Page 9 of Fated to the Alien Healer

“Thank you for letting me rest. I’m feeling better, so we should probably get going.” I carefully stand and hope I don’t get dizzy and fall over. When nothing happens, I breathe out a sigh of relief.

He studies me, and I do my best not to squirm under his penetrating gaze. I can tell he wants to argue but I rush to stop him. “Really, I’m okay. Or at least I will be. You know as well as I do we’re not going to be safe until we get back to the village.” Maybe not even then.

Finally, Kyler dips his head in agreement. “You will tell me when the pain and fatigue become too great. Wewillrest.”

I nod. With slow steps I take off again and he moves right next to me for the second time, although there is barely enough room on the non-existent path for me to travel. Remi and Zydon, along with Katem, quicken their pace and take point, scouting the terrain in front of us. Evren, Rassim, and the three Krijese fall behind to watch our backs.

The forest is silent aside from the sound of mellenje and the scurrying of small creatures as they rush to get away from us. Sage hasn’t talked a lot about Kyler, but from everything she has said, I never pictured him to be this quiet. Is it because of me? Granted, I always have something to say. Yet, I’m struggling to find any words. Is this how it’s going to be between us? This awkward, uncomfortable silence that feels oppressive?

Fuck. Is this another Sage and Jodah situation? Does Kyler not feel the bond despite his mating marks? Is that why he isn’tacting all love-sick and spouting on about how much Deeka has blessed him?

Son of a bitch.

Chapter 6

Kyler

For more than four lunar cycles, I have watched Zara and during none of them has she ever been this quiet. She is bold and always has something to say. There are warriors who fear Benham, our head warrior and weapon maker, even now that he’s mated and has become slightly more approachable. Yet, even before Maeve triggered his mating marks, Zara bravely faced him without hesitation and asked to apprentice at his forge. She showed more courage than many of the young Tavikhi.

Remi closes the distance between her and Zara. My mate darts a glance in my direction. As much as I do not want to leave her side in case she needs me, I slow my pace and move slightly behind to give the two females a bit of privacy. Whispered words are exchanged between them and Remi’s gaze shifts over her shoulder to me several times and each time, I meet it. I also try not to stare at my mate’s backside, but I am far from successful. Where her tribe sister is tall and slender, Zara is much shorter with far more curves. If memory serves, she is only slightly taller than Maeve, who is the smallest of the females.

Finally, Remi breaks away and returns to Zydon’s side. My steps quicken and in moments, I am walking next to my mate again. Even if she does not speak to me, I want to be close.

“Remi said that, after her, you were the first to volunteer to come get me.” Zara surprises me by breaking the silence between us.

“Yes.” There is no reason to deny it.

A long pause follows my response. “Did you know then?”

“Did I know what?”

Zara swallows. “That I was your mate?”

I had not expected to be asked such a thing. There should not be any lies between us though. As much as I am uncertain how mykeeshlafeels, I cannot hide myself from her. “No.”

She nods.

“But I had hoped.”

Zara turns her head in my direction. Her eyes, with their dark smudges beneath, are wide. “You…hoped?”

“Yes.”

A large fallen branch covers the path in front of us. I move even closer to assist her over it. Her breaths are labored from the steady upward trek through the hillside. To my great pleasure, she takes my hand without hesitation and climbs over the fiku limb. I leap over and we resume walking.

“Why?” Zara asks after several moments.

Why had I hoped? Does she not realize any male would be lucky to call himself her mate?

“Is it because I’m one of the few females left?” she asks before I can tell her my reason.

“Of course not.”

Zara gives me the human gesture called a shrug. “I mean, I’d understand if I was just the last resort. I know you guys have been hurting for fated mates for years and a lot of you have given up on the idea you might find yours.”

“That is not the case at all,” I rush to assure her. “You are not a last resort. I have prayed to Deeka you were my mate almost from the moment you came to the village with the shefira and the rest of your tribe sisters.”

No doubt I have now scared her.

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