Chapter Two
Taryn
My hands moved on autopilot as I stared out the window. Washing dishes didn’t take enough thought to keep other things from encroaching, and when my mother’s voice jerked my attention to her, I knew she’d called my name more than once.
“Sorry. I spaced out.”
Her concern was clear on her face, but she thankfully didn’t say anything related to the news of my upcoming unemployment.
“I said, the burgers are done. Come eat.”
I wanted to tell her I wasn’t hungry, but that would have only made her worry more. She’d always said I was too invested in my job, and with it ending, she likely thought I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.
It didn’t help that she was right.
“Be right there, just let me finish this last plate.”
Volunteering to do the dishes while everyone else was out in the backyard probably hadn’t helped, but I knew I wasn’t the best company.
I was too distracted by who might be willing and able to take one of the dogs, and while I’d made a few calls, most were unavailable on weekends.
I’d have still been at home following leads if it wouldn’t have broken my mother’s heart for me to miss the family barbeque.
Everyone was so rarely available that the whole family hadn’t been in one place in years.
She’d been so excited when she found a weekend with no prior commitments that she’d talked about it for months.
She gave me a tight smile before walking out onto the porch. I could see the edge of the table they’d set up for everyone, and my sister-in-law was already putting plates of food in front of her two kids, so I placed the plate in the dishwasher and dried my hands to join them.
While the government hadn’t repeated history and restricted the number of children people could have, they’d put a lot of incentives in place to encourage them to only have one.
That hadn’t stopped my family, though. I was the oldest of three, with three nieces and two nephews thanks to my younger brother and sister.
My mother was also one of three, and while her younger sister was as married to her place on the United Earth Council as I was to my career, her other sister had two children who each had one of their own.
It made for crowded family gatherings, with all the noise and chaos that came from almost half the members being under the age of ten.
I took a seat between my mother and Aunt Hannah. For one of the councilors making decisions for the entire planet, she wasn’t the type of person you would expect unless you knew she was in charge of Civilian Affairs and Human Welfare. Then her bright smile and easy laugh made more sense.
“Your mother told me about the Dog Unit being disbanded. It’s unfortunate. There’s a lot of history behind that unit. Do you know where you’re going now?”
Trying to hide my discomfort, I took a drink to buy time to come up with an answer that didn’t sound pathetic. I should have known my mother would tell Aunt Hannah, and that sitting between them would be a bad idea.
“I’m taking some time to figure out which direction I want to go. My experience doesn’t apply to regular veterinary clinics, and I’m not sure that’s what I want to do next.”
My aunt’s smile was wide as she nodded, but my mother’s still seemed tight. I didn’t know how to make it better when I didn’t have answers. I didn’t know what I was going to do, and I couldn’t even think about it while the dogs were my focus.
“Take all the time you need. It’s good to give it some thought if you don’t think you’ll be happy moving to the civilian side.”
Part of me loosened at her words of encouragement.
“What’s going on with those aliens?”
My brother leaned forward from the other side of the table, capturing Aunt Hannah’s attention. I was relieved not to be the center of focus and almost tuned out until what she was saying sank in.
“The Morrak still want more brides. We’ve had to move up the next Selection Gala since two of the original women didn’t work out, and every councilor is required to submit the DNA of a family member as a possible candidate, but—”
My sister’s head jerked up as she blurted, “Not me!”
Aunt Hannah laughed and shook her head, the horror on Naomi’s face easing. My youngest niece let out a squeal and swung at the spoon that had frozen halfway to her mouth when my sister got distracted.
“No, I wouldn’t submit you. Women with children or who are already married have been excused from being possibilities, although they may have to remove that restriction with how few options there are.”
I had no idea who the Morrak were, or what Gala my aunt was talking about, but my lungs froze as I processed what she was saying.
My brother had asked about aliens, and she had mentioned brides.
If she was required to submit someone from her family, the two of us were the only women without children, and she was too important to Earth to become an alien bride.
My brother cut in before I had a chance to work though the full thought forming in my head.
“Why do they want human women anyway? It seems pretty…”
He trailed off with a glance at the children seated with us.
“Earth needs the Morrak, but they don’t trust us. I assume they think taking women related to the councilors makes us less likely to betray them. It’s unfortunate that’s how we are seen by other species, but we have to meet their demands because otherwise...”
She trailed off with a sad shrug. I didn’t follow global issues and politics the way her and my father did, but I was still aware of the trouble Earth was facing. We were fortunate to be able to afford to eat, although that might become a problem for me once I no longer had a job.
“Some of the women who have been submitted haven’t passed the initial testing to move on to becoming a candidate, and the Morrak want at least ten women to choose from at each Gala.
A couple of the women who went to the first one backed out due to some new information we were given, and since we’re having the Gala next weekend, there’s pressure to get our samples in by Monday. I—”
“I can give you a sample.”
The words were out before I could stop them, and everyone’s attention swung to me. My mother stiffened at my side, and my brother’s brows shot up like I’d suggested setting the house on fire, but what other choice was there?
“What? Why would you do that?”
His question made me swallow, ignoring the automatic response that came to mind.
“If some women aren’t even passing whatever test it is to be chosen for the gala, then it’s no big deal. She needs a sample from the family, and I’m the only option.”
Aunt Hannah frowned, her brow creasing.
“I’m not sure you understand what you’re volunteering for, Taryn. And you don’t have to. There are others who have gotten waivers for their family.”
I shook my head, denial automatic.
“If they want you to submit a sample, you shouldn’t come up with an excuse not to when there’s no valid reason. That could come back on you.”
