Naima: A SciFi Alien Mail Order Bride Romance (TerraMates Book 7)

by Lisa Lace

  She refused to believe that he had set her up for failure. A soft knock at the door had her barking at whoever it was. “Come in at your own risk.”

  “You sound upset.” Her brother, Cade, walked in, closing the door behind him. “You made Melvin piss himself, you know. Poor guy had a huge wet spot down the front of his slacks.”

  “I don’t give a shit. What do you want?” She crossed her arms over her chest. She didn’t need her brother’s childish attitude or his lofty ideas. He was no help and without her father there between them, their relationship would soon disintegrate completely. She was totally and utterly alone.

  “You’re overreacting. Dad had this company buzzing along. What did you do to mess it up in the last few months?” His smirk turned into a cocky grin. She had hurt him at the hospital and now he had come to return the favor.

  “Get out. I don’t need this shit and I don’t need you.”

  “What you need to do is jump off your high horse and get laid. Some big bear needs to fuck the bitch out of you.” Her brother glared at her as she got up and walked around her desk, her fingernails growing into claws.

  “I warned you,” she growled loudly and the room vibrated. She wasn’t anything to mess with. The gods built her body for fucking up the strongest of men. Her teeth and nails were sharp and ready to draw blood, guts and anything else she could get to.

  He held up his hand, tossing a large envelope to her. “Fuck you, Sonya. This was on my door this morning. I guess they thought you still lived there. I’m out. Save your ass whooping for someone else. I’m not taking it from you anymore.”

  He turned and left as she looked at the front of the envelope. A symbol sat at the top left corner. A black bear paw. Her anger began to subside as the door to her office closed. She walked to it and locked it, not wanting to kill anyone today.

  Her brother would be back in her face before she wanted him to. He always was. The packet was heavy, filled with paper by the weight and shape of it. She turned it over and tore it open, anxiety tugging at her.

  Sitting down at her desk, she reached up and pulled her hair into a bun before twisting a random hair around it to hold it in place. She pulled out the large stack of papers and turned them over, the name at the top of the paper causing her heart to skip a beat.

  Alec DePort.

  She took a shaky breath. His name still causing her to feel a rush of emotion. If she had come close in her life to loving anyone, it had been Alec. She sat back, her eyes running over his name again and again until the room faded and memories swept her into a different time and place.

  She was twenty-three when they met, the handsome black bear cocky and full of adventure. Her father had sent her to Europe to study abroad. Her degree in advertising allowed for plenty of travel. He wanted her to get knowledge of the Europeans, the Asians, and the Austrians. If Varetec was going to be a global company, Sonya would take it to that next level. To do that, she had to study all over the world.

  At a small cafe, her tea had gone cold because the book she read on ancient design had been so good. She didn’t remember when Alec showed up at her table. She glanced up and gave him a scowl, his motorbike loud and unbelievably obnoxious. His laugh filled her ears; the soft sound of enjoyment he got from upsetting her was attractive. He invited himself to join her and she found herself taken by his jet black hair, his dark eyes, and his sexy smile.

  She was a bitch for sure that day, and every day after, but never in a million years had she expected him to push past her defenses and leave her desperate for him. She had spent too many nights in his arms. His body was beautifully created for her. The end had come soon and he had begged her to leave her responsibilities and run with him. He was a lone bear, a man with no responsibilities and nothing holding him down. She refused and the fight was epic.

  She had never shifted to fight a lover before, but the last night in the deep forests of the old country, they both shifted and wounded far more than each other’s flesh.

  She brushed her thumb over his name on the paper and let out a snort. She wanted him to die for stealing her heart. He was a bastard and he knew it. She taught him a lesson that night and hoped that one day she might get to finish the deal.

  It looked like that time was upon her.

  She read through the document quickly, her eyes scanning the useless legal language. The summary at the end was short and sweet. He was the leader of a new group, most likely the Black Bears, although the letter didn’t directly confirm that. Shifters were careful not to share their secrets in written form.

  He was in need of funding and Varetec was exactly what his group needed to sustain their future. He was willing to be amicable, but the takeover would occur in one month from the date of the letter. One month was all her CPA had given her too. The timing was perfect. Her father knew what he was talking about. Alec had to be the one her father referred to, his words stinging her even still.

  “Just let it happen, Sonya.”

  Just let it happen? How? How could he do this to her? Didn’t he trust her to take care of their clan and their company? Had she failed to do what he asked her to do? Rage ripped through her. She dropped the papers on the desk as she walked toward the window. The day was turning to night and it would be another hour before she could turn into her bear form and leave her worries and concerns behind.

  Alec DePort of all people. Of all people in the whole world it was him who was coming to strip her of everything she had worked to build. She laughed, but the sound fell flat. Her phone buzzed on the table behind her and she walked toward it, scooping it up and answering quickly. It was Dr. Phillips and her thoughts of hostile takeovers and her father’s deception fell by the wayside. Nothing mattered but the life of the only man she loved.

  “Mark?”

