Chapter 22

22

Anna

This morning, I woke up surrounded by the most delicious heat. Drak was snuggling me so hard I was surprised he didn't actually crush me. Though, I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, given how much restraint he's shown me. My mate turned out to be an excellent spanker and very teachable.

Afterward, I let him eat me out until I could barely speak, and then we shared probably the best night of sleep I've ever had in my entire life. You'd think being squished into a king sized bed with a giant alien warrior who was more muscle than anything else might be lumpy and uncomfortable. But boy, it's quite the opposite. I felt like I was sleeping on a bed of clouds—the warmest, safest clouds around.

Unfortunately, the comfort is long gone by the time we start trekking around the city, sweat slowly beginning to drip down the back of my neck. It's not super hot out, but searching for hours is a constant and exhausting exercise. I may be in decent shape from being my sorority's zombie repeller, but my stamina is decidedly, very human.

Drak, on the other hand, is just fine. He looks like he's been frolicking through the woods for thirty minutes rather than trudging through this half-destroyed city with me for the better part of the day. He's still coming down from the high of last night, I think. If I weren't so flattered, I'd probably be jealous as fuck of his ability to travel so far on foot without so much as breaking a sweat.

Suddenly, Drak stops in his tracks, holding an arm out to stop me as well.

"What is it?"

His whole body stiffens as he sniffs the air.

"Hu-nims have been here," he says, a cautious edge to his tone.

I don't know whether I should be excited or scared. It could have been my family. But in a city this destroyed, it could also be the kind of humans I'd rather not run into. Surviving can make people cold and quick to shoot, or worse. The last thing we need is someone to aim a gun at me, Drak would probably rip their heads off of their necks.

Don't get me wrong, I'd kill a human just as fast as I'd kill a zombie if they were trying to hurt me, but I'd like to avoid it if I can.

"An-nana, I do not wish to raise your hopes and then crush them, but…"

The air in my lungs seems to freeze. "But what?"

"The hu-nim who was here smells similarly to you. It is faint, and I could possibly be drunk with your scent, smelling what is not there, but I believe?—"

"Drak, you won't disappoint me if you're wrong, just tell me what you think. Be plainly honest, please," I beg, interrupting what might have been that very same honesty I was requesting. The anticipation was making me too itchy to keep my mouth shut.

My mate nods in agreement. "The scent difference is big, but there is a lingering of your smell in it. Much like how Aprixians smell similarly to their families. I cannot tell how long ago the scent disappeared, and I can not grasp it well enough to attempt to trace it. But I believe one of your family members was here recently, a male."

"Just one?" I don't mean for the question to sound pathetic and broken, but judging by the sad look on Drak's face, it does. "Don't pity me!" I snap, pushing down sadness and worry to replace it with anger.

Drak frowns but reaches for me, cupping my face even as I try to smack him away. He holds me firm, his eyes firmly gazing into mine.

"It is only one, but that does not mean there are not more. Scents can be tricky, especially ones that are fading. I do not pity you, An-nana. You are my mate, and I feel your longing just as you feel it. Every fiber of my being wishes to make you happy, so when you are hurting, I am hurting."

Mustering up my best scowl, I curl my lip up. He's being sweet, and I don't know how to handle him being sweet while I feel like I could blow up a building.

"You don't know how I feel," I grit out.

"I do not," he agrees, continuing to hold my face. "But I do know some things."

"Good for you."

He isn't perturbed by my attitude. "I know that sometimes hunting parties split into groups. So even though I only scented one hu-nim, there could be more. I know that I do not like to see you in pain, and I am going to do whatever it takes to help you. I know that you lash out when you are feeling things that you do not wish to feel. I know that I care for you more than I have ever cared for another. I know that I will help you on this search and hold you through every hardship. Tell me that you trust me, An-nana."

My heart pitter-patters in my chest, jumping around as its beat picks up. If that wasn't a love declaration without the three little words, I don't know what else it could be. Part of me wants to smack him, part of me wants to sob into his chest, and part of me wants to kiss him until I can't think bad thoughts anymore.

Steadying myself, I breathe out. "I don't trust anyone."

Once again, Drak doesn't show if he's affected by my harsh words. He only holds my stare. "You trust me, An-nana. You would not have agreed to be my mate if you did not. I am not asking for your heart on a platter, only for you to admit you trust me. Say the words, my mate. It will help."

He may not be asking for my heart, but he probably has it.

Averting my eyes to the ground, I mutter, "I trust you."

"Come," he says softly. "We are nearly at the end of our loop. Let us search your hu-nim store for food that will make you smile. We will leave notes behind like your brother did for you, and then we will spend the night in our room again."

"I—" I can't find a reason to deny him.

