Zovak

Worldwalker Barbarians

Juno Wells

Leslie Chase

Contents

1. Emily

2. Zovak

3. Zovak

4. Emily

5. Zovak

6. Emily

7. Zovak

8. Emily

9. Emily

10. Zovak

11. Emily

12. Zovak

About Leslie Chase

About Juno Wells

Also by Leslie Chase

Also by Juno Wells

Cover Design by Kasmit Covers

Editing by Sennah Tate

Copyright 2016 Leslie Chase

All rights reserved

This is a work of fiction intended for mature audiences. All names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Created with Vellum

1

Emily

Emily Jackson stared at the ad in her hand, wondering if it could possibly be serious. $1000 to take part in an experiment? That sounded crazy — the coffee shop's noticeboard often had ads posted with ways to make money, but they were usually obvious scams or not worth the effort. This looked too good to be true.

Dr. Hughes beamed at her, picking up his coffee. "Interested? I'm sure we could fit you in. Or if not, can you put it up on the noticeboard? I'm sure we'll find someone who wants to help out."

Picking up his coffee, he headed out into the falling snow. He was the last customer for the evening and Emily sighed with relief as Mr. Hendricks locked the door behind him. Another day over, or nearly. She looked back at the advert, shaking her head.

Dr. Hughes was a regular at the coffee shop, and he'd been friendly in his absent-minded professor way. That was the only reason that Emily wasn't more suspicious, but it still seemed too good to be true. This wouldn't be the first time someone from the local university advertised for subjects at the coffee shop, and Emily had made $20 here and there filling in questionnaires. But $1000? That would actually make a dent in some of her debt. Maybe even leave some money to spare.

"Emily!" Her boss's shout interrupted her dreams. "I'm not paying you to stare at that, honey, get back to work."

She bit back a sarcastic comment about how he wasn't really paying her at all. Mr. Hendricks wasn't in the habit of paying for someone to work late closing up the shop, but the last time one of the staff had brought that up she'd been fired the next day. Emily wasn't going to risk that happening to her.

Today the shop had been busy right up until closing time, and there was a lot of mess to deal with. Emily's feet ached from standing all day, and her smile had worn thin after the third time a customer had tried to cop a feel in the crowd, and there was nothing she wanted more than to be out of there and on her way home.

No point in grumbling, she told herself, sticking the ad to the notice board. Grabbing a cloth, she set about wiping down the tables with an annoyed frown. She was sure the assholes who'd been in last had spilled their drinks deliberately, but maybe that was just because she was tired and cranky. Whether that had been deliberate or not, she still knew they were assholes: they hadn't left a tip.

At last they were done. Or rather she was, Mr. Hendricks had only emptied the cash register and tidied up the counter. Other than that, his part of closing was watching her work and complaining about how long it was taking. Emily had always dreamed of telling him that it would take half as long if he took a turn, but that was the kind of talk that could get her fired.

And bad as this job was, it let her pay the bills. She needed it.

"Finished at last, Emily?" Mr. Hendricks asked as he surveyed his domain critically. He always liked to find one last thing for her to do, but this time she seemed to have passed even his standards. Or maybe he just had somewhere to be. "Took you long enough. Come on, let's get out of here."

On her way past the noticeboard, Emily glanced at the advert again and paused, thinking about how useful the money would be. She was already juggling bills, trying to keep everything paid up. It seemed too good to be true, and long experience had taught her that meant it probably was. That didn't stop it being so very tempting.

Mr. Hendricks was waiting impatiently at the door, tapping his foot. Impulsively, Emily pulled the notice down and stuffed it into the pocket of her coat as she hurried outside.

"Off to see your boyfriend, hey?" he asked with a leer as he set the alarm. Emily blushed, keeping quiet. Her last boyfriend had left her months ago, running out with a load of her possessions and a woman she'd thought was her friend. She didn't want to tell Mr. Hendricks that, though. The idea that she was in a relationship seemed to be all that kept him from propositioning her, and she didn't want to find out how he'd take rejection.

So she nodded, a little ashamed of the lie.

"I'll see you next week, boss," she told him. She was looking forward to having a day off after the week she'd just had. The chill wind bit into her on the way to her car and she wished she had a thicker coat. But that would have to get in line behind the other things she needed to pay for. Food, bills, and rent were all more important.

At least the car gave her some shelter from the cold, and she rubbed her hands to get some feeling into them before she turned the key in the ignition.

The only result was a horrible grinding noise. Swearing under her breath, she counted to three and tried again. The grinding noise again. Fuck.

Emily looked around at Mr. Hendricks getting into his car, a shiny new SUV. I bet he never has any trouble getting that monster to start, she thought bitterly, wondering if he'd give her a lift. She didn't want to spend more time with him, though, and she really didn't want to owe him a favor. He was bad enough as it stood, and giving him leverage... no, that would be an awful idea.

Anyway, I'll need the car tomorrow. It was too far to walk easily from home, and there wasn't a decent bus route either. Without a car, she couldn't see how she could keep her job. Okay, so, new priority. Get the car fixed asap, and everything else can wait.

It was a good plan, but she didn't have much money to do it with. Not unless... She pulled the flier from her pocket and unfolded it, reading by the light of her phone.

I could do with the money. No, I need the money. Guess I have to risk it being a scam. If I can get paid tonight, maybe I can get the car fixed by tomorrow. It was a desperate hope, but at least it was hope. The alternative was to sit there and cry.

It was awfully late to call, but the advert didn't say anything about office hours and Dr. Hughes had just bought a coffee. The worst that could happen was that he wouldn't answer. She dialed the number and listened to it ring.

"Hello?" Dr. Hughes sounded tired but at least he'd taken the call. Emily crossed her fingers.

"Hi Dr. Hughes, it's Emily. I'm phoning about the ad," she said quickly. "You know, the one for a research subject? I'm sorry to call so late."

There was a moment's silence on the other end of the line, and when Dr. Hughes spoke again, he sounded much more alert. "Oh no, don't worry about that. No problem at all. When can you come over to the lab?"

"That depends. I mean, I'm kind of short of cash and I could use it as soon as possible," Emily said, realizing that she was starting to babble. She made an effort to calm down. "I'd be happy to start as soon as possible."

"Tonight?" the man said, sounding excited now. "Would you be able to come in for an hour now? We have the experiment all set up, you see, and—"

"That would be great!" Emily interrupted, trying to keep her hope from being too overwhelming. There was still every chance that there was something wrong. "Where do you need me to go? I, um, I might need some help to get there, my car's broken down."

"We'll pay for the taxi, don't worry about that," he answered, reeling off an address almost too fast for her to take in. "Just be here as soon as you can and we'll sort the rest out."

He hung up too distracted to even say goodbye. Emily shook her head. The town had a few private research places, and in the coffee shop she saw enough of the scientists that she recognized the type. He wasn't being rude, just lost in his own thoughts enough that he'd forgotten about her as soon as he'd given her the information.

That made going along with this feel a little safer, as did the fact that the address was for one of the private labs on the edge of town. Emily called for a taxi, and then left a message with her neighbor, letting Lisa know where she was going. Lisa worked early, so she wouldn't get the message until morning, but at least someone would know where she was if there was a problem.

When she arrived, the lab itself was reassuringly professional looking. Dr. Hughes met her at the door, leading her inside eagerly. His excitement amused and reassured Emily. Perhaps it was the fact that he looked like a poster of Einstein with his wild white hair. It made him look like a mad scientist, but not in a frightening way. More a harmless, wholesome way.

"So what is this about, anyway?" she asked as she followed him into a room full of complicated instruments and machines. It looked more and more like a scene out of some science fiction film. Not an expensive one, though: everything was kludged together with duct tape, and loose wiring ran along the walls.

