6 Rowkin

I've left my home planet under the care of Darsus and the Nytheralians who have promised to bolster our defenses with light weapons discovered by Cylene of Earth and General Vitus. I have heard of their abduction by Faerlin, the black market trader we kicked off our planet two years ago for selling us faulty weapons.

There are two other Alustri on this Alien Bride Race transport headed for the arena. They are just as quiet as I am. Many others around us discuss which females they're hoping to catch and tease one another for their interests.

The war with the Nebs weighs heavily on more than just our planet. The Klaphos, a similar red hue to our kind and who reside within a neighboring solar system, all sit with their heads in their hands or bounce knees, impatiently awaiting our arrival. They are half soldiers, half representatives with plenty of money to afford the race.

Of my kind, I am the only soldier. The other two are from cities on Alustri Prime. I nudge one. "You okay? You look like you're going to be sick."

He's young and has paled in the face. "What if she rejects me?"

"You'll live. But there are seven days to meet others and perhaps find an alternative," I offer.

The other still has a healing cut on his face. He's older, my age, but I've never met him before. "Don't listen to the armorderm. He probably doesn't understand the Rev. When you find her, Calishe, you fight for her no matter what."

"Yes, but—" The youngling stutters.

The older Alustri tries to interject, but I don't like the firmness in his voice.

"Don't take her. That's not allowed," I state. "If she doesn't accept you, then she isn't right for you. The feeling in your hearts is not the right one. You must find the female that makes every cell of you feel like it is commanded to follow her."

"What do you know?" the older Alustri snorts.

"My father was a pastor of the field crews." I already miss being with my most recent crew. But we lost so many that we were barely hanging on at the end. After so many casualties, we were mandated rest to heal and find peace before going back out. And yet I never was. The government was more than happy to launch me right back out on the next mission. Darsus is the one who pushed for them to let me come here. "He spoke often of it and how hard it was to move on from it, but that it was possible."

The pilot announces our arrival in Lunar air space. The young man beside me puffs out a breath. I pat him on the shoulder and get up to speak with the Klaphos members on the vessel with us. The four of them look up as I steady myself with the handrail overhead.

"Nebs bad for you in recent months?" I ask. They seem surprised that I speak their language.

One in the middle sighs and hangs his head. "Two raids last night. Six dead. It's hard to be here, but our council wanted us to participate. We need heirs. We are dying faster than we can repopulate."

They all seem burdened by their planet's status. "Ours too. But Nytheralians just brought some light weapons. It seems the brighter the blast the better. Might be worth sending back to the crews when you have a chance."

The one in the middle thanks me. "How is it that you don't look like the other two?"

I glance back at the two members of my planet who've joined the races. "I am used to living in the moment. One is from the city. The other may live in a dungeon. I'm not sure."

They chuckle at my joke because all Klaphosans think our tunnel systems for storing foods make us grumpy like Nebs. Sometimes, I think it might be true.

"Just focus on today, right now," I say. "Those females are expecting happy and hungry males. Enjoy your vacation."

The four of them straighten and two puff out their chests a little.

"Thanks for the reminder, I'm Isho." The one in the middle says. He extends a hand.

"Rowkin." I grasp his forearm, and he takes mine.

"Hope you have many offspring. You are hashini'la."

Honorable ? I'm not sure about that. But I nod and release him. It's a relief to know I'm not the only other one who hoped to find a mate in the races but feels guilty leaving my planet behind for a week of pleasure in a safer solar system.

The other males begin lining up by the doors of the transport as we glide inside the Lunar shield.

"Open the doors!" someone shouts. "I took a fuckload of stims, and I'm horny as shit!"

I chuckle with the others as the doors crack open. He leaps out and several more follow. I let the eager participants go first before I bother joining the exiting cluster.

"You're not holding back are you?" Isho asks.

I have my reasons. And when the race field comes into view far below and the transport empties out, I'm even less confident that what I'm doing is right. Women spill out into the field. Our landing zone is a decent run from where they are. But already, some have been captured.

"I'll be right after you."

Isho and the others jump out. But I lean on the edge of the door, wind rushing around me, feeling a storm of guilt take over. I'm not sure I can.

I pace back inside the transport while the other males filter out until I am the last.

Scrapper messages me on my Abr wrist band. Your ship is docked, TL. I'll be in security team quarters with Zoshun for the duration of the games if you need anything.

