My Alien Protector (My Alien Mate Book 1), page 1
Copyright © 2023 by Cherie Varian
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
Contents
Trigger Warning
1. Freddie
2. Freddie
3. Aevo
4. Freddie
5. Aevo
6. Freddie
7. Aevo
8. Freddie
9. Aevo
10. Freddie
11. Aevo
12. Freddie
13. Aevo
14. Freddie
15. Aevo
16. Freddie
17. Aevo
18. Freddie
19. Aevo
20. Freddie
21. Aevo
22. Freddie
23. Aevo
24. Freddie
25. Aevo
26. Freddie
27. Aevo
28. Freddie
29. Aevo
30. Freddie
31. Aevo
32. Freddie
33. Aevo
34. Freddie
35. Aevo
36. Freddie
37. Aevo
38. Freddie
39. Aevo
40. Freddie
41. Aevo
42. Freddie
43. Freddie
44. Aevo
45. Freddie
46. Aevo
47. Freddie
48. Aevo
49. Freddie
50. Aevo
51. Freddie
52. Aevo
53. Aevo
54. Aevo
55. Freddie
56. Freddie
57. Aevo
58. Freddie
Afterword
Acknowledgements
Also by C. A. Varian
Follow C. A. Varian
About the Author
Trigger Warning
There are mature themes throughout this book, and it is not intended for readers under 17 years of age.
The following themes are explored in My Alien Protector: (consensual) sexual content, captivity, slavery, abduction, torture, vulgar language, and murder.
Chapter 1
Freddie
When I first awoke on the cold metal floor wedged between two crates, I thought I was in the storage trailer behind the cafe where I worked. Since I don’t work anywhere near the festival I attended, I wasn’t sure how I would’ve gotten there, but stranger things have happened to me on wild nights out. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, and all I could see were the shadows of cargo and the LED lights running along the perimeter. From where I sat, there were no voices. It wasn’t until I heard the engines hum on all sides of me that I realized I wasn’t in a storage unit.
Squinting into the darkness, I let out a breath. “Hello? No one answered. I struggled to my feet, my legs numb from sitting so long. My head pounded, my equilibrium off kilter from drinking. Gods. Last night, I had really overdone it. “Is there anyone here?” Jess? Sarah?” Nothing.
I held my breath as I tiptoed around the crates, all larger than me, and into the aisle between the rows. Under my sneakers, the floor continued to hum, and the air around me was still and silent. Not seeing a clear exit, I chose a direction, turning to the left where neon green outlined the walls’ panels. After only a few steps, one of those panels swung open and a head popped out. I froze, fear bubbling inside me as the breath left my lungs.
The head was oblong shaped above narrow shoulders, and the body was tall and lanky. At first, I thought I was having a nightmare, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I could just as easily wake up wherever I was hiding if I was dreaming. So instead of moving toward the door, toward the strange figure standing there and peering into the darkness, I returned to my hiding spot. I climbed into one of the crates, positioning myself beside the contents and closing the wooden lid silently above me. Besides my breath, the only sound in the room was the sound of my heart pounding. I was afraid to move, afraid to make a sound, in case the figure noticed me and discovered my hiding spot. I stayed there, silent and still, until unconsciousness took me once more.
As I awoke the second time, cramped but less groggy than the first, I heard voices. That is, if one could call them that. The sound was high-pitched and mumbling at the same time, but in the background, I almost heard someone crying. After repositioning myself within the container, I opened the lid just enough to see outside.
In the darkness, it was difficult to see where the sounds were coming from, and I was afraid to leave the safety of the crate. Everything around me began to vibrate, forcing me back onto my butt, the crate’s lid smacking me on my head as I fell. I stifled a curse, rubbing my head as I took a moment to plan my next move. Something was happening, I just didn’t know what.
A wisp of air made the crate lid jiggle, followed by several loud beeping noises and a door opening somewhere nearby. I held my breath, fingers tapping on my knee as I debated what to do. There was no way I could still be dreaming. It was impossible. However, what I saw could not have been real either. If it was real, I would be in trouble.
I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut and berating myself for wandering off on my own last night. Come to the fire festival, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. What my two roommates didn’t tell me was that they would abandon me as soon as they were approached by two barely attractive losers in polos and khakis. If it weren’t for my lame friends, I would’ve never had to find my way to the bathroom, by myself, when I’d drunk one too many Dune Mules. It wasn’t all my friends’ fault, but at the moment, I needed to share the blame.
Bracing my hands on the sides of the wooden crate, I clenched my teeth as footsteps moved past my hiding spot, followed by the sounds of something being dragged across the floor. The crates were being moved, perhaps unloaded. I heard crying again, which sounded like another woman. However, I couldn’t call out to her, not when I didn’t know what was out there, not if I’d put my own safety at risk. It was at this time that panic began to build, when my heartbeat became louder than anything else in the room. As crate after crate was moved from around me, I did not dare move, not knowing where they were going or if where they were going was any safer than where I was.
