Chapter 15 #2
“Higgs, I said no,” she repeated. “You’re a grown—ass man–you should be able to understand that. Now, I need to get going.”
She turned away, not sure where she was going, just wanting to get away from his stench but his hand closed around her upper arm in a hard, meaty grip.
“Now girly, don’t be that way. You’re gonna love the coogle—dancing,” he said, tugging at her. “Come on, let’s go have some fun.”
“Let go of me!” Kiera exclaimed, trying to pull free. “Higgs—stop! I told you, I’m not interested!”
“Well you will be, once you try it! Now come on–my ship is parked just over the ridge.” He pulled harder, dragging her several steps through the grass, though Kiera was leaning back with her whole weight and trying to get away.
Panic shot through her in a hot, nauseating rush. He was bigger than she was—much bigger—and she had the horrifying thought that if he got her to his ship, if he managed to get her off sanctuary grounds—
Suddenly, a deep, savage growl split the air.
Higgs froze.
“What the fuck was that?” he demanded.
Then Buck came charging over.
The huge wolf hit the ground in front of them with all four paws spread, lips curled back from his teeth, a growl rumbling so deep it seemed to vibrate in Kiera’s bones. His golden eyes had gone blood red with fury, and they were trained on Higgs.
The message couldn’t have been any clearer if Buck had been able to speak–Let go of her–she’s MINE!
Kiera was stunned–she’d never seen Buck look like this. For a second, she thought he might rip the big alien’s throat out right there.
Then Higgs let go of her arm so abruptly she stumbled backward.
“What the hell?” he shouted, jumping away. “What in the underworld is that thing?”
“He’s my protector,” Kiera said, straightening up and rubbing her arm–which was probably going to have a bruise.
As if to prove her point, Buck snapped at Higgs, jaws clashing shut only inches from his hand.
Higgs swore in a language the Translation Bacteria Kiera had been given aboard the Mother Ship couldn’t translate and staggered back another step.
Buck planted himself directly in front of Kiera, head lowered, shoulders hunched, every line of his big body poised to leap. His eyes–which had gone blood—red–were trained on Higgs.
The big alien’s face twisted with anger.
“You let that thing threaten me?” he snarled at Kiera. “You’ll be sorry, you hear me? You’ll be sorry you turned me down and sorry you didn’t let me in the other night.”
Kiera felt a flash of pure fury cut through her fear. So he did remember coming to her door and scaring her half to death! She’d thought he had been so drunk it had slipped his mind.
“You need to understand something–I don’t want anything to do with you or your new ship or your crazy—ass coogle—dancing!” she snapped. “You need to stay on your own property and stay the hell away from my animal sanctuary!”
His eyes narrowed to silver slits.
“You do think you’re better than me! Well, I think it’s time you learned a lesson, girly.”
And Higgs lunged for her again—fast, as though he thought he could grab her and yank her around Buck.
He never got the chance.
Buck snapped again, but this time he didn’t hold back–his teeth closed on Higgs’ forearm like the jaws of a bear trap snapping shut.
Higgs screamed–a high—pitched, almost girlish sound that sounded strange coming from his thick throat.
“The fuck!” he screamed as bright red blood splashed over his green, bumpy skin and the front of his overalls. “Make it let me go! Get it off me!”
“Not until you promise to leave me alone,” Kiera said. She wanted to finish this once and for all.
“All right, all right–I’ll let you be!” Higgs howled. “Just make your beast let me go! It’s gonna break my fucking arm!”
“Buck,” she said, using his name as a command.
She didn’t have to say anything else. Buck released him at once, but the damage was done—four neat punctures already welled dark and wet on Higgs’ meaty forearm.
“You crazy beast!” Higgs howled, clutching his bleeding arm. He glared at Kiera. “You’re not pretty enough to bother with anyway! You’re too fucking fat, you fat bitch.”
Kiera sighed. Men were the same in any culture, it seemed. The minute they couldn’t have you, they started insulting you. She shouldn’t let it get to her, but Higgs pissed her off.