"Teleportation," the man said excitedly, gesturing her to a chair at the center of the room. Emily sat gingerly, looking at the coiled wires overhead with a touch of nerves. The scientist didn't seem to notice. "We’ve had a break-through in matter transmission over long distances, you see. There's a quantum variable..."

Emily tuned out his explanation, immediately regretting the question. Dr. Hughes kept talking, but none of his words made any sense to her. A minute later, when he showed no sign of running down, she interrupted, making her best guess at what he was saying.

"You mean like in Star Trek or something?" she asked, and Dr. Hughes looked crestfallen as it sunk in how little what he'd said had meant to her.

"I suppose that's close enough," he answered. "It's not really like that at all, though. Anyway, what I propose to do is test it on you, film the results, and that's that. It won't take more than an hour, even with a quick interview afterward."

"And for that I get a thousand dollars?" Emily couldn't quite believe that, but Dr. Hughes nodded.

"I'll write you the check right now," he said. "But it does include a release for the video, and a confidentiality agreement, that kind of thing. I'm not just paying you for your time."

Emily nodded dubiously. As if sensing her reluctance, Dr. Hughes smiled and pulled out his checkbook. "This is my life's work, Emily, and I'm on the brink of a great discovery. There's no reason for me not to be generous — when this goes public, it'll be worth a fortune."

If it works, she thought. But it didn't matter, did it? She'd get paid either way, and that was the important thing. Though she hoped that the nice old man's machine did work, for his sake and because it would be quite a story to tell.

He passed her a clipboard with a consent form on it, and she was about to sign when she hesitated. "This is safe, right?"

"Of course it is," he said, sounding offended. "I've tested it hundreds of times, just not with a human subject. It'll move you from this chair to the one next to it. Henry here has made that exact trip a dozen times already."

Dr. Hughes gestured to the mouse sitting in a cage on his desk. He looked happy enough, Emily thought, nibbling on his food without a care in the world. Emily signed the papers without any more questions. This was a sign of her luck turning around, and she wasn't going to question it more than she had to. She didn't want to risk talking herself out of the $1,000. Not when she needed the money to stop her world collapsing around her.

"Okay," she said, signing the forms quickly. "Let's get it done, then."

Before my nerves give out.

Dr. Hughes took the clipboard back and handed her the check, which she tucked into a pocket of her jeans carefully. Then he was at work, closing switches and starting up a generator with an ominous hum. Emily sat very still as he worked, chewing on her lip nervously. The coiled wires above her gave an eerie whine and she started to feel a tingling across her body, like static.

Emily clutched at the chair nervously as the machinery crackled and whined. Trying to distract herself from her fears she thought about what this would pay for. Settling her credit card debt, fixing her car, buying a new winter coat. Her thoughts turned more fanciful as the charge built around her, imagining where she could go if this worked. Somewhere warm, somewhere she wouldn't have to worry about the whims of Mr. Hendricks, maybe even somewhere she could meet a man she could trust.

She shut her eyes, trying to imagine that future and ignore the scary reality as Dr. Hughes flicked the final switch.

An intense, blinding light surrounded Emily, a shock of electricity blasting through her. Her muscles spasmed, sending her tumbling out of the chair as a noise, loud as thunder, rocked her. She fell forward onto the hard floor with a gasp, her eyes squeezed shut and head spinning.

At least the noise has stopped, she thought. Either that or I've gone deaf.

After how loud that sound had been, she wouldn't have been too surprised by either. Shaking her head, she cautiously pulled herself to her knees, opening her eyes slowly. The room was dark, far darker than she'd expected. Maybe the lights had blown? Something must have gone wrong, anyway. Dr. Hughes would have warned her if that was what was supposed to happen.

"Doc?" she asked, pleased that she could hear her own voice. Not deaf, then. That's something. "What happened?"

Silence.

Unsteady, Emily pulled herself to her feet and tried to blink away the afterimages that the blaze of light had left behind. The room was only dimly lit, but it seemed larger than it should be. Larger and emptier. Now that she thought about it, the floor had been cluttered enough that she should have landed on something when she fell from the chair.

"This isn't funny, Doc," she said, fumbling out her phone and hoping that it still worked after that shock. Luck was with her, and the screen lit up. In the pale light it gave off, she could see more clearly.

The room was huge and empty, circular, and very empty. There was no sign of Dr. Hughes or his lab except for the chair standing alone in the middle of the chamber. The floor was red stone rather than the tiles of the laboratory. Emily almost dropped the phone in shock as she turned around and around, trying to get her bearings.

Where the Hell am I? What did that idiot do to me?

She looked at her phone again, hoping for some clue. But the only thing it could tell her was that wherever she was, she had no signal. Figures. That didn't exactly narrow it down — her phone and her contract were both crap, and she didn't get signal in a lot of places.

Hoping that she'd have better luck outside, she stumbled to the only doorway she saw. It was a huge opening, large enough to drive a car through, and from beyond it she felt a warm breeze. There was a staircase leading up to the right, and she saw light at the top of it.

Following that and hoping it led to an exit, Emily climbed the stairs. It was a long way up and she was out of breath by the time she came to the source of the light. It looked as though something had smashed through the wall, leaving broken stone scattered on the stairs and a hole large enough to clamber out through.

Outside, nothing looked like it should. The town was gone, along with the woods around it, and Emily looked out at a barren plain of red rocks and sand that rose to hills and mountains in the distance. The heat was unbearable, and shading her eyes to look up, she saw that there were two suns in the sky above her.

Did I hit my head when I fell out of the chair? She couldn't think of another explanation that made any sense, but her head felt fine. There was no pain, no bump, no blood. No dizziness or other sign that she ought to be hallucinating. Blinking, she looked at her phone again, but there was still no signal.

On the horizon, something moved. A dust trail rose, getting closer. She couldn't make out what, but something, or someone, was moving across the wasteland. Emily pulled herself outside, wondering if she could find some help there. Staying inside wasn't really an option, not without food or water. Putting off the question of what had happened and where she was, she waved frantically, trying to attract some attention.

It seemed to work. A few seconds later, the dust trail changed course until it was headed straight for her. Emily swallowed nervously, hoping that she had made the right decision, as she heard a horn sound. Another answered it, and then a third.

Whoever had seen her, they weren't alone and they were coming for her.

Swallowing, she looked around, hoping for some sign of where she was. The building she'd emerged from towered over her, a long-abandoned ruin with fallen towers and torn walls. There were no clues there, no writing, but she tried to tell herself that it could be anywhere. Mexico, maybe? There were ruins in the desert there, weren't there?

Really, Emily? A more sensible part of her answered. You know that's not right. Not unless Mexico got a second sun and it didn't make the news.

Just thinking about that made her feel dizzy, and she had to lean back against the wall of the building to recover. Ahead of her, she could make out the running figure at the head of the dust cloud. Shading her eyes against the sun she looked closer and swallowed fearfully.

It wasn't a man heading for her. It was wolf. At least, she thought it was a wolf: she'd only ever seen them on TV, after all. This one was big, much larger than she'd expected, and with red fur that blended into the rocky plain. Glancing back at the pile of rubble she'd clambered over to get out of the building, Emily wondered if she could get behind it before the wolf reached her.

She didn't think so, and even if she could, the wolf could follow easily. She'd just have trapped herself inside.

I'll stay out here and face it down, she thought, trying to remember anything she'd ever heard about wolves and how to stay safe around them. Look big? Don't act afraid? Those sounded like something she'd heard in a documentary, but she couldn't be sure she wasn't making it up. Even if her memory was right, how was she supposed to stay calm when there was a huge wolf bearing down on her?

Before she could answer that question, another wolf rounded the building and loped towards her, followed by a third. Emily gulped, all chance of hiding her fear gone. Backing away along the rough wall she looked around for some shelter or protection. The wolves growled, sounding hungry and angry, slowing and spreading out around her.

"Good dogs?" She tried to sound confident, but what came out was more like a scared squeak. Clearing her throat, she tried again. "Um, sit. Stay?"