  “Yeah, it’s me. He’s awake, but very, very weak, Sonya. He’s asking for you.”

  “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. I’ll leave the office now.”

  “Good. Be careful, but hurry.”

  *

  She bit her lip as she walked down the hall of the hospital. The only sounds were the beeping of machines and her heels. She paused outside the door of her father’s room, knocking softly. Mark opened the door and moved out into the hall.

  “Don’t talk about anything that might upset him. He’s holding on by a thread. He’s commanded us not to resuscitate him again.”

  “That’s my decision as his caretaker. Not his,” Sonya bit out between clenched teeth.

  “In the human world you would be correct, but he’s my Alpha until he breathes his last breath. I will obey him even if he calls for my death, Sonya. You know how we work. Don’t let your pain cloud your judgment or wisdom.”

  She put her hands on her hips, hating the fact that he was right. “Move and let me see him.”

  “Okay, but don’t excite him or upset him. After this, we need to have a talk.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s time to start preparing for the end of life. He’s got a few weeks at most, and that’s me being hopeful and generous. We almost didn’t bring him back this last time. He’s hurting and he’s ready to ascend to our ancestors.”

  “I can’t have this conversation right now, Mark. I’m tired and I want to see my dad.”

  “I get it. We can talk tomorrow.” He touched her arm and walked off, the look on his face pensive.

  She pushed the door open and walked in, preparing herself for the worst. He didn’t turn toward her as she walked around the bed. He looked like death had already come to collect him. Sonya reached out and touched his arm, the muscle having turned into soft flesh. The beast she grew up loving and fearing wasn’t anything like the man lying before her.

  “Dad?”

  “Sonya.” He took a long labored breath and blinked slowly. “I thought I had ascended, but today I woke up still in this body that hurts so damn much.” He gave a sad smile and she closed her eyes, working hard to force a fake smile into place. She
wouldn’t let her last visit with him be one where he felt guilty because of the pain or sorrow she had over his condition. He didn’t deserve that.

  “Soon. It’s going to be over soon.”

  “I love you. Did you know that? I’m proud of you and I know you’re going to do great things for our people.”

  She bit back her anger and decided to take the conversation in a different direction.

  “I love you too.” Sonya sat down on the side of his bed carefully as he groaned. “I got an interesting letter in the mail today.”

  “Tell me about it, child.” His breathing was so loud and filled with pain that it was difficult not to flinch each time he drew in a shallow breath.

  “It was from Alec DePort. He’s moving forward with a hostile takeover of Varetec if I don’t come to see him in two days from now. Do you know who Alec is, dad?”

  “He is the Alpha of the Black Bears, dear. I told you of him when last we spoke.”

  “He’s also the only man I’ve ever loved.”

  “Is that so?” Her father’s eyebrow rose for a moment before his face went slack again. His exhaustion was so heavy on him that she wanted to leave it, but she needed to know.

  “Yes. Why is he able to do this to us? To me?”

  “Do what, Sonya?”

  “Take over? There were a few decisions that you made that have left my hands tied, Dad.”

  “Would you have considered help otherwise?” He closed his eyes and sucked in air softly. She reached over and rubbed his chest through his hospital gown. The bones of his ribs and breastplate pressed against her fingers, his strength gone.

  “No, but I feel like you didn’t have faith in me to make everything work. You’ve forced me into submission at the hands of another pack’s leader. I don’t know what to do about it.” She watched her tone carefully. She didn’t want her final words with her hero to be terse. She needed more information and wanted to understand, but like she had always done in the past, she trusted that her father had a purpose.

  “I trust you with all my heart,” he whispered softly. “You wouldn’t step up as Alpha. You’re too much like your beautiful mother. A traditionalist. I need you to find the man who will.”

  “And you think that is Alec, Daddy? Do you know him? He’s a bastard.”

  A soft laugh left her father, his face contorting in pain from. “I don’t know him at all, but he’s irrelevant in my plan.”

  “He is your plan from what I can see.”

  “No, baby. You are my plan. Alec is simply a strong man that needs a woman to guide him. That’s you. You will bring him to help us, although he believes differently. You will save our people, and something tells me that love will be the end result.”

  “I’ve tried his love and I don’t want it.”

  “Somehow I don’t believe that. Listen to yourself.”

  “You need to rest, Dad. I’ll meet with him, kill him and we’ll be done.”

  Her father laughed again, ending in a loud groan. The strong beast before her was nothing but a shell of the man he was.

  “Meet with him and work through this. For you, for our people, and for me.”

  Chapter 4

  Two Days Later

  Alec sat quietly across the table from Drago, one of the older members of their clan. The stone-faced bear was upset about the way Alec had treated his daughter earlier that week, but his beef was much greater than a few hurt feelings.

  The meeting needed to end soon. Alec knew Sonya would be showing up in a few hours and he wanted to be prepared for her. She was going to come in ready to tear his throat out before he could reveal his plan to bring her and her people success.

  “Are you even listening, Alec?”

