Page 21 of Hunter’s Harvest

But he had to know what was happening. And if it convinced him to join one of the hunter groups, then that would be worth it.

I hadn’t expected to wake up this morning in a barn with a Xarc’n warrior. I’d expected to be in New Franklin with Kim. But I was safe, warm, and alive, and losing everyone and everything to the bugpocalypse had taught me to always appreciate the little things. It was the only way I’d gotten through the initial mess. Those early days had been fucked with a capital F.

I closed my eyes again, enjoying the moment just a little longer. I was alive. I wasn’t being chased, or eaten. I was safe and warm. And plus, I kind of liked the soft purring Var’n made. It was nice. Those things were worth enjoying.

And enjoying myself for a moment in his arms didn’t mean anything. It wasn’t like we were suddenly in a relationship or anything. It was okay to relax.

But the rest of the world and reality started to filter in, as did my awareness of things like bodily functions.

For one thing, I really needed to pee.

I shifted on the tarp and hay mat, trying to slip out from under Var’n’s arms, but his grip only tightened around me like a stuck seat belt.

“Stay.” His sleep-rough voice was low, but there was no mistaking the possessive tone in it. I almost expected the “Mine,” but it never came.

“I need to go.” I pushed at his chest. “Bathroom.”

His arms did not budge.

“I’m not kidding. It’s morning and I need to pee. Let me go.”

“I am trying.”

“What do you mean you’re trying? You’re not letting me go at all.” I shoved at him again. “This isn’t funny. Stop playing.”

“I do not play. I cannot release you.”

It was the way he said it.

Holy crap!

“You cannot release me,” I repeated the words back to him like an idiot as the realization hit me.

It must have hit him at the same time because he went completely still behind me, and the only sound was the rumbling of his chest.

The mate bond! Being unable to release their mates was the initial moment of the Xarc’n mate bond. Sometimes it lasted only a few minutes, but sometimes it lasted for days.

No. No. This couldn’t be happening. Not right now! I wasn’t ready for a mate. I wasn’t even looking for one! That had been Marisol!

I was okay with a little fling. A few kisses traded to find my friends. And okay, one big orgasm from his talented tongue. But that was it. I wasn’t looking for forever! We didn’t live in a world secure enough for forevers.

I just wanted to get to New Franklin and see my sister. First, we got shot down by the stupid NEM. Then I got separated from my crew. Half the stupid shipment got bug-gutted last night. And now I couldn’t even go pee on my own!

This wasn’t fair!

I couldn’t stop the first sob that came from me, and I immediately felt horrible for it. A mate bond was supposed to be celebrated. It was like finding your other half, your soul mate. Except I didn’t even know Var’n. He wasn’t like the other hunters I did know. And I didn’t even know if my crew was alive. They could be dying right now for all I knew, and here I was forming a mate bond with a stranger.

And plus, I really, really needed to pee right the fuck now! And I did not want to drag a hunter with me into the bushes.

Suddenly, the ordeal from the last twenty-four hours was too much to bear, and I was crying instead of celebrating. But how could I be celebrating when my friends could be dying? And like I said, my bladder was going to burst.

“You are unhappy.”

“I need to pee. There’s a difference!” God! That sounded pathetic. I was crying over needing to pee!

The next few minutes were awkward and frustrating, but we managed. Eventually, after a lot of red-cheeked embarrassment and some glaring and negotiating, we were finally ready to start the day.

He looked hurt the whole time; that was if I read Xarc’n warriors' emotions correctly. And of course he was. He came here to Earth to find a mate, he had finally found one after so many years, and it was me. But I wasn’t even acting happy about it. He deserved so much more than what I was right now. What I was right now was pissed off and at the end of my leash.