Mister Hottiee

by Alice Cooper

  “How does a witch not know that she’s a witch?”

  “I can answer that question,” Gratsky said smiling. “Natalie’s witch gene is recessive. It leaked out every now and then, but it didn’t truly show its potential until it mingled with the saliva of a shifter. It protected itself by becoming a more dominant gene. Had Paul never bitten her, Natalie would have never had any active powers.”

  Micah stared at Jackson. “What are you going to do?”

  “Marry her,” Jackson said instantly.

  The alpha rolled his eyes. He looked at Brent. “Do you trust her?”

  “She protected Jackson. He’d be dead without her. That’s good enough for me.”

  “Where did the tunnel come from?”

  Brent shook his head. “I’m still working on that.”

  The alpha nodded. “Keep it under wraps for now. Doctor? Will the witch be okay?”

  “She’s stable. We’ll know more when she wakes up.”

  “Great. I’m going to unpack. Jackson?”

  Jackson lifted his head uneasily.

  “Good job holding down the fort while I was gone,” Micah said easily.

  Jackson nodded. The alpha and his wife left the clinic, and he looked at Brent. “Thanks for having my back. Both with Paul and just now.”

  His friend nodded. “I need to speak to the alpha of Paul’s pack and let him know what’s going on. While I’d love to take care of him, I’m sure he’ll be better suited to dole out justice.”

  “Is he still unconscious?”

  Brent nodded. “He hit the wall pretty hard. I’m not sure when he’ll wake up, but the silver irons should keep him docile for now.”

  Jackson shuddered. Silver was the one weakness of a shifter. Brent took out his phone and stepped out to make the call. Jackson looked in on Natalie. “What’s going to happen to her?” he asked anxiously.

  The doctor shrugged. “I’m about to draw some blood and run some tests. I’ll let you know then.”

  * * *

  Natalie felt surprisingly energetic when she woke up. Her vision was sharp, and she sprang up in bed. Where the hell was she?

  “Easy.”

  She turned to the familiar voice. “Jackson! You’re okay.” She reached over to hold him, but he kept his distance. “Jackson?” she asked hesitantly.

  “Dr. Gratsky, she’s awake,” he called out. Immediately, an older and portly man came into the room.

  “Natalie! How are you feeling?”

  “Fine,” she said, bewildered. “How long have I been out?”

  “Three days.”

  “Three days!” she gasped. Suddenly, she remembered what happened. Her eyes widened as she grabbed at her shoulder. “Oh god. I’m a shifter. Paul. Paul bit me.” Her eyes filled with tears.

  “You are not a shifter,” the doctor said with a smile. “I ran some tests, and I’m ninety-nine percent sure that you won’t turn.”

  “How is that possible?” she asked in a small voice.

  “Jackson tells me that you’re an empath. What do you know about being an empath?”

  Natalie shrugged. “Not much. My grandmother was much better than I am. I just get a few faint traces of people’s emotions. Usually only when they’re strong.” She swallowed hard. “Although, now that I think about it, I feel some traces from both of you.”

  She turned to Jackson. “Why are you afraid?”

  He backed out. “I’m going to give you two some room,” he said quietly.

  “Jackson?” she turned to the doctor. “What the hell is going on?”

  “Natalie, has there been anyone you could talk to about this empathic ability that you have?”

  “No,” she said slowly. “My grandmother has been gone for awhile now, and my mother never had the ability. But she passed away a few years ago. Why?”

  “I just think if you knew more about your heritage, this might not have happened. You see, an empath isn’t just a psychic ability. It’s a type of witch.”

  “A witch?” Natalie recoiled. “I would know if I was a witch.”

  “It appears to be a recessive trait in you. When the shifter bit you, your body had to choose between one ability or another. And the recessive trait became a dominate one. It’s a good thing, too. It saved Jackson’s life.”

  Shifter’s hated witches. That explained why Jackson didn’t want to stick around. He’d never care for her now.

  Once again, she was alone.

  “Do I need to stick around?” she asked in a neutral voice. “Is it okay if I leave?”

  Gratsky frowned. “I’d like to keep an eye on you for a few more days, if that’s okay. I’ve never been able to examine a witch. It’s with your permission, of course.”

  Natalie nodded, but she had no intentions of sticking around. Being near Jackson and not having him would hurt. She already knew that. “I’m going to get you something to eat,” the doctor said kindly. “Any requests?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” she said honestly. She didn’t plan on being around to eat it.

  He exited the room. When she heard him leave the office, she immediately threw off the sheet on her bed. Stripping the bed gown off, she pulled on the pajamas she was wearing the morning of the attack and slipped out of the building.

  At least this time she wasn’t running for her life. That would, at least, make things easier. She could go back to original plan of going to the city and settling down. If she hid the fact that she was a witch, maybe she would blend in with society a bit better.

  “Always on the run.”

  She froze. Jackson stood under the tree outside the clinic and watched her intently. “I just thought it would be easier,” she muttered. “For everyone.”

  “You though it would be easier if you just ran away again? Is it that easy for you to leave me?”

