Page 21 of Taken By the Alien Merking

“Zetron…” She trailed off, unsure of what to say next. Her heart was a tumult of emotions.

He smiled at her, a soft, intimate curve of his lips that was just for her. “You do not have to say anything now,” he said, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. “We have a lifetime for words.”

Brooke nodded, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of violet. She was acutely aware of the Quxoni watching them, their eyes alight with joy and approval. It was a lot to take in, but as she looked at Zetron, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. This was her life now, an adventure beyond her wildest dreams.

As the reality of her new role settled upon her shoulders, Brooke turned to the gathered Quxoni, her voice steady and clear. “I lookforward to getting to know each and every one of you,” she said, her words carrying through the water. “Together, we will build a future that spans worlds.”

The Quxoni erupted into applause once more, their cheers echoing off the coral walls of the throne room. Brooke couldn’t help but smile, her heart swelling with a mixture of pride and determination. She was their queen, and she would do everything in her power to lead them with wisdom and grace.

Beside her, Zetron’s presence was a comforting force, his confidence bolstering her own. As they swam side by side, Brooke felt the connection between them that transcended words and species. They were two leaders, two souls, united by a shared vision for their peoples.

She was ready to embark on this new chapter of her life, ready to embrace her destiny beside the king who had claimed her heart.

Epilogue

Brooke

Thefirstlightofdawn painted the sky in hues of lavender and gold, casting a warm glow over the private beach where Zetron led Brooke. The sand, cool and fine beneath her feet, seemed to whisper secrets of the sea as the waves gently kissed the shore. Shemarveled at the tranquility of it all. Her heart thrummed with a mix of anticipation and the lingering wonder of her transformation from the day before.

Zetron’s hand, firm and reassuring, enveloped hers as they walked along the beach. “You’ll like this surprise,” he said, a smile spreading across his lips.

As they rounded a bend, the beach opened up to a scene that took Brooke’s breath away. There, amidst a scattering of colorful beach umbrellas and plush cushions, stood the other officers from the capsule—some changed like her—their faces alight with joy. And beside them, her sisters Andi and Naya, their eyes wide with awe and disbelief.

For a moment, Brooke stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. Then, as if a dam had burst within her, she broke into a run, her feet barely touching the sand. “Andi! Naya!” she cried, her voice raw with emotion.

Her sisters rushed to meet her, their arms opening wide. They collided in a tangle of limbs and laughter, the sheer relief of their reunion washing over them in waves. “Brooke, you’re… you’re incredible,” Andi murmured, her eyes drinking in the iridescent scales that now adorned Brooke’s skin.

Naya, ever the pragmatist, pulled back to study her older sister with a critical eye. “Did he do this to you?” she asked, a hint of protectiveness in her tone.

Brooke nodded, glancing back at Zetron, who stood at a respectful distance, allowing them their moment. “It was… unexpected,” she admitted, her cheeks coloring with a mix of embarrassment and something far more complex. “But it’s part of who I am now.”

The other officers approached more cautiously, their gazes flicking between Brooke and Zetron. “We got caught in the attack, but survived,” one said, her voice tinged with concern. “Are you okay?”

Brooke’s lips curved into a smile that felt both foreign and utterly right. “I am,” she assured them, her voice steady. “And I have so much to tell you all.”

As the morning sun climbed higher in the sky, they settled on the beach, the Quxoni servants providing a feast of exotic fruits and pastries that looked suspiciously like Earth’s confections. Brooke listened to the other officers and sisters recount their experiences since landing on Sanos, their voices overlapping in a symphony of shared history and camaraderie.

Zetron joined them, his presence commanding yet gentle, as he answered their barrage of questions with patience and humor. Brooke watched him, her heart swelling with a feeling that was both terrifying and exhilarating. She had come to this alien worldon a mission, never imagining she would find love in the arms of its king.

As the day wore on, the reality of their new lives began to sink in. They were safe, they were together, and the future stretched out before them, filled with possibilities that were as vast as the ocean itself.

“To new beginnings,” Brooke said, raising a glass of sparkling Quxoni nectar in a toast. The others lifted their glasses in response, their faces reflecting the hope and promise of the days to come.

As the sun descended toward the horizon, casting a golden sheen over the tranquil waters, Brooke’s fellow officers and sisters couldn’t help but marvel at her new role as queen. They peppered her with questions, their eyes sparkling with curiosity and admiration.

“I can’t believe you’re going to rule an underwater kingdom,” Elara said, her voice tinged with awe.

Brooke chuckled, the sound mingling with the soft lapping of the waves. “It’s still sinking in for me, too.”

Naya, ever the realist, crossed her arms and grinned. “You’ll be the most badass queen this world has ever seen.”

Brooke’s heart swelled with a mixture of pride and humility. She had come to Sanos with a purpose, but never could she haveimagined this outcome. As the conversation ebbed and flowed, she found herself lost in thought, reflecting on the whirlwind of events that had led her here to this moment.

The sun dipped lower, its rays painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. The beauty and reality of it all was almost too much to bear. Brooke’s friends and sisters, recognizing the moment’s significance, said their goodbyes, leaving her and Zetron alone on the beach.

As the last of her companions disappeared down the path toward their new homes, Brooke turned to Zetron, her gaze lingering on his strong profile. The fading light played off his scales, casting him in an ethereal glow.

“Thank you for that surprise. Your people are lucky to have someone like you,” she said softly, her eyes meeting his.

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