Page 3 of Fated to the Alien Protector

Carter and I both whip around, and I can’t hold back a shriek.

“What the fuck are you doing sneaking around out here, alien?” Lewis snaps.

I’m average height, but I feel like a child under the intensity of the alien’s stare. Despite the threat in Lewis’ voice, the Tavikhi warrior doesn’t give him a second glance. His eyes remain locked on mine.

“Is all well?” he asks me. “Would you like me to escort you back to the settlement?”

“Hey, I asked you a question.” Lewis stomps closer with his fists clenched. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Still, the warrior stares at me.

Snap out of it.

“We’re fine,” I manage and dart a glance between him and Lewis. Neither are welcome. “Both of you guys can go home.”

Before I can guess his intent, Lewis closes the distance between us and grips my arm. He tugs—hard—and I can’t bite back the wince of pain. I jerk away, but his hold tightens and he won’t let go.

“Let’s get out of here.” He yanks me again, and I cry out.

Carter jumps forward and smacks Lewis’ arm. “Let her go.”

There’s a whooshing sound and a flash of metal. I nearly choke at the sight of the Tavikhi warrior holding his sword to Lewis’ neck.

“Take your hand off the female,” he commands in a throaty growl.

When Lewis doesn’t comply, the warrior draws blood. Not a lot, but enough to get his point across, because Lewis hisses and pushes me away. I stumble, right myself, and snatch Carter to me. I wrap my arms around him as I nearly hyperventilate.

“Unless you want another taste of my blade, I would suggest you turn around and return to the human settlement,” the Tavikhi warrior threatens.

Hatred spews from Lewis’ eyes before he glances at me and back to the alien. Carefully, he walks backward, his gaze never leaving the Tavikhi’s. He points a finger at the other male and then at me, even though he’s not even looking my way. “You’regoing to regret this.”

Fuck. He may not be directly talking to me, but it’s a warning just as well. Anger bubbles up from deep inside my gut. An anger I haven’t felt at this level in over a decade. The Tavikhi hasn’t moved and doesn’t until Lewis is out of sight. Finally, he slides his sword back into the belt around his waist and faces Carter and me. The rage overtakes common sense and I snap.

“Do youhave any idea what you’ve just done?”

Chapter 2

Rojtar

The female—Abby—is filled with anger I do not understand and stomps back and forth across the forest floor. The kit watches both of us. Is he her son? The two share a marked resemblance. But if he is her kit, where is her mate? No worthy male would let his female and a kit be treated they way Lewis treated her.

Surelyheis not her mate.

“That male put his hands on you. Hurt you. What kind of warrior would I be if I had not stopped him?”

She halts and stares at me with narrowed eyes for a moment before shifting them to the young male. “Carter, let’s go.”

He pauses briefly before walking to her, his gaze still moving between her and me.

“Where are you going?” Why is she so angry?

Abby takes the kit’s hand and tugs him forward. “I’mgoing back to the settlement to apologize to Lewis and hope that’s enough to cool his temper.”

Cool his temper?Apologize? Why would she do such a thing? “You should not apologize. He is the one who wronged you.”

She twirls to face me. “If I don’t, he’ll make mylife complete hell. You get to waltz right back to your village and forget this whole thing ever happened. I don’t have that luxury. Lewis doesn’t forget a slight. Which means I’m going to have to go back to the settlement and deal with the consequences ofyouractions.”

“Then do not return to your village.” If Abby is that worried about the dishonorable male, then she should not be in the same place as him.

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