Page 6 of Fated to the Alien Hero

I stare down at the top of her head, her features partially obscured by blood as well as the hair that cascades down. Leavesand dirt are stuck within the strands in addition to the prickled needles of the trendafili bush I found her under.

No one will ever harm her again. I will kill anyone who tries.

Rassim, Katem, and Jodah speak quietly amongst themselves while Astrid remains silent. I will wait until we reach the village and she has seen the healer before coaxing her to talk with me. She needs to rest and regain her strength first.

The sun has passed its zenith before we finally reach the village border. Calls of a mellenje ricochet back and forth, signaling our arrival. Moments later, we exit the forest, cross through the narrow swath of grass within a bari field, weave through a thin copse of trees, and approach the gated entrance where two sentries stand guard—both with mating marks.

Words of praise pass their lips at the sight of my tribe brothers carrying the luani, but quickly change to awe and wonder when their gazes land on the female in my arms and the marks that cover my own body.

“Blessings to you and yourkeeshla, Evren,” one says when we pass.

I simply nod and continue carrying my mate straight to the healer’s tent. Jodah glances over at me. “I will have someone bring the luani fur to your tent when it is cleaned and prepared.”

“Thank you.” I had forgotten it belongs to me now. It will make a wonderful gift for Astrid. A mating gift, perhaps.

Tribespeople stare, and smiles cross their faces. Pride swells within me that I have finally been blessed by Deeka.It only slightly sputters when I think of the worthless male she is already mated to. We reach the healer’s tent and I duck inside.Sage, Jodah’s mate, is the only one present. Her gaze lands on me and her eyes widen before she rushes over.

“Oh my god. Put her on the bed here.”

As gently as I am able, I lay Astrid on the elevated platform covered in furs. Her head lolls to the side, and she doesn’t make a sound.

“What the hell happened to her?” Sage examines mykeeshla.

For some reason, I am hesitant to speak the truth. What will happen when everyone finds out she is already mated?

“Evren?” Sage prompts again.

“She was beaten.”

The healer rears back. “Beaten? By who?”

Astrid remains unresponsive.

“She said it was her mate.”

“Oh, shit.”

I have often heard this curse used by the humans. Kyler explained what it means, since his mate Zara has a bizarre fascination with excrement. We have only a few curses in the Tavikhi language, but in this case, Sage’s is quite fitting.

“Yes, oh, shit.”

Chapter 4

Astrid

Voices make their way into my consciousness. There’s a dull throbbing over my entire body. It takes me a few seconds of searching my brain before I remember why. Grady and me out in the forest. The punches that rained down. Kicks to my head, stomach, and back. The endless sea of pain that feels fresh, but also like an out of body experience.

I take better stock of my injuries, and aside from the ache in my arm and right ribcage, the worst of it has been managed. The scents that surround me aren’t familiar. Evren and his friends must have gotten me to their village. Remembering the pain and swelling around my eye, I carefully try to open them both again. As before, only one cooperates. While slightly inconvenient, I suppose a single working eye is better than none.

Just as I suspect, I’m in a large, airy tent that has a faint medicinal odor. I turn my head gently. At least my headache has finally gone away. On the other side of the structure are two human women. One is on the curvy side, with long, wavy auburnhair. The other is a blonde who, if I had to guess but would never ask, is pregnant. Not far along, still barely showing.

As though sensing my gaze on them, they both turn my direction. The redhead hurries over.

“Hi there,” she says with a friendly smile. “I’m Sage, one of the healers. That’s London, the shefira of the tribe. How are you feeling? You’ve been out for a couple days.”

Days?Without answering them, I glance around, searching for Evren. I’m disappointed and a little scared he’s not here. Although I’m not sure why he would be. He did what he said he would and got me to his healer. Why I thought he would be with me when I woke is beyond me, especially if it’s been as long as Sage says it has. Of course, I don’t even remember falling asleep. He’d just been so warm and held me so gently, it had been difficult remaining awake.

“Evren went to get cleaned up and grab some food, but he’ll be right back,” the one called London says.

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