Page 28 of Fated to the Alien Healer

The Bohnari leader glances down at it and then places his own within hers. “I have heard of this thing you humans call a handshake. Greetings, Zara. I am Alik.”

“Nice to meet you.”

He flicks his gaze to mine before meeting hers again. One side of his mouth curls up. He still has not released her. “The pleasure is most certainly mine.”

The growl rumbles from my chest again, but Alik is not at all bothered. Zara, on the other hand, grows even more tense. As though sensing I have reached my limit, he lets go of her. He gestures to her injured arm. “Come to our ship later to meet with our healer. He can repair that for you.”

With those words, he walks away and greets Zydon and several of the other warriors who have joined the group. The moment he is out of hearing range, Zara shoves her elbow into my side—pushing herself away—and whirls on me.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she hisses like an angry luani kit. “You were acting like a damn caveman.”

“I do not know what a caveman is.”

She puffs out her chest mounds and walks stiffly for a few steps with an exaggerated swing of her shoulders. “I’m a big, tough man,” she says in a deep voice. “Let me swing my dick around and show you who’s got the bigger one.”

I have heard this word…dick. I glance down. “My cock is average size, but it is not swinging around. It is inside my leg coverings.”

This time it is Zara who growls. “For fuck’s sake, it’s a figure of speech. Seriously though, what is your problem?”

“I did not like the way Alik was looking at you.” The admission is dragged from me.

She gapes. “Are you kidding me?”

My only response is silence. She narrows her eyes and stomps away. I follow. Zara does not stop until she reaches her tent. With a rough yank, she jerks open the flap and goes inside. I only hesitate for a beat before I continue in behind her. She throws down her dirty coverings and spins with a hand on her hip.

“You know, I always thought it would be hot to have a man all jealous and possessive over me, but now I don’t think I do. I’m actually pretty annoyed.”

Is that what this emotion in that swirls and rages inside me? Jealousy? “You are my mate.”

“And that gives you the right to manhandle me? Because some guy was talking to me?” She tosses up her good arm.

“He wanted to do more than talk, and you were looking at him the same way.”

Zara flinches and sucks in a harsh breath. Her bottom lip trembles. “Is that the kind of person you think I am? Just because I think a guy’s attractive, you think I’m going to spread my legs for him even though I have a husband—a mate?”

Her questions make my entire body go still. I even believe my heart stops beating. A bitter emotion spirals through me.

Shame.

It settles like a massive stone in my belly. I swallow, and my shoulders drop in ugly defeat as I bow my head and stare at the ground. “I am a fool. While I am undeserving of your forgiveness, I will beg for it anyway, and do not blame you if you do not give it. From the depth of my soul, you have my apologies for hurting you, Zara, and for being such an unworthy male to a female who has done nothing to earn my jealousy.”

Footsteps approach, but I do not raise my head. I am not fit to even gaze upon my mate’s face. If she chooses to reject me, it is my own fault, and I will live with the consequences of my actions. A small, warm hand cradles my cheek.

“Look at me, Kyler,” Zara commands softly.

Slowly, I lift my gaze to hers. She does not smile or offer me words of comfort. As well she should not.

“We’re both new to this whole mating thing, so we’re learning as we go,” she strokes my skin gently. “I amyourmate. But I am also a female. Just because I find another male attractive does not mean that there is anything between us or that thereever will be. It hurt—a lot—that you would think I would do something like that. That’s not who I am.”

“I know.”

“Then why?”

Once again shame fills me and I step back, breaking our connection. I cannot look Zara in the eyes as I make a confession. “I was not entirely truthful with you before.”

“About what?”

“I was not close to my brother.” This is the first time I have spoken the truth to anyone outside of my family.

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