Page 5 of Fated to the Alien Hero

“Are you ready now?”

“I’m ready.”

The five of us stride through the forest in the direction of our village. Our pace is much slower than it had been before we found Astrid. I keep my gaze on her while we walk. Her steps are slow and sluggish, and despite the cloth supporting her brokenarm, she still cradles it and pain continues to mar her face. It is going to be a long and torturous journey for her, I suspect.

Rassim and Jodah speak quietly to each other at the front of our group. Beside me, Katem is silent. Normally we would discuss our hunt and the ways we can improve, but I have other things on my mind. Like mykeeshlaand this supposed other mate she has. Just the thought of him and what he did to her brings me to rage. I have never been known to have a temper or to anger easily. But knowing there is a dishonorable male who abuses females wandering around within the human settlement makes me want to search him out and make sure he can never harm another female again. But mostly so he can never harm Astrid again.

We continue our careful trek home. With each step we take, she slows more and more. Judging from her breathing and the wetness that has formed in her eyes, I do not believe she will be able to go any farther. It will not be as easy, but if Jodah, Katem, and Rassim adjust their hold on the luani, they will be able to carry it without me.

Once again, I chitter like a ketri, and they come to a stop and set down the beast. Each of them turn their gaze to me.

“I need to carry Astrid.”

“No, please,” she speaks swiftly. “I’ll keep up. I swear. I don’t mean to make more work for you.”

I shorten the distance between us, but stay an arm’s length away in order not to frighten her. “You are injured and in pain. There is still much land to cover until we reach our village. It will be my honor to care for you.”

Astrid hesitates and I wait patiently for her to realize I tell the truth. Finally, she nods. “Okay.”

I mimic the gesture and word. “Okay.”

Jodah and I share a glance and the three of them manage to lift the luani. They take off again and I turn to my mate. “I will do my best not to hurt you.”

Astrid smiles softly. “I trust you.”

Her words are the sweetest sound. They are like the singing that Eloise does. This ‘music’ it is called. I know I should not, but I cannot help wishing for her to smile more often. Her cheeks are plump and her eyes sparkle like the stars that fill the night sky.

I should not be admiring her beauty and savoring her voice when she is suffering.

With as much care as I can possibly manage, I scoop Astrid up in my arms with a hand under her knees and across her lower back. She whimpers.

“I am sorry,keeshla.”

She takes in a shuddering breath. “It—it’s okay. Just give me a second, please.”

Her good eye closes, and she inhales deeply through her mouth.

I did not think to wash the blood from her face. What kind of mate am I to not clean her, at least? I must do better.

At last, Astrid appears to be more at ease. She gazes at me again. “I think I’m ready now.”

I hold her more securely, although not enough to hurt, and follow in my tribe brothers’ footsteps. To my surprise, she leansher head against my shoulder. Her soft breaths caress my jaw and my entire body tingles in the places where my mating marks appear.

“If I get too heavy for you, I’ll walk again,” Astrid murmurs so softly I almost do not hear her.

“You barely weigh more than a ketri.”

She lifts her head. “I don’t know what that is.”

“It is a small forest creature that lives in a burrow within the trees. When I see one, I will point it out.”

“Only if you’re sure. About me not being too heavy, I mean.”

I shake my head. “There is nothing to be concerned about.”

Again, Astrid returns her head to my shoulder as though that is where she has always been meant to lay it. I cannot explain what it does to me that she is so trusting. Especially after being beaten by the male she says is her mate. My vision goes dark with rage that anyone could hurt a female.Anyfemale. They are the greatest gift and should be protected and treasured. Not because they are weak, but because they are the softness to our hardness. The gentle to our rough. They are the other half of our souls, and no male will ever feel completely whole with that missing piece of it.

Yes, we can be joyful and content with life. But we still yearn for our mate and for our soul light to warm that tiny fragment inside us that remains cold until it ignites. With Astrid in my arms, heat radiates through me so hot that I should be burning. Instead, I am comforted by it. Soothed.

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