It would be foolish to ask him to try and follow the scent since he already said it would be impossible to trace. We aren't far from the shop or the hotel, so it's best to go with his plan. Besides, I need to calm down before I push away the best thing to ever happen to me.

Lips quirking, I look back up at him. "You just want to find more Gatorade."

Drak grins. "I would not be opposed to stumbling upon some of the blue gate-tore-raid. It is a good flavor, and I wonder what it would taste like from your lips rather than the bottle."

Chills roll down my arms even as I try to roll my eyes at him. "You're naughty."

Drak feigns offense. "I thought I was a good boy?"

"You can be," I tell him diplomatically. "Let's go with your plan. I'll write a few notes to leave around the store and find some snacks." I don't know what I'll say on the notes, probably something about being here and looking for them. "I need a shower when we get back to the room, I smell gross."

"You smell delectable," he argues, eyebrows scrunching in the middle.

"Gonna have to disagree with you on that, big guy."

My mate smirks. "So you think that I am big?"

Laughing, I grab his hand and lead him away, marveling at the fact that he was able to calm me down without much effort.

Two hours later, Drak has me back in a completely better mood. He drank four whole blue Gatorades and tried all of my snacks. He nearly spit out the pickle chips but was fond of Skittles. He also let me bathe in peace and started strategizing for tomorrow while I was in the bathroom.

"So, we'll do a quick scan over the surrounding areas from the ship, seeing if its sensors can find anything, and then use any signs to search closer," I summarize, yawning after the words leave my mouth.

Drak nods and then frowns at my open mouth. "You are sleepy, my mate."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Well, I am, but I can stay up a little longer to plot?—"

"We have plotted," he cuts in. "Now, you must rest."

Drak leans over, scoops me up from the hotel couch, and begins to carry me to bed before I can even decide if I want to protest.

As he lays me down, I ask, "Are you going to sleep with me again?"

"I will not slumber," he answers, stroking some hair from my cheek. "But I will hold you while you do. I like having you in my arms where I know nothing can harm you."

"So protective," I murmur, smiling as he slides into bed with me. Drak pulls me close, tucking me against his bare chest. As I rest my head, my fingers tease his sternum. "Your soul seed is in here, isn't it?"

"It is," he replies, voice deep.

"Can you feel it? Like, even without a mate?"

"I have a mate," Drak responds sharply before immediately softening. "But yes, I can feel it even as it does not shine. I speak to it as well, but I do not believe it listens to me."

Still caressing him, I hum. "What do you say to it?"

"Usually, I inform it that it is blind for not recognizing my perfect Mean One as my mate. I do not wish to insult it too much. Though it frustrates me, I believe it is teasing me, making me wait. I know you are right for me whether my stubborn soul seed agrees or not."

Well, that's ridiculously sweet.

"Maybe I should talk to it, hmm?" I ask, smiling to myself. "I can be quite persuasive."

Drak sucks in a breath. "You would attempt to sway it?"

His voice is full of so much wonder and surprise that I want to say to hell with sleeping and love up on him.

Peeking up at him, I ask, "You want it to light up for me, don't you?"

"More than anything," he breathes. "But you are my mate, no matter what."

"Even if it never glows?"

"Even if," he agrees.

"What if it glows for someone else?"

"Then I will run from her and steal you away with me. I will not be bound to another. I do not wish to even look at another."

I can't help the satisfied smile that paints my face or the blush that blooms on my cheeks. Looking back down at his chest, I start to speak to it. "Do you hear that, soul seed? Don't even think about lighting up for another woman. Drak is mine."

Drak makes a satisfied sound, so I continue.

"And while we're at it, why the fuck aren't you shining for me? Because I'm grouchy? You should know by now that my mate likes me snappy. And that's what he is, whether you like it or not. My. Mate. I'm not going anywhere, so you might as well light up."

Breathing heavier now, Drak is clearly enjoying this. Even though his green skin doesn't glow in the slightest, I decide to keep going.

"Marrec's soul seed lit up right away for Stevie, so what's your excuse, huh? What do you need from me to make me good enough?"

"You are more than good enough!" Drak protests.

"Shhh," I reprimand. "We're having a conversation here."

"But—"

"Shh," I repeat. Looking back down at his soul seed, I poke the skin in the center of his chest. "If you know what's good for you, you'll glow for me. You try to light up for another woman, and I'll make you regret it."

"You are threatening it now?" Drak inquires, amused.

"Threats are my bread and butter, baby."

He chuckles, likely because ‘bread and butter' probably sounds ridiculous through his translation.

"It appears it's not worried about my threats, though. How about a nicer approach?" Leaning down, I ghost my lips over his flesh. "Soul seed, I'm so sorry about the things I've said to Drak in the past. I was silly not to trust such a worthy male, and I regret it."

