Claimed by the Zoran (Scifi Alien Romance) (Zoran's Chosen Book 2)

by Luna Hunter

  “Ah, I get it!” I say. “You’re a psychopath! Why didn’t you start with that? You would have saved the both of us a whole lot of time.”

  “Very funny,” he says without the hint of a smile. “I think I’ve humored you long enough. Let’s go.”

  He reaches for me, and I jerk my hand away. My mind finds Davor’s across the open field, and the message I deliver to him is simple.

  Go.

  A cacophony of sound is unleashed at my command. Luba’s coo, Anshi chirp, and Rinjin squeal.

  “What the?!” The general says, looking over his shoulder.

  A stampede unlike Garna has ever seen is unleashed. A massive horde of Luba charge at the SINTRA soldiers, while the aid workers take shots at them from high up in the trees.

  “Surrender,” I say. “We’ve got you surrounded.”

  The general laughs, a shrill and awful sound. “You have a bunch of fucking cows. One burst of my rifle will decimate them. Watch.”

  He reaches down for his rifle, but his hand touches nothing but air.

  “Looking for this?” I say, holding up his gun.

  The Alpha Rinjin shrieks at the general from between my legs. The crafty buggers are on our side, and they move quickly through the high grass, stealing the weapons from the soldiers without them noticing it, tying their boots together, or simply flinging mud into their faces and clogging up their visors.

  Next to move are the Anshi. The lovebirds swoop down and menace the soldiers, using their sharp beaks as weapons instead of berry-stealing devices.

  The general’s jaw is hanging open as he watches his well trained army reduced to rubble. His men scatter, running in every direction.

  “Stand and fight, you cowards!” He bellows. “They’re just a bunch of animals and farmers!”

  This is only possible because of Davor’s connection with the animals. It seems that his wings aren’t the only things the Rift has gifted him with. He’s able to communicate with the wildlife here on Garna, and together, we’ve asked them for help.

  And they delivered!

  They rallied to our cause in a way I didn’t think was possible.

  The general turns to me, his dark eyes filled with anger.

  “You!” He bellows, his voice so filled with hatred it makes me wince. “I’ve had more than enough of you!”

  He jumps towards me, his hands reaching for my throat. I could shoot him with his own rifle, but there’s been enough violence on Garna already.

  A flash of blue comes to my rescue.

  Davor swoops down, his massive wings spread out as he lands with a heavy thump right behind the general. He flings his arm around him and throws him backwards into the dirt, smashing the man’s face on the ground.

  The general crawls up to his feet, his shiny armor now covered in dirt, and he spits out a gob of blood.

  “Give up,” I say. “Your men are scattered. You have nothing left.”

  He chortles. “I haven’t even begun, farmer. I will show you fools the true power of Takeshi Biocorp!”

  His body suddenly jerks and moves in unnatural ways. A bonecrunching sound reaches my ears as his limbs grow longer and longer, his hands turning into claws.

  My mouth hangs open as the general transforms before my very eyes. His face becomes grotesque, every feature growing, no mutating, into something truly hideous.

  “How…” I stammer.

  Has he been touched by the Rift as well? No, that can’t be it. This must be a result of the genetic engineering he was boasting about. If this is Takeshi Biocorp’s finest, than they are even worse off than I thought.

  There is no hint of humanity left in the general. Now he’s a hulking mass of flesh and muscle, an abomination with claws the size of baby Rinjin.

  He swipes at Davor, moving deceivingly quick for his massive frame. He rakes open my mates chest, and blood spurts everywhere.

  My mate cries out in pain as he tumbles to the ground, and time seems to slow down to a crawl for me. Seeing the red blood drip down his blue chest sends me over the edge.

  All the pain, the hurt, the anger that I’ve been feeling is unleashed in one terrible fury. My eyes see red, and the power coursing through my veins is so strong my toes leave the ground.

