With the departure of the Intrepid only hours away, Ram went about his final preparations with a bounce to his step. The prospect of home made him lighthearted for the first time in months. So much, he found himself whistling an inane tune stuck in his head.

Stifling a chuckle and setting his mind to business, he climbed the steps to his commander’s office. Roth hadn’t indicated why he’d called this last minute, unscheduled meeting. Another unexpected dilemma or tragedy in the eyes of the nervous humans who were making the journey with him would be his guess. Although, he couldn’t fault the new mates for being anxious, this being their first space voyage. The government officials seemed as nervous, for no good reason, in his opinion.

Two months prior, the Dauntless made a similar return trip, the exception, their passengers included a team of over two dozen Earth scientists and the first two construction crews who had signed on to the new colony project. Although the Primarians had the data they needed, the still-hesitant leaders of the alliance countries wanted corroboration from their own experts. Ever since, glowing reports flooded in daily about the new world the humans would soon call home.

Game and plant life were plentiful, as was water, though not to the extent on Earth, but all of it fresh, not the brine that made up so much of their world now. The atmosphere, though a little thinner than they were used to, wasn’t anything they couldn’t adapt to. With the planet’s orbit and its proximity to the twin suns, New Earth had three climate zones—one temperate with seasons, a subtropical zone with abundant rain and warm temperatures, and one arid and hot year-round. Although smaller than Earth, with neither extreme desert heat or frigid polar zones, most of the planet was habitable. Comparing the positive differences between the two— in particular the stability of its core—made the new world vastly more appealing.

Physically, this would be an easy move for them. Socially and psychologically, however, it posed great obstacles. While Primaria faced the challenge of integrating new mates into one established society, the colonists would be melding twenty-five diverse cultures into one on a new world. The complexity of how it would evolve boggled the mind.

Each participating nation had agreed to unify under one governing body, a United Planetary Council. It remained to be seen if that continued when the small colony grew into a well-populated world. Primaria was prepared to take on an active, supportive role, providing security, resources, and guidance for a period of ten Earth years. Afterward, they would continue as allies, assisting when needed, but, by then, the humans should be able to fend for themselves.

Building this new world would take years, especially since updates on the progress toward making the planet ready for millions of people to call home weren’t glowing. Two construction teams could accomplish only so much. Even with seven more crews leaving for the colony tomorrow, it wouldn’t be nearly the number they needed.

Although uncertain, Ram suspected this as the reason for his summons to headquarters today. Issues with one contractor or another having specific demands or requirements during the upcoming trip, no doubt. As the captain of the ship, he expected Allon to be there to problem solve with them.

At the top of the stairs, he turned right and strode down the hall. Then he laughed, finding the silly song had started playing again, and this time, he was humming. Determined not to let anything spoil his rare good mood, he knocked on Roth’s door, barely waiting for his call to enter before doing so.

“You wanted to see me, Commander?”

“Allay the formalities, Ram,” his superior grumbled. “Or did someone else trounce me at a game of one-on-one last evening, trash-talking my defense and lead feet the entire time?”

Grinning, Ram recalled executing what the Earth soldiers who taught them the game called a “three-pointer from downtown” over his shorter—though not by much—commander’s head to win with a buzzer beater.

Although they’d known each other for years, with Roth away on fleet business most of the time, and Ram in the Primarian Army, they had little interaction except during leadership council meetings with Max Kerr. That changed when the Earth females entered their lives, as had almost everything else. And they’d become much closer since coming to the human planet three months prior.

A sudden bitterness burned in the back of his throat—jealousy. Roth had been fortunate when he found his fated mate in Maggie, as had Kerr, who awaited the arrival of his first child by Eva, in the next few weeks. Seeing his friends so blessed, when he hadn’t been so fortunate, disappointed him, but some failed interspecies matings were to be expected. This knowledge didn’t make the pain of not bonding with the female he thought would be his forever any easier.

“Sit down, my friend. I have grave yet exciting news to share of a personal nature.”

