Chapter 39
Alanna
Weddings for the average person could take a year or more to plan. Give or take a few months depending on how extravagant the couple wanted it to be, of course. She could probably plan a cute backyard wedding in a weekend. But for a big wedding, time was a necessity.
For a massive, Earth wide wedding, that time was cut to practically nothing.
The Earth leadership were expediting the entire process.
Almost like they were afraid if they took too long, Survii would change his mind and revoke his permission to do this.
And they had good reason to worry since he never failed to remind them that this was only happening on Alanna’s whim and that he was still insulted by their request.
He said it to them. He said it to the wedding planners. He said it live and on record towards any camera that was pointed his way. He learned to say it in English so that Alanna or one of the other girls wasn’t translating it and there could be no mistake that he meant every word.
It really gave a precarious sort of feeling to everything.
All the leaders and designers and vendors were trying that much harder to make her happy because Survii was making no secret that he only wanted this because she did.
That he was marrying her for her and not because Earth was willing to trade her to secure a deal.
The wedding planning was moving along quickly, but she had no idea what was happening with the claiming planning.
Not that the very basic ceremony built around domini instincts required much planning.
And the little planning that was required was all on Survii’s shoulders.
He had to prepare a den for her that he would bring her to after the claiming fights.
Atem did do some of it, but mostly he was communicating with her family about why he was going to be literally fighting Survii for her – and why Survii was going to then be fighting her as well.
That was a long conversation that they had to have with their media manager. The claiming – at least the fights – were going to be televised. And in order to do that effectively, they needed to host an in-depth class on domini mating rituals.
Romival, who was highly proficient at English now, had been there to help them along. He was actually a teacher on Turv – though Mating Rituals 101 was quite a step down from advanced practical and theoretical subspace physics.
The entire explanation had been recorded.
They were going to cut it together and make it into a thirty-minute special that would be broadcast before the claiming itself – with captions, in multiple languages.
It was basically a crash course so that when people watched no one would be confused as to why Atem and Survii were trying to kill each other.
“Even my claiming wasn’t televised,” Peony said, gesturing at her with a blueberry. “And I mated First Domini on Turv itself.”
“Humans love being involved,” Alanna said, shrugging. Unconcerned.
The five girls were lounging around on the roof of the hotel.
They had started going absolutely stir crazy from being cooped up inside for so long.
It was a nice hotel, and the manager was doing everything in her power to make them comfortable, but being stuck inside for days on end had quickly begun weighing on them.
And, of course, the guys couldn’t let that stand. While they still didn't want them to go outside when they might be put in danger, that didn't mean they couldn’t get some sunlight and fresh air.
Havali and Tuvo had worked with their security team and the hotel manager to turn a corner of the hotel roof into a botanical garden.
Plants and carefully placed silk screens provided cover for them while not impeding their view or sense of freedom.
Their security team was close but not hovering.
The guys were off working, letting the five of them enjoy themselves while they finished preparation for the claiming.
It was going to happen in a couple of days, and Survii was figuring out what to do for her gorging meal.
A few weeks ago, she had never even met Survii, and now she was about to mate him.
Her wedding date was set for September 25th – a day that had importance because it was her parents' anniversary.
When she had voiced her concerns that the date was too soon – only a couple weeks away – they had been quickly waved away.
After all, it was what she wanted and, as Survii demanded, what she wanted, she would get. No matter how far backwards others had to bend to give it to her.
Everything was happening so fast, and it still felt so right.
“You haven’t even known each other that long,” Holly said, frowning.
“But we’re mates,” Alanna replied evenly.
“Just like that?” Hattie tilted her head curiously.
“Does it need to be more complicated?”
“Talk us through your thought process, Alanna,” Scarlet said. “We know you think differently from the rest of us. Help us understand you.”
Alanna tilted her head curiously. Unsure what they didn’t understand. “He’s my mate,” she repeated again, like that was all the explanation needed.
And as far as she was concerned, it was.
“But we’re humans,” Hattie reminded her, like that was something she might have forgotten. “We don’t have mating instincts.”
“Don’t we?” Her soft question made them all stare at her. Like they were surprised.
“We don’t,” Scarlet confirmed. And she would know. She had studied human medicine long before she became an alien healer.
But as much as Alanna respected her friend’s expertise, she thought maybe she didn’t see what was becoming obvious to Alanna.
“I believe we do.” She smiled. “Haven’t you ever seen or heard of an older couple who have been together their whole lives and, when you ask, they say that they just looked at each other and knew.
A story that should be impossible, right?
School sweethearts to nursing home sweethearts.
A couple that’s been in love from the very beginning and it never eases. Hattie, aren’t you parents like that?”
“I mean, yeah. I guess,” she said, starting to smile.
Holly leaned her elbow onto the table, resting her head on her hand. “But that doesn’t mean anything. Do you know how many more people look at each other and just know and it turns out later that they’re wrong. And it doesn’t even have to be years later. It can be months.”
“That’s true too,” Hattie frowned, no doubt thinking about her ex.
The guy who was still hanging around with their families in the lower levels of the hotel despite the fact that Hattie’s parents had already gone home.
He wasn’t picking up hints that he should leave, and she wasn’t trying to be more forceful in case it set off Atem, so he just continued to linger.
“But even the domini can be confused,” Alanna pointed out. “Until they look at their mate and truly do know, a particularly harsh bite of lust or desire can mimic it. They don’t know better. We could fall for that same false knowing as we’re looking for our mates.”
