Sneak Peek - Mate Exposed
Here”s a sneak peek at the latest Alien Romance Series, Mate Exposed.
Chapter One -Victoria
I’m a terrible judge of character. Now, because I trusted the wrong people, I’ve introduced a sinister element around the children I’m entrusted to keep safe. The thought makes my stomach churn uncomfortably.
It wasn’t intentional. I’m a teacher because I love children. In fact, I love everything about them. All the stuff other people complain about—hanging out with them, the constant questions, their imaginations—are the main reasons I really enjoy my job.
Their most endearing quality is trust. But they really shouldn’t trust me when I can’t even trust myself. Unfortunately.
I have to make this right.
I take a small bite of the jerky. This is the last piece, and I need to make it last. Following it with an even smaller sip of water, I pull out the ragged piece of paper I’ve been hiding for weeks.
“Survivor Camp,” it states in bold black font along the top of the bright yellow piece of paper. “Bi-monthly pickups to safety on the 1st and 15th.” The lower half of the paper is a map I’ve been following.
We’ll see since the fifteenth is tomorrow. At this point, I’ve put all my hope on this flyer. What I don’t understand is why I haven’t reached the safety zone outlined on the map yet.
I’ve made traveling a longer ordeal than it needed to be. If I wasn’t staying off the roads to stay hidden, I would know exactly where I am and how much further I have to go. Such is life for women now. We’re targeted, exploited, and bartered.
Two days ago, I left the safety and security of the school I’ve been staying at with a group of survivors since the infected swept through our town six weeks ago. I can’t tell you exactly what happened to start the crazy disease that swept across America because no one really knew for sure during the time we still had power for the news and internet. Everything presented sounded a lot like neurotic conspiracy theories! But I guess that’s to be expected since once people succumbed to the initial sickness with fever, bloodshot eyes and graying hair, they literally rose from the dead and started wandering around like zombies.
Shifting the backpack that’s practically empty, I try not to think about the young lives I’ve left behind. I wanted to bring them, but we’ve been down that road before. I can’t lose them.
They’ll be okay. They’re counting on me, so keep moving.
The mantra continues over and over in my head until I trip over another branch. I ignore the uncomfortable aches in my knees and feet. I’m not a hiker, and I’m definitely not in shape for a cross-country trek.
My teaching vocation has become more of a caregiver. All three children living with me at the Millbrook Middle School are waiting for their families to pick them up. After six weeks though, I’m just about ready to give up.
“Hey! Look at this!”
The deep male voice freezes my footsteps, and I crouch down, afraid they’ve seen me through the thick foliage. My gaze scans the trees between me and the road, but the only thing I see for sure is a red vehicle abandoned on the curb.
“A six-pack. Score!”
“Give me some.” The raspy voice of Peter makes goosebumps break out on my skin.
It’s them. Fuckety fuck, fuck… fuck!
Still clutching the neon flyer, I press it down onto the ground between my feet. They’re on the road, following me, just as I suspected they might. But if I cut through at an angle to the Survivor Camp, I can beat them there.
There will be others there, right? Giving me an audience, so I don’t just get dragged back…
“Let’s take a break. That bitch could be anywhere.”
“You know Tom figures this is the first place she’ll head.”
I didn’t make it a secret. These fliers were floating around on bright pink, green, and yellow paper for a few weeks. A pile of them clustered along the north side of the school’s six foot fencing.
Originally installed to protect the children from the wildlife, it’s what saved us from the contaminated people who are infected with a strange disease. The way they wander around, attacking anyone they come across… they’re like zombies.
Tom was a total asshole when we found them. He doesn’t trust anyone or anything, talking everyone into his view. He figures it’s some kind of trap.
Maybe.
But maybe not. At this point, I have to check it out.
There’s the sound of a can crunching, followed by a loud burp. “I’m surprised we haven’t caught up to her. She isn’t tough enough for this.”
“Tom needs to stop caving to her beauty, and just let the rest of us break her in for him. I could straighten her out right quick like.”
Rolling my eyes, I shuffle deeper into the undergrowth. Peter is a perfect, stereotypical example of the crew Tom has surrounded himself with. They showed up at the school two weeks ago, breaking in and taking over all the cafeteria supplies.
