Chapter 2 #2
Just because she had a strange smell didn’t mean anything. It could be perfectly normal for humans.
Apodis started to back away slowly, but Zenith nipped his leg, causing him to let out a quiet yelp.
The human’s eyes widened further, and before he could reprimand the naughty caerulian, she was running back into the tree line—the sight sending a shudder through him.
“Well?” Zenith said with a perturbed look. “Are you going to let her get away?”
Apodis tried to swallow the dryness in his throat.
“What?”
“She’s getting away!” Zenith yelled, bounding after the human without looking back.
Apodis grumbled, but soon gave chase, trying to ignore the way it electrified his blood, his mating tentacles undulating wildly behind him. This was just what he needed, to frighten her further by chasing her through the dark forest, but he couldn’t leave Zenith alone out here.
Despite his apparent bravery, he was still a city caerulian who didn’t know his way around the woods.
As Apodis tore through the dense branches, he heard someone speak, slowing to a stop and waiting.
“Hello.”
Zenith.
“H-Hello?”
It was a soft, feminine voice, out of breath and slightly raspy.
“I think I sprained my ankle,” the female said with a tremor of fear.
Apodis let out a deep sigh, raking his hands through his silvery hair before stepping out into the clearing.
The human was sitting on the ground, grabbing her ankle. A bitter scent filled the air, threatening to overpower the delicate floral aroma that emanated from her.
Pain. She was in pain.
Definitely at least a sprain, if not something worse. And it was technically his fault for being a creep and spying on her.
Zenith was standing just out of reach of the female, though his head was leaning forward, like he was trying to get a gauge on her without getting too close.
Apodis held his arms up when he approached, another lance of anxiety stabbing through him, the air thick with frightened pheromones.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said, then internally scolded himself.
That’s exactly what someone who did want to hurt a female would say.
Her eyes were wide, and she tried to shuffle backward, wincing as she did so.
Apodis stopped, keeping his voice as gentle as possible.
“I can help you. My name’s Apodis, and I live close to here. You’re in my territory. That’s Zenith,” he said, gesturing at the curious caerulian.
Z bowed his head, and the female nodded back, clearly trying to hide her fear.
“I’m Gemini,” she said quietly, staring up at him with moss-colored eyes.
Control. Stay in control. Don’t act like a freak.
“Sorry for trespassing,” she continued. “I’m on a research trip not far from here, but… I got a little distracted. We’re here to see the Lumaria vitellus bloom. I’m a xenobotanist.”
“You research at night?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
It was too early in the season to witness the orb glows, and besides, wandering around the forest in the darkness didn’t seem like a great idea.
Especially alone.
“No. I… I just needed to get away from our campsite. My coworkers are very annoying.”
Apodis chuckled, then slammed his mouth shut, horrified. Did she think he was laughing at her plight? But no, she was smiling too, a dazzling look that made his stomach clench, like he was some sort of youth.
He needed to get a hold of himself.
“I’m sorry for your annoying coworkers. And your ankle. Is your camp far? You’re welcome to stay at my cabin for the night if you’d like.”
If she’d like… Of course she didn’t want to come to a strange male’s home in the middle of the woods. No matter how far her campsite was, he’d carry her back. It was the right thing to do, not least of all because this was his fault.
“I’m not actually sure where my camp is,” she said with a grimace. “I didn’t grab my comm so I don’t know how to get back.”
“Well, it might be difficult to find in the middle of the night, so… the offer stands.”
He tried not to act too eager, though he noticed the way Zenith’s ears flicked forward with interest. The thought of a female in his home was strange, something he’d never imagined, not with his solitary cabin.
But he kept it neat and tidy, could cook her a meal and help her get clean if she wanted.
Well, she could use his bathroom, not that he would be in there to help her wash the dirt from her face, to clean the scratches on her legs. Surely, she was capable of doing that on her own.
And he had a perfectly comfortable couch, so she could sleep in his bed, and it wouldn’t be weird at all.
“I guess I don’t really have a choice,” Gemini said with a shrug, motioning to a backpack on the ground. “Could you grab my stuff?”
Apodis nodded, though he was disheartened by the reluctance. Still, the fear scent was abating, the delicious aroma of alona blossoms returning, and he tried to maintain his composure. He slung her pack over his shoulder—with some difficulty given the differences in their sizes—and stood over her.
“Can I pick you up?”
So awkward, but he didn’t want to scare her again, Zenith still eyeing the scene carefully.
“Sure,” she said, and he bent over, scooping her easily into his arms.
She was about the size of an omega, something he didn’t want to think about while he cradled her against his chest. She was warm, her cheeks flushed with heat, and he could smell her blood pumping hard, her eyes wide as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
“Thank you,” she murmured as he started walking, Zenith following closely behind—suspiciously quiet.
“It’s not a problem,” he said, giving her a stiff smile. “We’ll be there soon.”