Luna’s Alien Mates

Chapter 12

Vallyn

Vallyn had never used his tails this much before. The muscles ached from constant strain, but the pain felt good—reminding him that he was alive, that he was carrying something precious. Someone precious. Luna clung to him as he leapt from branch to branch, her soft body pressed against his chest. She smelled faintly of flowers and smoke, her warmth seeping through his skin with every move he made.

They hadn’t traveled through the trees like this since his fathers’ time. The Aashi had long abandoned the canopy, preferring to move on foot like the humans they sometimes encountered. But Vallyn never understood why. They had four strong arms and two powerful tails, made for climbing, made for the wild heights of the forest. He felt freer up here than he ever had on the ground.

But Luna was different. He could feel the tension in her frame, the way she tightened her grip around his neck every time he climbed higher. And, selfishly, he climbed higher anyway—because she always held him closer when he did.

He didn’t want to stop holding her.

Ever since she had chosen him, ever since her hand had brushed against the markings on his thigh, something inside him had been changing. Awakened. His body seemed to recognize her in a way his mind couldn’t fully put into words. His markings had darkened quickly, crawling further up his legs with every hour she stayed in his arms. The marks of a chosen male. The marks of a bond that could not be broken.

Beside him, Zigur swung through the trees effortlessly, his expression serious as he spoke. “I have a hut not much farther from here. We can rest there. Eat. Sleep. But we must be careful. These are free lands now—unclaimed. Many outcasts live here. Some will challenge us for Luna if they catch her scent. There are no rules out here.”

Vallyn’s jaw tightened. The idea of any outcast male even thinking of Luna made something primal stir deep inside him. His claws flexed involuntarily as his hold on her tightened.

She stirred against him, looking up with questioning eyes. She didn’t understand their words, but she could sense the change in his mood. He softened his grip just enough to reassure her, brushing one of his lower hands over her back.

“She wants her pack,” Vallyn said quietly, his voice low enough for only Zigur to hear. “It had her strange things inside. Her communicator, broken but kept. She wanted to mend it.”

Zigur was silent for a moment, then turned sharply toward him. Vallyn’s instinct flared. His tails coiled protectively around Luna as he shifted her away from Zigur, baring his teeth in warning.

Luna gasped softly, startled by his sudden movement. Her small sound of fear pierced through his chest.

“Daku can get it,” Zigur said finally, lifting both sets of hands in a sign of peace. “Tell me where you last saw it. We know what it looks like. He will bring it back to her.”

Vallyn hesitated. Leaving Luna without her belongings felt wrong. She might need her things. But leaving her alone? That was unthinkable. He glanced down at her as she frowned at him, obviously displeased at being handled like a frightened kit.

“Do-nut treet me lyke-a child,” she said slowly, her accent heavy but her meaning clear.

Vallyn didn’t understand the words, but her tone made his lips twitch. She was fierce, even when small and vulnerable. Perhaps especially then.

When they finally reached Zigur’s hut, the sight of it brought a strange relief. It was small, barely enough space for them all to rest, but large enough to keep Luna safe through the night. Safety—that was what mattered.

Vallyn crouched, letting her slide down gently onto the ground. She swayed a little, her legs unsteady after hours of being carried, and his lower arms immediately steadied her.

“Hut,” she asked softly, pointing at the structure.

“Yes. Hut. Luna.” He nodded once, his chest warm at the way her lips curved into a smile.

Then she touched his arm.

It was a simple gesture, a light brush of her small hand against the hard muscle of his forearm, but the effect on him was instant. The fine hairs on his tails rose as though charged with static, his breath catching in his throat. Did she know what that touch meant to him? Did she know what she was asking for?

His body reacted before he could stop it. His c**k strained painfully against the cloth of his coverings, pressing hard enough that it felt as though it might break through. He swallowed hard, heat rushing through him as he forced himself to stay still.

Luna’s gaze flicked downward, her eyes widening slightly before she tilted her head and smiled. It was a curious smile, soft and mischievous all at once.

Vallyn’s heart pounded. Was this it? Was she ready?

His blood sang with anticipation, a primal, urgent need thrumming through every vein. The bond was close—so close he could almost feel the threads of it tightening around them both.

“Yoo happee to see me, Vallyn,” she teased in a lilting, sing-song voice.

He couldn’t help the low rumble that escaped his chest. “Yes,” he murmured, his voice rough with barely contained longing. “I see you, Luna.”

And he did.

He saw her fear, her strength, her stubbornness. He saw the way she kept moving forward despite being lost in a strange land among strange people. He saw the courage it took for her to trust him, to let him carry her, to let him protect her.

She didn’t understand what her touch was doing to him. Or maybe she did. Either way, he would wait. He would carry this tension, this slow-burning ache, for as long as she needed.

Because Luna wasn’t just the female who had chosen him. She was the future he had dreamed of since he was a young kit. The reason he could finally breathe. The reason the world suddenly felt sharper, brighter, more alive.

And he would guard her with every claw, every drop of blood in his body, until she was ready to claim him fully.