  “I’m growing tired of you, Drago. Get to the point and then go. The council meeting is later this week and I will give my full report on our financial situation at that time.”

  “Yes, but what is there to report? I’m telling you that the treasury is running dry. Are you going to simply add a few vulgar words to that truth and scare everyone with your size and dominance?”

  “Watch your tone. We are a people that respect our leaders in order of their power, not their age. Don’t talk to me like I’m a pup or I’ll cut you down where you sit.” Alec leaned forward and growled. “I’ll use any fucking words I want and if you don’t like my size and dominance, then take your family and find a new continent to live on.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I’m simply trying to figure out how we’re going to make this work.” The older man sighed softly, his own sense of self-preservation kicking in.

  “I’m working on the treasury situation today. I will be taking over a large company at two this afternoon. That is going to sustain us for a very long time.”

  “Tell me more.”

  “No, not until I wrap up the details on the deal. We still have a lot to work through, me and the former owner. She will be staying involved in the company and it will be a split.”

  “She? Who is this we’re talking about? We’re a large pack, Alec. There is no way we will be able to grow something large enough to split revenues and still drag ourselves out of the hole our last Alpha left us in.”

  “Yes, we will. I’m working on it and that’s all I’m sharing with you.” Alec leaned back in his chair, clasping his fingers over his stomach and looking down the slope of his chest.

  She was coming soon. What would she be wearing? She would dress to impress, no doubt. He wouldn’t be surprised if her outfit screamed, ‘Look what you could have had.’

  Bitch.

  She had refused him, not the other way around.

  “Fine. I guess I have no other choice but to trust that you know what you’re doing.” Drago stood and picked up his coat from behind his chair, tugging it over his massive arms. “If you’re as brilliant as you are cunning, then I believe you’ll be able to pull this off.”

  “I might surprise you yet, old man.” Alec stood and walked the council advisor to the door. “I know you’re pissed about the things I said to Cilia. I apologize for being crude, but my point was plain and simple. Stop trying to mate me with someone. I am not a common traditional bear. I come from the wild and I like my women untamed and fierce. I would do nothing but break your daughter’s heart. Plain and simple.”

  He had almost thrown in that he would deflower the poor girl ten ways to Sunday, but decided to leave that out. Tact had never been his strong suit, but he was working on it.

  “I understand,” the other man spoke through a clenched jaw. Alec opened the door and moved back as Drago left. The conversation had been tense and unpleasant.

  “Sir, you have Miss Valsek from Varetec coming at two today. Just a reminder.” Sandy stood from her desk and smiled at him.

  “Yes. I’ll be ready for her when she arrives. Make her wait for ten minutes or so and then show her in. Give me a notification when she arrives.”

  “Of course, Sir.”

  Alec walked back into his office and closed the door before moving to look out at the sun. He wanted to get away for a few days. Just go up to the mountains somewhere and lose himself. How fun it would have been to take Sonya with him, but she wasn’t the girl he wanted her to be.

  “That was ten years ago, you idiot,” he grumbled to himself before pressing his forehead to the glass. He was lonely and wanted companionship, but it had to be the right woman or it would end in disaster. What made him think it would be Sonya?

  Because it had been before.

  Her laughter set his heart on fire, her smile leaving him breathless and wanting to make her feel so much over and over again. Her moans and the taste of her. He groaned and closed his eyes as a fire started in the pit of his stomach and spread along his nerve endings.

  God, the way she tasted.

  He licked his lips absently and tried to slow his racing heart. He couldn’t be the man he wanted to be in front of her. He wasn’t that boy anymore. He didn’t have the luxury of being
carefree and wanting to run around the world, making love and experiencing life. He was the Alpha of the Black Bears and responsibility weighed him down heavily. It was ironic that he was in the position that she had been in so many years earlier when she rejected him.

  Her father was renowned for being an icon both in the human world and in their world. He was benevolent and fair, kind and good, but vicious when necessary. Sonya was all of those things too. Alec would put her through a time of testing, breaking her if he must, in order to create something new between them. A union was the end goal. One where their packs could share equally in the spoils of Varetec.

  That was one of the goals, at least. The other was that she would be his. The idea of such a union pressed hope into the center of his chest. How beautiful life would be with her in it again. Even if she was pissed and resented him. Passion could be fueled by many things. In the past, it was love. Perhaps now it would be hate.

  It didn’t matter how it happened, but the fact was that her passion would soon be his.

  Chapter 5

  Sonya parked outside of the large glass building. The structure was beautiful and very much Alec’s style. It wasn’t racing toward the sky but took up enough of the grounds to require attention. She pushed the door open to the building revealing a receptionist sitting at a large ornate desk.

  Alec was expecting her to be the same silly girl that believed in love and hope. She wasn’t that girl anymore and the woman she had become wasn’t someone he was going to appreciate. He wanted to bring her to her knees with his threat to take over…she was going to play his game and make him realize that some things are far worse than death.

  Brushing her chestnut locks over her shoulder, Sonya stopped at the receptionist desk and placed her glossy nails on the glass, tapping softly.