Goliath's Mate (G-Force Federation Book 3), page 8
Realizing the admiral was distracted he was able to slip into the man’s room before the door closed. He hadn’t intended on kissing him, but it felt so good sitting on his lap, feeling the man’s warmth and strength washing over him.
Goliath’s scent called to him and as much as he tried to fight it, Camara knew it was a losing battle. The kiss they shared would satisfy their mating a little longer since Goliath didn’t seem to realize they were mates. He could continue searching for the weapon before the need to see the man overtook him again.
Standing, Camara took one more look down the hall to Goliath’s room. Sticking to his resolve, he walked out of the hotel to finish the job he was given and hopefully once it was done, he’d be able to come to grips with having a mate and giving up the life he’d come to love.
Goliath flopped down in his office chair, closing his eyes as he leaned back. They were circling the planet Tirion where he’d had a few meetings with the leaders of the planet.
Fuck, they were tiring. Or I’m just tired.
Since he and AstaFallen shared a kiss in his hotel room a few weeks earlier, he felt off-kilter. His body was vibrating with arousal. One-second he was angry as if he could rip someone’s head off and the next he felt anxious as if he’d lost something, yet, he wasn’t sure what he was looking for. Goliath had his suspicions of what could be happening to him, but he didn’t want to say the words out loud.
An image of AstaFallen appeared behind his eyes.
AstaFallen. Why am I always thinking about him? Mate!
To think he’d found his mate and it might be AstaFallen was preposterous. Goliath still couldn’t figure out what the hell the omega meant when he said to wait for him. He growled in frustration, trying to reason with his emotions. It wasn’t only that he was feeling emotional, but he was in pain. Goliath rubbed his chest, hoping it would ease the pain he’d been feeling for the past few weeks.
I need to get my shit together.
Goliath knew he couldn’t go on the way he was, not with the way his crew avoided him whenever he seemed to be in one of his moods. He felt as if he was doing a piss-poor job as an admiral and leader of his clan. Goliath had been trying to track down AstaFallen and his crew since he’d seen the man, but it seemed they disappeared. He smiled, thinking about how bold the omega was to pull out a knife on him. AstaFallen wasn’t afraid of him like most people who’d piss their pants with one look from him.
So why didn’t AstaFallen?
“I’m too old to be throwing a temper tantrum,” he growled.
“I agree.”
Goliath opened his eyes and looked up, hearing his mother’s voice.
“Mom, what can I do for you?” Goliath asked, sitting up.
“I was sent in to calm the beast as Halldor likes to call you these days. I thought you going on vacation should have helped you work things out.”
Goliath snorted. “Well, it didn’t. I feel more confused than ever.”
She quirked a brow at him. “So there is a real reason why you’re so growly.”
“I haven’t been that growly,” he mumbled.
“I’ve taught you better than that. Never lie to your mother.”
“Fine,” he said after a few minutes. “I’ve been a bit unbearable.”
“So, tell me about him?”
“Tell you about who?” Goliath asked, confused.
“The man’s that’s got you so confused that you’re snarling at everyone that walks in your path.”
“There’s no man,” Goliath answered. “I’m just feeling out of sorts.”
“I see,” she said, and it didn’t seem as if she believed him.
“Why don’t you tell me about your new friend?” He was hoping to change the subject, but knowing she’d latch onto him.
“There’s nothing to tell,” she said with a shrug. From the blush on her face, Goliath knew she was lying, and they’d gone from hand holding to much more.
“A mother should never lie to her child.”
She walked over to him and pulled him into a hug. “I worry about you,” his mother told him, changing the subject.
“Mom, I’m fine,” he said as she pulled back from their embrace. “I’m too busy trying to catch a damn bounty hunter.” He growled and felt his top lip curl up. She stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled. “What’s with that look? Why the hell are you smiling?”