I text him back. Thanks for your support.

Coding Corin: I couldn't stay behind with your sister in heat. It was driving me crazy. I'm a human. I'm not supposed to pick up on that shit. I need to keep my control because I do not want to piss off the monster .

I thank him in a quick message, then turn to the field.

My wristband buzzes again.

Coding Corin: You still haven't left the transport? What the fuck is wrong with you? Get out there!

I silence my wristband and sigh. I paid for this. I'm here. I need to take my own advice.

As the transport sets down, a camera drone hovers by and picks up my face. Great. Just what I need, a bunch of people knowing I'm here while my planet burns.

Women scatter through the fields trying to avoid the males chasing them. Many of my alien counterparts overshoot their targets, much heavier and larger than the human females. I can't believe no one has been seriously injured as I watch them tear up the grassy fields.

I scan for the women who haven't been picked off early. My wristband says I have fifteen minutes left to find one. A lot can happen in fifteen minutes. A hundred or even a thousand Alustri could die under the attack of one empire ship.

A few women climb the distant mountain. I won't reach them in time. Several hide in the bushes and scramble around as males hunt the fields. I check the bands of the ones who still roam free and assess the males who stalk them.

Two males get in a fight which barrels toward two women. I start toward them even though I'm going to be far too late. And to my surprise, the dusty blonde who's brushing herself off from recently being tackled grabs the other around the waist and flings the two of them out of the way.

My two hearts slam against my ribs, flooding my body with heat that makes me stagger a step. My Rev surges and writhes within me. I am like a hyperdrive with a broken thermoregulator. I'm sprinting inside and on the edge of either tearing something apart or finding her.

I stop and assess myself. The realization hits me fast. I look up at the blonde to see her checking on the other woman. She's banded black. Affluent class. A security risk. A hard case. But a protector. If her instinct was to hide, she would be banded chrome. If she was not capable or well versed in anything but intellectual, business, or political management, she would be pearl.

When she gets up and stands tall, she confidently looks back at me. A light smile lifts her face, and I start toward her. I must know if she is real. I must hold her, draw in her scent, taste her, and be sure my two hearts do not lie to me.

But her friend shouts playfully for her to run. It's then that I remember it's just a game, and I'm a fool to let my monster out to play for real. I should've jumped from the transport when I had the chance.

The blonde starts running, leaving me behind. When she glances over her shoulder, I know she's seen me. She wants me to chase her.

My legs pick up the pace without needing permission.

I have to catch her. With every beat of my hearts, I feel my body change. My skin ripples with the hot tides of growing lust.

She darts between two couples with nimble skill, glances back, smiles at me, and circles through the forest.

I sprint after her, worried I'll lose her in the crowd. And it's then that I realize she's playing with me. She's smart. And I am going to lose her if I don't switch on the monster, let him out just a little bit.

The rope bridge course is a massive visual obstruction. I launch up the side and scale the tower until I can scan the entire race arena.

With every heaving breath, I fear I have lost her to another male. The thought sickens me and fills me with a terrible dread I struggle to think through.

Where the hell did she go?

I find every blonde in the local area and don't see her. Then movement in my periphery draws my attention to the garden. I can't say for sure if it's her, but I have nowhere else to look. And time is running out. Not just on the clock, but inside me.

If I don't find her soon, I might burn out. I have to get her in my arms. My father's words come to mind even though he's been gone for years.

I need her to finalize the imprint. The first is always the strongest. Without her, I'll survive. But life will never be the same again.

Finding a way into the decorative hedges around the garden, I sneak closer to where I had seen the movement and catch a glimpse of the woman that had ignited a feeling I did not know could exist. Until I had experienced the first Rev, I did not understand what other Alustri meant. Darsus, Zoshun, and my commander said I had to do this. Now I know why.

I watch her through the bushes, the way her hips shift with caution and grace. And then my rational head gets a hold of me.

Do I really want to take her back to our planet?

No.

But my hearts won't shut up, and my stiffening cock disagrees 100 percent with letting her go. I have to pick someone, even if we don't stay together. But I have to figure out how to approach her first.

She is human. I am a monster, the Rev taking a hold more with every passing moment. I have to be careful so I don't hurt her or scare her off. But if I don't act soon, I might screw up my one chance for good.