Ohem’s Izi glowed brighter with amusement, his deep chuckle vibrating from his chest into my back. He bowed his head. “I would be honored to be included in your circle. I am Ohem Pax At’ens. My age is one hundred and twenty in what I understand of your Earth’s year. My planet is much closer to our star, so the rotational orbit is shorter. Our ‘year’ is only about two hundred days. Our planet’s spin on its axis is similar to yours, with only an hour or two difference. So I am closer to two-hundred and forty-three years of age on Solaris.”
“How long do your kind live?” Sam interrupted, shocked.
I wanted to know, too. My kind lived for about four-hundred years, give or take.
Ohem chuffed in amusement. “We can live indefinitely. There are aging treatments in the nanos that all in the Unity are provided. You were given the same, albeit a much cruder and painful method was used,” he said, pretty damn casually and matter of fact, for telling three humans they were essentially immortal now. I was going to need some of those anti-aging treatments if I wanted to live as long as my mate. Something to worry about later.
Callie choked on air, coughing and gasping, while Patty slapped her back, looking at me in shock.
“What! We won’t age now? Holy shit!” Sam asked, eyes wide in her suddenly pale face.
Ohem flickered his Izi in a calming pattern. “The nanos can be removed if you wish,” he said gently.
Sam breathed in relief, her shoulders drooping. “Thank god. I wouldn’t want to go back to Earth and watch everyone I know die.”
Ohem cocked his head at her, and his Izi faded. “Will you not stay? Can you go back to your planet knowing what you do and live a normal life? It is not against the law to bring the family of Unity citizens to live with them, even if they live on an uncontacted planet. It would be my honor to include you in my House as new citizens of the Unity if you should choose to stay. It would be a simple thing to find your planet and bring your kin with you,” he said, placing his left fist over his chest.
We all looked at him in stunned silence.
I fell in love with him fiercely at that moment. Cannon balling off the precipice I’d been teetering on. No regrets.
“What would we even do on an alien planet? My whole life and career are on Earth,” Callie said, balking at the idea.
“You said you were military and a pilot? We have our own flying combat crafts. It would be nothing to get you into a Fleet accelerated training course. I am not above using my position to make this happen,” he said and turned to Sam. “We have crimes that need the knowledge of medical professionals in solving them. You are a very smart female. I have no doubt that you could learn all you would need to become a doctor of the Unity. I would help you all in whatever field you choose. My mate loves you, and as she is now my family, so are you. I also consider you friends.”
The women were looking at my mate with soft eyes.
“Damn. That was the sweetest thing ever. I’m staying. I want a sweet alien man too. I’m not going to find that on Earth,” Patty said. “Also, you couldn’t make me leave Jack.” She winked at me and I blew her a kiss.
Callie blew out a breath. “I mean, I’ll think about it. Flying in space would be cool. I’d have to talk to my parent’s. I couldn’t stay if they didn’t want to come.”
Sam was staring at Ohem with wonder and a little excitement. “I could learn advanced medicine? Like alien medicine and solving alien crime?” she asked. He nodded his head at her, and she smiled wide, eyes shining. “I might stay. I don’t know. It’s a lot to think about.” She gave her head a shake and waved at him. “I’m sorry, we interrupted you! You were telling us about yourself! Please continue.” The rest of us nodded our heads in agreement and murmured for him to continue as well.
Ohem chuckled, his Izi brightening. “Very well. As I was saying, I am First General of the Unity Command Fleet. I was born and raised in At’ens house on the First Unity planet Stellios. My mother is the Matriarch of our clan and my father is a retired Councilor of Stellios. My elder brother took up his mantle as Councilor. He is a good leader and I am very fond of him. He was instrumental in my pursuit of a military career and has always been my biggest supporter. I have two younger sisters, who are wild, fierce soldiers, and the youngest of our family is my brother Kahn, who is only ten. Once I reached the minimum age of thirty-five years for service, I went to the Fleet. I have served as General for these last fifty years. I was a fleet officer before that for roughly sixty years. I have served all of my military career onboard the Solus Geshgid, a Dread class starship that I now command. I was abducted by smugglers on the hunt for my enemy and saved by aliens,” he smiled his stiff smile and his Izi flickered at us.
“I’d save you anytime, Big Bad,” I said and kissed his jaw.
He squeezed my thigh lightly, his head cocked to the side. “And what of you, Rijitera? What is your story?”
“Yeah! We want a werewolf campfire story!” Patty piped in.
I flicked my eyes to her and glared. “It’s Rijitera,Patricia.”
Patty gasped in outrage, her hand clutching imaginary pearls. “How dare you! The insult!”
I snickered and reached over to flick her leg. She smacked my hand and hissed at me.
“Children, children. We were about to get a story?” Callie said.
I stuck my tongue out at Patty and she stuck her’s out in answer.
Rolling my eyes at her, I shifted against Ohem, finding a comfy position before starting. “Not much to tell. I’m twenty-eight. My full name is Jacqueline Ramsey, I was born and raised in the southwest. My mom is the head of my clan. She’s terrifying and awesome. Patty can attest, she’s met her,” I nod to Patty.
“Can confirm. She’s terrifying,” Patty said, shuddering in remembered fear. My mom was intense that way.
“She owns and runs a trucking company. Most of my clan works for her, myself included. I don’t have any siblings, but I have a shit ton of cousins. My mom has ten sisters. They all had a million kids.” I shrugged. “That’s pretty much it. I like to fight. I like movies and video games. I have a mate now and here we are.”
Sam scoots closer to me. “How many were—Rijitera—are there?” She corrected herself before calling me a werewolf. She was just too precious for this world.
