Page 83 of Tempted By the Alien Warrior

A throat clears.

Loudly.

Emily jerks away with a startled noise, scrambling off me so fast she nearly tumbles from the bed. I catch her with one hand, steadying her.

Groaning in frustration, I glance toward the doorway.

Chief Daggir stands just inside with his arms crossed, a bemused look softening his usually stoic features. And behind him, Draggar grins like a fool, his eyes bright with barely contained laughter.

“I see you’re recovering well,” Daggir says dryly, his brow ridge arching high on his forehead.

Emily makes a strangled noise, somewhere between a squeak and a cough, before throwing herself back into her chair.

Draggar snorts. “Don’t stop on our account.”

She shoots him a glare that could melt dicro hide, but Draggar only grins wider.

I stifle a laugh before sitting back against the pillows and meeting the chief’s gaze. “I assume you’re not here just to check on my health.”

Daggir sighs before stepping further into the room as his bemused expression gives way to something more serious. “Iamhere to check on your health, but as chief of this tribe, I also need to hear what happened.”

Emily straightens in her seat, still clearly flustered, but she pulls herself together quickly. She straightens her shoulders and smooths her hands over her lap. For a moment, she hesitates, glancing to me as if to gauge my reaction.

Then, she lifts her chin and meets Daggir’s gaze. “Well, it all started when I broke Vrok out of that sad excuse for a jail you’ve got.”

Draggar lets out a sharp laugh, and even Daggir’s lips twitch, though he manages to keep his expression mostly neutral.

Emily rolls her eyes skyward. “It’s true. I broke him out and talked him into helping me find my cousin, Lily. He wasn’t exactly eager at first. I had to do a fair bit of convincing.”

I grin at the memory. She’s been so stubborn, so determined. Even with fear flickering in her eyes, she hadn’t backed down.

I listen quietly as Emily launches into the story. She recounts how she freed me with nothing but a dull knife, how we fought our way through the jungle, and how we finally reached the Tussoll village and rescued her cousin.

When she reaches the part where my father and the Tussoll warriors appeared, her voice falters. She glances at me from beneath her lashes, hesitating.

I take over. My voice is calm and steady as I lay it all bare. I tell them how I followed my father and watched him meet with our enemies, and I did nothing. I say the words without flinching, but inside shame coils inside me.

Then, I describe the confrontation, how my father tried one last time to twist my loyalty, and how I stood firm. And how my amazing, brave mate saved my life by ending his.

I pause, drawing in a breath. “I should have told someone. I should have spoken up the moment I saw him with the Pugj. I know that. And for that… I apologize.”

The silence that follows is thick and heavy, but I don’t look away. I face them as the warrior I am. A male who has made mistakes, but refuses to run from them.

The chief exhales slowly, his expression unreadable. Then, he gives a single nod. “You did well. Both of you.” His gaze settles on me. “Vrok, I owe you an apology.”

My brow lifts in surprise. Of all the things I expected, that wasn’t one of them.

“I was wrong to doubt your loyalty,” he says. “Yes, you made a mistake by not disclosing what you witnessed, but that doesn’t make you a traitor. You’ve always fought for this tribe honorably. You are not your father, Vrok. I should have seen that sooner.”

His jaw tightens. “If you choose to leave the Anuriix, I would understand. But know this… you are, and always will be, a valued member of this tribe.”

His words hit me like a blow. One that shakes something loose inside me.

For so long, I’ve been caught in my father’s shadow. Not just because of suspicion, but because he never allowed me to stand anywhere else. While other kitlings played and forged bonds, I trained. There was no room for games or friendship, only purpose. He told me I was destined for greater things, and I had no need for such distractions.

I spent my life chasing approval I would never receive, pushing myself beyond my limits to become the son he demanded. But it was never enough. Not for him. No matter how hard I fought, how much I bled, his demands and his disapproval trailed me like a shadow I couldn’t outrun.

My gaze drifts to Emily. My beautiful, stubborn mate with a heart as gentle as it is fierce. She hides her fiery spirit, but I can see it burn behind her eyes.

---