Alphas Unleashed (10 page)

Tandor watched as the female’s bottom lip trembled and a single tear coursed down her cheek. He was surprised when a wave of remorse washed through him at his callous question. Deciding the best course of action was to get the human in a regeneration bed and on a nutrient drip was the first priority.

“Can you save him?” The other human male asked gruffly. “He’s my brother.”

Tandor raised an eyebrow when he saw the male’s arm wrapped protectively around the other Marastin Dow female. Shaking his head in wonder, he realized the male mistook his response when he heard the sharp hiss.

“Yes,” Tandor rapidly assured the male. “Your brother will recover. I just…oh, never mind. Get him into the other room. I need to clean and close the wound. He’ll need to be in the regen-bed for at least a day or two. He’ll be weak when he comes out but with proper food and rest, he should make a full recovery.”

Tandor jerked back in shock when he suddenly found a sobbing Marastin Dow female clinging to him. She was babbling her thanks and how she would never forget what he was doing. He looked over at Carmen when he heard her giggle.

His eyes swiveled to Cree and Calo who held up their hands and backed away from him. He shook his head when he saw the other Marastin Dow female wrapped in the other male’s arms. Both of them were crying.

“I think it is safe to leave them alone.” He heard Carmen whisper to the security officer who had come in when it was relayed that Carmen had returned with two Marastin Dow in tow. “Ben, if you like, I can show you and Evetta to a cabin. Tandor, I think Hanine would like to remain with her mate. If you don’t mind ordering some clean clothing and food for her, I would appreciate it.”

“Of course,” Tandor replied, awkwardly patting Hanine’s back. “I need to take care of your mate. Why don’t you get cleaned up and eat while I do?”

He breathed a sigh of relief when Hanine nodded silently and released him. She smiled, her facing twisting as she fought to regain control of her emotions. She breathed deeply and took another step backwards as Tandor ordered the medics to transfer Aaron to the other room.

“Will you be alright?” Ben asked softly.

“Yes,” Hanine replied watching through the glass as Aaron was transferred onto another bed and a large tube closed around him. “Yes, I think I will be now. Go. Both you and Evetta need rest and food as well. I will stay with Aaron. Now that I know he is being healed, I will be fine.”

“Are you sure? Maybe you should…” Evetta started to say before her voice faded as Hanine turned to face her. “Get some food and rest. We’ll check on you later.”

Hanine reached out and hugged her sister. “Thank you!” She whispered. “Thank you so much for finding Ben. Thank you for being my sister.”

Evetta’s eyes filled again as she held her little sister. They had fought hard to survive and discovered love along the way. The future might still be uncertain, but at least they had a chance at a future now.

*.*.*

“You are doing much better,” Cree commented as he rolled his shoulders. “You are getting stronger.”

Aaron grinned as he accepted the hand being held out to him. He grimaced as he stood and rubbed his side. It had been several weeks since they had been brought aboard the
Horizon
and things were settling into a routine.

“You okay?” Ben asked, coming up behind him.

“I’m fine. Just a twitch,” Aaron assured his older brother. “I have to admit I haven’t felt this good in forever.”

Ben chuckled as he nodded to Cree who muttered he was needed elsewhere. It was true. He hadn’t felt this good in a long, long time either. It was amazing what good food, clean clothes, plenty of rest and a daily workout could do for a person.

Ben walked beside Aaron as his brother crossed over to the benches lining the edge of the training room. Cree, Calo and several other Valdier warriors had taken him and Aaron under their ‘wings’, allowing them to train with them each day. Even the warriors’ attitudes were changing toward Evetta and Hanine. Right now, their ‘mates’ as the warriors called them, were in Engineering showing off some of the things they had developed on their own over the years, including by-passing the Spaceport’s shields.

“So, what do you think of Ha’ven’s offer?” Ben asked as he sank down onto the bench next to Aaron. “Should we take it?”