Scarlet made a skeptical sound. “Just because you believe in auras and stuff, er… Well, not everyone is going to believe it.”
“I’m not saying its common. In fact, I believe, humans find their own true mates at a much lower rate than the rest of the universe.
And our large population doesn’t help. But I think we have our own way of knowing them, even if we’re not totally aware of it.
I mean, look at you all. It’s quite a coincidence that you all love your mates in return.
Unless we have our own instincts, and we just can’t recognize them because they’re not as strong. ”
“Then,” Hattie leaned forward, “you love Survii?”
Alanna smiled, warmth bubbling in her chest. “I really think I do.”
“You think?” Peony blinked. “You’re not sure?”
“Well, I mean, like I said, human mating instincts aren’t that strong. So, I’m lucky that his are. It makes it easier.” She giggled a bit. “And he makes me happy. He makes me laugh. He keeps me grounded. It’s like finally feeling gravity after a lifetime in orbit.”
Hattie laughed, nudging her gently. “You know, most people describe love as the opposite.”
Alanna smiled. “I know what it’s like to fly. I want to know what it’s like to be stable and secure and safe. He gives me that.”
The others lost that worried, uneasy expression they had been holding all morning.
They had all been concerned about this wedding.
They weren’t like her – raised in a politically and financially powerful family.
She was aware that marriage could be a business deal far easier than it could be a lifelong commitment to love another person.
But just because Alanna was aware of how and why the influential did things like marry for benefit didn’t mean she had to be beholden to it. Just like she had a law degree but never used it. She possessed the same skills and intelligence they did, but it wasn’t who she was.
This marriage benefited them, but it wasn’t the primary reason she did it.
She did it for herself.
She did it for Survii.
She did it for all the humans that were looking at the mate bond and feeling confused and trying to compare it to something that they knew. So they could have hope. So any other alien mates tucked away on Earth could trust in what she was doing.
She was spreading love and understanding.
And she was going to have the biggest wedding ever thrown. The best. The most beautiful. And before that, Survii was going to fight tooth and claw to claim her.
She couldn’t ask for anything better.
***
Waiting for Survii to claim her was, at once, exactly the same as it had been waiting for the others to be claimed, and, at the same time, completely different.
She was in a plain dress with a faux fur cape – courtesy of an Earth designer who had been eager to make the simple, rustic look for her. Along with beaded sandals that came from a different designer who had been similarly eager to make them within a couple days.
It was a traditional claiming outfit for the domini.
The dress and cape were meant to be additions to the nest that she would build when Survii took her back to his den.
The others were casually dressed, all relaxed and informal.
Because the claiming was informal. It had a great deal of meaning, but very little pageantry and they were broadcasting that with their clothing choices.
The claiming was being held in the park behind the UN building in Geneva.
The very same spot that they had originally landed in when they came down.
Security was tight, but not obvious, and the camera crew was doing their best to remain unobtrusive as they circled around the group that were all waiting for Survii and Havali – who had accompanied him – to return.
The shuttle was behind them, tucked under some trees so it wasn’t dominating the scene. But it had landed early, summoned by Tuvo who was, even now, working with their security team to keep the park completely off limits to everyone. For that reason, he wasn’t among them.
That left only Romival to sit with the girls as they nibbled at some fruit and drank juice – all from Earth, but in keeping with tradition on Turv. They were spread out on a picnic blanket, talking and laughing and having a great time while they waited.
All except Atem. He was up. Agitated. Pacing around their picnic and glaring anytime the camera crew got too close.
None of them were trying to calm him. There would be no point.
He knew Survii was coming to fight for Alanna, and his instincts were riled up in response.
Nothing would calm him until he had the chance to fight the male coming for his sister.
Alanna’s parents, Uncle John, and Aunt Boo were there as well.
They were at a picnic table a short distance away.
Watching. Observing. But not really taking part in the spectacle.
They were giving that distance for security’s sake.
Her uncle’s secret service agents simply did not want him that close to an aggressive and violent alien – even if they knew none of it was aimed at him.
They still wanted to be supportive though, so they were here.
“So, the plan is to eventually live on his ship?” Scarlet was asking in English – this was being televised, after all, and it wasn’t like Romival couldn’t understand them.
This waiting period almost felt like a chill bachelorette party and, as such, the main topic of conversation was her claiming, her wedding, and her future with Survii.
Alanna nodded eagerly. “He said he’s going to show me the universe. Doesn’t it sound amazing?”
Hattie laughed. “To each their own. I think I’d go crazy living on a spaceship. I like the open sky way too much.”
“Wait,” Holly frowned at Alanna. “Does that mean you’re leaving Turv?”
“Well, not permanently. Survii still spends most of his time in orbit. I’ll be right there. Just a quick shuttle ride away.” Alanna beamed at them. “I’m not leaving you all. I promise.”
There was a definite feeling of relief. Like they were genuinely worried that she was going to go away.
The five of them had been through far too much together.
In some ways, their bond was the only thing that kept them safe and sane in the worst time of their lives.
They were closer than family. Tighter than sisters.
Alanna wanted to see the universe, but she also never wanted to leave them behind. She always wanted a home to come back to. A base to return to. And that was wherever the four of them were. And the four of them were going to be on Turv. Even Hattie, who wasn’t mated like the others.
They were Earthlings, but Turv was their home, and no matter how far afield Alanna might travel, that was never not going to be true.