought tears to my eyes. “I promise you won’t regret this.”

With a gentleness that belied his massive size, Alpha lowered me from his shoulder, cradling me in his arms like a child. For the first time, I allowed myself to really look at him, to take in the striking blue of his skin and the swirling depths of his silver-violet eyes. There was kindness there, yes, but also a strength and an authority that made something inside me quiver.

Alpha’s powerful arms held me against his broad, uniformed chest as he carried me through the gleaming corridors of thePrince Hend. The ship was a marvel of engineering, so far beyond the crude Vionian vessels that it seemed almost magical. The smooth walls curved gracefully overhead, pulsing with asoft, ambient light that seemed to respond to our presence. The air was crisp and clean, carrying a faint floral scent that reminded me of the meadows of my home world, where I’d played as a child, long before the Vionian Empire had claimed me.

As we moved deeper into the ship, I couldn’t help but marvel at the vast difference between this environment and the cramped, utilitarian quarters I’d known aboard theConqueror of Bresla. Here, everything spoke of elegance and purpose, form perfectly balanced with function. The few crew members we passed regarded Alpha with a mixture of respect and awe, their eyes widening slightly as they took in my naked, battered form in his arms.

I should have felt terrified, humiliated by my nudity. But nestled against Alpha’s warmth, I found myself strangely at peace. His steady heartbeat thrummed beneath my ear, a soothing counterpoint to the lingering adrenaline in my system. Despite my best efforts to remain wary, I felt my body beginning to relax, tension seeping out of my muscles as Alpha’s gentle gait rocked me.

We came to a halt before a set of ornate doors, their surface inlaid with an iridescent pattern that seemed to shift and dance as we approached. Alpha murmured something too low for me to catch, and the doors slid open with a soft whoosh, revealing a spacious chamber beyond.

My breath caught in my throat as Alpha carried me inside. The room was easily twice the size of the entire officers’ quarters on theConqueror, decorated in rich shades of deep blue and silver. A massive viewscreen dominated one wall, currently displaying a breathtaking vista of stars and swirling nebulae. Soft rugscovered the floor, their intricate patterns reminiscent of flowing water.

But it was the figure waiting for us that truly captured my attention. A woman stood near the center of the room, her presence commanding yet somehow soothing. She was tall and graceful, with flowing black hair that cascaded down her back like a moonlit waterfall. Her skin was pale, almost luminescent, a marked contrast to Alpha’s deep blue. She wore a flowing gown of sheer fabric that seemed to ripple with her every movement, clinging to curves that made my heart skip a beat.

As Alpha set me gently on my feet, the woman’s lovely blue eyes met mine. There was no judgment in her gaze, only a deep well of compassion that threatened to undo me completely. She smiled, and I felt a warmth bloom in my chest, chasing away the last vestiges of fear that had clung to me.

“Tessara,” Alpha said, his deep voice rumbling from his chest. “This is Sala, my senior wife.”

CHAPTER 5

Tessara

Alpha’s massive hand rested gently on the small of my back as he addressed Sala. “My love, this is Tessara. She was a concubine aboard the Vionian ship we just captured. The poor thing has been through hell.”

Sala’s blue eyes softened with understanding. “Oh, you poor dear,” she murmured, taking a step toward me.

I tensed instinctively, but Alpha’s steadying presence kept me from flinching away. His thumb traced small circles on my skin, soothing away the last of my nervousness.

“I need to return to the bridge,” Alpha continued, his deep voice resonating through me. “The final push against Vion Prime is about to begin.” He turned to Sala, a glimmer of something primal flashing in his silver-violet eyes. “Prepare yourself for me, my heart. You know how I am after a victory.”

A rosy blush bloomed across Sala’s pale cheeks, spreading down her elegant neck to disappear beneath the lovely fabric of hergown. “Yes, my lord,” she breathed, her voice a mixture of anticipation and reverence.

“I’ll summon you to the bridge once the battle is truly over,” Alpha added, his tone leaving no doubt that his words were both a promise and a command.

Sala nodded, her black hair catching the light like spun moonbeams. “We’ll be ready,” she assured him, casting a warm glance in my direction.

Alpha’s massive frame turned toward me once more, his powerful presence filling my senses. “Goodbye for now, Tessara,” he said softly. “You’re safe here with Sala. Try to rest, if you can.”

I swallowed hard, struggling to find my voice. After everything that had happened, after the kindness he had shown me, I knew I owed him at least this much. “Th-thank you,” I managed to whisper, the words feeling foreign on my tongue after so long.

A smile touched Alpha’s lips, genuine warmth radiating from his alien features. He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze before striding toward the door, his departure leaving the room feeling strangely empty despite Sala’s continued presence.

As the door slid shut behind him, I turned to face Sala, uncertainty gnawing at my insides. What would happen now? And why did the thought of seeing Alpha again fill me with such a confusing mixture of fear and anticipation?

The room suddenly felt both vast and confining, leaving me acutely aware of my nakedness and vulnerability. Sala’s presence, though gentle, seemed to fill every corner of the space.

My eyes darted around the chamber, taking in details I had missed before. The carpet beneath my feet was softer than anything I’d felt in years, its intricate patterns swirling like eddies in a cosmic stream. The walls, a deep blue, seemed to pulse with an inner light that reminded me of the bioluminescent seas on my home planet.

A large, circular bed dominated one side of the room, its sheets a rich silver that caught the starlight streaming in from the viewscreen. Nearby, a sleek console hummed quietly, its surface displaying a holographic star chart that slowly rotated, showing the positions of the Magisterian fleet.

My gaze was drawn back to Sala, who watched me with patient curiosity. Her blue eyes held a depth of understanding that made my heart ache. How long had it been since anyone had looked at me with such compassion?

I opened my mouth, trying to form words, but found myself at a loss. What could I possibly say? How could I even begin to process the whirlwind of events that had brought me here, to this impossible moment?

Sala took a step closer, her movements fluid and graceful. “You must have so many questions,” she said softly, her voice melodic and soothing.

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