At first, I was hopeful. Safety in numbers? Able-bodied men?
In theory, it sounds great. Not that we had a choice. The three kids with me range from eleven to thirteen.
As their voices move away, I carefully fold the paper. Tucking it in front of my worn out bra, I watch every step I take on the forest floor.
I’d always considered Montana a beautiful state, and my small town of Jasper the perfect size. When I began my teaching career in Chicago, I knew I wanted to move somewhere more rural. Jasper is home. Or was.
And not the school. That was supposed to be temporary after we got trapped there by infected… people. Already, the time is hazy.
Staring off into the distance as I cut through the trees and underbrush, I try to travel in as straight a line as possible in the dim light. The tall trees sway in the slight breeze, the rustling leaves drowning out the men’s voices fading behind me. They’re still arguing about who gets the last beer.
When Tom and his crew of merry men showed up, they seemed sincere, promising to watch the perimeter of the fencing and take care of any straggler infected still coming around. At the time, it was so refreshing just to find out more of what was going on… out there.
For the first three weeks, we had electricity and water and the internet. All the basics. But then… everything died.
My first and only previous attempt at traveling outside the school was an epic disaster. I thought I could take the children with me. Unfortunately, Connor ran off, yelling for his father, drawing tons of the sick.
They’re mindless and evil. With no regard for the sanctity of the living, they wander around, grabbing and even biting mindlessly. We ran. I tried not to hurt them, but with some of the physical damage I’ve seen on their bodies, I have a hard time believing they can come back from that.
I even saw one with a missing arm! The grotesque bloody stump had loose skin flapping in the breeze. How can someone survive that?
Of course, we looked for Connor, and almost got ourselves killed. When eleven-year-old Sasha was almost pulled from us, I made the decision that we’d have to stay put, and we fled back to the school and its security.
Sasha still isn’t speaking, although I believe she whispers with her brother Max during the night. The emotional damage to these poor kids is off the charts. But it’s that or death, right?
The forest brightens ahead, and I realize I’ve made it to the edge of an enormous field. Letting out a sign of relief, I pause as I look out over the tall grass, my attention snagging on the high fence up ahead.
It’s a golf range. I didn’t even realize from the flyer that they’d used the Rolling Meadows Golf Course as the rescue spot.
Around the side of the driving range is a clubhouse, partially shaded. I don’t see anyone else there, but they could be in the clubhouse? Have they connected the fenced area to the building? That would be wise since right now, there are over a dozen infected roaming around in the field.
Oh well. I don’t have any choice. I have to head in and try to beat Peter and Matt here.
Breaking into a jog, I ignore the way the sick turn and watch me for a moment before lumbering my way. Fortunately, I have plenty of time to reach the fence and get inside before they reach me.
Cutting around the range, I take the most direct route straight up the slope, between two trailers parked on the side of the road. A low growl lets me know my time is limited, and goosebumps break out on my skin as I hyperventilate. Fuck!
I’m almost as scared as I was my last night at the school when Tom pulled me out of the classroom I sleep in with the children. He’s determined to ‘talk me into’ sleeping with him. I’ve been dancing around the fine line of politeness, but he made it clear, slamming my head back against the painted cinder block wall next to the door, that he was done waiting. If it wasn’t for Riley’s interruption, he probably would have raped me right there in the hall outside my classroom the children were sleeping in.
I guess I should be glad he hasn’t stooped to the level of violence in front of the children yet. But for how long? If there’s one thing I know from my past, it’s that this kind of pushiness and violence only gets worse.
My body slams against the chain link as I fumble with the latch. When it doesn’t slide up, my trembling fingers weaken. My mind is a jumble, ignoring the shuffling groans of the infected behind me.
They’re close, but I have to succeed. Sasha, Max, and Riley are counting on me to come back with help, and I can’t fail them.
Bam!
The explosion vibrates the ground under my feet, and I look up, watching a gigantic crater open up on the other side of the field near the edge of the woods. What the fuck was that?
Fire licks at the edges of the large hole, barely visible through the settling dust. I’m not the only one interested. All the infected people heading toward me have turned, focusing on the blaze off in the distance.
