Warrin (Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides #10)

Chapter 1

Elora sat in the anteroom of the church, hollow with despair. The ticking clock on the wall seemed to mock her, each second confirming what she already knew—Tobias was over two hours late. For their wedding.

Her phone buzzed, and a text finally flashed on the screen: I’m sorry. I can’t marry you. There’s someone else. Also, you’re fired. Obviously, we can’t work together anymore.

She swallowed past the burning in her throat. How could he do this to her? She blinked back tears, refusing to let them fall.

The door creaked open, and Rory slipped inside, her expression a mix of pity and fury. After shutting the door softly, she crossed the room and sank onto the plush sofa beside Elora.

“Everyone’s gone, including the minister,” Rory said, clutching the skirt of her glittering periwinkle maid-of-honor gown. “I called the reception venue, and the caterer will make sure the food goes to a homeless shelter.”

“Thank you.” Elora passed her phone to Rory, allowing her to read the text.

Rory gasped. “That bastard. I swear to God, Elora, I will make him pay. I’ll cut off his you-know-what with a dull knife.”

A smile tugged at Elora’s lips. Her world was collapsing, but at least she wasn’t facing the wreckage alone. She glanced out the window as a few solar cars and hovercrafts zoomed by—the final guests departing the church.

Her stomach twisted. How could she ever show her face in town again? What would she do? Where would she go?

The sudden impulse to leave Oakdale surged through her. She wanted nothing more than to hop in her own solar car, drive away, and never look back.

“I can’t stay here,” Elora whispered.

“Oh, I know, honey.” Rory patted her arm. “We should probably head back to our place.”

“No, I mean here—Oakdale. I can’t stay in this town.”

“I don’t think it’s safe to leave,” Rory said in an apologetic tone.

“Oakdale might be safe, for now, but the surrounding areas aren’t.

My father says most of the roads leading to the highways are blocked, and the highways aren’t really safe either.

Travelers often get attacked by rebels, or they get shot by government forces who mistake them for rebels.

All the out-of-town guests you invited weren’t able to come, not even your parents or your brother. Because it’s just not safe.”

“I was supposed to get married today, Rory. To the highly respected mayor of Oakdale. Not only did he jilt me at the altar, but he fired me. Who’s going to want to hire the girl who was publicly rejected by the mayor?

Half the town was sitting in the pews, and all the business owners were invited.

” Elora once again found herself blinking back tears.

She’d loved her job as the economic development director of Oakdale, a position she’d held for the past five years, a job she’d landed immediately after graduating from college.

But now she was unemployed and newly single.

And heartbroken and utterly humiliated.

“Look on the bright side.” Rory patted her arm again. “At least you weren’t already living with Tobias—at least you don’t have to worry about moving out and finding a place to stay.”

Elora sighed. Yes, it was fortunate that she wasn’t already living with Tobias.

She’d suggested moving in with him a few weeks before the wedding, but he’d brushed her off and told her to wait until after they exchanged vows.

So, she’d continued living in the same apartment she’d been sharing with Rory for the past few years…

expecting to officially move out after she became Tobias’s wife.

Looking back, she should’ve seen this as a red flag. Because when he’d brushed her off, he’d fidgeted around strangely and stammered a bit. It happened around the same time he’d suddenly become extra protective of his phone—red flag number two.

“You already have a new roommate lined up,” Elora eventually said, struggling to contain her emotions. “And even if you didn’t, I won’t be able to pay my half of the rent next month anyway.”

“Don’t be silly. Even if you can’t pay your half, I’m not going to kick you out. You’re my best friend.” Rory smiled at Elora and reached for her hand. “You’re staying with me and that’s final.”

“You’re sweet, Rory, and you’re the best friend I’ve ever had, but I know you can’t cover a full month’s rent on your own. We would both end up getting evicted.”

“But—"

“But it doesn’t matter. Because I can’t stay in Oakdale,” Elora said, her thoughts racing.

“I have to leave. Tomorrow morning at first light. I’ll leave then.

I’ll take the back roads to Madison and go from there.

I’ll pay attention to the news reports so I can avoid the combat zones.

” Resolve filled her. The thought of leaving Oakdale sent a surge of relief—and freedom—through her.

She could start a brand-new life in a town where no one knew about her past. She could completely reinvent herself. The idea was intoxicating. Just thinking about running away made her feel lighter—less weighed down by heartache.

“You know I love you dearly, but leaving at first light tomorrow seems a bit hasty and dramatic. And dangerous,” Rory said.

“Please promise you’ll stay in Oakdale for at least another week—just to give yourself some time to think about the bold action you’re considering.

I would be devastated if something happened to you.

The country is in chaos, and the newsfeeds are starting to call it a civil war.

With rebels fighting what’s left of the government forces, it’s starting to feel like it.

Things are getting scary, and I don’t like the thought of you out there on the road where anything could happen. ”

Elora drew in a deep breath. “All right,” she said slowly. “I’ll stay for at least another week.”

