Alpha Siege (Omega Mates #1) - Pearl Tate Page 0,56

I mean, they don’t look identical or anything, but they’re both attractive.

The biggest difference between them are the strange markings that everyone around here has carved into their skin. They look like brands done with very fine lines. The convict’s are more soft, swooping and curling over his shoulders, chest, and back.

“So, she’s okay?” I can’t help but confirm. I didn’t know any of the women well, only vaguely remembering that fateful meeting with them, if you can even call it that, after regaining consciousness. But it’s amazing after feeling so segregated in this strange society, how just knowing that someone else is from Earth makes them your best buddy.

“No, she’s fine. I saw her small spacecraft come down from the sky, exactly where I believed it would. Once we’d gotten to know each other better, she was more inclined to trust me. But I’ve been waiting for you to come talk to me.”

My eyes widen at his strange declaration. Why would he be waiting for me? Glancing at Kaneer, I can see the imaginary steam starting to billow from his ears. He’s so possessive. This is why I hesitated to ask Kaneer if I could talk to him.

It’s interesting that I had such an urge to talk to him when he wanted to talk to me, too. Well… he must have seen me earlier and realized that I wasn’t from here. In addition to my much smaller size, anyone would have to be an idiot not to notice the difference in our features.

I think back to the women I heard on the spacecraft with me and the names they called out while I was on that short, fateful trip to the planet's surface. “It was Gail? Anyone else with her…?” my voice trails off as he shakes his head no.

Even though his face lights up as I quiz him, an unusual expression crosses his face at the same time, and he shakes in his bindings as his eyes roll back in his head. What the hell?

My hands flutter around him, wondering what to touch and how I can help as I try to figure out what to do. His head is cocked to the side at a strange angle, kicking back against the post behind him with every jerk, and drool leaks from the corner of his mouth.

When Kaneer doesn’t immediately step in to help, I glance back, wondering if he knows what’s going on. I’m shocked to see Kaneer lying on his side facing away from me, shaking the same way as the captive. Crawling over to him in shock, I scramble over his body, wondering how I can help.

It looks like they’re having a seizure. My poor dog Baxter had seizures. In fact, that’s what tipped me off to take him into the vet before I even knew he had cancer. But since when do two people have a seizure at the same time?

“Help!” Glancing up, I’m shocked to see the rest of them on the ground too. Every single one of the people around me in the clearing is shaking, drooling, and incapable of helping me.

For a brief moment, a few things cross my mind. I could run. This might be the only opportunity I get to take off and hide. But is that really realistic?

And do I want to?

Glancing down at Kaneer with tears in my eyes, I realize that I’ve grown more attached to him than even I realized. The thought of leaving him brings a tight constriction to my chest that has nothing to do with the fact that everybody’s having some kind of medical crisis.

No. I can’t. It could be Stockholm Syndrome or something, but I don’t care. He keeps saying I’m his, but I also feel like… he’s mine.

And he’s hurt. Something’s wrong. Very wrong. And as tempting as the idea of running is, the man that’s protected me many times, needs my protection now.

Rubbing Kaneer’s back, I murmur gibberish as I look around, confirming no one else is upright like me. Briefly, I think about untying the captive. Damn! I don’t even know his name yet. God, I hope they're both okay! I’m totally reliant on Kaneer right now.

And the prisoner—the only other man who knows where another woman from Earth is—is right here, too. They’re treating him like a murderer, but what could he have possibly done? I could release him. Maybe that’s not the best idea, though. He’s as huge as Kaneer, and even if I untied him,