Chapter 7
SEVEN
Sleep eluded Broxen. That was nothing new for him; he’d endured many sleepless nights, a good number of which had been spent in places far less pleasant than his living room here on Earth.
And he had adequate reason to be awake tonight—so much had happened, so much had changed, so much remained uncertain.
He stared up at the ceiling, which had unfamiliar shadows and a patch of dim yellow light cast across it, the result of the light over the stove being turned on for the first time since he’d moved into this house.
It was the best he’d been able to do without any nightlights on hand; should little Ana wander out of the bedroom during the night, at least she wouldn’t be in the dark.
Though that light seemed much brighter to him than it did to his humans, he didn’t find it bothersome—especially compared to the flashing lights of the firetrucks, which even the blinds hadn’t been able to completely block out. Fortunately, the trucks had left a couple hours ago.
And as strange as it was to be lying on his couch trying to sleep, he was comfortable.
Even having to keep his legs draped over the armrest, dangling in the air.
His tail was free for the first time all day, finally stretched out alongside his leg rather than wrapped around it, and its tip was swaying back and forth lazily.
All was quiet in the house but for the gentle creaking of the building in the winter wind and the dulled drone of a fan in the bedroom.
In so many respects, this was just another night on an alien world.
Gabriela is in my bed.
He quickly reminded himself that these weren’t the circumstances under which he’d wanted her there—and she was in that bed with her daughter. But he couldn’t deny the tiny spark of satisfaction in his chest, couldn’t ignore the flutter of excitement in his stomach.
When Gabriela had emerged from the bedroom earlier, she’d been wearing the clothes he’d given her.
The hem of his shirt had hung past her knees, and she’d had the legs of the sweatpants rolled up to keep them from dragging on the floor.
Seeing her in his clothing had felt right.
He couldn’t deny that he’d enjoyed it, that he’d…
loved it. She’d accepted his protection by staying with him, but she’d accepted something more by using his clothes. She’d accepted him.
Part of Broxen knew that probably wasn’t how she was thinking about all this, that humans didn’t view things in the same way, but that couldn’t change how he felt.
Gabriela in his clothes had been attractive, sensual, arousing.
Knowing that a bit of his scent was on her beautiful tan skin now, marking her as his, threatened to drive him wild.
He longed to mark her properly. To claim her fully.
And he’d seen a glimmer of longing in her eyes when she’d looked at him, had seen what couldn’t have been anything but desire.
He’d barely stopped himself from stalking up to her and taking her in his arms, from slamming his mouth over hers, from tearing his clothing off her enticing little body, pinning her against the wall, and taking her.
Just thinking about it now made his cock stiffen, and he balled his hands into fists, digging the tips of his claws into his palms. His tail twisted and coiled around his calf, and a low growl sounded deep in his chest.
Those yearnings were stronger by far than any he’d ever experienced. His struggle in those moments had been immense.
But the heat had faded from Gabriela’s eyes with the gathering of fresh, glistening tears. She’d apologized for crying so much before wishing him goodnight and retreating into the bedroom to get some rest.
Broxen wasn’t great at this introspection stuff, but he was fairly certain that it was Gabriela’s tears, even more than his unfulfilled cravings, that were keeping him awake now.
Gabriela and Ana had lost everything but each other tonight.
All their belongings were gone, all the items that had made their home feel so warm and inviting, all the objects they’d cherished.
Broxen knew Gabriela had worked hard for everything she’d owned—and that many of those objects could never be replaced.
Worst of all, she’d faced the terror of almost losing the thing she cherished above all else. Her daughter.
It was wrong for Broxen to feel this sense of pride, this flare of contentment and satisfaction. It was wrong for him to feel like Gabriela and Ana were right where they belonged. It was wrong of him to view this situation as his best opportunity to make them his forever.
If he could’ve spared them these experiences, he would have, even if it meant never having them.
So where was his guilt? Where was his self-loathing, his remorse?
His females’ tears, their sadness, their fear and grief, were like knives plunged into his chest over and over again.
Their suffering had become his. But…Gabriela and Ana were here.
They were with him. That meant he could better protect them.
That meant he could ensure they had all they needed, that they’d never have to worry about anything again.
Protector. Provider. Mate…and father?
Broxen sat up, casting aside the blanket, and swung his feet onto the floor. He propped his elbows on his thighs, bowed his head, and ran his hands back over his horns, dragging his hair out of his face.
“I could’ve waited,” he rasped.
He’d never wanted Gabriela and Ana to lose everything to become his.
He’d wanted it to be a natural—if inevitable—process.
