Page 9 of Stolen By Her Alien Mate

“No, the dad. I know I told you to treat him like a VIP customer. But Mo won’t tolerate customers abusing us. And he’s got that look in his eyes. That horny bastard look. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you.”

I shrug. “Yeah, I got that vibe as well. Gave me his business card with his cell number on the back. Offered to help me with anything.”

Lorraine makes a face.

I squeeze her shoulder. “Don’t worry about me, I can handle myself.”

“Yeah. I know you can, sweetie. You’re a tough one for sure, but I’m here if you need me.”

Brandon approaches me when I’m clearing a table near the back of the diner towards the bathrooms.

“Darlin’ if you’re needing extra money, we’re always looking for a reliable babysitter.” His eyes rove down my body, then back up.

“Uh, thanks.” I give him a tight grin. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Do that,” he says. Then he leans in next to my ear. “I’m sure I can come up with lots of ways to supplement your income.”

GROSS!

Finally, he and his family leave.

“You know,” Lorraine says. “You can always ask for help if you need it.”

I give her a sideways hug. “I know. And I truly appreciate it.”

But if this life has taught me anything, it’s that no matter how amazing someone seems, at the end of the day, I can only count on myself.

chapter

three

KAEL

A few hours later, the wound in my side still aches, pulling at the stitches with every step I take.

But that doesn’t stop me as I let myself into the shuttle bay.

It’s late and the shuttle bay is empty, lit only by a single dim voltobulb. On another day, Aldern might still be down here working with some of the recruits who’d shown an interest in mechanical design and repair. But not tonight.

Radford tried to keep a lid on the news from Cass, but it still spread through the base like a plasma fire. By the time he dismissed the Alpha Guard to try to get some sleep while Cass finished decoding the message, everyone in the palace had heard the news or a distorted, convoluted rumor of the news.

The younger recruits, the Gammas and Deltas, were sent to bed despite their excitement. Nearly everyone else is still in the mess hall, buzzing with excitement.

Nearly everyone. But not everyone, since I can hear the soft fall of footsteps behind me.

“Where are you going?”

I close my eyes and exhale before turning to face her. “Aislynn.”

“You’re going to find her, aren’t you?”

I don’t ask which “her” Aislynn means.

“I have to go. She’s my mate.”

“You don’t know that this girl on earth is one of us.” Aislynn’s expression is closed and difficult to read.

I shake my head. “Yeah. I do.”