Page 23 of Their Marked Mate

“You could be back on Earth listening to Senator Sanderson bloviate,” Natalie challenged.

Avery groaned. Hector Sanderson was a royal pain in the ass, but he was also chairperson for the Senate Judiciary Committee and could shut down the funding for the Rydarian Project with the stroke of a pen. “Anything but that,” Avery responded with a dramatic shudder. “I can’t stand that man.”

“He’s a necessary evil.”

Avery nodded then pointed to the display. “It’s strange to see an entire planet with zero development.” Rydaria had seven separate landmasses, and most were covered in lush forests. The trees were dotted with vivid blue lakes, and a massive mountain range undulated across the largest continent. “Well, zero development that’s visible from orbit anyway.”

Natalie chuckled. “You’ve seen the hybrid villages. I’m not sure they qualify as development.”

Natalie had an army of ‘hummingbirds’ and ‘crickets,’ cleverly disguised spybots, that recorded every aspect of the hybrid inhabitants’ lives. Avery spent hours watching the feeds. It made her feel voyeuristic, but there wasn’t a lot to do on a spaceship, and the hybrids were easy on the eyes.

Natalie worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons or F-BOP, a division of the DOJ. Unbeknownst to the inhabitants, Rydaria was an elaborate feasibility study for a more humane form of prison, which was the reason for all the surveillance. Everything had been progressing remarkably well when the judge presiding over the Nuevo Biotech trials decided to be creative. Exiling the people responsible for the hybrids’ captivity to the same planet resulted in hundreds of deaths and created ongoing challenges for Natalie. Rydaria was meant to be an all-male colony. And the disproportionate ratio of women to men would doubtlessly lead to more bloodshed, so Natalie was on her way to Rydaria to mitigate the complication.

“Have the volunteers decided which village they want to join?” Sixty nonviolent criminals had volunteered to relocate to Rydaria. Privatizing the prison system on Earth had resulted in overcrowding and violence. Prisoner abuse ran rampant and living conditions were horrific. Not surprisingly, Natalie had hundreds of volunteers more than willing to become potential mates if it meant escaping incarceration. This trip was scheduled to be the first of many.

“They have until the end of the week to come to a consensus and then I’ll institute a lottery. To be honest, it will probably come to that. They have videos of all three villages, so they can make an informed decision. Unfortunately, everyone wants to join Eagle Village and there are only twenty spots.”

The preference was understandable. Eagle Village had the best technology and the calmest males. “Which village would you choose?”

Natalie thought for a moment then said, “I’ve always been partial to cats, but having three mates.” She paused for a shiver. “I’m not sure I could deal with that.”

“I’m not sure why, but I can’t stop watching the wolves.”

Natalie laughed. “You’re attracted to power and lupine shifters emanate it.”

“Well, I’m not in the market for a mate, so it’s just a fun fantasy.” Even as she made the claim, Avery’s mind filled with sensual images. She saw herself pressed in between two virile males as their hands and lips explored her body. She’d never been with more than one lover at a time, had never even allowed herself to imagine such things. Until she set off for Rydaria.

“It’s been a long day,” Natalie told her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Avery waved as her friend walked away, then she turned back to the display and unleashed her imagination.

* * *

Lupine village, Rydaria

Luna held perfectly still and waited for Alex to withdraw his fingers from her bottom. She was defeated and they both knew it. She hadn’t been stalling, not exactly. She’d been attempting to alter Babcock’s formula so that the bonding mechanism was triggered by the females. If the lupine males controlled when and with whom they mated, Luna was unwilling to assist them.

Alex continued to stroke her clit while he slid his finger in and out of her bottom. It felt too damn good. She didn’t want to enjoy his touch. Certainly not while he was touching her in such a humiliating place. It gave him too much power over her.

“I really want to fuck your ass,” Alex growled out the admission as he slowly pulled his fingers out. “But we’ll start with a traditional joining.”

She felt the broad head of his cock press against her pussy. She’d known this would happen, was surprised he’d waited this long. He pushed inward, opening her body with stubborn insistency. Her core stretched, stinging briefly as he drove deeper. Holy fuck, the male was big.

“Does that hurt, sweet slave?”

His tone was throaty and sensual, but she refused to give him the satisfaction. “I’ve had bigger.”

He chuckled and thrust his hips, shoving the rest of his length into her tight core. “Liar.” He paused, giving her a moment to adjust to the fullness. Then he drew his hips back and began to rock. “You feel so good, mate. So fucking good.”

She was beyond resisting, but she wasn’t ready to respond. She had always been independent, surrendering control to someone else felt alien. Alien. The word made her cringe. Of course this felt alien. She was on an alien planet being ravaged by a lupine shifter.

Alex eased a hand beneath her hips and cupped her mound. “You’re a million miles away right now.” His middle finger found her clit and began to caress. “I want you here with me.”

His finger circled her, triggering sensations with each skillful rotation. She tried to ignore the stimulation. Wasn’t fucking her enough of a win? Did he have to humiliate her too? “Stop,” she pleaded. “I’m not resisting you.”

“Like hell you’re not.” He pulled out and flipped her over, then shifted her to the middle of the bed. He climbed onto the mattress and knelt between her spread thighs. “Look at me.” He positioned his cock at her entrance as he waited for her to obey. “Who is fucking you? Say my name.”

“Alpha,” she whispered resentfully.