My crate, the only thing keeping me safe, started moving before I could consider my fate. High-pitched vocal sounds became louder, followed by a deeper voice that seemed farther away. I tried to listen, just in case I could make out the words, but it was useless as the base below me scraped along the floor, nearly tipping over. To my relief, the lid stayed closed. There was no doubt they were wondering how their cargo had grown heavier, one hundred and ten pounds heavier to be precise. No one paused to open the lid, however.
The deep voice got louder as the crate stopped moving, the bass of it hitting me low in my belly. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to make out any of the words. It was a language I had never heard before. As the crate was pulled another few feet, I held my hand over my mouth and tried to still my breath. I could hear the door seal shut again, could feel the vibrations of the world around me as things powered into motion again, but I wasn’t brave enough to look again. Not yet.
The footsteps moved away, the sound of heavy boots fading into the distance. My shoulders slumped back against the inside of the container, releasing the tension in my body. At least for the moment, I was safe.
Chapter 2
Freddie
I wasn’t sure how long I’d slept when I woke up still inside the crate, but the world outside of my hiding place was unknown. The room around me was silent. The realization that I was no longer in the desert filled me with fear. The bitter taste of it burned in the back of my throat as I rubbed my eyes and repositioned myself. There was no way I could remain where I was. I would need to eat. I was completely dehydrated, and I hadn’t peed in hours. Unless I wanted to sit in my own filth, I would have to take a chance and leave the crate. Taking a deep breath, I reached up and cracked open the lid.
Upon peeking into the room beyond, I knew I wasn’t in the same space I’d been in before. Unlike the previous room, which was all darkness except for the lights lining the wall panels and door, this room was lit with a blue tint, and it was smaller and contained less cargo. The space did not seem to be a storage container any more than the previous location, but I didn’t hear any crying, nor did I hear high-pitched sounds that sounded like voices. Wherever I was, I didn’t think I was on earth anymore—and the realization sent a shudder through me. Crate or no crate, I had no illusions about safety, and there was no use hiding anymore. I needed help.
Landing on the floor harder than intended, I winced, fighting back a yelp when my ankle twisted to the side. I stayed where I was for a moment, wiggling my ankle, relieved it wasn’t sprained. The last thing I needed in the situation I found myself in was an injury where I couldn’t walk, or run, for that matter. It wasn’t like there was anywhere to go. There were no windows looking outside, only paneled walls and cargo. Blowing out a breath, I stood on shaky legs and peered around the crate.
I rubbed my hands against my arms to warm them as the floor vibrated beneath me. We were moving, but not fast enough to throw me off balance. “Hello?”
My voice echoed around me, but none responded. Taking a few steps forward and into the aisle between the dozens of containers, I stilled m
My attention was drawn to a strange whirring noise outside the door, and I jolted to the side, taking cover behind some of the cargo as a panel in the wall opened, and a silhouette entered.
Breath catching in my throat, I backed myself further into the shadows as a shape came into view. Unlike the figure I’d seen in the last location, this one was tall with broad shoulders, and it was definitely not human. At that moment, even if there had ever been a question before, I realized that I was no longer on my own planet, and if I was, I was afraid I had gone insane. Humans didn’t have horns and they were not an iridescent shade of grayish blue.
The male, or what I thought was a male, moved further into the space, his footsteps heavy against the metal floor. He called out in a language I did not recognize, but his voice was familiar. Before I fell asleep, I had heard the same deep voice while the cargo was being moved. It was the same deep voice that had sent a tingle down my spine.
Swallowing back my fear, I stepped out from behind the crates and fully into view. If he was going to kill me, or toss me out of his ship, I’d better just get it over with. It would be better than starving to death. “Hello,” I said again, my voice coming out in a higher pitch than usual. Perhaps if I sounded unassuming, even helpless, he would be less likely to harm me. “Can you help me?”
Instead of responding, the giant horned man scratched his chin and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Slack-jawed, I stood there for a moment. He had literally just walked out of the cargo hold and closed the door, leaving me standing in the cold.
Dropping to the ground with my legs folded beneath me, I thought about my limited options. Still yet to shed a tear, I realized I must have been in shock or something. If not, I certainly would have cried for my mother at that point, even though she and I had never really been close. My bladder was painfully full. If he didn’t get me out of the cargo hold soon, I would have to piss all over whatever it was he was transporting. I was thirsty as well, and some headache pills would have helped, but my pockets were empty except for my—
Scrambling onto my knees, I dug my hand into the ridiculously tight pocket of my faux leather pants and pulled out my cell phone. My heart dropped as I looked at the screen, all hope leaving me. As I feared, it didn’t have a signal. It was useless.
Groaning, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and rose to my feet. If he was going to try to ignore me, I would make it impossible for him to do it in peace.