  She turned away from him. “Look, I appreciate everything that you’ve done for me. I really do. You saved my life. But things are different now.”

  “How?”

  She cocked her head. “What do you mean, how? Before I was a human with some psychic abilities. Now I’m a witch. Everyone knows that witches and shifters don’t mix. I know you hate me now.”

  “Hate you?” in the blink of an eye, he’d crossed the small clearing and grabbed her wrist. “Why the hell would you say that?”

  She pulled out of his grasp. “Are you kidding me? You could barely look at me inside. It’s clear that you can’t stand the sight of me. Why are you fighting me on this?”

  He laughed hoarsely and pulled her into his grasp. “I definitely don’t hate you, Natalie. I failed you. I promised that I would keep you safe, and if it weren’t for your witch gene, you’d be a bear shifter. And you’d belong to Paul’s pack. I figured you’d hate me.”

  She collapsed against him. It was nice to feel his warmth again. “You didn’t fail me. Every time I was in danger, you found me. I don’t hate you,” she muttered. “I love you. You did save me.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “I love you too, Natalie. I have from the moment I felt you enter my building.”

  “Even though I’m a witch now?”

  “You’ve always been a witch. Just because you’re more powerful now doesn’t change how I feel about you. And it doesn’t change anything about you. I don’t care if you’re a witch, vampire, or otter shifter. I love you. I love everything about you,” he whispered into her ear.

  And in that moment, she was happier than she’d ever been in her entire life. Jackson loved her. “What do we do now?”

  “You’re going to marry me.” He pulled back and searched her face. “You’re my mate.”

  She punched him lightly in the arm. “Aren’t you supposed to ask, first?”

  He shook his head. “And give you a chance to say no? Absolutely not. You’re mine.”

  “I am yours,” she said with a smile. “But what about your pack?”

  “They’ll love you. And no one is going to be upset with a witch by our side.
But I have to warn you. I think something big is about to happen. And I’m not sure I want you in the middle of it.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not leaving your side. If you’re going to be in the middle of it, I’m going to be in the middle of it. That’s what marriage is. That’s what love is.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, and Natalie suddenly didn’t care about her being a witch or him being a shifter. She didn’t care about their past, and she didn’t care about the future. At that moment, he was a man that she loved. She was the woman that he loved. And life couldn’t be more perfect.

  THE END

  SMASHED ON ALIEN PLANET

  Chapter 1

  Liz Form looked around the convention center. She was one of hundreds of volunteers who agreed to work the Aliens Are Among Us expo. This was her third year volunteering at the expo and she loved it. She always met so many interesting people and aliens. Yes she believed they were real, knew several of them personally, all thanks to these expo’s.

  She looked around the room at the people milling around. There were times it was hard to tell who was human and who was alien. Some alien’s had features that were so close to humans, you didn’t even know, unless they told you they were one.

  As a group of what she believed to be volunteers as well went by her she spotted one who caught her eyes. He was tall and tinted in blue, or perhaps he was really that color, she wasn’t sure yet. But she followed him with her eyes for a while, and suddenly he was back in front of her again.

  “Hi, I couldn’t help but notice you staring at me.” He held out his hand. “My name is Allen Hasih, nice to meet you. So tell me what your name is?” He said.

  Liz was shocked by his sudden appearance in front of her and embarrassed as well. She wasn’t shy, but being caught in the act of just watching him wasn’t what she had wanted. The truth was that he had continued to keep her eye; there was definitely something there, a connection between them.

  “My name is Liz Form. Sorry for staring, but I love the blue tint, it’s amazingly beautiful!” She stated.

  A slow smile spread over his face and he said. “Thanks, I think they did a good job on it too! I love your outfit.” He said pointing to her long dress that had a low cut in front and accentuated her breasts.

  She saw him spend a few extra moments on her assets and smiled to herself. If she wanted him she could have him, he was within her grasp. “So maybe you’d like to get some coffee after the expo closes?” She asked.

  “Sure, but why wait until then, don’t you get a break?” He asked.

  “Well yeah in about 20 minutes I’ll be on break.” She stated.

  “Okay, I’ll come and find you in 20 minutes. I have to go before the rest of the group gets restless.” He commented.

  “See you in a little bit.” She waved goodbye to him and smiled as he walked away, the whole way looking back at her. Liz laughed when he ran into the people who were walking in front of him. He quickly turned his gaze away from her and apologized to the people he had almost knocked over.

  “He’s a big one there.” She laughed as she looked at the blue tinted alien again. When he had stood beside her she had to look up. She was short, only 5’ 4”, but still he looked like a monster compared to her.

  She looked at his black hair as he walked away, it was a nice short military cut, just like she liked on men. Liz had also noticed his glowing amber eyes when he had stopped to talk to her. She sighed knowing that this was the type of man who could also trap her, if she didn’t get control of her emotions quickly. Liz had only one person in her past that had brought those feelings to her mind and heart before, that had been Jason.

