Page 51 of Captured By The Alien Barbarian
Ariana flinches but remains silent.
I want to comfort her, but as I step closer, she withdraws from my touch.
Taking in my surroundings, I remember why I rushed back to Ariana’s side in the first place—the human hunter’s footprints. The thought of them lurking nearby in my territory, just out of sight, has my hands clenching. A primal urge to protect my mate consumes me, the need to chase away others that might want to take her from me—an instinct as old as time that I have no intention of denying.
“We will go inside. Now.” I feel the unrelenting gaze of hidden eyes from behind the trees and within the foliage. No matter where I look, I see imagined faces staring back at me. I’m aware of my growing paranoia, but isn’t it natural for a newly mated male to become protective of his partner?
Ariana gives a nod, and with a swift gesture of her wrist, she signals me to take the lead. I would prefer to have her within my sight at all times, but her lack of stealth assures me that she remains close behind. If she wants me to lead, I am honored to fulfill that role. I’m more than willing to face any dangers or obstacles on her behalf, clearing a safe path for her to follow.
Yet, the underlying fears within me continue to grow. It’s clear that Ariana is unhappy with me. Despite everything I have done to ensure she is provided for, I can’t help but wonder if she would choose her own people over me.
* * *
I hurt Ariana,and I despise myself for it. Ever since I discovered her in the garden, the once-enticing fragrance she emanates has become tinged with fear and anger. The shift in her demeanor disturbs me to my core.
Over the previous days and nights, Ariana willingly shared her time and affection with me. We even found pleasure in one another’s company. It was a pleasure to bring her to ecstasy. She even approached me during the long, dark nights. Now, however, she remains distant, maintaining a physical and emotional boundary between us.
Attempts at conversation are met with evasion. Every time I try to talk to her, Ariana shyly backs away from me. She wants nothing to do with my explanations. What she doesn’t realize is how crucial her safety is to me.
To make amends, I want to properly court Ariana, as is customary in her culture. She explained this tradition to me one night when she couldn’t sleep. How could I have been so foolish as to demand so much from her so quickly? My little mate knows nothing of my people or our ways. She doesn’t feel the same pull that I do. I know that now.
She mentioned once that her tribe celebrates the joining of partners with the exchange of meaningful gifts. She talked about metal rings, but I lack the skill to create something so fine.
I decide to find a gift that truly embodies the depth of my love for her, something she will cherish. I remember the way Ariana’s eyes sparkled when she first saw Melvall’s beautiful stone. I used to think his gem collecting was a bit absurd, but now I consider him a genius.
Indeed, a stunning stone would make the perfect gift. Many people in her community spend their time exploring caves and mines in search of these precious gems—clearly, the stones hold great value to them.
“Stay here. Don’t leave the cave,” I say. I can’t risk Ariana leaving the cave, especially not with the hunters around. She will not succumb to curiosity and venture out.
I won’t be gone long. Just long enough to retrieve the gift.
I will keep an eye out for any tracks and deal with any threats accordingly. Ariana will never have to fear for her safety while I am around. She will never need to fear the males that hunt her. I will confront each danger head-on and act as the warrior I was raised to be.
I sweep from the cave, calling my drolvden after me. I pause only to look back one last time to see Ariana resting in our bed, clutching the furs to her delicate frame. Her wide, innocent eyes follow my movements closely, revealing her vulnerability. Moving forward, I vow to be even more vigilant in my pursuit of potential threats, both from humans, the other tribes, and from beasts. Nothing will be allowed to harm my mate.
I maintain a swift pace as I leave the cave, pushing myself as much as I can without completely exhausting myself. My plan is to get to the river—to trade with Melvall—and back as soon as possible. I don’t want Ariana to become fearful while she is alone.
I’m not far from the cave when I come across human tracks. The footprints are left in the soft soil of the creek’s bank, as if several individuals have gathered here. I wonder, were they filling up their water skins?
I lean closer to examine them, trying to determine their age. The creek’s proximity to the river means that it will be affected by the river’s tides. The footprints closest to the creek are filled with tiny puddles of water, and as I watch, small waves lap at them. The water level on the bank is low, so these footprints must have been made quite recently.
There are humans in the area.
They are close.
I raise my nose and sniff, searching for any unfamiliar scents that do not belong in my territory. The odors that assail my nose are repugnant enough to make me want to sneeze. There are too many to pinpoint a single source, but the situation is clear enough.
“Well, lookie here, boys. I don’t think hunting has ever been so easy when the prey comes right to you.”
I close my eyes in dismay. How could I have let the humans sneak up on me? I considered them as mere bothersome pests, posing a small threat to my mate. It appears I have underestimated them.
I rise slowly, avoiding any sudden movements. There is a chance that they do not want to fight, given that they have made their presence known. If I were hunting an enemy, I would use every advantage at my disposal to eliminate them successfully.
Six men enter the area and surround me. Each moves with a quiet, confident step that reveals they are experienced hunters. Their positioning effectively traps me against the edge of the creek, my back against the water, leaving me with no hope of escape considering its depth.
Their attire is similar to what my Ariana wore when we first met: long pants, jackets over form-fitting shirts, and thick, heavy boots. Each piece of clothing is made from a dark fabric that clings to their bodies more closely than anything I could ever weave. Could these garments be traditional among her people? The human males may be small, but each one of them holds an object pointed in my direction with a clear threat. These devices fit snugly into their hands, and I can hear a faint hum emanating from them. I have seen humans wielding these weapons before—Ariana called them laser pistols. I know from experience that they are far more dangerous than they appear, akin to a hidden, sharp blade. The urge to fight, to charge at my foes, surges within me, but even I must admit that there are too many men for me to combat alone. For now, I treat them with the cautious respect befitting predators. It will not take much for them to realize that I am the one who should be feared in this situation.
I quietly scoff at the situation. Some of them are wiser than others and smell of fear. After all, it has taken two handfuls of human warriors to capture just one of me. Just how long do they expect me to stay a captive?
