Page 9 of Soren

But of course she's afraid -- she's on a foreign planet as a surrogate. As far as Earth goes, they're still babies in the intergalactic sense of things. They have not achieved nearly the heights of technology and space travel that we have.

This must be overwhelming for her.

The need to touch, to hold, to protect grabs me and doesn't let go. I'm debating whether to go down and claim her right now, but the officers are there ushering the humans into a transport. So many smells and feelings surround me in a suffocating array, but there's still her -- so clean, so pure.

She's almost to the transport door, then one of the officers grabs her arm. It's just to help her onto the raised platform --

I'm running by the time he makes contact. My hand clamps around his wrist and I tear him away. "I'll be taking this one myself." My voice quakes with a conviction that surprises even me. My blood rushes with the same hit of adrenaline, the same boost that we felt in the height of battle.

The officer stares at me, speechless. "Sir..."

"Are your aural implants malfunctioning? I said, I'm taking her. The other girls can go to the center. She's coming with me." I draw myself up to my full height, daring him to defy me. "You would defy your Jarl?"

"N-no, sir!" He throws up his hands and backs toward the transport. Good man. "Whatever you say!"

The ache in my chest eases just a little, and then I turn to look at her.

The first emotion that comes across is fear. That much I expected. But there's something else, too. Something that calls out to me like a moth to a flame. That scent, that unnerving, mouth-watering scent that makes me want to ignore everyone and everything else to take her, right on the floor, right now.

That's not even the most incredible part about it. I don't get off to her fear or her feebleness. It's the flush of her cheeks, the fullness of her lips, the ample, round curves of her figure. And if I'm not mistaken, she's feeling this too. The sweet scent of female arousal surrounds her, radiating in waves too thick to ignore.

She's leaning. That's what they called it, when we sat in one of those mindlessly boring information sessions. Alphas -- my brethren and I -- could mate and reproduce with a female that had the opposite mutation. One that they called Omega.

And she was transforming into one before my very eyes.

My mouth drops open only slightly, mirroring her expression of awe. I hadn't planned on meeting her this way. I thought I'd have more time to make a proper introduction. Yet here I was. And here she stood.

I'd almost given up hope on ever finding a match after the Alpha mutation ravaged our bodies. Nobody was compatible. Nobody. That's the whole reason we contracted with the ISA.

Now that I'm here, and she's in front of me, in the flesh, this trade looks like it will be the new beginning I need. Both for myself, and for my people.

And I can't say for sure, but when I look at her dark eyes? Maybe she needs a fresh start as well.

DOCKING

LARA

Back on the ship...

Is it hot in here, or is it just me?

No, seriously. Everything around me prickles and burns, the very air seeming to press inward. It's like the hot flash I had earlier, but more intense. Much more intense.

And this time it isn't going away.

I pluck at the collar of my shirt with one finger, but it's not helping. I tug at the elastic holding my hair up, but it only brings another wave bearing down on me.

What is happening to me?

Burning. Ache. Pressure.

Heat.

That pings something in my addled brain, and I vaguely remember learning about this during orientation. What was it again? I'd been half asleep by that point, but the words echo in my mind, clear as day...

As the serum begins to work its way through your body, you may feel some minor side effects such as hot flashes. This can come along with increased libido and is completely normal, so please do not be alarmed. The effects of the inoculation will help you conceive a healthy baby with your match.

My stomach turns again and I double over, focusing on my breathing. It's normal, I try to remind myself. Totally normal. Totally...

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