  I’m levitating as the general rushes towards my mate, snorting heavily as he licks his lips. Four giant fangs protrude from his mismatched mouth. He raises a claw, prepares to strike the killing blow.

  No!

  The general’s ship unravels as if it were made of wool. The metal comes undone, and the tentacles rush towards the savage beast. I wrap tendril after tendril around his outstretched claws and hoofed legs.

  He looks up me with a dumb expression on his monsterous face, snorting wildly. He tugs at his bonds, but they do not give.

  Seeing my mate get injured has sent the connection we have into overdrive. I use that fuel, that rage to unravel every ship that belongs to SINTRA, and reshape them into cages right there on the spot. The Luba, Rinjin and Anshi help me shepherd the defeated SINTRA soldiers into their prisons. Once they are ll inside, I weave the metal together, locking them up tightly.

  I form a tight cocoon of metal around the monsterous general, because I don’t trust him not to hurt his own men in this state.

  Once the final strand of metal has been woven together, I collapse onto the floor, absolutely and totally exhausted.

  My mate rushes to my side. “Are you okay?!” He asks.

  “It’s you who I’m worried about,” I say as I watch fresh drops of blood slide down his blue chest.

  “This? Barely a scratch,” he chuckles, hugging me tightly. “Stay with me, Leah. Leah? Leah?!”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Davor

  “Stay with me!” I cry. “Leah! Stay with me!”

  I hold my mate in my arms as her eyes roll away. The last thing she does is smile faintly before the darkness takes her.

  I lift her up, my legs unsteady due to the amount of blood I’ve lost, and I stammer my way back towards the Silos. The aid workers come rushing out of the forest towards us, and her father is one of the first to reach us.

  “Is she okay?!” He asks with panic in his voice.

  “She’s overexerted herself,” I say, “but she’ll pull through.”

  She has to. Without her… I have no purpose.

  “Let me help,” he says. “You are wounded.”

  “I am fine,” I lie.

  I carry my mate all the back to her parents Silo. There her mother stitches my chest back up, while I hold Leah’s hand the entire time. I won’t leave her.

  I can feel her thoughts, but they are faint and far away, like she’s underwater, trapped under ice. I’m afraid that if I leave, if that connection is broken for even a second, it might be broken… for good.

  Come back to us, Leah. Please.

  Her father returns. “I just received a message from the GAC — they are on their way,” he says. His hand rests on my shoulder.

  “I am truly grateful for your help, Davor. I want you to know that. I don’t think my daughter could have met a better man.”

  “Thank you,” I say. “That means a lot to me.”

  I’ve barely remember my own parents. I joined the Sacred Order at a young age, dedicating myself to the Order instead of a family. Yet, seeing how much Leah cares about her parents, how happy seeing them again made her feel, it reminded me of all that I’ve missed.

  And now, I feel like I’ve gained a family.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Leah

  I’m having the most wonderful dream. I’m flying through the air in Davor’s arms, my head resting against his naked chest. His heartbeat soothes me right down to the deepest possible level.

  We’re flanked by Anshi on either side, with a pack of Luba running their hearts out down below.

  And then I feel a pull.

  “Come back to me, Leah.”

  I glance up. Davor is looking at me with a pleading lo
ok in his baby blue eyes.

  “Come back.”

  I wake up with a gasp.

  It takes me a few seconds to get my bearings, but then my mate’s wonderful scent pulls me fully into reality.

  I realize that some dreams do come true. I’m resting on his chest, and my fingers accidentally brush against his bandages. Instantly, I’m fully awake.

  Is he hurt?!

  I try to rise, but his strong hands keep me down.

  “Sleep,” he mumbles.

  “How can I?!”

  His eyes are pried open. “What time is it?”

  “Who cares, are you okay?”

  He chuckles. “I am fine, my love. I’m perfect.” He kisses my forehead gently.

  “What about your chest? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I want nothing more than to feel you resting on top of me,” he says. “Nothing more.”

