Page 58 of Beauty and the Alien Beast
“And one and two?” I couldn’t keep the worry and confusion out of my voice.
“They are in favor of buying earthlings. In fact, we just got word that they went against the wishes of the collective council and purchased earthlings that are in transit to their packs as we speak.”
Teken shook his head, the look on his face something close to disgust. “Like I said, slavery is not the Wulfaen way. But there is serious strife within the packs about this subject. Gladiators are physically, mentally, and emotionally hurting without a mate.”
Anger burned me. “But that’s no excuse to allow your race to buy women like property. We have rights. It was not our choice to be abducted from Earth, or whatever planet we lived on, and brought to this planet to be conditioned and dolled up like sex dolls just for the Omers’s profit.”
“I agree, sheleki. That is why I came to the facility. I was on a mission to gather evidence against the Omers to bring back to the council. I wanted to show them proof of what the Omers were doing to the females… that it was wrong. And after that, I planned to demand a vote to unite all the sectors and shut down the Omers’s facility. I will not rest until all of the females are free, Ella.”
“Okay. But what about the females who are heading to sectors one and two?” I asked.
“It’s being dealt with.”
“Good,” I gritted out.
“When I arrived at the facility, the first phase of my mission was just to gather evidence.” He caressed my face. “But when I saw you, I knew I’d found my one true mate. And I couldn’t leave you behind. So I changed my priorities to freeing you and getting you back here to my pack and safety. I still intend to continue with my original plan. Going to the council and demanding that we unite to free all of the females.”
“Good. We are in agreement. I want every one of them, human or not, to be freed. I wouldn’t wish what happens in that place on my worst enemy.”
“Yes.” He looked at me earnestly. “But until you were safely out of danger, I could not function at full capacity to complete my mission.”
I looked down at my hands. “Will the slavers keep chasing me?”
“No. Once we gather to shut them down and free the females, we will forbid any such practice. I will not lie to you, Ella. The Omers are very greedy and conniving. Tensions between the Omers and the Gladiators will be high once we take away the females. Maybe they will declare war. I don’t know what will happen, but I’m prepared for the worst. I’ve already sent word to the council that we need to gather for a meeting about the Omers. This meeting will happen in two days and in the Gladiator Capitol.”
“I will come with you. I’d like to act as witness to the Omers’s treatment.”
He reached over and brushed his hand down my back. “I do not want to put you in danger, Ella. Not in your condition, carrying our pup.”
My lips pressed into a thin line, and then I said, “Teken, I can’t stay here and do nothing. Not with some of the council members supporting buying earthlings. The council needs to see you and me together. They need to understand that finding their mate among the earthlings is still a possibility, but not by buying and breaking her like an animal.” I bit my bottom lip, thinking. “And the Gladiators are only sexually compatible with earthlings?”
“Yes,” he confirmed.
“And you have a way to get the alien females back to their planets, but not the earthlings?”
“Yes, Ella. Our transport can travel between nearby planets. That is how we travel on business.”
“Then what’s going to happen to the earthlings that are freed? Where will they go?”
“They will be under the protection of the council. The elders from each pack will oversee the process, that they are taken care of, and if the females wish to visit each pack to see if there is a match with one of our Gladiators, then they are free to do so. But they won’t be forced.”
My mind was racing with all the possibilities of this shit between humans and Gladiators going wrong. “But the women will need a home to stay in until everything is worked out. May I suggest that the females stay within your pack? It will make them feel safer to be in my presence. They’ve been through too much already. I’ll work with your people to organize living quarters within your pack. I’ll be the humans’ advocate. This is the only way this union between human females and your people will work. I need to ensure that they are safe and protected.”
He smiled. “That is very smart, sheleki. Yes. I will have the elders meet with you to organize everything. And anything you need will be at your disposal.” He clasped my hands. “Now, have you decided about our mating ceremony?”
I thought of everything he had been for me before this conversation—rescuer, protector, lover, and now avenger for me and my fellow kidnapped women. I would have to be crazy to turn my back on a man who would do all of that for me. I didn’t know how we would work out this weird human-alien romance, but I was as committed as he was to finding a way to make us work.
He chose me. And I chose him. And that was all that mattered.
A smile spread across my face. “I’m ready for our mating ceremony, Teken.”
His face lit up, and I suddenly realized with a flush of warmth that he had been fearing I’d reject him.
“Sheleki, you are truly a blessing from the gods.” He watched me closely, the look in his eyes making me feel precious and beautiful. “And whatever it takes, Ella, I’ll do it to make you happy.”
“You already do, Teken. You make me gloriously happy.” And I meant it.
He pinned me with his gaze. He stared at me as though he had so much to say and no words to do his thoughts justice. Suddenly, he was holding my face in his hands, and he kissed the ever-loving shit out of me.