“Is it from home? Kerr’s mate has delivered? Did she have complications?”

“No, this isn’t about the Prima,” he reassured him. “She is fine, I’m told.”

“Thank the Maker. Then what can be so grave?” He had family on Primaria, his sisters, all mated and well cared for. Otherwise, he had no idea what this could be about. Roth gestured for him to take a seat, waiting until he folded into one of the large leather chairs in front of his desk before continuing.

“It’s Eryn.”

Although every day the other Earth females surrounding him reminded him of her, Ram had difficulty tamping down the emotions the sound of her name roused within him. It shocked him Roth would bring her up now.

“What of her?” he bit out.

“She is stationed here on the base.

“This isn’t information requiring a face-to-face meeting,” he grumbled. “A vid-message would have sufficed if you felt the need to share.”

Roth appeared unfazed by his gruff reaction. “I saw Eryn today in medical. She was there because she is expecting a child.”

Currents of white-hot pain pierced his chest, followed by a raging rush of emotions. Hurt came foremost, that she’d so easily found someone here on her planet she cared for enough to breed with. The image of her with another set his teeth on edge and turned to jealous anger. Down deep, he wanted to find the man and break his neck, after he separated his limbs from his body.

Mine! The word boomed like a thunderclap in his head.

Although untrue, much to his dismay, he couldn’t tamp down the irrational feelings of possession and rage sweeping through him. After all this time, somehow, he still felt a claim to her, the likely reason he hadn’t gone to the council for dissolution and ended their match for good.

But the thought of another having her, touching her, and fucking her, no matter the extent of his anger, was abhorrent. He’d tried to forget her both in mind and in body, by bedding a string of unmated, incompatible females. But he couldn’t replace the softness of her skin, the vibrancy of her coloring, or the sweet, delicious scent exclusive to Eryn. And the fact he couldn’t purge her from his system only angered him further. Especially now, more so now, as his body hardened at the provocative memories of her.

While he tried to control the rising need to act against this unknown man, his body shook with tension. A loud crack resounded in the room. Looking down, he saw both wooden arm rests had snapped within his iron grip.

He surged to his feet and stalked to the window, setting his back to Roth. He’d done a poor job concealing his fury. The least he could do was hide the obvious bulge of his rigid cock from his commander. “Why are you telling me this?”

“There is more.”

“No, there is nothing more.”

“Ram—”

“We failed to bond.” He struggled to control the frustrated growl rising within him. “And she chose to go home as allowed by the treaty.” Gruff and strained, he cleared his throat to steady his voice. “If there is nothing else—”

“There is something else, and you will hear me out, dammit. So sit your ass down and be silent,” his superior boomed, in an unmistakable order.

Although he wanted to shout, curse, and slam out of the room, Ram, a well-trained warrior, obeyed his commander, but when he went to take his seat, he found it destroyed. “I’ll spare the rest of your furniture.” He stood at attention, hands clasped behind his back. “I won’t lose control again.”

“I don’t give a fuck about the damn chairs.”

Any other time, Ram would have chuckled at how readily Earth curses flew from his friend’s mouth. Right now, the last thing he wanted to do was laugh.

“I don’t know how to put this other than to blurt it out,” Roth muttered. “The child Eryn carries is yours.”

Impossible, his reeling mind shouted. “She’s lying, which is something she is adept at.”

“Not this time—”

“She didn’t transform. We didn’t bond. No way is it mine.”

“You never breached her?”

Ram scowled, refusing to respond, which was as good as an answer.

“Over the past six months, what I’ve learned about mating with Earth females is to expect the unexpected, and that anything is possible.”

Obviously, he referred to the delayed transformation with Maggie. And the near-death separation sickness experienced by their Princep when his Prima and fated mate. Kerr had been near death before Eva’s timely return, and her intimate reconnection brought him back from the brink.

His gaze shifted, staring blankly at nothing as he tried to process what he’d been told, but couldn’t. “It’s inconceivable,” he whispered before he glanced back to Roth. “How do you explain conception by an unbonded female?”