  Liz didn’t want to think about Jason though; it had taken her a couple of years to get over his betrayal. She had caught him with her best friend, well not anymore, but at the time. The sad thing is Liz should have known there was something going on between them. She had seen them too close and laughing many times when she had entered a room. But she had never thought that they would both betray her. They had though, and she had lost two people in her life in the matter of one night.

  Right now wasn’t the time to think about the past though. Instead she focused on the people walking around. “Excuse me ma’am are you looking for anything in particular?” She asked one lady who looked a bit lost.”

  “No this is just my first time here, it’s amazing!” The woman looked around the room wonder clearly showing in her eyes.

  “It is overwhelming the first time you see it.” Liz nodded her head in agreement.

  “There are so many things here. Hey can I ask you something?” The woman looked at her.

  “Sure anything.” Liz said.

  “Are aliens real? I mean have you ever seen one?” The woman asked shyly.

  Liz knew this type; they were the semi-believers in aliens on Earth. They weren’t sure and wanted to find answers out. The good thing is she had come to the right place to learn all there was to know about aliens.

  “Actually I have many friends who are aliens.” Liz answered.

  “Really, do they look like us?” The woman asked her eyes wide.

  “Well most of them you can’t even tell they are alien, while others might have something that is a little different from us, but you have to really look!” Liz explained. “I’ve met plenty who I wasn’t sure were alien until they told me.” She added.

  “So are there any aliens here? Can you point one out to me?” The woman whispered to Liz.

  “You don’t have to whisper honey. You’ll find them all over the place. See that booth over there, go and talk to them, I’m pretty sure there are at least a couple of real aliens.” Liz said pointing to a stand that was just across the room from them.

  “Oh thank you so much! It was nice to meet you, my name is Mary.” The woman said and quickly went off to the stand.

  Liz laughed for a bit after the woman left; she watched her talking to the group of people. One of them Liz knew for sure was an alien; he was a friend of hers she’d met a few years back at one of her first expos.

  “Hey beautiful are you ready to go for that coffee?” A voice said from behind her.

  Liz spun around to find Allen standing behind her. He was silent; she hadn’t even heard him come up from behind her. “Sure I am.” She smiled and they walked outside to the coffee shop that was next door to the convention center.

  “I hope you don’t mind coming out here. It gives us a bit more privacy to talk.” Allen stated.

  “No I don’t mind at all!” Liz commented. “Plus you know people come up and bother you if you drink inside the building, especially you with that look!” Liz laughed.

  “Yeah I’ve gotten a ton of comments already today!” Allen admitted.

  “So are you alien?” Liz asked. It didn’t matter she was still very attracted to him no matter if he was human or alien.

  “Actually I am alien, but I’m not blue under this paint if that’s what you’re wondering!” He laughed.

  “Well I was kind of wondering. It’s a blue like I’ve never seen before.” Liz admitted.

  “This color is from our home planet, I don’t think you would have seen it before, unless you’d met one of our people before.” Allen stated.

  “What planet are you from?” Liz asked.

  “Hasastasha, have you heard of it before?” Allen asked.

  “No I haven’t, are you new coming to Earth?” She asked.

  He sat and thought for a few minutes. “Well not really this is my second trip in 10 years. We come for a while, some of us stay, but I’ve never found any reason to stay for long before I travel back home. Well that is up until now!” Allen said, his eyes probing her green eyes.

  She turned a bright red. “Oh you like the expo do you?” Liz asked, trying to get him to stop staring at her. She felt naked in front of him.

  “The expo is nice, but what I really like is you. Your beautiful Liz, I think I might stick around and get to know you better.
” Allen said.

  “I think I would like that.” Liz admitted.

  “I have a job to do though, so I’ll have to possibly go back home for a few days. Finish my job up and then I can see about getting time off.” Allen explained.

  “What do you do?” Liz probed.

  “I recruit women who would like to visit my planet and find love.” Allen said slowly.

  “Wow, do you get a lot of women who want to visit Hasastasha? I wouldn’t mind seeing it, if it’s where you’re from. I’ve never been off Earth yet.” Liz said.

  “We have some women who like the sound of it. Well maybe you can visit, but not this trip. I don’t think my co-workers would appreciate me bringing along another person.” Allen stated.

  “Well you could just tell them I’m one of the women who are going along looking for love, right?” She pushed.

  “I don’t know I’ll see if I can do anything.” Allen said.

  Liz noticed he seemed to not want her to go along. Perhaps he wasn’t really interested in her after all, or maybe he had a wife or girlfriend on his home planet. How odd could that be showing up with an Earth girl and showing her around, while your wife looks on. There was definitely a warning bell that was sounding in her head.

  “Okay, well I didn’t want to push it. I just thought it would be neat to see the Earth from outer space and see another planet! I’ve always dreamed of something like that! Liz commented.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess it’s just normal for me.” But she noticed he didn’t say much else about his planet or her comments.

  “Oh no, I’m late going back.” She said as she looked down at the time. “I know I only volunteer, but I like to make sure I offer good customer service during the day. Plus I love seeing the looks of people who’ve come for their first time.” Liz said.

  “I’d like to see you again, maybe later tonight?” He asked.

  “Sure what time?” Liz responded.