[Excerpt; first 4 chapters only] Aliens storm our ship, threatening the lives of the crew. I bow my head and approach the alien commander, Tarak. Alien predator eyes lock on me. In desperation, I invoke an ancient word. Tarak hurls a metal collar that clatters at my feet. With trembling hands, I seize the collar, lifting it to my neck. The collar locks. Tarak's tail thrashes in excitement, and he clips a leash to me. I make a vow. I wear this collar to save my crew, but Tarak will never own my spirit. Why then do I want to fall to my knees? Why do I crave his touch?

Viktor didn't expect to be abducted by aliens when he went to school one morning, and he certainly didn't expect to be thrown into the alien equivalent of a dog-fighting ring, either. But when fighting for his life quickly becomes his routine, will he be able to muster up the strength to break that mold? Especially when the fate of humanity rests on his shoulders? *** The Vokkrus, a warrior alien species, go to Earth with the intention to 'rescue' the human species from their dying planet. The catch is that they believe humans to be nonsentient and incapable of intelligent thought. They are treated as nothing more than the common animal. They are a commodity, something to fawn over and ogle at. Humanity's strength and stamina are nearly unrivaled on this new planet, and when Viktor is taken to an alien fighting ring, he quickly dominates the competition. Mercy has no place in the arena. When Viktor is adopted by the leader of the Vokkrus, an intimidating alien whose intentions are unclear, he is forced to shed his wariness and convince the alien king to save humanity from his accidental oppression. *** Please don't advertise other stories in the comments! They will get deleted. Cross-posted on ao3 under the same title and username. Wordcount = 350,000+ December 22, 2022: #1 in #alien-abduction January 13, 2023: #2 in #found-family February 22, 2023: #19 in #science February 22, 2023: #1 in #spaceship February 22, 2023: #2 in humanpet