“Oh, good.” Rory looked relieved. “Hopefully, after a few days, you’ll be able to see the situation a little more clearly, and you won’t drive off into the war-torn countryside.”

Elora forced a polite smile. But she doubted she would change her mind.

She quickly decided to spend the week carefully preparing for her trip—packing, acquiring supplies, and getting her solar car serviced.

She would also sell the belongings she couldn’t take with her at a flea market.

Yes, she reasoned, as her confidence grew, she could accomplish those tasks within a week.

Then she could depart Oakdale and never look back.

She stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the parking lot. Rory’s bright purple solar car was the only vehicle left. There was no one else around. She could leave the church without having any awkward conversations with the guests.

Where was Tobias? What was he doing?

Was he with his lover? Who was she?

Elora supposed it didn’t matter. He’d betrayed her. Even if he showed up at this very moment, apologized, and begged for a second chance, she would tell him to go to hell.

Her throat burned. They’d spent nearly three years together, and she’d been overjoyed when he’d proposed marriage a few months ago.

She couldn’t believe it was over.

Most of all, she couldn’t believe he’d waited until their wedding day to dump her—in a spectacularly public fashion.

As she stared out the window, an unusual aircraft flying low over Oakdale caught her attention. The sleek silver vessel was disc-shaped, and it was larger than most military aircraft. “Hey, have you ever seen a ship like this?”

Rory joined her at the window. “Oh, wow. No, not in person. But I’ve seen them on the news—and in the commercials that advertise Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides. That’s a Vaxxlian cruiser.”

Surprise flickered through Elora as the vessel descended behind a large apartment building. “Wow, indeed. And it just landed in Oakdale. I wonder what it’s doing here.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Rory asked with a chuckle. “A local woman must’ve signed up for the VAMOB program. Whoever she is, I can’t say I blame her. Who knows how long until the fighting reaches our neck of the woods?”

Elora scoffed. “The fighting will eventually end, I’m sure of it. I think signing up for the VAMOB program and agreeing to mate with an alien—a complete stranger—is a bit of an overreaction. Besides, I can’t imagine leaving Earth forever.”

“I’ve thought about it,” Rory said in a hesitant tone.

“What?” Elora spun to face her friend. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. It’s always been a thought in the back of my mind.

The planet they recently settled on—New Vaxx—is beautiful and unspoiled.

Plus, Vaxxlian warriors are said to be honorable and kindhearted.

They’re in desperate need of human females because most of their women—and children too, sadly—died in the war they fought against the Irrcons, when the Irrcons destroyed Vaxxlia.

It’s very lucky that they found a habitable planet to start over on.

” Rory paused and cleared her throat. “Did you know they mate for life and never cheat on their females? They also take an active part in childrearing.”

“I’ve seen a few of the commercials,” Elora admitted a bit grudgingly. If she didn’t know better, she would think Rory was trying to tempt her into signing up for the VAMOB program. It would get her out of Oakdale—but it would also mean she would probably never return to Earth.

She’d just had her heart broken. She couldn’t imagine jumping into a brand-new relationship—a permanent one—with a stranger who came from another planet. That seemed even hastier and more dramatic than fleeing town.

“It’s easy to sign up for the VAMOB program,” Rory said in a gushing tone. “You just visit their website and fill out a form. Then the Intergalactic Dating Agency matches you to a Vaxxlian warrior, and he comes to Earth to fetch you.”

“I know what you’re doing, Rory.” Elora sighed. “Look, I’ll keep it in mind if I ever find myself lonely or in a dangerous situation. Okay? Does that make you happy?”

“Yes, it makes me very happy.” Rory pulled her into a hug. “If you do end up leaving Oakdale, I want you to have a backup plan in case you run into any trouble on the road.”

Elora had a sudden vision of herself crouched behind a building in a strange town as rebel hovercrafts scorched the streets below with crimson beams of destructive energy.

For a moment, her resolve to flee Oakdale wavered.

Then she pulled away from Rory and looked down at her white wedding dress.

Heat flamed across her cheeks, a fresh surge of humiliation at what Tobias had done to her.

Her chest ached too—though perhaps it wasn’t her heart that was hurting, but the empty space where it had once been.

Surely her heart had shattered by now, in pieces, just like her life.

“Come on,” Rory said. “Let’s go home.”

Elora nodded and followed her friend outside into the sunny but brisk afternoon. Thankfully, there wasn’t a soul in sight, and they made it to Rory’s solar car without encountering anyone.

As they drove back to their apartment building, Elora’s phone buzzed. She glanced down at the message—a text from a former coworker. It contained a screenshot of a breaking news story in Oakdale, and Elora’s stomach seized when she read the headline.

Former Economic Development Director Suspected of Embezzlement

Disbelief swirled through her.

Tobias. Fucking Tobias. He’d probably planted the evidence—and tipped off the local news station—so people wouldn’t vilify him for standing her up at the altar.

She couldn’t wait a week—she couldn’t even wait until tomorrow morning.

She had to leave. Now.