“Wow,” I finally whispered, and my response was nearly swallowed by the wind.I glanced up the mountain, as though expecting to see one of the creatures Trevor was talking about emerge from the snow-covered forest.“So, your plan to keep me safe is to give me to a Sasquatch?”I tried to infuse my words with sarcasm, but my voice came out shaky instead.I couldn’t help it.The idea of mating with a non-human creature scared me.Was it truly my only option?I thought about my ex-boyfriend’s mob friends and suppressed a shudder.My testimony had put twelve of them away—four with life sentences.Yeah, maybe hiding out with a tribe of Sasquatches was my best bet.
A look of immense guilt filled Trevor’s eyes.“I can’t think of a better option,” he eventually said.“I thought about trying to sign you up for Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides and getting you the hell off Earth, but I worried the authorities might be tracking the sign-up forms, watching for you to register, even under a fake name.I couldn’t risk it.My gut tells me you’ll be safest with the Starblessed.”
“Will I have a say in which Sasquatch becomes my…mate?”I whispered the last word as my face heated.Matesounded rather primitive, and I couldn’t help but wonder about Montikaan mating practices.
“I’m not sure.All I know is that Montikaans are very gentle with their females.I’m almost certain none of them would force you.If I thought there was a chance they might hurt you, I wouldn’t be taking you to the Starblessed tribe.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”And it was.I was tired of violence.I was tired of fighting and always being afraid.Maybe a peaceful existence among the Montikaans wouldn’t be so bad.
Even if it meant I would never return to human society.
Even if it meant I would have to mate with a Sasquatch.
For life.
Trevor put his ski mask back on, then stood and helped me to my feet.“Come on, cuz.Let’s get a move on.Daylight is burning.”
We resumed our walk up the mountain, and my steps felt a bit heavier during the final leg of our journey.I hoped I wasn’t marching straight toward my doom.
I hoped the Montikaans were as gentle with their females as Trevor claimed.I also prayed I would find a real home among the Starblessed.A place where I would truly belong.
Chapter2
KARM
An enticingscent on the breeze caused my steps to halt.I remained unmoving in the middle of a snow-covered clearing, my nose lifted to the sky as I inhaled a series of deep breaths.
A human female.There was no mistaking the scent of a woman, but it was an unfamiliar scent.A female who was a stranger to my people.
Moments later, I became aware of a second scent on the breeze, that of a human male.But this scent was a familiar one, and I easily put a face and name to it.Trevor, a human man who was involved in conservation efforts in the Cascade Mountains, a peaceful man who had recently befriended my tribe.
Curious about why he was traveling with a human female, I followed their scents and soon reached the visitors.I stepped into their path, eager for a glimpse of the female.She was clearly the smaller of the two, but I couldn’t make out her features since she was wearing thick clothing and a hat that covered most of her face.Only her pretty blue eyes peeked out from the black material—eyes that widened with shock when she took notice of me.
“Karm.”Trevor smiled.“It’s good to see you.I was wondering who the first male to greet us would be.”He turned to the female and said, “Montikaan tribes strictly maintain the borders of their land, and the males take turns guarding certain areas.Whenever I cross their borders, I’m usually greeted very quickly by a guard.This Montikaan is Karm.Karm, meet my cousin, Brenna.”
Unable to get enough of the human female’s sweet scent, I stepped closer and took another deep inhale.“Hello, Brenna,” I said, holding her gaze.I couldn’t look away.Something about her called to me.I didn’t even know what she looked like, but everything inside me burned to keep her close.To protect her.To carry her back to my room in the cavern and claim her as mine.
Possessive thoughts swirled through me, and I found myself restraining a growl.I wanted her—more than anything I’d ever wanted in my entire life.I burned with the need to touch her.
“Hello… Karm,” the human female called Brenna finally replied.Her voice was as musical as a songbird in spring, and warmth spread through my chest as I continued holding her stare.
I reached for Brenna’s gloved hand, and to my great pleasure, she didn’t pull away.Though I detected her slight trembling, she stood still and allowed me to clasp her tiny hand in my much larger one.I wished I could remove her glove and feel her bare skin, but the wind was brutal today and I knew humans must remain bundled up to maintain their body temperature in harsh weather conditions.
One thing became clear as I held Brenna’s hand and inhaled her sweet scent—she was unmated.I didn’t detect the scent of a male on her body.I shot a quick look at Trevor, wondering why he would bring an unclaimed female to the lands of my tribe.He had spent enough time among my people to know unmated human females who wandered into Starblessed territory did not remain unclaimed for long.
“My cousin is in danger and needs a safe place to live,” Trevor announced, taking me by surprise.“To make a long story short, she was incarcerated for a crime she was coerced to commit, but she recently escaped jail.The authorities are looking for her, but so are her ex-boyfriend’s associates, since she testified against them and helped put several in jail.Though Brenna has a criminal background, I assure you she is a lovely person who wouldn’t hurt a bug.I would like to formally request sanctuary for her among the Starblessed.She understands that if she’s adopted into your tribe, it means she will likely be claimed by a Montikaan male very soon.”
Unshed tears brimmed in the woman’s eyes, and I felt a strong urge to gather her in my arms and hold her close—to promise I would protect her from the dangers she faced if she remained among her own people.I knew very little about the human world, and I didn’t understand all Trevor had just said, but I was starting to believe that Brenna had always been meant to cross my path.
As I stared into her stark blue eyes, meeting her felt like my destiny.
Mine.My female.My mate.
My feelings of possessiveness for her deepened.
“I personally guarantee the safety of your cousin,” I said with a glance at Trevor.I stepped closer to Brenna, hoping the warmth of my body would be a comfort to her.“She is welcome to live among the Starblessed.”
Trevor eyed me with a look of contemplation.Perhaps he realized I felt called to mate with Brenna.He remained quiet for a long moment, then said, “I must return to the human outpost where I work before sunset.There’s a big snowstorm on the way, and I don’t want to risk getting stuck on the mountain.I know I would be welcome to stay in the Starblessed’s cavern, but I want to be around in case anyone comes looking for Brenna.I’m her last living relative, so the authorities and mob goons might decide to watch me for a while to see if I’m in contact with her.It’ll be less suspicious if I’m going about my work as usual.If I’m missing, that might raise questions.”
