Page 6 of Captured By The Alien Barbarian
Shaky hands clutching the metal container, I return to her side. Shutting my eyes, I press my forehead against hers. She groans in her unconscious state, her hands fluttering faintly by her side.
“Forgive me, Nika,” I say. “I do this only so you may live.”
My hands shake as I unscrew the jar’s lid. A potent odor assaults my nostrils and stings my eyes. It reeks of chemicals I haven’t smelled in cycles.
With the stench comes the rush of memories. Blood. Pain. Fear and guilt. I am swamped by them, my vision dulling around the edges. Gasping for air, the world spins around me. I push the haunting faces to the back of my mind. I don’t have time to dwell on my past. My mate needs me. I can’t waver now.
Trembling fingers apply the medicine to her wounds, making sure every inch of her skin is slathered in the gooey substance.
All the while, I whisper to her. I share all the things I yearn to do with her, the places I long to show her, and the experiences I want to share with her. I pray to any and all divine beings that she will pull through.
I pray that we will both survive, for without her I would have no reason to live.
* * *
I stay up all night,keeping a vigilant eye on Nika. Initially, I occupy myself by fixing the cave’s door, but that grows stale rather quickly.
I cradle Nika’s slumbering form in my arms. She stirs and emits a moan.
“Little one?” I ask, unsure of what I expect. Will she awaken? Need something? I just want some sort of reaction. But of course, she doesn’t. She sleeps deeply. I reassure myself that the poultice I administered to her wounds could make her drowsy, so there’s no need for panic. At least, not yet.
My two hearts pound, filling me with a fierce desire to mate. Everything is, well, firm. I have never felt this way before. My craving for this female might just be my undoing.
I can’t help but admire Nika’s soft, curvy figure, a stark contrast to my own chiseled, muscular build. Her chest rises and falls with each breath, causing the two mounds there to jiggle with the gentle motion. I groan, struggling to contain my lust. I press my sweltering forehead to the chilly ground, seeking relief. If I keep gawking, I’ll find release alright... in a way I haven’t since I was an untried youngling.
My tail thrashes about behind me, and it takes conscious effort to stop it. I haven’t felt this agitated in cycles. I have no reason to trust this strange little being who has come from the skies and invaded my territory with her tribe. Yet, without a doubt, she is my mate.
I am torn between distancing myself from her and the overwhelming urge to care for her. The need to protect, to provide, to care for her is overwhelming.
I am going mad here in the cave with her scent permeating every corner.
I could be doing more useful things, like hunting fresh meat for her. So, up I spring, only to falter at the cave’s exit. Is she safe here? What if she falls ill while I am away? What if she awakes and tries to seek help?
I remember a time when a sick hunter from my tribe had exacerbated his injuries by attempting to go about his day in a stupor. The thought makes me shudder. I have to shield Nika, even from herself.
Dashing back to her side, I grab a rope I had crafted just the day before and bind her wrists—snug enough to hold her, but not to harm her. I then tie her to a metal ring on the cave wall. Now, there’s no way Nika can wander off in a daze and injure herself.
Fearful of leaving my sick mate for too long, I sprint from the cave and race towards the mountain. My drolvden yips and pursues me, mistaking my haste for the start of another exhilarating hunt. I can’t bear to leave them behind with Nika, not before proper introductions are made. They need to sniff our mingled scents and know she is mine. I clamber up the mountain, choosing the faster yet more treacherous cliffs over the meandering paths. By the time I reach the summit, I am soaked in sweat. I’ve never hunted so chaotically before. As an experienced hunter, I know the value of patience. Patience is my middle name. I’ve stalked prey for days without sleep, yet here I am, reduced to a mere bumbling fool.
But I no longer have the desire to spend days hunting at a time. Now I have a reason to rush home. I have a mate. I have hope.
I am determined to care for her and ensure her safety. Now that I’ve finally found my other half, there is no way I’ll let her slip through my fingers.
She is mine.
ChapterThree
ARIANA
Ilong for a life preserver that can tow me back to the blissful shores of dreamless slumber. You know, where one doesn’t have nightmares about being lost or pursued through bizarre landscapes by sinister shadows.
Sharp teeth rip into my skin. My mind plays the nightmare on a loop, showcasing those pearly whites slathered in drool, snapping ever closer and closer. I attempt to throw my arm up as a face shield, but my limbs feel like they are made of lead and betray me. It’s as if an invisible force holds them down and leaves me powerless to fight back against my circumstances.
I wake with a start and a scream on my lips.
Blinking, my eyes feel as gritty as beach sand, making it difficult to focus. Eventually, though, the fog lifts and my vision clears.
My mind, however, is a different story. Utterly confused, I try to make sense of my surroundings. Jagged rocks adorn the ceiling. Am I the victim of a mining mishap? Scoping out the rest of the “cave,” I note that the walls are smooth, like those of an actual building, and there is furniture. As I look further around, I discover the cave has an unusual aesthetic—smooth walls, furniture, and even kitchenware. Oh, and there I am, in someone’s bed. Stark naked, naturally. Because it’s totally normal to wake up in a strange cave, covered in furs, and dressed in only your birthday suit.