  He wraps his big arms around me and holds me tightly. I can’t argue with that! I allow myself to drift back to sleep, content and happy.

  The Galactic Aid Corps has landed on Garna. It has never been busier here! They have set up a massive camp, where all the aid workers and sick animals are being treated. The Federation is on their way to transport all of the SINTRA soldiers back to Earth, to face trial for their crimes.

  SINTRA has put out a statement as well, denying all involvement. They say that this was all the work of a ‘rogue group’, that their work was ‘unsanctioned’ by the top brass, and that it was ‘unfortunate’.

  That’s it.

  No compensation, no apology. No nothing.

  I remember what the general said, about ‘The Council’. It makes me shiver. There’s definitely something rotten there…

  However, that’s a problem for future me (and for the Federation’s Police). Right now, I’m expected on board of the GAC flagship, which is hovering above Garna.

  And I’m terrified.

  In fact, I’m more nervous than when we faced the general!

  Davor squeezes my hand as we land on their flagship.

  “Don’t worry,” he says.

  Easier said than done.

  My parents are right behind us — they wouldn’t miss this for the world.

  We enter the bridge, and everyone snaps to attention. My eyes land on Commander Charles Tucker, and my heart skips a beat.

  He’s nothing short of a GAC-legend, the most accomplished xenozoologist in the known universe!

  “Leah Booker,” he say. “It is an honor to finally meet you.”

  “P-please,” I stammer. “I’m no one. I’m just the local Luba lover. I’m, uhm, yeah.”

  I’m so flustered that I’m rambling.

  “You are much, much more than that, if my reports are to be believed. You single handedly saved Garna!”

  “I didn’t do it alone,” I protest. “And SINTRA was only here because of me, so really I’m the cau—”

  Davor nudges me. “Take the compliment,” he whispers.

  Right.

  “Thank you,” I say instead.

  Commander Tucker nods. “For you efforts, we would like to offer you the position of overseer on Garna. We are honored to have someone with your heart and your dedication in our ranks.”

  My eyes turn wide. My dream job, offered to me on a plate. I turn to Davor, and my mind is made up on the spot.

  “I’m sorry,” I say, “but I can’t accept.”

  I turn to my parents.

  “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you about this, but I feel like I must return to New Exon with Davor. We are Chosen, and it feels like we still have a part to play. If there’s more people like us out there, they might need our help, like Theros and Anaya were able to help us.”

  My father nods. “We understand, honey. You are destined to be together, a blind man can see that!”

  Commander Tucker clears his throat. “As a GAC-man I’m sorry to see you leave our company, but know that you are always welcome. Now, as a human, I completely understand that you need to follow your heart. I wish you all the best.”

  He pins a shiny gold medal onto my chest. “A reminder,” he says. “Garna, and the Galactic Aid Corps, thank you.”

  The little green dot I have always called home shrinks by the second as our shuttle gathers speed. The GAC have graciously offered us a free shuttle, so that we may travel back to New Exon safely.

  Davor has set it to auto-pilot as he joins me at the window.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “It certainly is,” I say with tears rolling down my cheeks.

  He wipes them away. “We will visit often,” he says. “Whenever you want.”

  “I know, I know. I’m still going to miss it.”

  Before leaving we spent a wonderful weekend with my parents, but all things come to an end. We are staring a new life on New Exon.

  He kisses my neck, and when Garna has disappears from view, he leads me back to our chambers.

  Now we have all the time in the world…

  Chapter Thirty

  Leah

  Epilogue

  I stumble out of the bathroom, somehow looking pale and green at the same time.

  “I don’t feel so good,” I say.

  Davor is up and moving in a nanosecond. He scoops me up into my arms and launches himself out the window, flying us towards the temple as fast as his wings can carry us.

  We drop in Sacred Mother Dragica’s room, who barely looks surprised to see us swoop in.

  “What is wrong with her, Mother?!” Davor says.

