Bred by Her Alien Abductor Read online

  EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2021 Sam Crescent and Stacey Espino

  ISBN: 978-0-3695-0391-6

  Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

  Editor: Audrey Bobak

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  BRED BY HER ALIEN ABDUCTOR

  Breeding Season, 9

  Sam Crescent and Stacey Espino

  Copyright © 2021

  Chapter One

  He’d made it.

  The blue planet filled Dhiro’s viewscreen as he prepared his ship to enter the atmosphere. He’d been dealing with numerous technical problems the past few hours, so it was a relief to finally reach his destination. It had been an excruciatingly long, mind-numbing trip through space. But it would all be worth it once he found a breeding vessel to carry on his lineage. An heir was all that mattered.

  His two brothers said he’d never make it—it was too far, too dangerous, and the Earthlings may not even be compatible with their DNA. But Dhiro had done his research, and the Earth females were the perfect match. Although primitive in comparison, they were physically compatible, and he should be able to walk among them without detection.

  With the repairs he had to complete on his ship before returning home to Trenu Zel, he hoped finding a suitable female would be quick and painless.

  As he navigated the rough entry, his mother appeared on his monitor. She always chose the worst moments to make her appearance. “Yes, Mother?”

  “Have you arrived safely?”

  “Ask me again in five minutes. I’m attempting to land right now.”

  “Please be careful,” she said. “I want you to return home safely, with or without a mate.”

  He held his breath for a moment, then responded, “I’ll check in with updates. Take care of my brothers.” Dhiro turned off the monitor.

  He’d come to Earth out of duty, a responsibility to keep their lineage alive. In all his planning, he’d failed to think of his Earthling conquest as a future mate, but he supposed that was exactly what she would be. He’d never allowed his mind to wander into territories of love and bonding. If she were a Trenuian female, their match would be blessed by their people. Dhiro was entering uncharted territory and would be the first to claim an Earthling. Some of the males on his taskforce laughed at the thought of him mating with a primitive species. He’d been the butt of jokes for months.

  However, they wouldn’t mock him once he returned with the only fertile female on his planet. At least that was his plan.

  Within seconds, the ship made contact with the ground, skidding and jumping as it created a great plume of dust. His body jostled in his seat, and anything not bolted down was tossed around the ship’s interior. When he finally came to a complete stop, he didn’t dare move. As the minutes passed, he finally took a breath and unfastened his protective belts.

  He turned on the viewscreen. His ship had indeed landed on the Earth’s surface, but it was barren, no sign of humans or their civilizations. Just dirt, dirt the color of rust for miles.

  No matter. He’d come here for a purpose and had no plans in calling it quits.

  Dhiro tested the outside air before opening the outer hatch. He stood on the top step, taking a cautious first breath of Earth’s air. It wasn’t as fragrant as the air back home, but it was breathable.

  The temperature was much warmer here, the intensity of the sun something he wasn’t accustomed to. His steps echoed on the metal stairs as he descended. There was nothing here, and since his ship would be out of commission until he dealt with repairs, moving to a more populated area wasn’t an option.

  He put his hand over his eyes to scan the distant mountains. The sky was a unique shade of blue. The planet had its charm, but he was still glad this voyage was temporary.

  Dhiro unfastened one of the outside panels to begin working on the ship’s exterior circuits. He’d start his search for a mate tomorrow after he rested for the night. One by one, he tested for faults in the equipment. It was a mindless task, the hours slipping by without notice. The sky began to darken as he completed his first of many tasks.

  A distant scream immediately captured his full attention. He set down his tools and took several steps into the open to get a better view of the land.

  There was nothing to see. Nothingness in every direction.

  Again, the scream echoed along the mountains ridge and valleys. He decided to investigate. After strapping on his weaponry and protective vest, he began his trek along the vast, red land. The sun had slipped below the horizon, but his vision was equally effective in the darkness.

  He’d traveled far, and the lingering heat was becoming an increasing annoyance. The cries grew louder as he walked, so he had to be very close. Animals growled nearby, and he wasn’t sure what creatures he may find in this region. From his research, nothing on Earth could be a threat to him, so he plodded onward.

  As he turned the corner of a low mountain, there was a small chasm with scant greenery. Plumes of smoke from a recently doused fire drifted up into the sky. And five feral beasts were closing in on a lone human. A female.

  He watched. Stunned to see one in the flesh.

  Then he snapped out of his trance and moved to act. The moment she noticed him, she called out.

  “Help me. Please help!”

  The need in her voice drove his protective instincts into overdrive. He wasn’t sure if it was due to his three decades on the taskforce or a primal connection to this human.

  As he approached, the animals turned their attention to him, creating a circle of attack, one he knew well, but from much more threatening beasts on Trenu Zel.