“You need to look in the mirror you smelly pickle—looking asshole,” she snapped. “You’re not exactly skinny yourself.”
“You fat bitch!” Higgs snarled again.
But Buck had apparently had enough of this. Growling, he took one deliberate step toward Higgs, teeth bared, and eyes narrowed.
That did it—the look of anger and hatred melted into one of pure fear and Higgs turned and ran. Stumbling across the silver—threaded grass, swearing loudly and pressing one hand over his bleeding arm, he headed back the way he’d come.
“You’ll be fucking sorry!” he shouted over his shoulder, once he made what he clearly thought was a safe distance. “Both of you!”
Buck barked once in reply—deep and thunderous—and Higgs ran even faster.
Kiera stood shaking for a moment, staring after him and a half—hysterical giggle escaped her lips.
“Oh my God, you sent that pickle—faced bastard running!” she exclaimed. Then all at once her knees felt weak. “Come on,” she said unsteadily to Buck. “C’mon, boy.”
Buck turned at once, the blood—red fury fading slowly from his eyes as he came back to her side.
He pressed against her leg, warm and solid and so comforting that Kiera nearly burst into tears from sheer relief.
Ugh–her emotions were all over the place.
Getting grabbed by an asshole who was determined to drag you off to his ship would do that to a girl, she guessed.
“C’mon, boy,” she said to Buck again. She put a trembling hand in his fur, and they went together back toward the home-dome.
Inside, the door sealed behind them with a reassuring whoosh. Safe–finally, she was safe.
That realization was all it took.
Kiera leaned against the curved wall of the entryway and then slid to the floor instead, because suddenly standing seemed like entirely too much effort. She pressed a hand to her eyes.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, and her voice sounded broken and strange. “Oh my God…”
Buck came to her at once, whining uneasily. He nosed her anxiously and Kiera threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his thick ruff.
“Oh my God, if you weren’t with me, I’d be in his ship by now going God knows where!” she told him.
Buck whined, sounding even more worried about her. His whole body was tense, as though he wanted to go back out and make absolutely certain Higgs was truly gone. But when Kiera clung to him, he stood still and let her hold him, his great shaggy head resting against her shoulder.
“It’s okay, boy—I’m okay.” She sniffed hard and got hold of herself by sheer force of will. “I’m just so glad you’re with me.”
Buck made another soft, anxious sound and leaned into her even more, nearly toppling her over with his weight.
Kiera gave a shaky little laugh in spite of herself and stroked his fur.
“Okay–it’s okay now and I’ll be okay too. I just need a little time,” she told him.
As she spoke, she stared out the long plasti—glass window beside the front door.
Outside, the sanctuary looked peaceful as ever under the pale purple sky. The chiming trees whispered softly in the breeze and somewhere in the distance one of the theebles let out a happy cheep.
But Kiera knew now—really knew—that things could go bad out here in a heartbeat. And if Buck hadn’t come when he did…
She closed her eyes and hugged him tighter, refusing to finish the thought.
She supposed she ought to call Commander Rarev and tell him that Higgs was becoming a problem…
but she hated to bother the busy Monstrum Commander with her day—to—day struggles.
He might think she couldn’t run things on her own, and she didn’t want that.
Also, she couldn’t find her think—me anywhere. The thin gold wire that sat like a halo on the user’s head and transmitted thoughts telepathically had been missing for days. So even if she wanted to call for help, she couldn’t.
It was a damn good thing she had Buck, she thought again. It reminded her of that old ad campaign back on Earth–the one about “Who rescued who?” She absolutely believed her rescue wolf had rescued her just now–possibly even saved her life.
From now on, she needed to keep Buck close whenever she was outside, she decided. She hoped that Higgs would keep his distance now, but you never could tell with men. Sometimes they got stubborn and determined to make an ass of their selves.
“I’m glad you’re with me,” she told Buck again.
Then she buried her face in his warm gray ruff again and held on.