Chapter 1

As soon as the latest panel ended, I snuck out of the auditorium, praying no one would try to stop me or engage in yet another mind-numbing conversation. I loved veterinary medicine and to exchange with the greatest minds in the field. Sadly, since helping to save Ferach, my cousin Bayron's stone wolf, I'd become somewhat of a celebrity. Where Bayron would thrive under the adulation and flattery that came with it, I had no interest whatsoever in attracting so much attention.

Anyway, I had somewhere far more important to be.

I didn't travel off-world too often. This year, I even considered skipping the Intergalactic Veterinary Medicine Summit. Finding out it would be held on the Eldar Space Station located a short distance away from my home world Xoccoris helped. But learning that Kayog would be transiting through here during those same dates convinced me to come.

Since my cousin married his human mate, thanks to Kayog matchmaking them through his Prime Mating Agency, I heavily weighed whether to also avail myself of his services. Granted, it was Belle, not Bayron, who had retained the agency. Still, despite the improbable odds stacked against them, Kayog managed to unite these two halves of the same soul separated by entire solar systems.

As much as I doubted I'd enjoy the same blessing, I finally accepted that it could only happen if I set things in motion.

I hastened back to my hotel, where I had rented one of the smaller boardrooms to meet with the Temern. By all accounts, he was reputed to be pretty laid back, but it felt disrespectful to simply invite him to my room.

To my dismay, he was already waiting for me inside when I arrived.

"Master Voln!" I said, slapping my fist to my chest in greeting while my stomach fluttered with nerves. "Apologies for making you wait."

"Not at all! I just arrived myself," he said reassuringly while rising to his feet… well talons.

A noble and majestic aura swirled around the Temern. He possessed large maroon wings, the same color as the feathers covering his body, except for the golden down feathers on his chest and head. A long fluffy white tail with the same golden yellow at the tip trailed behind him. Despite the stiffness of his beak, his gentle smile and the warmth in his silver eyes immediately put me at ease. Although in his late seventies or early eighties, Kayog Voln could easily pass for someone in his mid-forties, especially considering how fit he kept himself. But then, he had been one of the top athletes in his school back in college.

"Please, remain seated," I said, gesturing at the stool he had risen from, glad the hotel had honored my request to have it added to the room.

With his wings, regular chairs with backrests could get uncomfortable. He bowed his head and resumed his seat while I settled across the table from him. The small room was mostly barren aside from this round wooden table big enough to seat six people, a giant vidscreen, a medium-sized console, and large reflective windows that gave us a pleasant view of the concourse outside.

"Do you need some water, food, or other refreshments?" I asked, pointing at the water pitcher and glasses on the console. "I can have room service—"

"No, my dear Krogal. I do not require anything," Kayog said in a slightly amused tone. "Stop fretting so much. It's only me, Kayog. There's no need for you to be nervous."

"Right," I said, the pointy tips of my ears heating with embarrassment.

As an empath, the Temern knew exactly what an emotional mess I currently was.

"I hope it's okay for me to call you by your given name?" he asked.

"Of course," I replied.

His smile broadened while he gazed upon me with a contented expression. "I'm glad you finally reached out to me."

I blinked, taken aback by that comment. "Finally?"

He nodded. "Since her marriage to your cousin, Belle keeps telling me that I need to find you a mate."

Heat spread down my ears to my cheeks. "Apologies if she pestered you about this. Belle can be a little enthusiastic and blunt at times."

Kayog laughed good-heartedly. "She is a true delight, and she cares a great deal about you."

I smiled fondly, my chest warming for the little human. "She has a very big heart," I conceded.

The Temern cocked his head to the side in a very bird-like fashion. "You like her," he mused aloud.

"Who doesn't?" I asked in a self-evident fashion. "Belle is always so positive about everything. You cannot help but smile in her presence. And she's so small and fragile compared to our females, you just want to hug and shelter her."

He nodded slowly, a strange glimmer in his eyes. "Fragile in appearance but not weak," he countered.

"Definitely not weak," I replied with a snort. "There is great strength and determination in her. You should have seen the way she fought for Ferach when none of us thought that stone wolf pup had a chance to survive his wounds. It's extremely hard to tame a wild beast and earn its trust. Belle went beyond that. She not only won his heart, but she helped create a bond between his species and my people. Stone wolves no longer attack the Zamorians they encounter or who accidentally wander into their territory. All thanks to her."

I smiled wistfully as images of Belle playing with the pup through his various stages of growth flashed before my eyes. When I refocused on the Temern, it struck me that he had been observing me quietly while my mind wandered off. The intensity of his gaze immediately unsettled me.

"I'm not in love with her, if that's what you're thinking," I blurted out, horrified he might misconstrue my words. "I do love her, but she's a sister to me."

He nodded, his face unreadable. "But you would want someone like her?"

I hesitated. "In many ways, yes. Our women are too strong and independent. Don't get me wrong, I don't want someone weak or submissive. But I would like someone sweet and affectionate," I said, my cheeks burning.

"Can you define sweet and affectionate?" he asked in an encouraging tone.