Just as I turn to study the latch, a strong grip jerks on my shoulder. Crying out, I spin to face the decaying features of a young woman with white hair. Her gaping mouth snaps inches from my face as I hold her at arm’s length.
Now what? I can see two other infected only feet behind her!
Suddenly, the head of the snarling infected woman topples to the right. Thick black blood pours over my hands before I can release the body. I’m stupefied, frozen in place. Horror washes over me as a monstrous presence blocks out the sun, towering over me.
Dressed in all black, the eight-foot figure slowly lifts a hand to his helmet-covered head, and the black panel covering his face disappears. A pale… almost human looking... person stares at me. I’m too scared to take in any details past his massive violet eyes.
Turning back to the gate, I jerk it to the right, trying desperately to get the latch to release. A huge black gloved hand clamps onto the chain link on my left. The sound of snapping metal accompanies the panel jerking to the right, opening a sliver of space for me to fit through.
Angling my body, I slip through the crack, tripping to my knees onto the long grass. Scrambling on my hands and knees, I glance back in time to see the black-clad figure slam the gate shut behind me, his helmet now back to the glossy reflective surface it was before.
He spins around, and a glowing white bar about three feet long extends from his fist. Slicing it from right to left, he decapitates the two infected reaching for him. Before their bodies even hit the ground, he springs high into the air and disappears.
Chapter Two
-Jerlo
I stare down at the red-haired Human female from high above, watching her circle the small area set up for survivor pick ups. Earth has many of them scattered around, and from what I understand from my superiors, it’s why I’m here.
I believe.
It’s not like we’re privy to the dealings with the Coalition. What I do know is that it had something to do with slavers removing some humans. At least it’s not airborne here, otherwise we wouldn’t even enter the atmosphere. Even so, we’re under strict orders not to engage on the ground. Aerial reconnaissance only.
After the initial summons and directive, I’d bitched and moaned along with the rest of my warrior team. As unmated males, we often find ourselves sent on secret bureaucratic missions, babysitting instead of fighting. This is a perfect example.
From the control seat of my craft, I see her fill a cup with water at the rations station. What’s she doing out here alone? Unprotected?
I haven’t had the opportunity to study many of the Human species up close. We’re not supposed to leave our sym crafts, but I don’t regret it. It felt good to get out and stretch. My skin is still buzzing from the exercise.
Everyone on my warrior team manually controls the small sym crafts that someday… hopefully, will be telepathically connected to us. A symbiotic relationship that will develop once we open our inner eye with an Upadana Link with our true mate.
Someday.
Scrubbing a shaking hand across my face, I curse. We’re not supposed to expose ourselves to the species. What was I thinking?
Right. She was petrified, crying in fitful whimpers as she struggled with the metal gate. For some reason, I felt letting her see my face would calm her.
It did. Or at least as much as you’d expect for their level of developing species. Too low to be part of the Universal Coalition. At this point in their existence, they don’t know how fortunate that is for them.
Scanning the surroundings, I note the Wen infected Humans are just beginning to lose interest in the distraction I created. That’s fine for the moment. She’s safe, picking through the containers and eating some of the food supplies left for any Humans that arrive.
Her small, delicate looking fingers break open the wrapper as her eyes skim around the small enclosure. My hands fly across the controls as I notify our coalition contact that this survivor rendezvous point now has someone to recover. Bumping the standard priority level from two to three, I justify the move because of the number of infected in the area.
Zooming in, I check the shoulder the infected grabbed, holding my breath. One scratch is all it’d take from their contaminated skin cells. She would become weak and nauseated before all her brain eroded until only the rudimentary basics of survival drove her forward physically. Technically, they’re dead. But right now, the Earth Humans are gathering them up, and investigating the disease, looking for a cure.
I snort as I zoom out, studying the pale-skinned female. I’m finding it hard to keep my eyes off her expressive features as her eyes scan outside the enclosure. Am I fascinated because of her rare coloring?
Her hair lightens as their one sun peeks out from the dark rain clouds. For the brief moment I’d exposed my face, I felt as if I knew her. Like we were connecting…
No. That’s impossible. Only mates can activate the inner eye, lighting up our cerebrum and kick starting our telepathic abilities. With our caprenice shielding our head, it’s impossible to have this happen randomly.
That”s all I can share!