“Nothing, my dear son,” she hummed, walking back over to the door. “I’ll see you later, I’m off to enjoy my evening. Oh, by the way, your cousin Lysander will be visiting in a couple of months. Make sure you’re available to spend time with him.”
Goliath nodded. Lysander was his younger cousin, who was studying engineering at the academy. His parents had moved back to Earth when Lysander started the academy to be closer to him. Goliath was sure once Lysander graduated and returned to the Nijara, they would move back to the space station.
“I will always make time for him. My question is who you’re enjoying your time with? I’m worried about you, mom?”
“Now don’t worry about that, you go on and catch your man, while I try to catch mine.”
She was gone before he could say anything or stop her.
“Computer, call Zuriel now.”
“Admiral, is something the matter?” Zuriel asked.
“You’ve yet to give any information about what I asked you for weeks ago.”
“Sir, I have nothing to report. I’ve watched your mother as requested and she mainly meets with her friends.”
“I’m finding that hard to believe,” Goliath snapped.
“Sir, with all due respect your mother is an adult and does not seem to need a babysitter.”
“I don’t care what you think, Zuriel, regarding my mother. I gave you an order and I expect it to be followed. Have a detailed report on my desk by the end of the day.”
Goliath cut their communication and angrily swiped the contents off his desk as he stood looking out at the large expanse of space. He hated the irritated feeling that came over him each time one of his subordinates questioned his orders. The com-pad on his desk sounded, causing him to turn and look at it, noticing that it was a message from headquarters.
Tapping the screen, an image of a Nasothian appeared by the name of Kijima Hasaki. He was assumed dead but somehow had resurfaced a few months ago and had taken up the mantle of leader of the resistance. If seen, Goliath had orders to shoot on sight.
The fucking resistance. Could AstaFallen be working with this fucker?
The thought didn’t sit well with Goliath. He bared his teeth, feeling his canines elongate, and his eyes shift. His nails turned into claws and his black leather wings flared, ripping the shirt he had been wearing in half, causing it to fall off his body. He leaned his head back and let out an animalistic howl, not caring who heard him. A sound alerted him that someone had entered his domain.
Feeling territorial, Goliath went to attack but stumbled when he felt a sharp pain in his leg causing him to fall to one knee. He struggled to his feet and took two steps only to become unbalanced when something else hit his other leg causing him to tilt to the side. He couldn’t see his attacker, all he knew was that he needed to protect his territory.
Looking down, he saw the tranquilizer darts sticking out of his legs. Pulling them out, he threw them to the floor and snarled as he charged at his attacker only to be hit in his arms. He tilted forward and backward as he tried to hold himself up, but it was a lost cause when his knees buckled, sending him to the ground.
“Dammit, Goliath. Stay the fuck down.”
Goliath looked up when he heard the voice but couldn’t distinguish if he was a friend or a foe, all he knew was that he couldn’t stay down, he had to protect his home, his territory, and his zamil.
“M…” he started, but the words got stuck in his throat. His tongue felt heavy in his mouth, his canines scraped against his lips, and his vision became blurred. “Za…m…il…”
“Is he calling you his mate?” Goliath heard another voice.
“No, he’s looking for him,” the first person answered.
“Shit, who could it be?”
“Fuck if I know.”
Goliath let them talk as he tried to stand, but was hit with another dart. “Fuck, Goliath, I said stay down! I don’t want to give you more tranquilizer.”
That time he listened because he had no choice—the tranquilizers were flooding his system. He couldn’t fight them any longer, allowing his world to go black as the word mate fell from his lips.
Goliath groaned as he woke up, feeling the stones break and shed from his body. He tried to sit up slowly but realized he couldn’t move—looking around he realized he wasn’t in his quarters but the medical bay.
“You’re awake.”
Turning his head to the voice, he saw his mother, Halldor, and Merca, their clan’s doctor, looking at him.