  The first one lunged, but he caught it by the throat in midair. He examined the beast as it struggled and yelped. He’d never seen one of these creatures, and his curiosity for the new world piqued. When the female whimpered, he snapped the animal’s neck and waited for the next to attack.

  One by one, he killed the hairy beasts with his bare hands. They weren’t worth the effort of unsheathing one of his weapons. He dusted off his hands as he neared the female crouching low behind her smoldering fire pit. She still carried a large stick in her hands. Trembling hands.

  “I won’t harm you,” he said.

  She nodded repeatedly, looking at her own hands as she dropped the makeshift weapon. “T-Thank you. I thought I was a goner.”

  He reached out a hand to her, and after a pause, she took it. Dhiro pulled her up to her feet but was surprised she barely reached his chest in height. Women on his planet were comparable to males in height, but he found her tiny size endearing.

  “What were those beasts?”

  “Beasts? You mean the wolves?”

  “Yes, the wolves.”

  She ran a hand through her blonde hair. It flowed down her back even though disheveled. He’d never seen the color before. Everything about her appealed to him.

  “I’ve come out here so many times, and I’ve never had a problem with them before. If I’d known a wolf attack was a possibility, I never would have ventured this far alone. Well, not this late.”

  “You’re afraid of the wolves?”

  “Of course, wouldn’t anyone be? Well, not you, I guess. How did you do that, anyway? You
didn’t even use a gun. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “I’m a superior adversary,” he said matter-of-factly. “They’re not smart hunters. The others would have been wise to escape after I killed the first one.”

  She stared at him. “When I was ten, I was attacked by one of them.” She pulled up the edge of her shirt, showing him a deep scar on her side. “I’ve been terrified ever since.”

  Dhiro didn’t like that she’d been marked by one of those filthy beasts. If she’d been on Trenu Zel, their technology would have ensured she had no lasting scars. But she’d been born on a primitive planet at no fault of her own.

  “I can protect you from the wolves,” he said.

  “Yes, I know you can. What’s your name, anyway?”

  “Dhiro.”

  “Dhiro, that’s different. My name’s Ella. Ella Sinclaire, aspiring noteworthy geologist.” Then she held out her hand. He wasn’t versed in Earth customs and wasn’t sure how to respond. The first thing that came to mind was to hold out his hand in the same manner.

  She laughed, a sweet, musical sound. “Okay then.” Ella grabbed his hand in hers, yanking it up and down. “Nice to meet you, Dhiro.”

  She’d completely slaughtered the pronunciation of his given name. But all he could focus on was the intimate contact she’d forced on him. The feel of her skin against his.

  He expected this mission to be easy, like choosing a pet. No emotion. No attraction. Ella was human, after all, an inferior species. This entire trip was a necessity, not a pleasure.

  In the matter of minutes, everything changed.

  Dhiro had found his mate.

  ****

  Ella had been thrust back in time. She was once again a little girl at the mercy of a wolf pack. She’d wandered too far during a family camping trip and had fallen down a steep embankment. After wandering for the longest time, the wolves had found her.

  She remembered the pain, the fear, the desperation like it was yesterday. When she was certain she’d die, the gunshot from a ranger’s rifle had scared them off.

  But today, she’d been saved before it was too late.

  By a complete stranger.

  Where the hell had he come from? She’d traveled endless miles into nowhere land to dig up potential meteorites for research. It wasn’t glamorous, but she had a lot to prove, and no funding.

  “Where did you come from? I didn’t think there were people for miles.”

  Not that she was complaining. He was her knight in shining armor—almost literally. He wore some kind of black armor with numerous weapon holsters. And he was huge. Huger than huge. It was unreal.

  “My transport is in need of repair. I came when I heard your cries.”

  “Thank you for saving me.” This time she whispered. He’d never understand how grateful she was. “My ride never came back for me.”

  “Your ride?”

  “My partner. Well, not really a partner. He’s probably drinking with the rest of the crew and forgot about me.”

  “Your mate?”

  She scoffed. “God no, we work in the same field office, but his heart isn’t in the work. That’s why I’m here and he’s not.”

  Jeff was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. All he cared about was honor and awards, rubbing elbows with wealthy sponsors and kissing the right ass. The only reason Ella partnered with him was to get her research funded. She knew he’d take all the glory if she discovered new life from other planets, and she really didn’t give a shit. This was much more than dollars, cents, and recognition—to her, anyway.

  But now it was late and she had no clue if he’d remember her. She couldn’t sit out in the open waiting for another wolf attack.

  “Do you have a vehicle?” she asked. If she had to, she’d beg for a ride to the nearest micro town.

  “Not a working one, as I mentioned,” he said. “It’s too dangerous for you to be out here alone. You’ll come with me.”

  “Where exactly?”

  “A couple of miles’ walk from here. I have food and necessities.”

  “Do you have a flashlight?”

  He shook his head. “I know my way.”