“Yeah,” Aaron replied, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. “Yeah, I think we should take it.”

*.*.*

Aaron had been thinking of nothing else but the strange and unexpected offer they had gotten from the Curizan Prince named Ha’ven Ha’darra. They had been working out yesterday when the male approached them. He had asked a lot of questions, many of which they couldn’t answer, about where they had been and who had taken them. All they could tell him was a little of their life back home on the farm and about the changes going on with the Marastin Dow.

“Where do you plan to go now?” Ha’ven had asked toward the end of their conversation.

Aaron had shrugged but Ben had been more vocal. They were learning that what Evetta and Hanine told them about the Marastin Dow not being respected by other species was true. It had taken several weeks before security finally quit shadowing them and even now, they were never left alone unless they were in their cabins.

“Anywhere that will accept Evetta and Hanine,” Ben had growled. “We will not allow our wives to feel inferior to anyone else because of the color of their skin.”

Ha’ven’s laughter echoed throughout the room, drawing the attention of several of the warriors who were working out. When he stopped, he had surprised them with his offer. It had been too good to just brush off.

“There is a village that was set up centuries ago for a mixture of species whose sun was dying. They are an unconventional group and would accept your mates and you. You are welcome to settle there. I know there is plenty of land. You and your brother are welcome to cultivate it, if you wish.”

“Why?” Ben asked skeptically. “Why would you welcome us when you don’t know us?”

Ha’ven’s eyes darkened and his eyes moved over Ben and Aaron in a slow, measuring way. A dark, almost dangerous smile curved his lips. The smile did not show in his eyes, though.

“You and your brother are like Creon’s mate, Carmen. I offer you a place with others that are different. It is your choice if you wish to accept my offer,” Ha’ven replied coolly. “Just know this, I see more than you realize. Believe me when I say I am not one to cross. If you decide to come, remember that and make sure your mates understand it as well. I have no mercy for those who would defy me, be they male or female. The choice is yours.”

*.*.*

Aaron remembered the cold feeling that washed over him at the look in the Curizan’s eyes but the offer was too tempting to ignore.

No,
he thought.
A plot of land, a home and Hanine sounded like heaven to me.

Chapter 13

“Hey,” Ben whispered as Evetta stepped into their room later that night. “How was today?”

Evetta’s eyes widened when she saw the table set with covered dishes, a small light and a paper flower in the center of it. She walked over and fingered the unusual shape. She turned and smiled up at Ben as he came up beside her.

“It went much better,” she answered. “What is all this?” She asked with a wave of her hand at the table, the light and the turned back covers of the bed. “Were you expecting someone?”

“I once told you I wanted to do this right,” Ben replied with a slight, nervous tick beating at the corner of his jaw.

“Do what right?” Evetta asked in confusion as Ben knelt down on one knee in front of her. “What are you doing?”

Ben took a deep breath and reached for Evetta’s left hand. He thumbed the small platinum ring in his own. He and Aaron had found some discarded metals and crystals. They couldn’t believe it when they were told that it would be either recycled or disposed of once they returned to their home world. Zuk told them they could take what they wanted. They had both grabbed the items they needed and had been working on the delicate rings in their spare time.

Ben’s fingers trembled as he held her hand in his. He knew that he had been referring to Evetta as his wife for months now but this was different. This felt right.

Drawing in a deep breath, Ben looked up into Evetta’s puzzled eyes and smiled.
Yes,
he thought.
This is right.
Feeling more confident, his smile grew as he stared up into her beautiful eyes.

“Evetta, would you do me the honor of being my wife?” Ben asked in a low husky voice filled with emotion.

Evetta frowned. “Does this mean you still belong to me?” She asked suspiciously.

Ben threw his head back and laughed. “Yes, my beautiful Marastin Dow warrior. It means I belong completely to you and only you.”

A small, satisfied smile pulled at Evetta’s lips. “Forever?”