The lead wolf stopped long enough for a flare of hope to rise in her heart. He raised his eyes to the heavens and howled, a sound that echoed off the hills and was answered by a horn-call.

Then he looked her in the eyes again and started forward, snarling as he advanced. The others had spread out around her and the three wolves had her trapped against the building, and she could see the danger in their eyes. All her focus was on them, flicking from wolf to wolf, looking without hope for a way past.

This can't be how I die, she tried to tell herself. It's crazy. There has to be a way out.

2

Zovak

The twin suns were both above the horizon and their heat pounded down on Zovak, son of Koth, as he stepped out of the cave that had been his shelter for the night. From the north, he heard the call of the hunters, and a broad smile spread across his face. The long night of hiding was over and now it was time to move.

The Fire Wolf Clan chasing him were spread out thin, he could hear that much from their calls. The false trails he'd left when he slipped out of their camp had worked, leading their warriors astray, but some were still on his trail. Those would be the smartest, the most dangerous, the ones who hadn't fallen for his ruse.

Let them come. If they can catch me, they've earned a warrior's death. His fist clenched tight at the thought, but he couldn't spare the time to battle them now. He wasn't here to fight his Clan's rivals, after all. Gathering his hunting bag on his shoulder he started to run, a ground-devouring pace that carried him swiftly southward.

He exulted in the feel of the warm air on his skin as he ran. Shifted, he could have moved faster, but the heavy bag would be too unwieldy to carry as a wolf. That was part of the point, of course. To prove himself a worthy leader of his Clan, a worthy successor to his father, he had to show that he could rise above such a limitation. That was why he was raiding their rivals alone, and why he'd taken a burden that he couldn't carry shifted.

That the trophy he'd stolen was the prize of the Fire Wolves' leader was an added bonus. The huge skull of the graa, the most dangerous predator known, was nearly as big as Zovak's torso. He admitted a grudging respect for the Fire Wolf warrior who had slain the beast — it must have been a great hunt. With luck I will have the chance to face such a beast myself someday.

Zovak breathed deep, a fierce joy filling him as his every step took him closer to the lands of his Clan and victory. His heavy prize slowed him but not so much that he was in danger of being caught. He could keep up a steady pace for hours, days if he had to, and the hunters following his trail wouldn't gain enough ground to catch him now.

Their horns sounded again, and he frowned, listening closely. He knew the Fire Wolves' hunting calls nearly as well as those of his own Sun Shadow Clan, and that was not the call he was expecting. They might have found his trail, or even his camp if they were closer than he expected, but that was the call for prey sighted.

Without stopping his run, he looked back over his shoulder. No one was in sight behind him, and the calls were from too far away. Zovak knew the paths of these hills and there was no way he could have been seen from that distance. Whatever they had seen must be out on the plains. And it must be something important enough for the hunter who saw it to be distracted from the hunt for Zovak. Curiosity warred with his desire to get home.

Could it be someone coming through the Worldwalker's Gate? The ruin of Ancient technology was on Fire Wolf territory now, and if something had arrived it would draw any hunter's attention. Who knew what dangers might appear through it? Zovak changed his course, turning east towards the plains and the ruins. The voice of caution in his head told him to take advantage of the enemy's distraction and get as much of a lead as he could.

But he knew he couldn't. Whoever, whatever, might have come through the Gate, his Clan needed to know about it. If he was to be leader of his Clan, he couldn't be the hunter who returned without news. And there was something else that drew him to the Gate, too. Something called to his wolf, and he knew better than to ignore those instincts.

Cresting a hill, Zovak looked across the plain to the distant ruin, shading his eyes against the suns' light and focusing.

The ruins of the Worldwalker's Gate rose from the red ground, tall spires broken by time and neglect. In places, the walls had tumbled down, whether worn by time or broken by a rampaging graa — who could say? The great doors remained shut, but Zovak's keen eyes could see someone standing by one of the breaks in the outer wall. They — no, she — watched, her back to the red stone wall, as the running figures of the Fire Wolf hunters closed in on her.

Zovak stopped in his tracks and stared. His whole world seemed to collapse for a moment, rearranging around him as he recognized what he had thought he'd never see. His fated mate. She didn't look like one of his people, or any people he knew, but it was hard to see much of her. She was covered in strange clothes, shrouded almost completely from view. It didn't matter. One glance was all his wolf needed to know that she was meant for him and he for her.

And the Fire Wolves were closing in on her fast, angry no doubt that their holy ground was being trodden on by an outsider. It took Zovak no time at all to make his decision. Putting his head down he ran at full speed towards the Gate, abandoning all attempts at stealth. No one was going to harm his mate.

The Fire Wolves were in their wolf forms, red fur blurring into the dust and stone of the plains, and they paid him no attention as he rushed toward them. Their attention was focused on their prey, herding her against the wall of the Gate. One called out that they had trapped the interloper, and a horn call answered him. Kill it, the call said.

That wasn't going to happen. Zovak wouldn't let it.

The pack prepared to leap, and he was still too far away to charge. So he did the only thing he could think of — he threw the heavy sack he carried at the pack leader with all his might.

Leaping after it, Zovak shifted as he went, landing on all fours and bounding into his enemies. One of the wolves pounced at him as soon as they realized he was there, but his sudden shift made the attacker misjudge. He sailed through the space Zovak would have been standing in if he'd been in his human form.

The sack struck the Fire Wolf leader in the side, not hard enough to hurt but with enough force to send him tumbling. That only left one between him and the girl. Lunging forward, he snapped his jaws shut on the Fire Wolf's neck, biting hard enough to taste blood and make his target whimper. He held on just long enough to make his point — he could have killed the wolf — before throwing him aside.

Zovak turned, growling, his back to the woman. Shifting back, he snarled at them.

"No one harms the girl," he shouted as the wolves picked themselves up, in shock at his sudden assault. "She is mine."

Zovak faced the three of them, putting himself between the girl and harm. The presence of his mate was a constant draw on his attention, unmistakable and powerful, but he wouldn't let it distract him. Not now, not when he was outnumbered three to one and had a prize more valuable than his own life to protect.

The leader growled at him and charged, hungry for a fight. Zovak was only too happy to oblige, meeting the rushing wolf head on. His fist caught the wolf in the jaw, staggering him, and Zovak managed to grab hold of him before the wolf could twist away.

Swinging the captive around, he flung the pack leader into one of the others who had been trying to flank him. That was enough to send all three wolves scampering back. They hadn't been ready for a real fight, and Zovak's blood was on fire with the need to protect his mate now that he'd found her.

"Flee," he shouted at them. "Run now, or I will tear your throats out. This woman is my mate, and you will not have her!"

For a moment, he thought that they would mount another attack. But then the leader barked a command and they fell back, calling out to their clan for reinforcements as they went. Zovak glared after them until he was sure that they weren't coming back, and then turned to his mate.

Now he had time to look at her properly, to see who it was his wolf had recognized instantly. Compared to him, she was tiny. The skin of her face and hands was pale, her long curly hair black as the night sky, and her green eyes looked up at him, wide and full of fear. Her body, as best he could tell under the layers of unfamiliar cloth she hid it under, was curvy and full, and he ached to see her.

The clothes she wore were strange, unlike anything he had ever seen. His people only wore clothes for ritual purposes or for warmth in the coldest winter. His mate's clothes looked far less decorative than any ritual clothing, and it was far from winter now. He reached out to touch the coarse fabric that she wore across her full breasts, curious, and she said something in a tongue he didn't recognize as she pulled away.

Smiling to reassure her, he spoke. "I am Zovak, son of Koth, of the Sun Shadow Clan, and you are my fated mate. What is your name?"

The woman blinked and spoke again, meaningless words tinged with unmistakable shock and fear. Her eyes moved over him, down then up again, and she reached out with a tentative hand to touch his chest.

