Faron had ignored the protests of his family as he’d raced along the corridor away from their room. He’d listened with growing horror and rage as Sinead had told him about Kendra being forced to date a Rolon. A Rolon! Those giant, furry beasts who were led by their muzzles and their dicks. How dare Kendra be exposed to such a base monster?

“Was she injured when the Rolon grabbed her?” They’d been searching the service tunnels for ten minutes, every second feeling like torture as Faron hunted for Kendra. He had to get her back. He had to keep her safe from harm.

“No, we don’t think so. She was shocked more than anything,” Sinead said. “We lost sight of them for a while, but I’ve been scanning mobile bot footage, and she’s in here somewhere.”

“I know these service tunnels well.” Faron didn’t slow as they entered another stretch of the dark service tunnel, the lights blinking on as they passed. He often worked in these areas and knew the layout without needing a map.

“This way,” Sinead said. “He took her down here.”

“Kendra!” he roared, hoping to hear her reply.

“It can’t be much farther.”

“It isn’t. This is a dead end.” Faron scanned each door. Kendra must be trapped behind one of them.

He yelled again and froze as a muffled voice replied. “That’s her.”

Sinead gasped at the sound of a thump. “I think it’s this door.”

Faron raced to the door. Faint voices could be heard behind it. He tried the lock and cursed when the door wouldn’t open.

“Do you think she’s in there?” Sinead asked.

“I believe so. Stand back.” Faron used the enhanced strength of his cybernetic fingers to prise the door open an inch. He grabbed the edge and flung his weight behind it. The door slid open with a hiss.

Faron barreled into the room, slamming his weight into the surprised looking Rolon who stood staring at him.

The Rolon crumpled to the floor and covered his head with his furry arms.

Faron heard Kendra scream as he pummeled the Rolon with his fists. Fury filled him as he realized how close he’d come to losing Kendra. This Rolon had almost gotten what he wanted from Kendra, and that could have ruined her.

“Wait! Faron, you need to stop.”

Kendra’s words filtered through his rage-filled head, and he slowed his attack, noticing that the Rolon did not fight back.

He drew in a slow, deep breath and raised his gaze to meet hers. “You are unharmed?”

“Yes!” Kendra stood by the door next to Sinead, her eyes wide and cheeks pale.

Faron looked at the bloody-faced Rolon and saw only relief in his eyes. “You took my mate.”

The Rolon let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. I needed to be stopped but couldn’t do it on my own. I tried to stay distracted, but nothing worked. Thank you. I knew it was wrong, but there was nothing I could do. My urge to be with her was too powerful.”

Faron growled in his face but understood what he said. He was the same around Kendra. Every time they were together, he lost sight of the years of logic and sensibility that had been pounded into him by his family. He’d discovered feelings and desires that were new, ones he thought he’d never experience or need. Kendra had a way of getting under your skin.

Kendra touched his shoulder. “Fridolph is fine now. He didn’t want to hurt me.”

Faron grunted and pressed a hand on the Rolon’s chest. “He was taking his clothes off when we entered.” He slowly shifted his weight off the Rolon.

“I panicked and ran and made things worse,” Kendra said. “Fridolph was fighting to stop himself.”

“No,” Fridolph said as he stood slowly and wiped blood off his face. “This is all my fault. You were doing what you needed to stay safe. I was weak-willed. I had no right to take you. I am so sorry if I frightened you.”

Faron grunted in surprise as he watched Fridolph hang his head. He looked at Kendra and saw she was no longer fearful, but her body still trembled. Certainty hit him in the gut like a comet. She was his. It could be no other female. He didn’t want the female Tolong chosen by his family. Even though they were genetically compatible and would provide healthy children for his mother to show off, it was not enough.

When he joined with Kendra, there would be no going back. His family would reject him for good. He’d be removed from their life, and there would be nothing he could do about it. Faron didn’t care anymore. He had to make sure Kendra was safe and happy and that she knew he could provide that for her. It was all he wanted to do, no matter the consequences.

His hand reached for her, and Kendra stepped into his arms.

“You saved me.” She looked up at him. “But what about your family? Your new mate?”

“That is not important.” He touched her sweat-dampened skin. “You are never to be harmed. I will make sure of that.” He kept a tight hold on Kendra and was pleased when she didn’t protest at his closeness.

Kendra looked at Fridolph. “Is everything good?”

He nodded, but his gaze ran over her. “Best you let your mate take you away. I am still struggling with my desire for you.”

Kendra nodded and looked at Sinead. “I hope you don’t mind a personal question, but are you ovulating right now?”

Sinead’s brow crinkled, and she counted on her fingers for a few seconds. “No. I am definitely not.”

“Can you help Fridolph out?” Kendra asked.

“Oh! Of course, it will be my pleasure.” Sinead glanced at Fridolph. “What do you need?”

“He needs a companion who will enjoy being pounced on and treated like a queen when she is fertile. Let’s see if My Single Alien can help,” Kendra said.

“You should have him arrested,” Faron grunted.

Kendra shook her head. “He was reacting to a situation he couldn’t control. It doesn’t mean I wasn’t scared out of my mind, but I know why he did it.”

Fridolph looked shamefaced. “Once again, I am truly sorry. But I am lonely. I would love a mate who understands me and my urges.”

“I’m sure we can do something for you.” Sinead winked at Kendra. “I’ll get it sorted.”

“Let’s get you out of here,” Faron said.

“Yes, please,” Kendra said.

Faron guided her from the room and out into the main corridor of Prodigy. They didn’t speak, but he kept an arm around her, still feeling her trembling in shock. He’d wipe away that fear. She’d feel nothing but cherished when they were joined.