Ben slid the delicate ring, lined with beautiful diamonds and emeralds onto Evetta’s ring finger before rising back to his feet. He tenderly brushed a stray strand of hair back from her cheek. Bending down, he brushed a light kiss over her lips, groaning when she rose up to kiss him deeper.

“Forever,” he promised when they finally pulled apart.

“Then yes, I will be your wife,” she giggled, throwing her arms around his neck. “I love you, Ben Cooper!”

“Not as much as I’m about to love you, Evetta Cooper,” Ben groaned as he pressed hot kisses into her neck. “You are an incredible woman, Evetta. I have to be the luckiest man in all the star systems.”

“You have too many clothes on,” she whispered, fighting to undo the unfamiliar hooks on his shirt. “That is better.”

Ben hissed as her fingers worked their way to his heated flesh. His own hands gripped her waist. He leaned his head back when her lips followed her fingers. A shudder went through him as her tongue teased his right nipple before moving to the left one.

He lowered his head with a low groan. “My turn,” he muttered in a choked voice. “You are definitely wearing too many clothes for the occasion.”

Evetta’s delighted laugh filled the room as Ben pulled her shirt off of her. She soon found her boots, pants and underclothes in an array of piles. She squealed as Ben lifted her up in his arms and carried her toward the bathroom.

“Where are we going? The bed is the other way,” Evetta giggled as he set her in the cleansing unit.

“I’ve always wanted to try this,” Ben admitted with a grin.

Evetta’s eyes followed his hands as he pushed his pants off. Her eyes warmed in approval at his arousal. She would never get tired of looking at him. Reaching out, she drew her fingers over and around his throbbing cock. Wrapping her fingers around him, she tugged on it.

“Demanding little thing, aren’t you?” Ben asked in a husky voice. “Do you want some of this?” He asked, rocking his hips so his cock slid back and forth over her damp palm.

“No,” she whispered looking up at him. “I want all of it.”

“Then it’s all yours, baby,” Ben gritted out as she continued caressing him. Unable to stand it any longer, he wrapped his fingers around her wrist and twisted her around. “All yours,” he repeated as he pushed into her from behind.

“Ben!” Evetta cried out as he pushed deeper.

“Forever, Evetta. You are my wife until death do us part,” he grunted as he rocked deep inside her. “God, I love how you feel.”

“Good, so good,” Evetta panted as she spread her palms against the wall.

Ben watched as he pushed in and out of her. The contrast between his skin and hers was erotic. The slender curve of her hips, held captive by him, brought him to a fevered pitch. Her cries filled the small room. He could feel the nubs inside her closing around him as her climax rose. No matter how hard he prepared himself, he was never ready for when it did. Her vaginal walls, lined with the tiny nubs that swelled as she became more aroused, ran the length of his cock. When she shattered around him, they clamped down on him, gripping his cock tightly while pulsing like tiny massages.

His strangled gasp mirrored hers as he exploded deep inside her. He leaned forward and wrapped his arm around her as he came. He had to brace one hand against the wall as she sagged. He pressed hot kisses along her back and shoulders as he held them both up.

“I love the way your body locks around me,” he murmured.

Evetta chuckled weakly as she leaned back into him. “That is good since there is nothing I could do if you did not. Oh…” She moaned as he twitched inside her, pulling on the same nubs that locked him to her. “That is, what is the word you taught me…wow!”

“Wow is an understatement,” Ben acknowledged.

“Ben,” Evetta murmured as he pulled out of her.

“Yes, love.”

“I’m glad I’m your wife,” she whispered as she turned in his arms as he straightened.

“Me too, sweetheart. Me too,” he said, kissing her again.

Chapter 14

Aaron looked around the room in excitement. Hanine had come in a short while ago from work and he had acted like it was no big deal. He had casually asked her if she wanted to go to the dining area for dinner. She had given him a funny look but agreed. It had almost killed him to keep a straight face as she went into the bathroom to get cleaned up.