But fate, or the universe, or whatever damned unseen force it was that called the shots had done this instead.
Without having had any time to prepare, Broxen had two females in his house.
Catching his hair in his fists, he tugged on it, barely noticing the sting in his scalp. “Kruk.”
There were two humans in his house.
His mind raced, and his tail lashed across the couch cushions, striking with dull thumps. Was everything hidden? Had he left anything in plain sight that Gabriela and Ana might recognize as alien in origin?
How the hell had he failed to think about that before inviting them into his home, before giving them use of his bedroom? It would’ve taken two or three minutes to do a quick sweep and ensure everything was in order—to ensure everything looked human.
He stood up and strode toward the bedroom, heart pounding and tail flicking back and forth stiffly.
He hadn’t brought much to Earth. The most important device—the neural transceiver with its connected holoshroud—was inside his brain, and the calathas in the first aid kit could be explained away, but he also had a few advanced weapons and a hacking device that didn’t look like anything he’d seen on Earth in his stockpile.
Though he usually kept everything hidden in the crawlspace, he sometimes took the items out for maintenance…
But he’d been in an odd mood lately, and he couldn’t fully trust that he’d taken the necessary precautions. If his females found something, if they discovered that he wasn’t human…
Broxen would lose them.
Sure, being exposed had other consequences.
Human entertainment hadn’t exactly instilled him with confidence that Earth’s governments would treat him well if they discovered what he was.
Then there was the matter of this planet having been declared off-limits by intergalactic law, and the fact that there was a price on his head back on Turata.
News of a lone omnyrian hiding out on Earth could catch the attention of the enemies he’d left behind.
Holding his breath, he grasped the bedroom doorknob and cracked open the door as slowly and quietly as he could, wincing at the faint click of the latch. The sound of the fan in the bedroom became more immediate.
He braced a hand on the doorframe and leaned forward to peer through the gap.
His eyes fell on the bed immediately, where Gabriela was curled up in the heavy blanket, holding Ana close.
Only their heads were visible, and they were motionless save for the slow rise and fall of the blanket with their breathing.
Gabriela was holding Ana as though the little girl were the most precious thing in the universe.
Not long ago, Broxen wouldn’t have understood that. Maybe he still didn’t, not entirely…but he was coming to understand.
He opened the door a little more so he could get a better look at Gabriela.
In sleep, her worries had faded, and her expression had eased in a way he’d never seen.
Even when she’d smiled and been kind, even when she’d seemed happy, there’d always been that tiny flicker in her eyes—there’d always been a hint of the weight she carried. There was none of it now.
Whatever his reasons for opening the bedroom door had been, Broxen forgot them in that moment.
Gabriela was beautiful, and Ana was…what was the word?
Adorable? Cute? Even with a dictionary implanted in his brain, it was often difficult to find out the right words to say in this convoluted language humans called English, but that didn’t matter.
Because he was looking at his reasons right now—he was looking at his purpose.
He wanted to lie in that bed at night, holding Gabriela in his arms, her body tucked against his.
He wanted to breathe in air that was perfumed only by her scent.
He wanted to feel her warmth, her softness, her breath on his skin.
He wanted to see her smile and hear her laugh.
He wanted Ana to have stability, to have the joyous childhood so often depicted in human media. He wanted to keep these females safe from a harsh, cold universe in every way he could.
They were his. There was no question about it, there were no doubts to be had. Gabriela was his mate, and Ana was his kit. He would give them everything he could. He would take their burdens when possible, and when he couldn’t, he would do everything possible to share them.
His claws dug into the wood of the doorframe. How best could he show Gabriela that she wasn’t alone in this, that she never had to be alone again? That he was here for her and Ana in every way? That she could rely on him…even if she didn’t know what he was.
One day, he’d have to reveal the truth. He’d have to tell Gabriela about his past, would have to tell her he wasn’t human. That was a secret he could not keep from someone he was coming to care for so deeply, so quickly.
It was not a secret to keep from one’s mate.
But for now, all his focus would be on them. On their needs, on their wants, on their comfort and satisfaction. His own could wait.
For a little while at least.
He might easily have stood there until dawn, but he had a faint notion that, were one of the females to wake, they’d not appreciate seeing him staring at them through the doorway. They were at peace for now, getting rest they desperately needed. He would not disturb them.
With the greatest care he could muster, Broxen eased the door shut. He needed sleep, himself, if he was to provide for them tomorrow.
And he’d need to start doing some research. Christmas was coming up soon, and he’d have to learn more about it if he wanted to make this the best possible holiday for his females.