“I can’t. Neither can Ellar, nor could Jarlan when they consulted him. However, the facts are indisputable. They ran the child’s cell sample through our data base. One match came up—you, my friend. Think of it, Ram, in a few weeks, you’ll be a father.”

“But we only joined once.”

Roth chuckled. “You know as well as I do, that’s all it takes.”

True, and he’d never forget his one time with Eryn.

It happened the day of the mine explosion and the females’ escape. Somehow, Eryn became deeply involved in it all. He shouldn’t have been surprised—she’d told him often enough she’d do anything to escape and return to her ship and her mission. Except, as they spent more time together, she’d softened, talking to him more, laughing, and at times, welcoming his touch—or at least becoming accustomed to it. He’d begun to think she was coming to accept him as her mate. But every time she’d flashed her pretty green eyes or gave him her soft smiles, all while sleeping in his arms, had been a ploy to cover up her plotting with the Purists.

The pain of her betrayal cut deep, especially when he remembered their last day together.

If what Roth told him turned out to be true, could he set aside what she’d done and move forward with the mother of his child? A niggling seed of hope began to grow inside him.

“You said she’s due in a few weeks.” He did the math in his head. “It’s been six months. Isn’t it too soon? Don’t human females carry for nine?”

“Typically, yes. Although like Eva, her pregnancy is progressing at a more rapid rate. Ellar thinks they may be closer to the Primarian gestation period of seven.”

He shook his head in wonder. “I’m going to be a father.”

Grinning broadly, Roth nodded. “Congratulations, my friend.”

“Thank you, but I have so many questions.” Unable to remain still any longer, Ram began to pace. “Why didn’t I succumb to separation sickness, other than it fucking with my head?”

“How so?”

“I dream of her every night.”

“Huh, it’s usually the female who has mate dreams.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“Were they erotic?” Roth asked next.

He paused mid-stride, turning to face his longtime friend. “Even for you, that’s damn personal.”

“I didn’t ask for the intimate details,” he drawled with a chuckle, although it faded as he turned serious again. “I wonder…”

“What?” Ram prompted when he didn’t continue.

“Have you considered the possibility your dreams may have been a mild case of the hunger. Consciously, you didn’t have an outlet, so your subconscious created one.”

“I didn’t know that was possible.”

“I don’t know that it is, but stranger things have happened. If you recall, I didn’t get sick, nor did I experience the hunger until after Maggie got my mark. It’s another phenomenon no one can explain. Jarlan believes acceptance on the female’s part is the key.”

Ram snorted then looked away. “If that’s the case, we have a problem. Eryn hates me.”

“Funny, she assumed the same about you.”

Assailed by guilt upon hearing this, he wasn’t surprised, not after how he’d left things.

Roth rose from his chair, drawing his gaze. With his hands flat on his desk, he leaned forward, emphasizing his words. “You’re having a child together; the greatest gift from the Maker. You are mates. There is no out for either of you by our laws and by the treaty.”

“They will both be mine.”

“For eternity, my friend.”

“Where is she?” he demanded.

“In med-bay until 5:00 p.m. They’re holding her after the last test, monitoring the baby.”

“Is he at risk?” Fear for the child he’d only just learned existed twisted like a dagger in his heart. “Is Eryn?”

“No, both are well. I’m told the observation is just a precaution.”

He glanced at the clock. “Damn. I can’t get there in ten minutes. What I wouldn’t give for a teleporter.”

“I have something almost as good.”

“What?”

“Her address.” Roth held out a slip of paper. “You can have privacy for your discussion.”

Without hesitation, he snatched it from his commander’s fingers and rushed to the door.

“Ram?”

He stopped, glancing back.

“Take it from someone who has been there; be patient. Earth women can be exasperating as hell, but the rewards from their acceptance are boundless.”

“You’re saying what they put us through is worth it?”

“Every minute.”

He grunted. He’d been patient his two weeks with her and betrayal had been his reward. “I’ll have to take your word for it.”