It was only when Faron was almost at his quarters that he slowed. His family and Donik stood outside the door. He should have known they wouldn’t let him get away so easily.

“You abandoned your future mate.” His father’s stare would have made lesser Tolongs quake. “Explain yourself.”

Faron gritted his teeth and tightened his hold on Kendra. “It was an emergency.”

Bartlek’s cold gaze ran over Kendra. “This was your emergency?”

“Don’t even look at her,” Faron snarled.

Siblis gasped, and her hand flew to her mouth. “Don’t tell me this is the female you have been spending time with.”

“Let’s go inside.” Faron shoved past his brother, keeping a hold on Kendra as the door opened.

“Are you sure you want me here?” Kendra said.

“Yes. You are a part of this family. It is only right you are involved.”

“You’re being emotional,” Rhodan snapped. “This human has nothing to do with us.”

Faron turned to see everyone in his room. It felt like he faced a firing squad.

“What’s going on?” Kendra whispered.

He squeezed her arm, hoping to reassure her. “This is my family. Rhodan is my father. This is my mother, Siblis, and one of my brothers, Bartlek.” His gaze shifted to Donik. How should he describe her? “This was my future mate.”

Kendra’s eyes widened as she looked around the group. “I’m Kendra, a friend of Faron’s.”

“We know who you are,” Bartlek snapped. “You have distracted my brother from more important tasks.”

“She’s distracted me from nothing.”  Faron shook his head. “Kendra needed my help. I would never abandon her. I know what that feels like.”

Rhodan snorted a derisive laugh. “You should have no thoughts for this human. Your focus should be on your future with us and your mate.”

Faron sucked in a breath. It was a logical match and one that made absolute sense. Still, his heart told him otherwise. He decided to try something new and follow it.

“Do not tell me you are considering this human over Donik.” Siblis asked. “She will not provide us with the children you need.”

“If we both desire it, Kendra will have children. That will be something we will discuss in the future, without your interference.”

Kendra cleared her throat. “I’ve known Faron for a week. It’s too soon to talk about having a family or even if we want to have a family together.”

“She speaks nonsense,” Rhodan said. “This human does not know her own mind. She has told you she may not want children. She is of no value to you.”

“I have plenty of value to Faron,” Kendra snapped. “You don’t know me.”

“I don’t need to know you to understand you are not suitable for our son,” Rhodan said. “You look small and fragile. You will not be able to bear him the many children he needs.”

“That will be our business,” Faron said. “Humans do things differently. We are adapting to each other.”

Kendra looked up at him, concern in her eyes. “This is something we should talk about, just the two of us.”

“I agree.” Faron did want a large family, but he would force nothing on Kendra until she was ready.

“I do not agree,” Rhodan said. “We have gone to great effort to secure you a suitable mate. It has cost us time and money. You will not let us down.”

“I did not ask you to do that for me.”

“Faron! Show respect,” Siblis warned. “You are making a fool of us.”

“You give up this ridiculous idea of joining with a human and return with us,” Rhodan said. “You will be formally joined with Donik and gain a second chance to be a part of our family. That is what you want.”

Faron’s heart clenched. It had been but not anymore. He felt Kendra’s hand in his. She held on so tight he never wanted her to let go. She believed in him.

“Faron, what are you going to do?” Siblis asked.

He felt Kendra shift beside him. “This is your family. They are important,” she whispered.

His heart stuttered. She was right, but they didn’t love him. He was only valuable to them when he fit their criteria. When that had changed after the accident, they’d discarded him like yesterday’s trash. He didn’t want to be a part of that.

“I see your human is not as stupid as she appears to be,” Rhodan said. “Listen to her. We are your priority. It is the Tolong way.”

“I’m not stupid, you asshole,” Kendra said. “I know that family is important. Faron knows that too.”

“Do you have a large family?” Siblis asked her.

Kendra raised her chin. “I have no family. I am alone.”

Siblis clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “You see. She has such poor genetics that none of her family is alive. She will most likely not survive many more years.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Faron drew Kendra closer to him. “Her family circumstances are different to ours.”

“None of this is important,” Rhodan said. “The only things you need to value are joining with us and forming a bond with your new mate.”

Faron glanced at Donik. She remained silent, her lips pressed together and her gaze fixed to the wall. She seemed determined not to be involved in this conversation. There was no passion in her, no desire. She was the opposite of Kendra. A life with her would be a pitiful, lonely one.

“We leave tomorrow,” Rhodan said. “You will be with us, and you will join with Donik. This ends now.”

Faron rubbed his forehead. He wanted Kendra. In his heart, he’d already chosen her, but it still fought with his head, fighting the years of discipline and training he’d received to follow the sensible path.

Kendra stepped away and stared up at Faron, tears in her eyes. “I agree with your father. You must choose. Which woman do you wish to be with?”

“That’s not even worth asking,” Bartlek said. “There is no comparison between the two of you.”

“You need to be quiet,” Faron growled. He looked it Kendra and then Donik. He had a choice to make. His heart had made it, but his head fought so hard that he wavered. Potential happiness with an incredible, complicated, emotional human, or the path of logic and duty where he’d be bound to his family.

Loyal service to his family or terrifying, uncertain love with a human he barely knew.

Faron stared into Kendra’s eyes, and his heart throbbed. These emotions were too raw. What if he never got control of them? What if she left him? He would have nothing. No home, no love, no family.

Kendra licked her lips, and her chin wobbled. “What will it be?”