Alien Protector’s Mate (Latharian Mate Program #4)

Epilogue

The rough brick of the wall he leaned on scraped against S’aad’s leather jacket as he shifted position slightly, watching the dimly lit street in front of him. His lip curled back from his teeth as the musty stench of decay and neglect assaulted his nostrils. The neighborhood was one of the most squalid he’d ever seen, and he’d spent time on Tarviisa.

His hands clenched into hard fists at his side, rage coursing through his veins at what Jade had been forced to live through. This was no place for a child or even a woman with its broken-down buildings and predators lurking in the shadows.

One of the latter was bleeding out slowly in the blackness of the alley behind him, moaning pitifully. S’aad ignored him. If he wasn’t intelligent enough to realize that taking on a fully armed and pissed-off Latharian warrior was not a good bet for his long-term survival, or even his ability to continue to enjoy breathing, he didn’t deserve to live. Survival of the fittest, he believed humans called it.

After a long, rattling exhale from behind him, he tilted his head, waiting for the gulp of air in, but there was only silence. He turned his attention back to the building in time to see the door open. Three Latharian warriors followed a human female in a suit, carrying a clipboard out.

Even from this distance he could see the pinched expression on the female’s face, her steps hurried as she held the clipboard protectively across her chest. He listened to the faint murmur of their voices as they walked down the street. He couldn’t catch more than a word or two from this distance, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t part of the official team sent to interview Mr. And Mrs. Morgan.

The group had just rounded the corner when he felt a presence materialize beside him. He turned his head slightly as Maax emerged from the shadows like a wraith, stepping over the body with a raised eyebrow.

“Your handiwork?” he asked.

S’aad shrugged. “Caught him trailing a female on my way here and decided some correctional therapy was in order. What kept you?”

Maax grunted, his dark eyes scanning their surroundings with predatory intensity. “Covering our tracks. Can’t have anyone tracing this back to us or the program.”

S’aad nodded, understanding the necessity for discretion. The Latharian Mate Program was already under scrutiny after these trafficking allegations from within their own system… they couldn’t risk any further complications. Still, the thought of leaving no trace of their actions here left a bitter taste in his mouth. Part of him wanted the entire galaxy to know what had been done to Jade, wanted to make an example of those who had hurt her.

“Let’s do this.” He grunted and pushed off from the wall.

Together, they stalked across the distance between them and the grotty building that held their prey. It had definitely seen better days. The front door hung on its hinges, graffiti like angry scars across every inch. They stepped into the lobby, and the overwhelming stench of stale urine assaulted them.

Maax grimaced. “Times like these I wish I could breathe through my ears.”

“Tell me about it. This is worse than battlefield recovery.”

They climbed the grimy stairs, S’aad’s disgust growing with each step. The worn carpet was sticky, trying to hitch a ride on the soles of his boots, and the walls were stained with things he didn’t even want to think about.

“Lady Jade lived here?” Maax murmured in a low growl. “How did she survive?”

“Barely.” His voice was short and clipped, the thought of her, delicate and vulnerable, navigating this hell day after day made his chest ache. “We’re just up here. Apartment fourteen.”

They reached the Morgans’ door, its paint peeling and numbers hanging crooked. He raised a fist and hammered on the door, nearly taking it off its hinges. He wouldn’t have cared if he had. A shuffling from within was followed by muffled cursing. The door swung open, revealing a human male’s bloated face, his bloodshot eyes narrowing as he saw them. It was Mr. Morgan. S’aad recognized him from the file image he’d pulled from the human systems.

“We already answered all your questions,” Morgan snapped, spewing alcohol fumes on his fetid breath. His gaze darted between S’aad and Maax, the flicker of fear quickly masked by belligerence. “This is harassment. That lying little bitch never were any good. We ain’t talking no more.”

He tried to slam the door shut, but S’aad wedged his foot in the gap, a slow, predatory grin spreading across his face. “What gave you the idea we’re here to talk?”

Maax strode out of the rancid building and into the cool night air. The sharp smell of smoke filled his nostrils as he glanced back at the Morgans’ building while it blazed away. The distant sound of sirens told him they didn’t have long to get out of here.

He looked down at the precious bundle in his arms. A tiny human girl clung to him, her thin arms wrapped tightly around his neck and her face buried against his shoulder. He felt the violent trembles that racked her tiny frame, her rapid breaths warm against his skin.

His expression tightened as he looked at the purple and yellow bruises marring her arms and legs, the signs of cruelty written on her pale skin. Memories of the daughter he’d lost to the plague flooded his mind. This child was so small and vulnerable, just like Sarissa.

S’aad jogged down the steps of the burning building to join him. He flicked a glance at the child in Maax’s arms.

“We should turn her over to the human authorities. They’ll know how to handle this.”

“No.” Maax’s jaw clenched, his grip on the child tightening. “They had their chance. They placed her with those… monsters.” He spat the word in disgust. “What’s to say they don’t just give her to more like them?”

S’aad frowned, his brows snapping together. “We can’t just?—”

“We can,” Maax snarled. “And we will.”

He looked down at the child again, a sudden surge of protectiveness almost overwhelming him. She burrowed against him like a small creature trying to hide from danger.

“From now on,” he murmured, “she is my daughter.”

S’aad’s eyes widened in surprise. “Maax, think about what you’re saying. This is a human child. There will be consequences?—”

“I don’t care,” Maax cut him off sharply. He looked up at his friend, determination rolling through him in an unstoppable wave. “I will go to war for her if I have to.”

The sirens grew louder, piercing the night air with their urgent wails.

“We need to leave, now,” S’aad said, but Maax couldn’t tear his eyes away from the child in his arms. Her eyelashes fluttered against her bruised cheek, and she looked up at him with eyes as dark as his own. If she wasn’t human, he could almost believe she was his Sarissa come back to him.

“What’s your name, little one?” he asked softly, his deep voice rumbling in his chest.

“E-Emily,” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Maax’s heart constricted at the sound of her soft voice.

“Emily,” he repeated. “That’s a beautiful name. I’m Maax, and I’m going to take care of you now. Is that okay?”

Thank you so much for reading Alien Protector’s Mate !