  She wanted to ask him if he was military or some branch of police but wasn’t brave enough. It was dark. They were alone together in the middle of nowhere. And there were many crazed homesteaders living off the grid. She didn’t want to push any wrong buttons.

  Ella reached for her backpack. It weighed a ton, but she couldn’t leave behind her tools and supplies. They cost way too much to abandon.

  But he took it from her, easily tossing it over one of his shoulders.

  “Let’s go,” he said.

  She did feel somewhat at ease around him. Maybe it was the calm tone of his voice. Deep with a slow drawl she’d never heard before. He had excellent pronunciation. And he looked, well, perfect—from his muscular physique and sheer size, to his chiseled jawline and the most unique shade of eye color she’d ever seen.

  She took one last look at the wolf carcasses, still unable to process how he’d managed that feat. They moved away from the dying fire and couldn’t see much at all. Darkness surrounded them. Ella didn’t want to be rude and grab his hand or hold on to his coattail. She tried her best to keep up.

  “How many years do you have?” he asked.

  She frowned at first but was already realizing he had a strange way of speaking. “I’m twenty-four years old, if that’s what you mean.”

  “You’re young in human years.”

  “I suppose.”

  “And why were you out here alone without protection?”

  “I’m searching for meteorites to study. I want to discover new life from other planets.”

  He chuckled, a sound she didn’t think he was capable of. Dhiro walked a brisk clip, and she struggled to tag along.

  “Do you have family?”

  That was a topic for another day. Her parents saw her as a failure a long time ago, probably when she’d chosen her major in university. They’d kept their distance ever since. She had no siblings. Ella supposed that was why it was so easy to get absorbed in her work. “Not close, no.”

  All she could hear was the crunch from his boots on the dry ground.

  “Good.”

  “Good? How is that good?”

  “You won’t miss anyone. No one will wonder why you’ve disappeared.”

  Now her hackles were up. Her heart began to race. Maybe he was one of those crazy ex-military types. Was he going to torture her? Keep her in some makeshift prison? So many creepy thoughts flooded her mind, but what could she do? Where would she run?

  She kept silent.

  “You said you were looking for new life. What alien civilizations has your race already discovered? I wasn’t aware humans had made such advances.”

  The only thing she could conclude was that he’d isolated himself from the modern world. Maybe he didn’t even realize they’d landed on the moon. There were some people who refused to own a phone, television, or other modern amenities.

  “I’m not sure what to say. We’ve been looking for bacteria and fossils on Mars, but it’s far from what I’d call discovering an alien civilization. It doesn’t stop me from searching though. You never know unless you look, right?”

  “Yes.”

  She tripped over a stone, vaulting forward, but he caught her before she fell.

  “Thank you. Again,” she said.

  “You’re skittish. I hear it in your voice, and your blood pressure is too high. What are you afraid of?”

  “I guess I’m still shaken up from the wolves,” she lied.

  Once surrounded by nothing but solid darkness, the sky transformed into a painter’s canvas—more stars than she could count. She’d never get tired of stargazing. It calmed her racing nerves somewhat.

  “You have nothing to be afraid of. Not any longer.”

  She wanted to believe him.

  When she almost tripped again, she held on to his arm. His
biceps were huge and rock solid. It stirred something within her. He didn’t tell her to keep her hands to herself, so she didn’t.

  “Are we almost there?”

  “Yes. If you’re tired, I can carry you.”

  Ella almost laughed out loud until she realized he wasn’t joking. She wasn’t light by any means, but with his muscles, she’d probably feel like it.

  “I can manage,” she said. “Where are we going exactly?”

  “My transport. It will provide shelter until I can fix it in the morning.”

  “You can fix it yourself?”

  “Yes, I’m schooled in all forms of ship repair. It’s required of everyone on the taskforce.”

  She knew it had to be something like that. He was some kind of a Marine or government agent. It would explain his size and attire. It made her relax because it meant he wasn’t a serial killer.

  “That’s great,” she said. “Do you have a family? Wife? Kids?”

  Even though an Adonis like Dhiro would never be interested in a girl like her, she could dream. It was hard not to feel a fairy-tale connection to the man who’d saved her with his bare hands.

  “I have no wife or children. But having a family is my number one priority.”

  That was more intense than she expected.

  The distance rumble of bass grew louder. At first, she thought she’d imagined it, but then the headlights bobbing up and down cut the darkness ahead of them.

  “It must be Jeff. What an idiot. He was supposed to pick me up hours ago.”

  This was where she would be taken back to civilization. She had no more reason to be afraid of her odd rescuer. Then why did she feel disappointed?

  The party bus pulled up alongside them. Jeff and a few other scientists hung out the open windows, and they looked plastered. She exhaled her displeasure.

  Jeff and Roland hopped off the bus. “Sorry I’m late,” said Jeff. “Who’s your friend?”

  “This is Dhiro. If it wasn’t for him, I would have been ripped apart by wolves.”