Meeting his eyes again, she spoke a single word in her strange language and then her eyes closed as she collapsed in a faint.

Shit. What now? Zovak caught her before she hit the ground. In the distance, he heard the Fire Wolves' hunting horns, directing their hunters towards him. Now that the Fire Wolves knew that he was here as well as an intruder, every warrior in their clan would be on the way to face him.

He looked at the trophy he'd stolen. It was heavy enough on its own, and now he had an unconscious mate to worry about as well. The choice was no choice at all. Putting his mate over his shoulder he abandoned the trophy bag in the dust. Let the Wolves have their prize skull back: he had the more valuable prize. Zovak wasn't going to take any chances with his mate's safety, and there was still a long run between him and his Clan lands.

3

Zovak

The camp of the Sun Shadow Clan stood around a ruined tower whose shade gave them their name. By the time Zovak reached it twin suns were high in the sky. The pursuers had turned back once he was in his Clan's lands, as he'd known they would, but now he had a different danger to face.

Striding out to meet him was Koth, his father and the Ard of the Clan, followed by the other Clan leaders. Behind them came several of the eligible women of the Clan, as well as few who had traveled from allied Clans to see if they might catch the eye of the son of the Ard. Today was supposed to be the day he would formally become the Ard's heir, and since he was unmarried he was quite a catch.

Until today he'd never had much of an interest in marrying. It would have to happen eventually, of course, once he became Ard he'd need an heir too, but that had always seemed a distant possibility. Having found his mate, he finally saw the attraction.

The watchers stared with shock and confusion as Zovak approached, carrying an unknown female over his shoulder. He couldn't keep a smile from his face — his people weren't easy to surprise and he thought he might as well enjoy the moment.

"What is this?" Arak, the eldest hunter of the clan, said accusingly. "You promise to go north and bring us one of the Fire Wolves' sacred trophies to prove yourself a worthy heir to our Ard. But instead of a graa skull, you return with... with this?"

Zovak snarled. "Be careful, Arak. She is my mate, and you will speak of her with respect."

"Your mate?" That caused more shock in the assembled crowd. Finding a fated mate was a rare event, a cause for celebration when it happened. But the female he had brought home was clearly not one of the people, and that was even less common. No one seemed to know how to respond. The women in the crowd looked disappointed and confused, the men shocked.

"Son, how did you find her? And why have you returned without the trophy you promised?" Koth's voice was hard when he finally spoke. Though he was old now, needing a staff to lean on, his spirit was still strong and hard as iron. He wasn't the kind of leader who made things easy for his son. Rather, he held Zovak to a higher standard than the others of the clan, and Zovak knew he would not easily forgive a failure.

So be it. Zovak couldn't turn his back on his mate, and if the Clans leaders couldn't understand that it was their problem. "She came through the Worldwalker's Gate as I passed it on the way back with my trophy, father. The Fire Wolves saw her and they would have slain her for trespassing if I had not saved her from them."

More murmurs. "You had the trophy in your grasp? Then where is it?"

"I could carry her, or I could carry it. Not both," Zovak said, meeting his father's eyes and not giving an inch. "Father, my wolf told me that she is my mate, and my choice was clear. I rescued her and brought her home. If the Clan needs more proof that I am fit to lead, I will return to the lands of the Fire Wolves and reclaim the prize I promised you."

That would be easier said than done, now that the Fire Wolves had warning. After his raid they'd be sure to keep better track of their sacred artifacts, but he knew that he would find a way. The alternative was unthinkable: the son of the Ard could not betray his word or break his promise.

For a long moment, they looked into each other's eyes, neither flinching or giving way. Finally, Koth nodded, clapping his hand to Zovak's shoulder. "Welcome home, my son. You have listened to your wolf and your instincts. No man can fault you for that."

Behind him, a few mutters from the others told Zovak that wasn't quite true, but to have his father and Ard's blessing was enough. He smiled and nodded his thanks.

"Now, go and take care of your strange female. The suns are high and the day grows too hot to stand out here talking," Koth said, letting his weight settle onto his walking staff with a sigh. The years settled on him again like a weight, and it hurt Zovak to see the change in his father. "When she awakes, bring her before the Elders, and let us find out what you have brought into our Clan."

"Yes, father," Zovak said, bowing low before carrying his still-sleeping mate to his tent. Slipping inside he laid her on the furs, looking her over with a frown. The clothing she wore was strange, and he ached to take it off her, to see his mate in the glorious flesh. But what if it did have ritual importance to her and her people? He didn't want to start off their relationship by tearing something sacred to her, especially when it would be so hard to replace.

Instead, he crouched over her, running his hands over her body and feeling her through the layers of cloth. It was interesting and frustrating at the same time, the feel of her full breasts and curves filtered through fabric. He could only guess how much of what he felt was her and how much was the ritual coverings. Zovak growled, fighting down the temptation that assailed him. He had no choice but to settle down and wait for her to wake. He would watch over her for however long it took.

When his mate awoke, she would have a friendly face to welcome her to her new home.

4

Emily

Stirring from her strange dream, Emily tried to remember what had happened the night before. She was warm, snug in bed, but she couldn't remember coming home last night.

At least the heating's working, she thought, turning over and enjoying the warmth. The bed felt weird, though. Not at all like the thin mattress she'd grudgingly gotten used to. It felt more like a pile of furs...

In a cold rush of memory, she realized it hadn't been a dream. Sitting up with a start, she stared around the dark space she lay in. It wasn't her bedroom. In fact, it wasn't a room at all, not really. The light shining in through a flap in the wall let her see that it was a large tent, as big as her bedroom if not her whole apartment, with a floor covered in furs. Furs on which a huge man sat, watching her.

'Man' might not be quite the right word. He was certainly male, his unashamed nakedness left her no doubt about that, but he didn't look entirely human. His skin was a deep blue color, his eyes gleamed red, and the smile he gave her showed a mouth full of sharp teeth. He was also huge. Sat down as he was she couldn't be sure just how tall he was, but it had to be well over six feet.

Emily squeaked and scooted back away from him, gathering the furs she'd been lying on around her. She knew that was silly; if he'd wanted to do anything to her, he'd had every chance while she was unconscious. But reason and rational thought weren't in charge right now.

The man opened his hands and gestured around him. What he meant wasn't clear to Emily, but the fact that he wasn't coming any closer was a relief and let her think. Memories bubbled up as her head cleared — Dr. Hughes' experiment in the lab, the strange red wolves, and the arrival of her savior. The memory of him changing, becoming a wolf himself — but that had to be wrong, didn't it? Blinking, she looked at the man in front of her. It was the same man who'd put himself between her and harm.

Which meant that definitely wasn’t a dream.

Crap.

"What do you want?" she asked, trying to sound calm and failing. She blushed at the fear in her voice, but he just smiled and nodded.

"Harash ukre vho," he answered, or something like that. Whatever he was saying the words weren't in any language she recognized. "Pero Zovak."

Great, I'm stuck somewhere with an alien guy who doesn't speak English. I thought my life couldn't get much worse. The illusion of calm settled over her: there was too much strangeness to deal with it all at once. She took a deep breath, tried to swallow her fear, and started again. I have to find my way back, and I need his help.

"I'm Emily," she said, slowly and clearly, pointing to herself. "Emily."

"Zovak," he replied, pressing a hand to his chest. "Zovak vo Koth."

"Zovak?" She pointed to his chest, and he nodded. Okay, at least we know each other’s names now.

That was a start, though she didn't know where to go from there. His voice was a distraction, deep and rough and powerful. Hearing it made her shiver, thinking thoughts about him she really shouldn't have about a stranger. Especially a naked stranger.

She looked at him again, her eyes adjusting to the dim light in the tent. He was broad shouldered and muscular, his body perfectly contoured. Impossibly so; no human she'd ever seen had been so well developed and strong. His deep blue skin was marked with silver patterns, and the way he looked at her with his strange intense eyes made her pulse race.

