The Alien Commander's Surrogate

Episode 67

Hillary

My heart pounded in my chest. "What does that mean? A new Prime will rise?"

Salex sighed, his eyes dark, "Regardless of how sparse younglings are for the average Trenzian, the Prime always makes a point to surround himself with as many fertile females as possible. His omegas. And now he has a small herd of heirs who are constantly attempting to off each other."
Hillary blinked, "And he was okay with that?"

"Very much so. Trenzian culture says that the strongest will beat out the others and assume the Prime role after their father passes. Birth order only means so much if the eldest is murdered by the third in order."

"Does that mean Oren will try to assume the role?"

Salex snorted, "I highly doubt it. But Oren's closest sibling is a powerful brother named Chet're. He's innovative, forward thinking....the people love him."

"Which means that he's going to be first on the chopping block," I finished for him, turning to stare down the hallway. Ghantlan shifted, nervous.

"What do we do?" Ghantlan said, taking his communicator tablet back.

Salex's hand rubbed up and down my back, "If we call for Oren and the wrong people answer, then we out him as a possible ally to the omega revolution we have sparked here in space. And if we don't reach out, he may think that we have bailed on his cause in the face fo the shift in power. Which is worse?"

My throat felt sticky, gross as I attempted to swallow. "I uh, I don't think we want to risk that he needs us right? So we reach out, hope that no one else intercepts it?"

Salex and Ghantlan looked at each other then slowly back at me. "If Oren is being hunted by his brothers...which he most likely is, I cannot put the Losskee in the path of their attack."

"You're going to sacrifice him."

"No," Salex's voice is low, deep, "I am choosing to protect you. And not just you, but the knowledge that we now carry. I might be a selfish male, and tell Oren to fuck off instead of putting my mate in danger, but it is more than that now. And Oren knows that."

Salex caressed the side of my face, "Even if we were to reach out, Oren has no doubt blocked that communication. He too knows the power of this relationship."

Dread unfurled in my belly and I smoothed a hand over my body before dropping lower. The youngling was heavy today. Closing my eyes, I was suddenly too tired for all of this. The temptation of an outing with Salex faded as I recognized that this entire venture was taking a harsh pivot away from simple straight into complicated.

"Hillary?" Ghantlan's voice was worried, "Are you alright?"

I blinked up at them, realizing now that both Salex and Ghantlan were staring at me. My mate moved towards me and for the first time, I shrugged away. I wasn't ready to be handled right now, I didn't want him to purr it away. To hold me tight and tell me it was going to be okay. Because it wouldn't be.

I had been caught up in the romance of it. The chance that this would solve so many broken hearts, provide a home for so many more. Babies and cuddles, purring and safety. All in one swoop.

But what I had forgotten was that none of this would ever be able to spread, to survive without the risk and blood of those males in front of me. And the hundreds that served Oren or the Losskee. They would risk it all for a chance at what I already had.

And suddenly that seemed so cruel.

I pressed back, one hand at my chest, the other at my mouth as I stared at Salex. I could see the panic in his eyes, the matching worry in Ghantlan's. "I didn't know...I didn't think..." I gasped in a lungful of air, "This isn't going to be simple. There isn't a happily ever after just waiting there."
Ghantlan stepped forward, surprising both Salex and me, based on Salex's soft growl. "Calm, Hillary. You are frustrated, I understand that. But you need to remember that any of us would happily give our lives for a chance to have what you two already have. And in doubt, we would also die to protect what you have, with no chance of our own."