Page 27 of Fated to the Alien Protector

The memory of Lewis on top of me returns and my breath catches on a sob. I slam my hand over my mouth to stifle the sound so Carter can’t hear. I thought I could handle him. If not for Rojtar, I don’t want to think about what would have happened.

God, what am I going to do about his mating marks?

I don’t have the mental energy to think about it right now, so I throw on my top and step out from behind the barrier, making sure to keep a neutral expression on my face. Or at least do my best to. Carter stares at me like he knows I’m merely putting on a façade. Ignoring the questions in his eyes, I stride past him.

“C’mon, let’s go eat.”

He follows me out and toward the central fire. With each step I take that brings me closer to where everyone gathers, my pace slows. What’s Carter going to say when he sees Rojtar? This is such a mess. As I glance at people, this time there’s no imagining they stare at me.

Great.

We reach the main gathering place and before I can skate through unnoticed, London and Maeve approach. Apparently they won’t be leaving me in peace. I guess I’m not surprised. I should have prepared Carter for this new development, but it’s too late to do anything about it now.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” London says with a giant grin the second she reaches us.

“It depends on who you ask, I guess.”

Her smile doesn’t even falter. In fact, she chuckles. “You aren’t the first of us to not have any interest or desire for the mate bond. I actually would have been shocked if you were all in from the get go.”

All in? I’m not even a fraction of the way in.

“What are they talking about?” Carter pipes up.

London and Maeve exchange a guilty glance.

“Sorry,” the former says.

I manage a shrug. It wasn’t going to stay a secret much longer anyway. Facing Carter, I come clean. “Rojtar thinks I’m his mate after his mating marks appeared earlier today when I touched his arm.”

Just because he believes it doesn’t make it true.

My brother gapes. “Hismate?”

“Thinks?” London echoes and I narrow my gaze at her.

“Yes, thinks.” I’m almost daring her to contradict me.

“If you say so,” the shefira says. “Either way, congratulations. Rojtar is a really great guy. Any woman would be lucky to be his mate.”

Then they can have him. I wince at the crappy thought considering I’ve come to realize she may be completely right about him being one of the good ones. I won’t take it back though. “I’m sure they would and I wish him nothing but happiness with one of them.”

The pitying smile they both send my way gets my back up.

“We’ll leave you to eat, then. Feel free to join us if you’d like,” London offers.

“Thanks.” Although I won’t be taking her up on it.

She and Maeve walk away and I turn to Carter, who is still staring at me.

“What?”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier that you and Rojtar are mates?” he asks.

“Because it’s like I told him, I’m not interested in what his goddess has apparently decided.”

Carter studies me a bit longer. “You should give him a chance. I’m growing up and I don’t want you to be lonely.”

I’ve been lonely for a long, long time. “I’m perfectly content with my life just the way it is. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

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