Page 5 of Mated to the Grumpy Alien

Then, I turn and run.

chapter

four

Irick

I’m a simple man with simple needs. I don’t ask for much.

But every once in a while it would be nice if things went my way. I mean, yes, my actions brought dishonor down on my family in Perse and I was shunned from my planet and my people. But I rest easy knowing that my work was not in vain. I know that the revolution has the technology they needed to win the war.

So yeah, none of that went the way I intended, but I figure it all worked out. But this right here, today, where I ran all the way down this mountain to save the life of the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen? Yeah, this would have been so much easier if she just let me do it.

Instead, she frees herself from Torvin’s grasp and makes a break for it.

The people of the village scream and wail in distress while Torvin drops to his knees, howling in pain, hands over his face, cupping the blood that pours from his nose, which she no doubt broke.

For all his size and relative power within the village, the guy is clearly a pussy.

For a moment, I just stand there, surrounded by chaos, watching my soul mate run away.

She sprints across the large open area in the center of the village, before ducking between the huts and disappearing from view.

Frack me.

“I did not anticipate that outcome,” Cyg’s voice says in my head.

I respond subvocally. “Really, Cyg? You didn’t anticipate that? Because that went exactly as I planned.”

“I see.”

He’s an AI. He’s not supposed to understand sarcasm, but sometimes I swear he does.

“Nevertheless, given the ambient temperature, the approaching dusk, and the villagers’ attitude toward the woman, her odds of survival are slim if you don’t go after her.”

I huff out a breath and start jogging after her. “As always, your ability to state the obvious is your best feature.”

“Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

I scan my surroundings as I jog after her. There’s no way she got too far ahead of me, even with her head start. The impressions of her shoes in the mud are easy enough to track since I haven’t seen anything like them in my time here. Plus, she’s not aiming for stealthy.

There’s a wall around the village made of wooden stakes and that’s where I catch up to her. She’s trying, badly, to climb over it.

She must hear me behind her, because she whirls around, instantly taking a defensive stance. She holds her arms up, braced in front of her body, her hands out straight.

“Youwantsomeofthistoo?” She jumps and shifts her arms. “ThatswhatIthought!”

I don’t know what she’s saying, but I don’t even have to. I smile at her. Fuck she’s adorable.

I tell her clearly that I’m not going to hurt her and that she can trust me. Persæn culture holds women in the highest of esteem, especially one’s be’lahshuk.

I explain that no one will ever harm her again. I will protect her always. Then I nod to confirm she understands.

“Judging from her unchanging facial expression and her fighting stance, she does not seem to understand your words,” Cyg says.

I roll my eyes. He thinks he’s so fucking smart.