"My An-nana…"

His hushed whisper doesn't pull my attention from his chest.

"Do you trust me, too, soul seed? If you light up for me, I'll show you that you won't regret it. I promise to kiss you here every day. I'll take care of him, you know?"

"I take care of you," Drak protests lightly.

"We take care of each other," I amend. "So do me a favor and ohmygod ?—"

My eyebrows shoot to my hairline, and I gasp so hard my stomach clenches.

Gaze flicking up to Drak, I can feel warm green light illuminating my face.

"An-nana," he croaks, looking at me with adoration.

"I…"

Holy shit, what am I supposed to say?

"I'm sorry," I blurt out, starting to breathe heavily.

Did I do this? Did I just compel his soul seed to light up for me?

Did I trap Drak into being with me forever?

"Whatever could you be sorry for?" he whispers, big hands surrounding my cheeks. "I have never been more thrilled. Well, perhaps it is a tie between now and when you agreed to be my chosen mate."

My lips begin to wobble, emotion clogging my throat. "You're not upset?"

"My mate," Drak says, leaning forward to inhale my scent from my neck. "How could I be upset? I have everything I have ever dreamed of."

"You don't think…" I trail off, trying to hold myself together as insecurity sweeps through me. "You don't think I forced you? That I shackled you to me without permission?"

"Permission?" Drak echoes, looking up at me with bewildered eyes. "An-nana, you have done what I have been begging for. You have not forced me, you have… you have honored me beyond comprehension. I do not think that you understand because hu-nims do not mate as Aprixians do."

His eyes sparkle, and his thumbs gently brush my cheekbones.

"But you have done something every male would die for. You demanded my soul seed choose you, and it has. I can not believe how lucky I feel. I couldn't express it properly if I tried. I apologize, I am not the best with words."

"You're doing pretty good right now," I admit in a hushed tone. "Do you feel differently towards me now? Like, is it making you like me more?"

"I feel stronger," he admits. "Mentally and physically, I feel stronger. Not exactly in my feelings for you, but in my ability to keep you safe for all of our lives. I already felt for you what I feel for you now."

That is good to hear. I think.

No, I know. It's fucking great news.

The soul seed isn't forcing him to like me any more than he already did. He won't feel chained to me or angry with me for activating something I had no idea I had the power to unlock.

"Good," I say with a gulp. "But Drak?"

"Yes, my An-nana?"

"Your friends won't think I'm a witch or something, will they?"

"A sorceress?" Drak asks with wide eyes. "Why would they think such a thing?"

"Um, because I harassed your soul seed into lighting up for me? Has that even been done before? Is there an Aprixian counsel that's going to want to interrogate me about this?"

Drak gives me an amused smirk. "You say many funny words, my mate."

Lightly smacking his chest, I pout. "I'm serious!"

The chuckling alien uses his hands that are still cupping my face to pull me into a long and slow kiss. The air seems to crackle around us, sparks igniting in my stomach.

"They will not believe you to be a sorceress, my mate. Once I tell the story of how you conquered my stubborn soul seed, you will be renowned as one of the most formidable Aprixian mates in history. The thing you have just done has only been depicted in stories. Tales of mates from hundreds of years ago."

My face is burning up. "It could just be timing, you know? Your soul seed could have just picked a crazy time to shine."

Drak shakes his head, refusing to believe it. "You did this, An-nana. You are beyond incredible. As much as I wish it were the time for me to ravage you, to show you how grateful I am, you must sleep now. I can give you some Sal'um plant if you need it, but we are on a mission. You need your rest so that we may hunt for your family."

Sal'um is the little leafy green Aprixian sleep plant that tastes like mint. Marrec introduced Stevie to it months ago, and I've tried it before. It works great and has minimal lasting effects. I don't typically need nor ask for it, but I might need it after the shot of adrenaline that this interaction just caused.

"I'll take a little leaf," I concede. "I don't think I could sleep with my mind so busy. But are you sure you want me to go to bed right now? You just found out I'm your mate, won't it be hard for you?" Flicking my eyes to the bulge in his pants, I chuckle. "And I mean literally hard ."

"I am always hard for you, my Mean One," Drak declares goodnaturedly. Dropping his tone, he shifts forward to ghost his lips over mine. "But I have promised to help you search, and if we begin to touch now, I worry we will not stop. I must put my devotion to you and what you need above my desires for you. For now."

Shakily, I breathe out, absorbing his words.

I don't think I've ever been happier that I survived the zombie apocalypse. I used to think it was more bitter than sweet to have lived because of pure luck and circumstance. But now, with Drak? Nothing is bitter.

"For now," I agree, kissing him firmly.

Several minutes after swallowing the minty leaf, I drift off peacefully to sleep.