Emily couldn't help looking between his legs, biting her lip at the sight of his cock. Even soft it was bigger than anything she'd imagined, and she couldn't help think about what he'd look like hard. What he'd feel like... stop that, Emily! I'm getting out of here, I'm going home, I'm not getting it on with an alien sex fiend.

"Harash ukre voh," he said again, whatever that meant. She was sure it was the same words he'd spoken when she first awoke, but beyond that she had no idea what he was saying. Shaking her head, and hoping he'd understand that gesture, she slowly reached into her pocket for her phone. She didn't want to startle the man with this artifact of technology — not when he lived naked in a hide tent.

He watched her, eyes disconcertingly intelligent, as she switched on the screen. If that surprised him he didn't give any sign of it. There was still no signal, of course. She hadn't expected one, though she had hoped. But the clock told her how long she'd been unconscious. It was after 2pm. So much for my day off, she thought, stifling a hysterical giggle. The thought grounded her a little bit. Being trapped on with an alien on some other planet was too strange a problem to think about. Getting back home before she missed a shift and lost her job, that felt like a real problem. Something she could hold onto and focus on.

The phone's low charge made her frown as she looked at it. Soon she wouldn't even have a clock that worked. Though that was pretty far down her list of worries.

Zovak moved closer to her, slowly, as though she were a frightened animal he needed to reassure. Already backed up against the hide wall of the tent, Emily didn't have anywhere to retreat to, at least he didn't seem hostile. There was a part of her, a strong part, that wanted to know what his touch felt like. Biting her lip, she looked up at him as his hand brushed her cheek.

His touch made her gasp. It felt as though the surprisingly tender touch of his rough fingers closed a connection and sent an electric shock shooting through her. Pausing, he looked at her, his eyes widening as he felt it too. Smiling his sexy, sharp-toothed smile again he stroked down Emily's neck. The touch lit a fire of arousal in her, making her heart race and cheeks heat, her body responding instantly and powerfully to the connection.

He tugged at the collar of her blouse, and Emily felt her cheeks heat. His intention was obvious, and Emily groaned at the thought of him undressing her. It was frightening but so damned appealing, leaving Emily caught between her desire for him and the rules she'd been brought up with. She didn't know anything about him, wasn't even sure she knew his name.

Cautiously, she reached up to touch his chest, marveling at the strange feel of his skin. It wasn't quite like a human's, though she couldn't say exactly what was different. Where she touched his tattoos, he felt cooler, and she traced the pattern for a moment before straightening her arm and pushing him back. She could feel his strength and knew that there was no way she could move him unless he let her, but he didn't press her. As she pushed, he stepped away.

The loss of contact between them left an aching void in Emily, and she turned away to get herself under control. The alien man spoke something she couldn't understand or remember, but his tone was frustrated hunger.

I can sympathize, she thought before she could stop herself. His amazingly hot body drew her like a moth to a flame, but she wasn't going to give in to temptation. Pulling herself up to her feet, she cautiously skirted around the edge of the tent towards the flap through which the light came. She had to get out of here, away from him, get some space to think and to breathe.

He watched her, crouching in the middle of the tent, smiling that damnably sexy smile. There was a hint of frustration in his expression but beyond that he was a closed book. Still, he didn't try and stop her, and Emily took that as a good sign. Her fingers found the edge of the tent flap, and in a sudden burst of movement, she pulled it open and flung herself through the gap.

The heat struck her like the blast from an oven. Everything was so bright, the light of two suns high in the sky was too much for her eyes to take all at once. She could barely see the encampment of tents that surrounded her, let alone make out any detail. There was something else, some ruined tower, that stood in the center of the camp, but she couldn't make it out against the glare.

Squeezing her eyes shut she took a step forward, and then another, fighting against the heat that washed over her. I have to keep going, find a way home, she told herself as she made for the shadow of a wall. It looked like a deep black inviting emptiness surrounded by the baking sunlight, and she needed that shade.

But it was further away than she thought, or she was moving slower. Each step seemed to take more effort than she had to offer and she found herself sinking to her knees before she was half way there. Refusing to give up, she crawled forward on hands and knees across the hot ground. The shadow didn't seem to get any closer and she could feel her strength ebbing in the ungodly heat.

Strong hands grabbed her from behind, lifting her as though she weighed nothing. She knew without looking who they belonged to — Zovak's touch was unmistakable. He said something harsh in his own language before hurrying forward into the cool darkness of the ruin's shadow.

Emily expected him to put her down then, but he kept going, carrying her at a gentle run into a tunnel beneath the ruin. She struggled in his grip, but it was useless. Even if she'd been at her best she'd have had no chance against the casual strength that lifted her like a feather. In her weakened condition, there wasn't anything she could do at all. She felt weak as a kitten, her heart pounding and head aching.

The darkness around them gave way to a dim light, cool and blue rather than the harsh light of the suns above them, and she heard running water. A moment later the tunnel opened out into a cave filled with a pool of clear water, lit from beneath somehow. Zovak lowered her to the ground beside the pool and fetched a stone cup, dipping it into the water and offering it to her.

Her hand trembled as she gripped the heavy cool stone and brought it to her lips. The water tasted better than anything that she'd ever drunk. She gulped down the water thirstily, but Zovak held it steady, refusing to let her drink too fast. By the time the cup was empty she already felt better, though she was still too hot.

"Zanash kro," he told her sternly, taking the empty cup and refilling it from the pool. Bringing it back to her lips he let her drink in slow, gentle sips. "Zanash, Emily."

It didn't sound like a compliment, but then she didn't suppose she deserved one. Running out into the heat like that had probably been the dumbest thing she'd done so far in her life. She was lucky he'd been there or it might have been the last. Of course, if he hadn't been there she wouldn't have been running from his tent like that, so maybe it evened out.

"Thank you," she whispered, knowing he wouldn't understand her but needing to say it anyway. She wanted to apologize, too, but that was a step too far after he'd kidnapped her. Unless he'd rescued her. It was so hard to know which, and she wished that she could ask him. There were so many things that he could help her with if only they could talk.

Well, there's only one way I can do anything about that, she told herself.

"Water," she said, pointing to the pool.

"Tro," he replied, dipping the cup again. There was a strange rolling sound to the word, and she couldn't quite make it work when she tried to repeat it, but he smiled and nodded, offering her the cup. She took it and made sure to drink slowly, like he'd shown her. Zovak smiled and nodded again, and she blushed as she realized how much that approval meant to her.

Finishing the cup, she set it down and looked up at her savior. Captor. Whichever he was. Their eyes met and she could feel his attention on her, his need for her. It was the same as her own, awoken unbidden by their touch, and it embarrassed her again. She wanted to pull away, but that was silly. He wasn't touching her or threatening her, and he'd saved her twice now.

"Emily tro?" His words were clearly a question, but she couldn't guess what he meant. Emily water? Is he asking if I want more water, if I'm made of water, or what?

"Zovak tro," she tried. Maybe if he did whatever he was asking her, she'd understand. For a moment he frowned in confusion. Then his eyes lit up and he nodded, turning and diving into the cool waters of the pool in a clean smooth motion that barely left a ripple on the surface of the water.

A second later he surfaced again, his hair plastered to his face and his eyes on her. "Zovak tro," he called to her, beckoning. "Emily tro?"

Emily looked at him, biting her lip again. The water did look inviting, refreshing, appealing. And so did he, much as she wanted to deny that. She shook her head, trying to keep herself from staring at him as he watched her.

Fine. I need to wash anyway. I'm not doing this just to go skinny-dipping with him. She pulled herself to her feet, still weak, and stepped toward the pool.

Zovak raised a hand, palm toward her. His meaning was clear, and she stopped in confusion. Why is he asking me into the water and then telling me no?