“Care to tell me why I needed to go into a healing status?” He asked trying to sit up again but was stopped when he realized there were straps holding him down. “And why the fuck am I strapped down?”
“Because we thought you’d be a danger to yourself,” his mother explained.
“A danger to myself?” he asked, confused.
“How are you feeling?” His mother asked.
“What do you remember, Admiral?” Merca asked, walking over to him.
“Other than being tied down, just fucking peachy.”
“Cut the attitude and tell me how you’re feeling,” Merca ordered.
“Did you forget that I’m your commanding officer?”
“Did you forget I’m your oldest cousin?”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Older family member outranks you,” she said, placing the monitor over the tattoo on his chest that carried not only his ancestral history but also his health and fitness. “Are you going to keep staring at me or answer my question?”
“Have you always been this bossy?” Goliath asked, then turned to look at Halldor, who hadn’t spoken since he opened his eyes. “Did you know she was this bossy?”
“I grew up with her, so yeah,” he answered. “Really, how do you feel?”
Goliath sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “Honestly, confused as fuck. Want to tell me what I’m doing here?”
“I doused you with tranquilizers,” Halldor told him.
“What! Why?” Goliath jerked up roughly only to be stopped by the straps. “Get these damn things off me right now!”
“No,” Merca said calmly.
“As your commanding officer I order you to release me,” Goliath growled, feeling his anger spike in seconds. His wings threatened to come out but couldn’t, but he couldn’t help his fangs from elongating as they dug into his lips causing blood to pool in his mouth. His nails extended and dug into the mattress beneath him and his eyes shifted, bathing the room in gray.
“Goliath, listen to me,” Merca yelled. “You need to calm down or I’m going to have to use the tranquilizers again.”
“Son, please listen to Merca,” his mother begged.
At the threat of being doused with tranquilizers again, Goliath quieted down a bit but stayed in his shifted form. There was something wrong, but Goliath couldn’t figure out what it was—his mind was hazy and filled with confusing thoughts. He couldn’t settle on one emotion either, going from elation then to happy, and sometimes worry. Worry was the one thing that overcame him more. It didn’t feel as if it belonged to him and more as if the emotion was coming from someone else. Goliath felt that the only thing that was keeping him sane and able to understand his surroundings was his willpower.
“Goliath, please calm down so we can talk,” Ellrain whispered.
Goliath let out a low growl, feeling his upper lip curl up with a snarl.
“Why are you being unreasonable?” Halldor snapped. “This is why I had to pump your big ass with tranquilizers the first time. Come on, my friend, let’s talk.”
Goliath stared at his family. He heard the worry in their voice, but he couldn’t explain what was happening to him even if he tried. Closing his eyes, he tried to rein in his emotions but was having a hard time. He was feeling too many things.
“Can...ca...n’t,” Goliath tried to say.
Merca was about to say something when the ship’s computer chimed.
“Captain Halldor.”
“Yes, Shurazon, what is it?”
“We’re getting a distress signal that I think you should see, sir.”
“Who is it from?” Halldor asked.
“Bounty hunter Camara AstaFallen, and, sir, he’s asking for sanctuary for him and his crew.”
“What the fuck?” Halldor cursed, running out of the hospital.
At hearing the bounty hunter’s name, his heart started beating in his chest as a loud growl tore from inside of him that was filled with pain.
Chapter Six
Camara dodged behind the ruined temple wall, hiding from the spray of bullets.
He was pissed. Things were not working out well for Camara. One thing was sure, he was off his game since he’d last seen the Admiral. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the gargoyle. He kept wondering if the rest of his body tasted as good as his lips.
Shit, there I go again thinking about him when it’s completely the wrong time.
Camara had never been in a committed and intimate relationship before, or knew what to do when it came to the whole mating thing. The only committed relationship of any type he’d ever been in was with Allack, who had been by his side since the day he’d set out on his new adventure.
