Page 8 of Orin

I enjoyed having someone to go walking with, so I wasn’t going to complain.

In the past month or two, I’d only ventured outside the palace when in the company of others.

I’d spent a lot of time avoiding anxious males when I first ventured outside the palace gates alone. I figured, since I was assured Alaran males did not believe in harming women, it would be okay. The problem was that unmated males would approach me under the assumption I was looking for a mate.

They would offer to protect me and be my mate. Even when they realized I wasn’t their K’sha, mind you.

It was obvious they sought companionship and weren’t picky about who they wanted. It surprised me how direct they were about their desire for me. They didn’t seem to care about my very obvious pregnancy.

We approached the food stands, and I noticed a small group of Alaran males jeering and picking on one of the mixed-Alaran vendors. When we got closer, I heard what they were saying.

“You don’t belong here freak.”

“Leave Alara if you value your well-being.”

Their words filled me with shock and disbelief. Even though Grace mentioned some people might not like non-Alarans, I never thought I’d witness this kind of behavior right in front of me.

This was the first instance of bullying at the marketplace that I’d witnessed in all my visits.

Due to the infertility of Alaran females and their dwindling numbers, some males sought mates from other planets and brought them back to Alara. They’d been doing so since the viral outbreak thirty tenri ago.

As a result of these mixed couplings, there were some younger citizens who weren’t full-blooded Alaran. Just like Clor.

My stomach flipped, and I cringed.

Clor’s lips were spread into a grim line as he watched the crowd.

I raised my voice to be heard over the rude males. “Let’s come back another time.”

He glanced at me with anger evident in his gunmetal gray eyes. “No. We came to shop, so that’s what we’ll do.” He gestured with his head, pointing to the right. “The city guard is approaching. They will stop this from escalating.”

I cast a brief glance to my right and froze. Orin was staring back at me and our eyes locked.

The vendor started yelling when the males grabbed fruit from his stand and started throwing them at him. Several other Alaran males pushed past me, and I stumbled while being shoved aside. Clor grasped my arm and yanked me away from the group.

Orin’s eyes moved from me to Clor and back to me again. Then he scowled before racing forward and snatching the guywho had made me stumble. An angry roar erupted from his chest, contorting his lips.

The impact of his fist connecting with the guy's cheek sent a resounding sound echoing through the air.

I let out a shocked squeak and covered my mouth.

Orin glanced at another guard who was standing nearby, and pushed the troublemaker over to him then stepped away.

With a confident stride, he pushed back his shoulders and walked toward me, only to be interrupted by another guard calling his name. His eyes darted from the chaos to me, revealing his inner turmoil.

I saw his super-heated gaze and my heart quickened with each new emotion that flickered across his face. I could see the fire in his eyes, igniting a profound desire within me, as if an invisible string was pulling me toward him.

As my body heated up, the world around me seemed to fade away leaving only Orin and me. I’d never seen that determined look in his eyes before...it wasn’t just intense... it was akin to a deep desire or insatiable hunger.

My lips parted as I sucked in a quick breath

Clor bent down and asked if I was alright, and just like that, the magic between Orin and me disappeared. I caressed my growing belly. It felt like I was drowning in heart-wrenching sadness that I couldn’t contain.

“I think I’d like to go home. I’m not feeling well,” I choked out.

Clor opened his mouth, his eyes showing how worried he was. “Of course.... did they hurt you?”

I shook my head, trying to clear the confusing thoughts swirling in my mind. “Can we please just go?” I snapped.

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