Looking at him, Emily tried to mime her confusion. Zovak frowned and then mimed something, pointing to his chest and making some gesture. Emily shook her head, trying to work out what he meant and he made an exasperated noise. Pointing at her, then at himself, he mimed pulling something over his head.

She looked down at herself and then blushed with double embarrassment. Oh yeah, I'm still dressed. That would be stupid.

On the one hand, getting her only set of clothes soaked would be an awful idea. On the other, undressing in front of Zovak might give him entirely the wrong idea. And it didn't look as though he'd give her any privacy. His dark eyes were fixed on her, hungry and intense, and she shivered at the thought of being naked under that powerful gaze.

It wasn't an unpleasant thought, and that was the problem. The idea of that man looking at her was more exciting than she'd ever have expected, and she bit her lip at the thought. From his smile, she thought that he could see how she felt, and that just made her blush brighter.

"Turn around," she told him. His blank expression told her he didn’t understand, because of course he didn't. That would be too useful.

Waving her hands in circles, she tried to mime to him instead. If he understood that, he didn't show it, watching her with a hungry smile. Emily gave up with an exasperated huff of breath, turning her back on him instead. That would have to do to preserve her modesty.

Undoing her blouse, she pulled it off and dropped it to the rock floor beside her. She could feel Zovak's gaze on her as she stripped, and couldn't help looking over her shoulder at him as she reached back to unhook her bra.

He looked fascinated, almost awestruck. Barely moving in the water, his eyes were locked unblinking on her body, and Emily shivered at the power of his gaze. Feeling herself flush, she turned away again, pulling off her bra and dropping it beside the blouse.

Am I really that much fun to watch? She couldn't quite believe it, but she also couldn't see how or why he'd fake this. She'd never had a model's figure, but her alien kidnapper didn't seem to care.

She couldn't bear to see his expression as she undid her jeans and slid them down, kicking off her shoes. Down to just her panties she paused. That's quite enough of a show, she thought. I can wear the jeans without them afterward, while they dry.

The force of Zovak's gaze was still on her and she couldn't bear to turn around. She knew it was silly, but it was a final trace of modesty that she could cling to. Walking backward she approached the pool, feeling the cool water lap at her feet as she stepped into the shallows. The water was cold but not shockingly so, and she took another step and then another, the waters deepening around her as she went.

Then her foot came down on a loose stone under the water, and it slipped out from under her. Emily squealed as she toppled backward, her arms flailing, visions of hitting her head on a rock flashing before her eyes as she fell.

Powerful arms caught her before she could hurt herself, and she felt Zovak's muscular chest like a solid wall against her back. Panting, she clung to his arms as he steadied her, feeling his strength as he saved her again.

"Zanash," he growled into Emily's ear. "Prahg Zanash, Emily vho."

She didn't know what his words meant, but it didn't sound like he approved of her falling. Well, I don't approve of that either. Maybe if you hadn't stared at me so much, I'd have been paying more attention to where I was stepping.

Emily's heart raced with the shock of the fall and the fear it had raised, but his arms around her made Emily feel safe. Her back rested on his broad chest as he guided her out into the deeper water, and she felt the slow steady powerful beat of his heart. It was strangely reassuring, comforting even, to feel that so close. The heat of his body made a strange and pleasant contrast to the cool water.

The last of the suns' heat left her, the waters taking it from her skin, and she could feel her thoughts recovering. The midday sun here was far more powerful than she was used to, which made sense since there were two of them. That still didn't make much sense to her, though.

No point in thinking about it too much, she decided. If this is a dream, there's no harm in taking it seriously. If it's really happening, treating it like a dream could get me killed.

Looking around the cave now that she was adjusting to it, she saw that the light was coming from great crystals under the water. The light made patterns on the rock above her, beautiful, shimmering, and changing as ripples spread over the water. For the first time since she'd arrived here, she let herself relax, let the water wash away her worries for a while, sinking back against the man holding her.

While he was behind her, she could almost forget that he wasn't human. His strong arms held her safe and his solid warmth was comforting, and that was what she needed. Whatever had happened to her, however she had ended up here, she needed time to adjust, and for all the strange forbidding menace that Zovak represented, she felt safe in his arms.

5

Zovak

Holding his mate in his arms, Zovak relaxed into sacred waters. In his arms, Emily — a strange name for a strange woman — rested, and he was content.

"What foolishness made you run out into the twinsun day, my mate?" he muttered, knowing it was useless. Wherever fate had plucked his mate from, she didn't speak the language of his people. But that would come. The Elders of his clan knew many tricks, and teaching languages was only one of them. For now, he didn't want to think of the future or the past, he just wanted to enjoy this time with her.

It couldn't last forever, though. As the suns above left the midday sky, the rest of the clan would emerge from their tents and some would come down for a swim. While he didn't understand his strange mate's ways, her insistence that he shouldn't see her naked made him certain that she wouldn't want to be seen by anyone else. Even now she still wore a scrap of cloth, and it couldn't just be to tease him, surely?

Slowly he drew her to the shallows at the edge of the pool. Unwilling to take the chance that she'd fall again, he lifted her out of the water and placed her by the pile of cloth she had abandoned. Without a word, he turned and walked outside — as much as he'd enjoy watching her dress, to enjoy the sight of her beautiful curvy body before she hid it again, he didn't want to embarrass her and risk her doing something else foolish. His mate had already run into the full heat of the suns and nearly smashed her head open trying to avoid him looking at her. There wasn't going to be a third accident.

I will have all the time I need, he told himself. Once I have claimed her, I will see her every day for as long as we live. Delaying a little longer only makes that sweeter.

It wasn't easy to believe that. He'd never had to wait for anything he wanted before: his needs had always been simple, hunting and fighting and fucking. Now this woman had appeared, one he wanted more than he'd ever wanted anything before, changing everything. Zovak had the feeling that his life would never be simple again.

Strangely he found that he didn't mind that. Not if it was because of Emily's presence in his life.

He could feel her eyes on him as she stepped out of the cave, the desire in her soul as clear to him as his own, and even more frustrating. Emily wants me as much as I do her, and yet she makes us both wait to be complete. Why would anyone do that?

If it was anyone else, he'd say that she was crazy. But he wouldn't let anyone, not even himself, get away with saying any such thing about his mate.

Turning, he looked at her, enjoying the sight. The cloth she put on herself clung to the curves of her wet figure, showing her off in a way he'd never seen a woman before. Maybe there is some good in her wanting to cover herself after all. Her cheeks reddened as she saw his stare, and he grinned wider. Being looked at by her was almost as much fun as looking at her.

The suns were lower in the sky when they emerged and the day had cooled, but it was still hot enough to stagger Emily, and she retreated back into the passage saying something in her own language.

Zovak shook his head. This couldn't go on, and the clan's Elders would know what to do — but he wasn't willing to wait for the suns to go down before he took her to see them. Turning back to his mate he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder again.

Emily cried out in shock, squirming in his grip, but he ignored her and ran, carrying her as quickly as he could to the tent at the center of the camp. The tent above which hung the skull of the great rorak-bear that marked it as the home of the Elders of the Clan.

Ducking into the dark space within, he dropped Emily onto the furs. She scrambled to her feet, glaring at him, and when he couldn't help laughing, she hit him on the shoulder with a powerful thump, saying something in her strange language. Zovak was glad he didn't understand what she called him: it sounded awful.

The Elders watched this display and laughed. Emily seemed to notice them for the first time and shrank away from them, hiding behind Zovak. He didn't know why they would intimidate her so, but if it stopped her from hitting him he'd take it.

Two of the Elders were in their wolf forms, indicating that they weren't interested in speaking at the moment. The third, Darya, sat cross-legged watching Zovak and his mate with a wide grin on her face.

"What is it that brings you to the tent of the Elders, child?" To Darya, anyone not an Elder was a child. She had lived long enough to see her grandchildren age, and no longer even pretended to keep track of how old other members of the clan were. "I've heard that you have found a mate, and now here she is. Shouldn't the two of you be off enjoying yourselves?"

