Rescued by the Alien Warrior Hope Hart (literature books to read TXT) 📖

karja that cried wolf?” I murmur. The karja tilts its head, growling even louder, and Tagiz steps around me.

“Tracks,” he says, inspecting the tree.

That’s when I see it. Someone has brushed past this tree, scraping against the bark. Next to it, on the ground, a rock has been flipped over, the dent still evident in the ground, the rock’s damp side pointing toward the sky.

The karja growls some more. He snaps his teeth at the tree, then looks up at me. I blink at him. He’s even smarter than I thought.

“It’s like he’s trying to tell us something.”

“Karja are intelligent,” Tagiz says as he crouches near the tree, examining some dirt that has been kicked up.

“What do you think?” I ask, and he frowns, his eyes intent on the tracks.

“Something was here. Something that doesn’t smell like Braxians or humans, if the karja’s reaction is any indication.”

I glance back toward camp. “They were watching us.”

He nods. “It’s likely the Dokhalls.”

I kneel and scratch the karja behind the ears. “You’re so smart,” I coo. I lean down and unfasten the leather strap we’ve been using as a collar, and my heart breaks just a little.

“It’s time for you to go and rejoin the world, little guy.”

He places one paw on my knee, snuggling close. I run my finger over his nose, ignoring the way my eyes turn blurry as I get to my feet.

Tagiz is waiting, and he immediately wraps his arm around my shoulders. “You likely saved his life,” he murmurs. “You have a large heart, little healer.”

I attempt a smile, ignoring the tear that slides down my cheek. “Let’s get this over with.”

I refuse to look back as we make our way toward camp. The karja is a wild animal. I took him out of the wild to save his life, but he still belongs in the forest, where he can roam and hunt.

We get about halfway back to the camp before Tagiz sighs. He’s been letting me pretend I’m not crying as I subtly wipe tears off my face, but he stops walking suddenly, turning back toward the forest.

“What are you—oh.”

The karja is following us.

“You can’t come back with us,” I say. “You belong in the wild.”

He ignores that, trotting closer.

Tagiz sighs again. “We will continue walking. He may grow bored as something in the forest draws his attention.”

But he doesn’t grow bored. And eventually, I’m standing at the camp gate, staring down at the karja as it blinks innocently up at me. Tagiz runs his hand over his mouth, and I glower at him.

“This is not funny,” I hiss.

He gives in to his grin. “I am not surprised you have tamed yet another male, little healer. I’m only surprised you didn’t see this coming.”

I sigh. “What are we going to do?”

“Karja are usually tamed by patient warriors over many months or years. But this one has clearly decided you are its pack leader.”

I sigh again, surveying the furry creature, who’s giving me a “what are we hanging around here for” look. “I’m not really the leader type,” I advise him.

He gives me a growl, then stalks past me, heading back into camp.

Tagiz’s lips twitch, and I glare at him. He attempts to suppress his smile, finally throwing back his head in laughter.

I did not need to see how beautiful you look when you laugh. No, I did not need to see that at all, thank you very much.

I ignore the way my hands ache with the need to reach for him, but he doesn’t seem to have the same concerns. He drags me close and takes my mouth, his tongue pushing past my lips…and all of my defenses.

I’m almost panting when he pulls away.

“I have had a bad morning,” he murmurs. “Just a few moments with you and my day has turned around. This is the effect you have on everyone who knows you, little healer. Even your little karja is not immune.”

I give in, allowing my body to relax against his as I breathe in the male scent of him. We’re standing at the camp gates, where anyone could see us—including his father—but right now, I can’t bring myself to care.

“Well,” I finally say. “I guess I better give him a name.”

Zoey

I’m eating lunch in one of my favorite places outside, close to Nevada’s tashiv, when I spot Beth walking across the small clearing. I wave at her, and she changes course, plunking down next to me and helping herself to some of my fruit.

“What are you still doing here?” I ask. “Not that it isn’t great to hang out, of course.”

She smiles. “We’re staying until we’ve solved this little Dokhall problem. Zarix and Dexar like the idea of consolidating our defenses with Rakiz.”

I nibble on my lower lip, suddenly depressed. “Alexis must hate that. She’s constantly ripped away from her tribe. And you have your dance classes…”

“It’s okay. It’s just a short-term thing. But you’re right. This has gone on for long enough. We need some kind of plan to remove this threat once and for all.”

We sit in companionable silence for a few minutes, both of us munching as we watch tribe members going about their days.

“How are you, Zoey?” Beth breaks the silence. “You seem…sad.”

Not only is Beth ethereally beautiful and naturally graceful—even with the slight limp—but she’s also one of the kindest women I know.

“I’m okay.” I smile at her, but her brow creases, telling me she sees through my bullshit.

“Something happened.”

I clear my throat, and the words come out before I’m aware I’m speaking them. “I slept with Tagiz. Multiple times.”

Her eyes widen, and then she grins, but the smile disappears as she examines my face.

“You don’t seem all that pleased by this new development,” she murmurs.

I laugh, but my throat feels clogged up, and the sound is closer to a sob.

“Hey.” She leans closer, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “Tell me what’s going on. I’m a good listener, I promise.”

It all comes spilling out. How Tagiz’s family