Chapter 3
Aevo
A ruking human! I knew the Gresum filth transported stolen humans, but how had one found their way onto my ship? Ruk!
That’s what I got for trying my best to avoid illegal trading following my last encounter with the intergalactic police. Growling under my breath, I stormed back to the bridge and pressed the telecom button to contact the Gresum. I intended to tell them to meet me at the nearest station, but I canceled the call before it was connected. If I sent the human back---I didn’t know if I wanted that on my conscience either. What they did to humans in the galaxy was something I never wanted for any sentient being. It was why I always stayed far away from the flesh trade. I spun in my chair, checking my navigation as I pressed the button to summon my android, Mechi. Maybe he would know what to do, or at least his programming would.
When he swaggered in, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Mechi may have had brilliant programming, the highest quality my credits could buy when I started transporting for the Omnos government, but he certainly had some quirks. With a kitchen rag wrapped around his waist like one of the short skirts that dancers wore in the station pleasure rooms, I’d say he had plenty of them. The android stopped in front of me, seemingly clueless as to why I was grinning.
“You summoned me, Captain Aevo?”
Just as I was about to explain the predicament I’d found myself in, a loud bang sounded from the direction of the cargo hold. The human was beating on the door, trying to get my attention. It worked. Gritting my teeth, I turned back to Mechi, who had begun to tap his metal boot on the floor.
“Mechi, we seem to have picked up a stowaway at the last exchange. A human.“ The words were like acid on my tongue. I was on a tight schedule and finding a place to safely leave a human wasn’t on it.
His robotic mind calculating, Mechi remained silent for a moment, the only sound in the ship coming from the unruly passenger banging on the cargo hold door. “We cannot return her to Earth, Captain.”
I had counted on Mechi telling me something I didn’t already know. Every ship’s captain knew it was illegal to enter Earth’s atmosphere according to the treaties forged between its government and the intergalactic alliance decades ago. Huffing, I spun my chair back around, studying my map. “I know that, Mechi. Are there any other safe locations for humans in our galaxy? Preferably somewhere along our flight path.”
The android fell silent, its brain in thinking mode again. With the loud beating on the door down the hall, I hoped he wouldn’t take too long. Thankfully, he didn’t. “The nearest planet where human refugees can safely be taken is two weeks away, Captain. Planet Allonia is in the neighboring Odag galaxy. It is not on our flightpath, Captain.”
Hands gripping the arms of my chair, it took everything in me not to put my fist through the control panel. I did not have time to go to another galaxy to drop off a human. “What are my other options, Mechi?”
With his head tilted to the side, the android resembled one of those fluffy animals my mother always kept when I was a child. “Humane options, Captain?”
“Of course, humane options, Mechi,” I gritted out, my patience nearing its end.
Just when I was counting to ten, lack of sleep from the late-night trade catching up with me, the human began not only banging on the door, but yelling through it as well, in a language I did not understand.
Mechi took several steps in the direction of the cargo hold before stopping and turning back to me. “She wants you to let her out, Captain. She says if you don’t, she will urinate on everything in the room.”
Mouth twisting in disgust, I stared at Mechi with renewed hesitation. I didn’t know much about humans, but I had at least thought they were trained to use bathrooms. The cargo in my hold was worth thousands of credits. I couldn’t have her destroying all my products before I delivered them. “I cannot understand her language Mechi. Can you reprogram my language translator?”
Giving the android an order he could easily perform, Mechi moved back toward me. He typed a few codes on the panel that controlled what languages were cycled through the chip implanted behind my ear. It only took him a moment and the blaring screeches from the other side of the cargo hold door came through as speech in my ear. She wanted to be let out and shown to a bathroom. She also wanted food, water, and something for her head pain. With all her demands, I realized I would need medication for head pain in the near future as well.
I stood from my chair, sighing loudly. Even with no plan of what to do with the human, I couldn’t leave her where she was. However, after living on my ship alone for so long, I was not looking forward to the company, especially not from a squealing, demanding, human female. There was already a growing pain in my head.
Turning to my control panel again, I set the autopilot on for the next station. “Get one of the extra sleeping quarters ready, Mechi. I’m getting ready to let the human out of the cargo hold.”
Chapter 4
Freddie
I’d planned to beat on the cargo hold door until he came back and let me out, but I had to admit it was a faulty plan. After only about fifteen minutes, my hand hurt only slightly less than my head did. Still, I heard no sounds from the other side. No voices and no footsteps. In a last-ditch effort to get the massive, horned alien’s attention, which even I had to admit was counterintuitive, I began yelling at him through the door. If anything pushed him into action, I figured threatening to pee on everything would do the trick. When I heard heavy footsteps coming down the hall only a few minutes later, I realized it had worked, and I immediately regretted my decision. Maybe I could have been a little less pushy. I didn’t want to piss him off after all. Not if I wanted him to help me.