  “Well, sit her down and let me take a look,” she answers coolly.

  The old Zoran woman takes my temperature, reads my palm, and peers at me with a frown etched onto her pink face. Then, she breaks out into a wild smile.

  “Good news, you two. Good news indeed.”

  “What is it?” I ask.

  “You are with child, my dear!”

  “Wh-what now?”

  Davor drops down to his knees, overcome with emotion. I am so excited I barely know what to do.

  A Zoran-sized baby! How is that going to work?!

  “You two are blessed indeed,” Sacred Mother Dragica says. “The first Chosen to conceive new life! Congratulations!”

  Davor lifts me up into his arms, and I cry happy tears into his neck, my limbs wrapped around him.

  I thought our life couldn’t be more perfect, but it seems I was wrong.

  It’s going to get even better.

  The end!

  I hope you liked Book 2 of this series :). If you haven’t read Theros and Anaya’s story yet, you can check out Mated to the Zoran.

  Book 3 will be out in October. If you sign up for my newsletter, I’ll drop you a link when it goes live. Click here to sign up.

  Need more Zoran right flipping now?! Then turn the page to read a preview of Alien General’s Baby :) or check out my Amazon page for 3 completed Zoran-based series!

  Thank you,

  Luna.

  Preview of Alien General’s Baby (Zoran Warriors Book 1)

  Jillian

  Oh boy.

  I’ve heard only rumors about the ruthless Zoran. Some say they are seven feet tall and all bulging muscle, with sharp fangs and devilish horns, and eyes as red as fire. All I know for sure is that they are the most powerful force in the galaxy, and we humans have stayed clear of them.

  Until now.

  I have no idea how to act around such infamous intergalactic killers. I am a geneticist, not a psychologist or a sociologist. I prefer to spend my time in the lab rather than mingling with people, and the intricacies of interspecies etiquette are absolutely lost on me.

  At the moment, however, I’m concerned with more pressing matters.

  What the hell am I going to wear?!

  The Vonnegut glides its plotted course around Earth, the silence of space a stark contrast to the pandemonium inside my quarters as I desperately search my closet for appropriate attire. I had thought picking an ou
tfit for my brother’s wedding was hard. What are you supposed to wear to an interspecies first contact?

  “Try the black dress,” my assistant Kelly shouts. “I got the perfect heels to match it.”

  I roll my eyes. I’m a woman of science, more at ease in a lab coat than a little black dress, and I am not about to go down in history as the klutz who tripped on her heels and spilled hot coffee on a Zoran General and accidentally incited an intergalactic war, thank you very much.

  “What about my lab coat?” I ask Kelly. “I could just wear that. It’s distinguished and lends me an air of credibility… right?”

  “Pff,” Kelly blows me off. “Who cares about any of that? You should look hot,” she says gleefully. “It’s your special night! Your first gala as head of the Bioscience program! Don’t you want to impress those Zoran warriors? I’ve heard they’re huge, with hands twice as big as our own… and you know what they say about aliens with big hands…”

  “Is alien junk all you can think about?” I ask.

  Kelly grins mischievously. “Don’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind.”

  “Never,” I lie.

  Kelly is my best friend, and has been with me throughout my entire career. Wherever I go, she goes. We couldn’t be more different, but it works for us: I’m curvy with an unruly bush of brown curls, while Kelly has a slim figure and straight, golden-blonde hair. Furthermore, I’m perpetually single, while Kelly somehow manages to combine our grueling hours in the lab with an active dating life. How she juggles all her responsibilities is absolutely beyond me, but she pulls it off.

  Together we lead a team with an intimidating but extremely important goal: to cure the black cough. Our planet is buckling under its own weight, and the uncontrolled polluting of the environment throughout the 21st century is now causing massive illnesses all around the globe. Those unfortunate souls who can’t afford to live in the luxury high-rises with their own filtered air systems are exposed to contaminated air on a daily basis.