Page 17 of A Monster’s Future

I dragged my hands over my face, the glow of the screens bleeding into the edges of my vision.

The bond would do its work, yes. But Julie wasn’t just some passive participant in this. She was stubborn, fierce, and independent. All the things that endeared her to me were also the things that now worked against me. She wouldn’t just accept this because biology demanded it. Julie never just accepted things.

It was why she’d chosen the rut and ended up at the stronghold.

I leaned back in my chair, my gaze fixed on the screens in front of me. Julie might not want this. She might not want me. But that didn’t change the truth. She was mine. And for the first time in years, I let myself admit how much I wanted her to be.

Chapter 9: Julie

Halcyon Station stretched before us, a labyrinthine mess of towering metal structures and flickering neon signs. The docking bay buzzed with life. I was surprised by the number of children and families present until I remembered that in addition to being a place for commerce and trade, it also boasted one of the largest shopping complexes in the sector.

There were shouts, laughter, the hum of machinery, and even the occasional barking of a dog. I tried not to stare at the imported Earth hound, even as its owner tried—and failed—not to gawk at the cooki poking its head out of the sling I wore across my chest.

I adjusted the sling, feeling the warm weight of Tatertot shifting inside to get a better look. It turned out that she wasn’t just a thief, she was a girl thief. Ashtrr had pointed it out when he’d come to sit with Annabel, Kat, and me yesterday at dinner, or whatever the meal was, considering that all our circadian rhythms were a mess from being in space.

Who hadn’t shown up since that day in the mess hall? Our friendly neighborhood medic.

Grtirr had completely disappeared after he’d dropped to his knees, silently announcing to everyone who’d been in the mess hell at the time that I was his mate. The memory of it made my skin prickle, and if I closed my eyes, I could still sense the pheromones thickening the air. He hadn’t even come back for Tatertot, sending Trsak out instead, who told us in not too many words that the little critter was our responsibility now.

After the jump to hyperspace, which had me puking up my guts—if I never had to survive another hyperspace jump, it would be too soon—Kat and I rigged up a cage for her. She only needed it when no one was around to keep an eye on her. Since the station allowed pets, we’d brought her along, even fashioned a tiny harness and leash in case she decided to come out of the safety of the makeshift sling pouch we’d made for her.

She now sat in her pouch, which I wore around my body, her head sticking out as she surveyed the station. Her adorable little ears twitched at the chaos around us, curious at all the noise.

The population was mostly human; it was a human space station after all, though there were some aliens I didn’t recognize. Some of them shot us dirty looks, their eyes lingering on the Kadrixan warriors and Aak like they were waiting for an excuse to start trouble. Others were more curious than hostile.

We’d flown in all piled into one of Ellaston’s shuttles. Then as we got checked into the station, Sergio, the former rebel who had been one of the first to join Chris and Mark at the settlement, had gone to unload our luggage and our transport.

The big Kadrixan warship still floated up there with two people on board, though no one would ever know it wasn’t fully crewed. Ashtrr had assured us that they’d be perfectly fine. I hoped he was correct.

Soon we were all piling into the transport; it was a tight fit, but better than walking. Halcyon Station was enormous. Its sprawling layout encompassed several shopping concourses, assembly halls, a large cluster of hotels, and even a giant park. And it was all connected by a maze of street-like corridors, walkways, ramps, and elevators. It was a long trek from the docking bay to the hotel on foot, and while station transport was available for hire, none of us trusted it.

The only problem? I was stuck wedged right up next to Grtirr, his huge leg hot against my own. I refused to acknowledge him. Somewhere in the back of my head, I knew that mate bonds couldn’t be fought, but I didn’t care. He’d spent the past two years simultaneously helicopter medic-ing me and antagonizing me. And yet he was somehow never there when it counted, like the ruts.

Had he known we were mates since the beginning? Did that mean he’d chosen to share it with other women instead of me?

Bile rose in my throat, and I gritted my teeth.

I didn’t give a damn if fighting the mate bond was impossible. I didn’t care that I’d end up with him eventually. That wasn’t going to stop me from resisting for as long as I could, if only to make him suffer.

Call it payback.

Then, when we were fully bonded, I wouldn’t be stuck with him, he’d be stuck with me! Ha!

“Everyone’s been assigned a partner for this trip,” Chris said from his place next to Trsak. “Rules are simple. Do not leave your room without your partners. Keep your devices on your person when you’re out. And call one of us right away if anything happens. Don’t try to fix things on your own.”

There was a round of nods and “Yes, sirs.”

“Nova Vita didn’t know about this trip when we started, but they do now. So we have to be extra careful. They won’t like us being here.”

My device buzzed from my pocket; it was one of the reasons why I loved the comfy sets made by the Vokiren. They looked presentable, felt like sleepwear, and had pockets.

“There are the partner assignments now.”

I dug my device out. My stomach dropped the moment my eyes met the screen. My partner was Grtirr. And we’d be sharing a room. But what the hell was I expecting anyway? Everyone on the mission now knew we were mates; there was no one else they could logically pair me with.

Tatertot let out a soft chirp, her tiny paws reaching for my device. She’d already decorated it with a brand-new bite mark the other day, and I wasn’t going to let her have it again, so I reached down to scratch behind her ears. I made the mistake of stealing a look at Grtirr at the very same moment he chanced a glance at me. Our eyes locked, and something dark and hungry flashed in his gaze.

It had the butterflies in my belly starting a dance party, and an insidious warmth spread through my body. It took all my willpower to tear my eyes away. And even then I could feel his pheromones soaking in through the thin fabric of my sleeves. He wasn’t wearing anything on his arms, and his biceps bulged enticingly.