Page 17 of Alien Wants A Wife

“That’s right,” Briar tells Killan. “We didn’t even know aliens existed until yesterday. We certainly didn’t know it was possible to fly between galaxies. Yet all of a sudden we’ve got translator chips in the back of our necks.” And she rubs her neck, slightly behind one ear.

Wait a minute—I frown, raising an arm to touch the same spot on my own neck.

A dull ache sits at the base of my skull. I hadn’t noticed it before because of how hungover I’ve been all morning. Touching the sore spot means I can suddenly isolate it from the rest of my thumping headache.

It feels similar to having a tight knot in my muscle. Only this knot is shaped like a perfectly circular disk, similar in size to a coin.

My chest constricts, and I’ve got to bite down on a cry of distress for fear of drawing unwanted attention to myself.

Frickin’ hell!When Roan had mentioned translators earlier being the reason I can understand what he and the otheraliens are saying, I’d thought he’d meant… like… like there was some sort of alien technology that changed the sound waves into English while they were in the air somewhere after leaving Roan’s mouth but before entering my ears… Or something.

I hadn’t thought he’d meant someone had surgically inserted a piece of technology into my neck, turning me into the Human equivalent of a radio antenna.

I’m holding my fists so tightly, my nails are digging into my palms. I want to shout my protests. But the last time I threw myself, anger first, into the middle of a confrontation, it ended badly. Really, really frickin’ badly.

My cheating ex had retaliated by dumpingme. Asher had used my anger against me, claiming I was yelling abuse at him that he didn’t deserve. The cheating bastard.

Heartbroken, I’d gotten so drunk that I’d ended up draped over my toilet as my stomach had tried to vacate my body.

The memory of that horrible, crappy time is a scar cut deep into my skin. I carry it with me everywhere. Even now, I try opening my mouth to find my voice, wanting to protest, but there’s got to be a frog stuck in my throat because no sound comes out.

You’re not that angry person anymore,I remind myself.You’re easy-going. You’re thoughtful. You’re the girl everyone wants to be friends with.

You’re also a bit of a coward now, too.That last thought comes unbidden, and I push it down into the dark recesses of my mind, cowering away from my own cowardice.

Instead, I try reassuring myself that the real reason I’m staying silent is because I don’t want to make an enemy of Mr. Smith. He got us into this mess; maybe he can get us back out.

I also don’t want to alienate Chloe. She agreed to help me get a good edit. Maybe she’ll also agree to help us women get backhome. She’s Mr. Smith’s assistant after all. Surely she’s got some influence over his decision-making.

Roan stands, and the movement catches my attention. He’s glaring at Mr. Smith with such fury I wouldn’t be surprised if he swung a punch.

He’s a few inches shorter than Killan and not as broad across the shoulders. Despite that, he’s still built like a rock. If I wrapped my arms around his chest, I doubt I’d be able to make my hands meet.

All three brothers are taller and stronger looking than Mr. Smith, but Mr. Smith does that thing again where he digs his chin into the copious skin ruffles around his neck. That, combined with the stubborn way he’s glaring at everyone, gives him an air of immovability. Like he’s used to fighting for what he wants and is prepared to hold his ground, no matter what the opposition throws at him.

I’m still half hoping Roan is going to throw punches.

His expression certainly suggests he’s thinking violent thoughts.

Rather than adding to my panic, the sight of the brothers facing Mr. Smith helps my lungs expand a fraction further so I can breathe a fraction deeper.

They’re on our side.Killan and Sorin and Roan. The brothers clearly never wanted abducted brides. They signed up to LOVE GALAXY believing their potential matches had been made fully aware of all the facts—like how they’re the only three permanent residents of this planet. Like how there are no other women living here. And like how Briar, Lydia and I are basically their only chance of them finding love and starting a family of their own.

Tension fills the air, sparking, invisible electricity buzzing between us six and Mr. Smith.

“Why go to so much trouble?” Briar asks him. “You’ve got the whole universe at your fingertips, and yet you picked us three? The three you had to drug and abduct. Why Humans?”

“Let us get one thing straight,” he says, staring around at us all gathered at the table. “I’m the director. I’m in charge. If you want to continue on with LOVE GALAXY, you’ll do what I say.”

“What if we don't want to continue?” Briar asks. “What if we want to go home?”

Yes,I want to scream.I want to go home.

Ingrained fear and two years of self-restraint keeps me silent.

“You can’t.” Mr. Smith doesn’t even pretend he’s negotiating.

“Why can’t we?” Lydia demands, adding her support to Briar’s refusal to kowtow. She wraps an arm around my shoulders, and I lean into her hold, drawing comfort from her touch. No matter how crappy the situation is, I’m not alone.

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