Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“That’s what I hear.”
I giggle. “Well at least I won’t have to worry about any Eleadian men hitting on me. None of them will even be able to see me in the crowd. I’ll only come up to their waist.”
This is going to be a strange night, but I will do it. For Ava. After all, I’m her wingwoman.
Chapter Two
Surgient
“Surgient, how are you?” Ganrax smiles broadly as he pulls out a chair and takes a seat next to me.
I reach out to shake Ganrax’s hand. “Good. Ready to head home.”
“I bet. Two years is a long time to spend so far away from Eleadia, especially on the starship. You must be chomping at the bit to get back home.”
“Three years with travel,” I point out. After all, it took six months to get to Earth, and it will take six months to return. I made this three-year commitment to serve my planet willingly, though, and I have no regrets.
As part of my compensation for my service to Eleadia, I’m spending my last days down on Earth at Club Zoom where I hope to find a mate to return with.
“I guess you know a lot more about human females than the rest of us.” Ganrax glances around the control room where the two of us are sitting. Six other Eleadian males are also in attendance.
I smile. “That’s an understatement.”
The night is early. Female humans are just starting to arrive downstairs. I’ve been scanning the monitor in front of me for several minutes. This is my first official night down on Earth as a guest rather than as an employee of the mothership.
As the head doctor for the ship, I’ve taken the shuttle down to Earth several times to examine injured or sick females, but I have always been careful to keep my attention on the patient—who was in every instance already claimed by an Eleadian male. This had been important to ensure I wouldn’t accidentally meet my own mate prematurely, before my contract ended.
Tonight, I’m now a registered guest with my own apartment on the fourth floor above this club. I’m free to begin my search for a suitable mate. It’s both exciting and exhilarating.
I’ve learned every detail of the ins and outs of this process over the past two years, gathering information from every other Eleadian male who has claimed his mate and brought her to the mothership before returning to Eleadia. I know more about human females than practically anyone from my planet.
Armed with this information, I’m cautious and prepared. Human females are unfamiliar with our ways. It’s shocking to them when they’re first claimed. Most of them struggle to understand and accept our traditions. They aren’t accustomed to our overprotectiveness and intense dominance.
I glance at Ganrax. “How many nights have you been here?”
“This is my fifth.”
“Does everyone spend all their time in this control room, watching?”
“No. That’s up to you. Usually a few of us at a time go downstairs to mingle, but you have to be prepared for the throng of females who will surround you.” He smirks. “Most of them just want a picture or a dance so they can tell their friends they met one of us.”
“That’s what I’ve heard. I guess it’s easier to watch from here through the monitors.” I glance again at the screen. It seems like it would be difficult to choose a mate this way. How would anyone really know?
Ganrax shrugs. “I’ve gone down for a while every night. It’s overwhelming for a few minutes, but it’s also kind of fun. These human females are interesting creatures. Fascinating.”
“I’ve certainly learned that.”
“Oh, wow…” Ganrax leans in closer. “That female is attractive.”
I look at where he’s pointing toward the two females who’ve just entered the club’s main room. For a moment, I simply stare and then lean closer. “Is that an adult?”
Ganrax chuckles. “I don’t know. That’s not the one I’m looking at. I’m staring at voluptuous curves, dark hair, and long legs.”
For some odd reason, Ganrax’s declaration allows me to exhale because I’m looking at the other female, her friend. At least we’re not ogling the same female. Though, from what I’ve heard, it doesn’t matter who we find ourselves attracted to. Fate or the universe or perhaps biology will link each of us to the correct lifemate without fail. We won’t end up fighting over a female.
The two females are obviously together. They even link hands as they slowly step farther into the room where the crowd is growing.
Ganrax looks at me. “Her friend really is short, isn’t she? I’ve seen a few human females that short, but not many. I’m sure she’s over twenty-one. John is scrupulous about who he lets into the club. I’ve heard he turns anyone away who has a suspicious ID. The last thing Club Zoom wants is to accidentally let in a minor who then gets claimed. That would cause an intergalactic incident.” He chuckles, but he’s not wrong.