I grabbed the single long braid my hair was plaited into, bringing it in front of me, and ran my fingers over its length in a way I always found comforting.

"Belle proudly holds Bayron's hand in public, which is something my people don't do. During assemblies—which are regular clan gatherings where we sit around a fire and talk—she won't sit on one of the benches like everyone else. She insists on sitting in his lap and cuddling with him. The clan often teases her about it—not in a mean way of course. Deep down, all our males envy her mate. She gives him a plethora of cute pet names and supports him and his dreams, however wild. In the short time they've been together, Belle has made Bayron an even better man than he already was, without him losing himself. And above all, she made the rest of the world realize who he truly is and why he deserves their accolades instead of their disdain."

"And you haven't found something like this with your own females?" Kayog insisted in a gentle tone devoid of any condemnation or judgment.

I snorted bitterly and shook my head. "I'm Krogal, the Mountain. Because of my size, strength, and battle prowess, everyone wants me to be a warrior or hunter. Even now, my parents remind me how disappointed they are that I became a veterinarian. It's only gotten worse since Bayron achieved great fame by saving that Atreall Queen. As the biggest and strongest male on Xoccoris, I'm expected to pursue a career related to combat. Everyone asks why I'm not more like my cousin, and why I don't use my natural talents to bring honor to our house and our clan."

"But that holds no appeal for you?" Although he worded it like a question, it was more of a statement filled with sympathy.

"As a Zamorian, I enjoy fighting like every one of our males. But it's merely for entertainment. I only hunt to provide for our needs. Slaughtering animals should never be a sport. I'd rather heal than kill them," I said, a sliver of anger entering my voice.

"May I ask why you became a veterinarian instead of a medical doctor?" he asked with genuine curiosity.

I waved a disdainful hand. "There are medical doctors everywhere. With technology—especially the new advanced medical pods—people can mostly take care of themselves. And when they can't, they're still able to express what the issue is and request specific assistance. Animals are very limited and often helpless. In most cases, they can only treat basic problems like eating grass to force themselves to vomit when they have an upset stomach. Some will eat certain plants or minerals to fight an infection or a toxin in their system. But what else do they have? They can lick their wound, rest, fast, or seek a warm area, and that's pretty much it."

I nervously peered at the Temern, bracing for the usual confused or even disappointed look my people gave me for being so concerned about animals instead of seeking fame and honor. My throat tightened at the sight of the almost paternal way he was smiling at me, encouraging me to continue.

My own father only ever looked at me like that when I won a battle in the arena.

"When it comes to serious illnesses, they're completely helpless. What can they do about an open wound or broken bone? Sometimes, it's internal injuries they have no way of identifying. So they simply suffer in silence until they die," I continued. "I can fix that for them."

"And I'm sure they are grateful for it," Kayog said.

"They are, Master Voln! They truly are," I said with fervor. "Animals are the most honest beings in the universe. Unlike people, they don't fake or exaggerate illness for attention. They don't trust easily, especially when they're wounded and vulnerable. But once you earn their trust, it is the sincerest thing you will ever experience. You would have to do something truly horrible to lose it, if ever. No words can describe how they cuddle you to express their gratitude, even when they're beyond help and know their time is near. Deep in their hearts, they know you tried your best."

I shifted in my seat and ran my hand over my braid again with a nervous laugh. It was a little mortifying to have allowed myself to become so emotional in front of him. But the Temern had a way of making you feel safe and like he genuinely wanted to hear what you had to say.

"Sorry. My parents and our females hate when I speak like that. It makes them question my virility. I should be bragging and making plans to compete and dominate," I added with self-derision.

Kayog chuckled. "Ah yes! Winning and outwitting the competition is a huge thing for Zamorians. It got your cousin in quite a bit of hot water," he said teasingly.

I snorted. "It certainly did. But I also like a bit of competition and outwitting my opponents. I just like doing it in my own time, and when I'm in the mood for it. Otherwise, I would rather look after injured animals."

"Basically, you are a giant, cuddly teddy bear," Kayog said with a mischievous glimmer in his silver eyes.

I burst out laughing. "That's exactly what Belle calls me," I said, affectionately shaking my head. "While it's not exactly flattering for a Zamorian male, I can see why she would say that."

"And I see exactly what you need," he replied in a more serious tone. "Just understand that finding your soulmate will not be easy."

My shoulders slumped, and the little voice at the back of my head that had warned me from the start that this was a pointless endeavor came back with a vengeance, cruelly mocking me.

"Do not despair, Krogal," Kayog said firmly. "I'm determined to find your mate. However, you are not eligible for the Prime Mating Agency services. Your species is far too advanced, and the UPO will not benefit from our involvement."

"I'm confused. You say you're determined to find my soulmate, but also that you cannot get involved?" I said, baffled.

He gave me an indulgent smile. "While the agency itself cannot get involved, I can personally look for her on your behalf," Kayog explained. "But when I find her, we will not be able to cover her relocation costs."

I waved a dismissive hand. "That won't be a problem. I have more than enough wealth to cover all the expenses."

"Excellent!" Kayog said with enthusiasm. "I don't know how long it will take, but I will do everything in my power to find her for you."