Zovak shook his head. "Would that we could, Darya. But she cannot speak our tongue, nor I hers, so I have come to you for help."

Darya laughed again, the two wolves beside her laughing along. The other Elders might not want to be part of the conversation, but that didn't stop them from listening in and being amused.

"Very well, child," Darya said with a shake of her head. "Bring her forward, let me look at who fate has flung at you."

Zovak turned around to lift Emily, ignoring her protests and presenting her to Darya, who looked her carefully up and down. She tapped a finger to her lips thoughtfully and nodded while Emily squirmed in his grasp.

"This one is not of this world, Zovak," Darya said, stepping closer. Emily froze in his grip and the old woman gave her another careful examination. "Are you sure she is your mate?"

"Certain." Zovak couldn't keep his annoyance at the question out of his voice. "I knew it as soon as I saw her, there is no doubt."

Finding one’s fated mate was a rare thing, but the tales made it clear that it was an unmistakable sensation. He tried to keep his irritation down — after all, he hadn't entirely believed those tales when he'd heard them himself. But that was all past now that he had seen Emily, touched her, smelled her scent. There was no questioning what he knew in his bones.

Darya nodded again with a grin that made her seem almost young again. "Oh, keep that sullen look out of your eyes, child, I have to ask these questions or I'd get nowhere. You wouldn't be the first male to claim he had a fated mate when all he has is a crush, but I can see the truth of it in your eyes. And in hers, scared though she is. Hold the poor girl still, and I will do what I can to help her."

Zovak should have been insulted at the suggestion he might be lying. With anyone else, even his father, he would have been. But it was the place of the Elders to ask the questions no one else could. That meant they could help with problems no one else could solve, and if Darya could help then he'd put up with it. Not being able to communicate with his mate beyond the few words they could teach each other was more frustration than he could bear.

6

Emily

Emily struggled helplessly in Zovak's grasp, but he was simply too strong to resist. He held her motionless without any sign of effort as the old lady approached, the two gigantic wolves curled up behind her watching. They looked amused, but Emily couldn't see what was funny about the situation.

The old woman smiled at her, and perhaps she meant it to be reassuring. If so, it didn't work — Emily couldn't look away from the pointed teeth in the woman's mouth, like a monster out of a fairy tale. The scary kind, where the wicked witch in the woods eats the young girl up.

Trying to pull away was futile, Zovak held her tight. And calling out for help would be useless too: the only people around were the strange aliens, and there was no sign any of them would help. I'm not going to give them the satisfaction of screaming, she told herself, shutting her eyes. Rationally she didn't have any reason to think that they meant her harm, but knowing that didn't help her believe it.

She felt the old woman's hands on her face and tried to pull away. It was impossible — for someone who looked so frail, the woman's hands were surprisingly strong, and she held Emily in place. Humming some strange song, the woman's hand pressed into Emily's cheeks. She felt an icy sensation spreading through her head, like cold fingers sliding into her mind.

"Get off me," Emily yelped, losing her resolve to stay silent as the weird feeling spread. The old lady chuckled.

"Not yet, sweetie," she said. Emily froze. The words weren't English, but she understood them perfectly. Her eyes snapped open, looking into the strange silver eyes of the old woman. Humor flickered there, along with concentration.

"I'm nearly done," she continued, adjusting her grip on Emily's head slightly. "Then we can talk properly."

"How," Emily started, and then stopped. The words had come out in the same language that the aliens spoke. "Is this magic?"

Chuckling, the old woman shook her head. "No, sweetie, don't be silly. But there are tricks, old knowledge, left to us from the time we walked amongst the stars. Learning and teaching languages, that's an easy one that every Elder knows."

Apparently satisfied, she let go of Emily and stepped back. "There you are, that should be better. Zovak, let go of her would you?"

His powerful hands released her, and without his support Emily nearly fell. Catching herself on his arm, she shook her head. It felt like it was over-full with new knowledge. Like she had an ocean of new words sloshing around inside a gallon jug.

The old woman watched her carefully, silver eyes shining. Emily managed a couple of steps away from Zovak before she stumbled and sank to her knees on the furs.

"What did you do?" she asked. The old lady laughed, amused but not mocking, as she sat down.

"Our people have ancient knowledge, child. Just because we live simple lives doesn't mean that we are without wisdom! Those of us who live to my age master a few of the old tricks of the Clan. I am Darya, Elder of the Sun Shadow Clan and now that Zovak has foisted you on me, I shall try and answer your questions. It would not do for our greatest hunter to have a wife who knows nothing, after all."

Emily blinked at that, looking from Darya to Zovak and back again. There were so many things in that statement that she wanted to know more about, but one thing stood out. "What do you mean, wife? I'm not his wife, damn it, I'm not anyone's wife."

Darya laughed and sat back on her heels, shaking her head. "Not yet, perhaps. But you are his mate and he is yours, and there is no denying the truth of that. You will be married."

She spoke with such an absolute confidence that Emily could only stare at her for a moment. That's crazy, she thought. I don't know Zovak, he's not even human, I'm not going to marry him. No matter how hot he is. She couldn't deny that she was attracted to him — how could she not be? Just looking at him sent a shiver of desire through her, he was so perfectly built. But that was just physical desire, or at least that was what she told herself.

It took her a moment to tear her eyes away from Zovak and look back to Darya.

"I'm not marrying him just because he was the first man I've seen here," she said finally. "I have to get home, back to Earth. I've already been gone too long."

"This is your home now," Darya told her. "Zovak son of Koth will be the next leader of the Clan, and you will be by his side."

"No!" Emily shook her head, holding up her hands to ward away those words. "No, it's not that simple. I have a life back on Earth, and I need to get back to it. Please, you have to help me."

"I do not," Darya said. There was a steely note in her voice now. "You are part of the Clan, brought home by Zovak, and I will not help you leave. You are confused, dear, and will feel better when you've rested. Everything will be clearer tomorrow."

I have to be back at work tomorrow. Emily bit back the words. Darya didn't sound as though she had any sympathy for that protest. Emily wasn't sure that she did either, given the job she was trying to get back to, but there wasn't any choice — that was the job she had.

Zovak stepped towards Emily, offering her his hand. She stared at it as though it was a viper, edging away from him. "Come with me, Emily. I will take you back to my tent. Tomorrow you will feel better and your new life here will begin."

For a moment, Emily considered giving in. It was tempting, very tempting. She could just rest and forget about her troubles. Would that be so bad? But the stubborn streak her mother had left her kicked in. She wasn't about to let these two tell her what to do and what to feel, she wasn't just going to give up.

"I have to know what's going on," she said, shaking her head and backing away from his hand. Zovak didn't look pleased to be defied, but before he could speak, Darya held up a hand.

"Let her ask her questions if it will make her feel better," the Elder said. "You go and speak to your father, Zovak, the two of you have important matters to discuss. I promised your mate I would teach her what she needs to know, and there's no reason not to start now."

Zovak grumbled but stepped back again, and Emily sighed with relief as he left the tent. His presence was overwhelming, and maybe with him gone she could focus on what she was saying. Though the two giant, blue-furred wolves that watched her as she talked were hard to ignore.

Darya watched Zovak go and then shook her head fondly. "Now we can have a proper conversation, child. I will answer your questions as best I can if that will help you settle in. Where do you want to begin?"

"I don't even know what questions to ask," Emily said, shutting her eyes and trying to think. "How did I even get here?"

Maybe if I know that, I can work out how to get back. Emily suspected that was a vain hope. Whatever apparatus Dr. Hughes had used to get her here, she'd have no chance of recreating it. But it was her only chance of getting home, as distant as that possibility seemed.

