Page 5 of Orri

“You sure you’re feeling all right?” She frowns, putting a hand to my forehead. “You can stay here as long as you need, you know.”

“I’ll be okay.” My heart thunders in my chest with one goal and one goal only:

Get out of here. Find that smell.Or that alpha.

I’m about to ask her if she has anything to help with the heat symptoms, but then she says something I don’t expect.

“What I was saying was, that male alpha that brought you here, he’s still waiting outside. I don’t know what he wants, but you know it’s not safe for an omega in heat to be around an unmated alpha like him. I can make him leave, if you want.”

“No!” The words tumble out far too hastily, before I even have time to process them. I take a breath, calming myself after seeing Orvox’s shocked expression. “I mean, no. That’s all right. I would like to thank him first.”

I hop up off the exam table and wobble on my feet before righting myself. “For saving my life,” I add.

Orvox moves toward the door like she is about to resist, but she stops herself. “If that is what you want,” she says at last. “If you need help, you can always call using your communicator. We’ll be right here.”

I’m already out the door, but she’s still calling after me. Something about stipulations and contracts, but that’s not what matters right now.

I’m just trying to be nice. Gotta thank the guy that saved my life, after all. That’s all it is.

Definitely not due to the hot, heady memories of his toned body against mine or the almost feral growls he used to menace the attackers.

Definitely not. Been there, done the whole ‘gruff alpha’ thing before back on Earth. I know that alphas are bad news. Not falling for it again.

…or so I hope.

SCENT

ISABELLA

Istep outside into the fresh morning air. The sun barely rises above the horizon, and I realize just how long I’ve been out. I don’t remember a lot, but I remember the sun being high in the sky when I arrived here. It’s one of the last things I remembered before they carted me into the center and put me in the med pod.

That means close to a day has passed, or maybe even more. And that male alien was still out there, waiting for me?

The thought both confuses and excites me. I turn a corner out of the front entry to the stables and parking area, and that’s when I see him clearly for the first time. Even reclining, he comes up to my midsection. Muscles on muscles cover his shining, metallic skin and the first rays of sunlight reflect off of it. I squint against the brightness, holding a hand up to my forehead.

His arms are crossed and head bowed. Sleeping? He was out here all night? The creature he lays against is even more incredible — an ‘aki’, if I remember correctly from some of the other girls talking about them. The closest thing I can compare it to is a giant elk from Earth, but even that’s not quite it.

I’ve only been on this planet a short time, but the environments and the creatures never fail to astound me. From the luminescent mushroom forests to the wild beasts with antlers taller than I am, it seems like everything is bigger on Aesirheim.

Hmm, I can’t help but think in my heat-induced stupor.Everything?

Not that I wanted to find out.

He looks up the minute I come into view, and his eyes latch onto mine instantly. I freeze for a moment, caught by his ferocious intensity. Even after just waking, his entire being exudes power. Presence.

A small, primal part of myself screamsthreat, threat, threat! But a larger, even more consuming part draws me closer with every step I take. Every ragged breath and beat of my heart.

Alpha, alpha, alpha.

Breed, breed, breed!

I let out a shaky breath. Faintly I hear Orvox at my back, rushing out to bring the bag I left behind. But it’s all so far away now. There’s only him —

And thatscent.

I grit my teeth. Clench my fists. I’m better than this. I can push through these stupid urges long enough to at least say thank you. Then I can hole up in my nest and take care of things the old fashioned way. No way was I gonna let some random alien alpha mount me just cause my hormones were going crazy.

Right?

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