Page 2 of Gentle Giant

And as the chief of our tribe, the Starblessed tribe of the Montikaan people, it was my duty to order the execution of the humans. Their death wouldn’t bring back the lost souls of our tribe, but their suffering and their demise would give my people a sense of justice. I realized they hadn’t crashed in our territory on purpose, but neither of them appeared friendly, and my fury grew as the second man pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at several of my tribesmen.

“Capture the trespassers!” I shouted.

Before I could take my next breath, the human males were subdued, their weapons kicked out of reach.

I drew in a deep breath and found a long branch on the edge of the scorched clearing, and I quickly wrapped dried grass around it, securing the grass to the end with my spit. Then I lit the torch with firestones and passed it to Gorran, whose face was now set in hard lines, his normally light blue eyes as dark and ominous as storm clouds.

What happened next was brutal, but it was justice, and once it was finished, once the human men were burned beyond recognition, we placed their bodies back inside the metallic air vessel. Next, we placed the vessel on smooth logs and rolled itdeep into the forest, wanting it far away from our cavern in case other humans attempted a rescue mission.

As the human males’ agonizing screams echoed in my head, I set about the grim task of digging graves for the departed of our tribe. All the adult males of the Starblessed helped, and we buried the twenty-five lost souls deep in the forest, covering the bodies with alternating layers of rocks and dirt to keep the wolves and bears from digging them up.

Twenty-one females. I could scarcely fathom the loss, and I worried for the future of my tribe. How many males of the Starblessed, including myself, might spend our lives alone and unmated? Would the males of my tribe grow desperate enough to attempt stealing a female from neighboring Montikaan lands?

I wished my father were here—I would give anything for his wisdom during this dark time—but he was long gone. Shot by a hunter, along with my mother. Ten years ago. It was the first time I’d taken a human life, though it hadn’t been the last. Next in line to be leader of the Starblessed, I’d taken the vows of chieftain that day with human blood coating my hands.

After the deceased were buried, the prayers uttered to the Great Spirit, I returned to the scorched clearing. I placed my hands on the ground, and my whole body vibrated as I sent more healing energy into the soil. I wanted to ensure the fire was completely out, that no rogue ember would cause another full-blown blaze.

I kept watch all night with my hands pressed to the forest floor, as I prayed to the Great Spirit for guidance. Our tribe now numbered less than two hundred and fifty. Too small. With so many females gone, we would struggle to maintain the numbers needed to defend our lands in the future.

When I closed my eyes, I was shocked to see a vision of a lovely female. A human female. Her hair was long and flowing, light brown with strands of gold mixed in that reflectedthe sunlight. Her eyes were dark and soulful, and there was something familiar about her that I didn’t initially understand. That was, until I heard my father’s voice in my head.

“Your mate is coming soon. She is not from the Starblessed tribe, nor is she Montikaan.” His voice sounded so clear, it was as though he were sitting next to me. I dared not open my eyes for fear that the vision, as well as my father’s voice, would vanish into the starry night. “Brutus, your mate is a human female. Your brothers and many other males from the Starblessed tribe will take human females as well. It is the only path forward.”

Shock resounded inside me, and as a cold wind swept down through the trees, my eyes shot open and I glanced around, half-expecting to see my father standing nearby. But I was alone, my hands still pressed to the soil.

Whenever I blinked, I saw the face of a pretty human female whose name I didn’t yet know, and I couldn’t help but wonder when I would find her. I also couldn’t help but wonder how Gorran, Mastorr, and the other males of my tribe would react to my vision.

I knew only one thing for certain: I must find the beautiful human female from my vision and claim her as mine.

Chapter 2

HAILEY

It was mistingin the darkening forest as I trekked through vibrant green ferns, taking deep inhales of the cool, damp sweetness that permeated the air.

I didn’t know how I’d gotten there, only that I must keep going.

Night was coming fast, and I needed to find shelter.

A safe place to rest my head, a place where the predators of the mountain wouldn’t easily find me.

I paused at the sight of a large branch, still attached to a tree, that was stripped of its leaves and twisted into odd angles. It almost looked like some sort of marker. As I pondered what sort of animal might be responsible, a loud, feral howl filled the woods.

Goosebumps prickled my skin, and I spun in a slow circle as I peered through the woods, searching for the source of the noise.

All at once, darkness fell. Complete darkness. It came so fast my eyes didn’t have time to adjust. I couldn’t even make out thetrees or the boulders I’d glimpsed on the hill above. But I sensed a presence. Something large and deadly. I wasn’t alone in the black night.

Suddenly, pale blue eyes appeared in front of me, and my neck strained as I peered up at the creature. The clouds shifted, allowing moonlight to stream through the canopy above, and I finally beheld the beast’s face.

A growl rumbled from the creature, though it wasn’t a threat. More like a curious growl, or perhaps a noise of pleasure. The sound vibrated through me and caused heated spasms to erupt between my thighs.

I pressed my legs together as I flushed, stunned to the depths of my being.

Why did I feel so drawn to this beast?

Why wasn’t I trembling with fear?

Furthermore,whatwas he? An alien? He didn’t look like any of the aliens that mankind had made contact with, but then I didn’t always keep up with the news. He could belong to a newly discovered race.

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