Her frown deepened because she knew I was right. I didn’t deserve to be exempt. If they’d made the requirement for every councilor to submit someone, then I’d do my duty.
“If you pass their screening and get selected for the gala, one of the Morrak may choose you. It’s not a simple ordeal. You’d end up on Morrakan.”
I had no idea where that was, but the information only solidified that I was the only option. Aunt Hannah couldn’t move away and still help people the way she did, and with my clinic being shut down, I had no other purpose.
I dropped my gaze to the glass in front of me and reached for it again.
“That’s several ifs. If I pass. If I go. If I’m chosen… And if I am, it’s not like I’m leaving anything behind.”
My mother’s sharp inhale made me clench my eyes and wince. Even behind my closed eyelids I could feel the weight of their stares and disappointment.
“Besides all of you, and I’m sure I could still visit,” I added before taking a drink so I had an excuse to stop speaking.
Aunt Hannah still had a crease in the center of her forehead when I looked up, but she dipped her chin in a slow nod.
“I can give you the information packet, and once you read through it, if you’re still willing to give a sample, all I should need is a couple strands of hair.”
I swallowed and sucked in a breath. She made it seem so serious, but even if I ended up having to go to the gala, I doubted anyone would choose me as a bride.
I hadn’t had many romantic relationships because I hadn’t wanted any distractions.
Relationships took time and commitment I hadn’t been willing to give to anything other than my career, but even with that gone, I knew myself well enough to know I wasn’t easy to get along with.
I wasn’t fun or outgoing. I was a realist.
And reality was, I had a limited amount of time before I became useless.
One of the kids asked a question which turned the conversation towards other things, but I knew my offer still sat heavy in everyone’s mind.
My mother and aunt were more subdued, but once everyone finished eating and I was back at the sink washing dishes, Aunt Hannah began drying them as an excuse to linger.
“You really don’t have to do this. I can find another way.”
Glancing around the kitchen to be sure everyone else was out of earshot, I decided to give her part of the truth.
“I have no idea how to place the dogs. I’m going to have difficulty transferring all of them, but the other dignitaries at the gala might have information that could help.
If I make it through the screening, the gala would give me an opportunity to see what options there are outside the North American Alliance.
I doubt the Morrak are looking for an overweight Combat Veterinarian my age as a bride, so there’s minimal risk. ”
One brow rose as she let her eyes slide over my body. I had always been so invested in the dogs that I hadn’t cared for myself, and it showed in the width of my hips and the curves that refused to hide beneath the loose clothing I wore.
“I think you don’t see your appeal.”
I huffed, my cheeks warm. My blonde hair and blue eyes had been a curse, drawing attention I’d never wanted. Aesthetics weren’t enough to base anything more than a physical relationship on, and I hadn’t even had one of those in years.
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
She sighed before pulling out her phone. After hitting a few buttons, she sat it atop mine on the counter, a ding telling me she’d transferred something.
“Read that and then decide. And I’ll reach out to some colleagues about the dogs. It’s unfair to put them down because of how we trained them.”
Relief lifted some of the weight on my shoulders as I thanked her, and once I finished putting away the last glass, I took my phone and went out to the front porch.
The kids were playing out back, their screeches audible even inside, and my cousins had claimed the living room for a sports discussion I had no interest in, so the front porch was the safest place to be undisturbed.
I was surprised by the amount of information Aunt Hannah had sent. After reading through the first section, I started skimming.
My DNA would be checked to see if it was compatible with the Morrak, and if so, I could be chosen to go to the Morrak Selection Gala. There would be ten women and three Morraki warriors, and if one of them chose me, I would then receive an injection.
There was something about the serum turning us into omegas, and then the stipulation that we had to travel to Morrakan for the warrior to “claim” us. After some ceremony in Korvashan, the pair would be bonded, which had to be the equivalent of being married, except it was supposedly permanent.
I almost laughed at the phrase eternal bond.
My parents were still together after almost forty years of marriage, but they were a rare exception to the fact that two out of three marriages failed within the first five years.
My sister and cousins were more accurate representations of reality, already divorced once before they’d hit thirty.
My brother had made it through three years of marriage, but he was husband number two for his wife, and my mother had let slip that things weren’t smooth between them.
Putting my phone down, I stared at the old oak on the lawn. None of the information mattered, because I’d made up my mind.
When it was time to go I gave my aunt several hair strands I’d tied together before hugging her goodbye.
I’d given my parents the excuse that I had more calls to make in the morning, and as I drove back to my apartment in the city, the tiny bit of tension I’d managed to lose while with my family found me again, making my head throb.
I’d had every intention of going back to my desk and researching private security firms as soon as I made it home, but traffic made me an hour late.
By then my head hurt so much my teeth had a pulse, so it was put off until the next day.
Every waking hour was spent following leads, making calls and sending emails, frustration mounting with every voicemail message telling me they were closed Monday.
When Monday finally arrived, I drove to base and continued my search from the clinic between tending the dogs.
I wanted everything to be ready for their rehoming, so I updated vaccines, trimmed nails, and made copies of their records.
By the end of the day, I had my top three dogs ready to go and even had tentative travel arrangements.
But I still hadn’t found a place to send them.
By the time I returned home, defeated, I’d completely forgotten about giving my aunt a DNA sample.
There was a drone waiting by my door, which wasn’t too odd since I’d received enough official correspondence to know they could be programed to wait for someone with the proper biometrics before delivering their message.
What was unusual was the thick white card inside the heavy envelope with my name scrawled across it, the gold filigree making my brows scrunch before I read the fancy script.
For a moment my mind blanked before the word Morrak clicked and I remembered. They’d screened my DNA, and I had passed.