The pains were getting worse, and the suppressants were no longer working. He’d stopped denying things to himself about the whole mate thing, especially since he’d scented and seen the alpha gargoyle in the shop a few weeks earlier. Everything inside of him was screaming to run to the man and rut against him like an animal in heat, but he held himself back because he wasn’t sure what the hell to do.
A bullet hit the wall, pulling him out of his thoughts, reminding him he needed to get his shit together. “Where the fuck did he get old-fashioned earth bullets? No one uses those anymore.” However, he had to admit phase bullets would hurt less and kill a person quicker. He winced, touching the side of his face where Newman had punched the shit out of him. The shifter was fucking strong as hell.
“Fucking arsehole. I’m seriously going to kick his arse.”
Camara knew he would have been the one to fight with Newman when they finally caught up with him in Alryria. But he wasn’t prepared for it to be so soon. They usually staked out the planet for at least two days before capturing their bounty.
Things were happening at a quick pace, and Camara couldn’t keep a thought straight. They’d landed on the planet Alryria only an hour earlier. Alryria was a desert planet where the people revered the deity of soil and desert, Set. The planet was peaceful, staying out of the conflicts that plagued most of the other planets. Maybe that was what drew criminals to the planet. They knew they could hide without anyone reporting them.
The Alryrian’s can handle the harshness of the sun, due to their red rock like clay skin. It surprised Camara that Newman had stayed on Alryria as long as he did since the planet was so hot and dry, plagued with sand storms. Shifters like Newman needed moisture to survive.
“Come out…come out wherever you are,” Newman taunted. “I heard you were some badass omega, but look at you hiding behind a wall. Why don’t you come out and play with me?”
“Go fuck yourself,” Camara yelled.
“Don’t be so mean, omega. I’m quite sure fucking me will leave you begging for more.”
“Keep dreaming, arsehole.”
Fuck, why the hell does this shit keep happening?
He and Cassius were only going to get information to see if Newman was still on the planet. He didn’t expect Newman to run the second he saw them. Not only that, but he also had others with him. Camara was sure they were on the federation’s most wanted list.
“Allack, where are you?”
“Dealing with some crazy ass shits,” Allack yelled in his ear. “We’re being shot at and I have no fucking idea why or who’s doing it.”
“It seems Newman had friends here helping him out,” Camara said. “Just tell me you have the ship ready to go and Cassius made it back.”
“What are you talking about? Cass isn’t here.”
“Shit,” Camara snapped.
Where the fuck is he?
Cassius had run after Newman when the shifter and his friends took off. Camara had dealt with Newman’s lapdogs easily and had gone to find their bounty and Cassius. When he’d caught up to them, Newman was standing over Cassius with his gun pointed at him.
At hearing Camara’s footsteps, Newman took off again, and he went to deal with Cassius, who was hurt but able to move. He’d ordered Cassius to get back to the ship, and he’d deal with Newman. He ended up in a gunfight with the shifter.
“Hey, bounty hunter,” Newman called out. “Since you won’t let me fuck you, let’s talk. I have a deal for you.”
Camara pressed his back to the wall, checking to make sure he had enough energy in his gun. “What do you want, Newman?”
“I’ll give you back your friend if you pretend you never saw me.”
“Don’t do it,” Cassius yelled, causing Camara to look out from his hiding spot.
Fuck, how the hell did he get Cassius? This is not good.
“Don’t make any deals with him, Cam. Leave me, get out of here.”
“You know I can’t do that, Cass. I’d never leave a friend behind.” Camara closed his eyes, groaning against the pain that was burning in his stomach.
Come on, Cam, think. Get out of this quickly and get back to your ship with Cassius.
“I know what and whom you’ve been looking for,” Newman said.
That caught Camara’s attention.
“What are you talking about?” Camara shouted from his hiding spot.
“The Destruction One. I know that’s what you’re looking for,” Newman said. “You let me go and I will tell you anything you want to know. And trust me, I know a lot.”