"You came here through the Worldwalker's Gate," Darya said in the tone of someone used to teaching. "Or so Zovak said, anyway. Once, long ago, our people crossed the spaces between the stars through those gates. They were built on many planets by the Ancients who ruled the galaxy in the Old Days, before we freed ourselves from their rule. The secrets of making the Gates are lost now, along with so much else, but they can take you to wherever your heart desires. Sometimes the men still go through them to hunt on other worlds, but for the most part we are happy here."

Darya gestured around in a movement that seemed to indicate the whole world, and Emily shivered. She hadn't seen much of this planet yet, but what she had seen was pretty inhospitable. Beautiful in its way, yes, but not easy to live on.

"Why would anyone choose this planet to live on?" she asked, then blushed, realizing how rude a question that was. Darya just laughed.

"It isn't that bad," she said. "It suits our way of life. Is your planet really that much better, or are you just more used to it?"

"I nearly died just stepping outside," Emily objected. "The heat..."

"Is there no weather at home that could kill you if you walked into it unprepared? If so, then your homeworld must be a paradise."

Emily remembered the freezing winter weather she'd been out in just a day before. Okay, maybe she has a point. People die of exposure on Earth too. She stayed silent, not willing to concede the point aloud, but Darya's little smile showed that she knew she'd scored a hit.

"The true reason we live here is because it suits our ways, and it keeps us far from those who would tell us what to do. We were enslaved by the Ancients once, and that will never happen again." The cold anger in Darya's voice made Emily shiver, and she knew with stone solid certainty that it was the truth. Every one of these people would die before they knelt to anyone. "We live close to nature, hunting for what we need and leaving the rest of the universe alone. There are no distractions from living the pure life here, and we are happy. You will be too."

"I'm not one of your people," Emily said, shaking her head again. "How can you expect me to marry him?"

"You are," Darya said. She leaned forward, taking Emily's wrist and holding it, her fingers on the pulse. "You weren't born to the Clan, but your blood is ours now. I told you that the warriors of our Clan sometimes walk between worlds to hunt — it is not unknown for them to come back with a bride from another world. This is not the first time this has happened, child, and it will not be the last. The two of you will marry and you will bear his children to lead the next generation of warriors."

7

Zovak

Zovak stomped from the tent of the Elders, trying to control his anger. But how could he not be angry? His mate's only desire seemed to be to leave him, though he knew that she wanted him. It was clear in her eyes whenever she looked at him, in her touch and in her scent. There was no mistaking her need for him, any more than he could doubt his need for her.

But as soon as she could speak his language she'd started demanding to be returned to her homeworld.

I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't that. He shook his head, trying to focus on something else. The Elder would talk sense into her, that was what the Elders were for. In the meantime, Darya was right. He should pay his respects to his father.

Koth waited in the shade of the spire at the center of the Clan's camp, looking old and tired. Soon he would be taking a seat in the Elders' tent, Zovak knew. Either that or he would leave the Clan and go on the final hunt. His heart ached at the thought of losing his father, but time could not be denied.

"Son, how is your mate?" Koth asked, pulling himself to his feet with a visible effort as Zovak approached.

"She is with the Elders now," Zovak said. It was an evasive answer, and he could see from his father's eyes that it didn't fool him. But Koth nodded and let it pass.

"There are other things that we must speak about, son. Clan business that cannot wait."

"As you say, father," Zovak said, happy to turn his mind to something else. He fell in beside his father and the two of them walked through the camp in the cooling twilight. One of the suns was already below the horizon and the other would soon follow.

They walked in silence for a little while before Koth continued. "You know that you must take up my mantle when I am gone."

Zovak nodded, wincing at the directness of that statement.

"That is why you must show that you can best the Fire Wolves," Koth continued. "They have been challenging us for too long, and the Clan must know that you can face them down. And it is why you must claim a mate, one who can bear you strong children."

"I will keep our Clan safe, father. You can trust me." Zovak felt his jaw clenching. No one was his match in combat, not in the Sun Shadows or the Fire Wolves or any other Clan, and the implication that he might not be able to defend his people stung.

Koth turned sharply to face his son, straightening and looking him in the eyes. There was an impatience in his gaze, a hint of his old strength. "You think I don't know that? You are everything I could hope for in a son and heir. It's not me you need to show, it's them."

He lifted his staff, gesturing around them at the Clan. "You have spent your life as a young man should, hunting and feasting and fighting. That much they know of you, but they need more. They will worry, and you must reassure them so that they will follow your lead."

Zovak nodded, feeling the weight of his destiny again. To lead his Clan, to be the rock they leaned on in time of trouble, that would take more than the skills of a warrior — he would have to inspire trust and faith as well. That's why father was so keen to see me prove myself against the Fire Wolves, he thought. It would be a victory that the Clan would see, and bringing back a trophy from their camp would have shown everyone that he didn't fear their rivals.

Bringing back an alien mate was not quite the same thing. He still had to prove himself to the Clan.

"Do not worry, father," he said, putting his hand on the old man's shoulder and squeezing gently. "I faced three of their warriors to rescue Emily. Once she is settled here I will go north again and take a prize from the Fire Wolves that will have our Clan singing for a generation."

"Good, good," Koth said, sinking his weight back onto his staff and relaxing. "I know you can do it, my son. You will be the greatest leader our Clan has had in centuries, strong enough to hold off the Fire Wolves."

"The second greatest, father," Zovak corrected with a smile. "I couldn't hope to challenge your record."

Koth harrumphed at that, but Zovak could tell he was pleased by the compliment. "Come, then, I should hear the tale of how you met this alien female in more detail. And the rest of the Clan should hear it too, if they are to accept her as their Ard's wife."

Zovak resigned himself to that with a sigh. Telling the tale of a hunt was a fine tradition, but in this case the hunt wasn't yet finished and Emily was proving more elusive than he'd hoped. But his father was right, he owed them the story, and it was time for the evening meal.

The Clan gathered around, hunters bringing in a fresh kill to feast on. Usually it would have been Zovak who brought home the feast, but today should have been a feast in honor of his victorious return. It still was, in a way, but the fact that instead of a trophy from the Fire Wolves he had brought home a female from another world changed things. No one seemed to know how to respond to that.

I can't complain about that, he thought with a faint smile. I don't know how to respond either.

He settled in to tell them the story, relaxing as he did. Speaking to the Clan was easier when he had a tale of daring to tell. A fight against the Fire Wolf warriors to rescue his mate was something worth boasting of. Even Arak's bitter glare softened at the tale, though he didn't look happy with the ending. That was fair — everyone knew Arak had hoped his daughter would be Zovak's chosen bride.

By the time Zovak finished speaking, the suns were down, the moon high in the sky. The Clan meeting had become a celebration after all, and Koth looked pleased though exhausted. While the younger members of the Clan took turns dancing around the fire, Koth sat back and shut his eyes. Zovak watched with a pang of worry for his father, then ducked away to fetch a fur to keep the old man warm.

When he returned, the gathering was muted, the dancers still. Zovak saw why at once: Darya the Elder had joined them, bringing Emily with her. His human mate looked afraid, her eyes darting around the circle of warriors, half of them in their wolf forms. Zovak swallowed a snarl, knowing that it would only frighten her more to see him angry. His anger wasn't for her, though, it was a reflex. He wanted to attack, to hurt those that made her feel uncomfortable.

Instead, he made himself be calm. Walking to his father as though nothing was wrong, he tucked the silver fur around the sleeping old man and made sure he was comfortable before turning back to the gathering.

"I cannot be the only one with a tale of daring to share this night," he said, ignoring the awkwardness of the moment. "Arak, you led the hunt for this great beast we're feasting on, there must be a tale in its killing."

It was a little flattery, but only a little. The hrath might be a plant eater, but it was no easy prey, with its mighty tusks capable of tearing a hunter apart. And the specimen they feasted on was massive, even by the standards of their kind — standing, it would have been at least twice Zovak's height.

Arak smiled and launched into the story of how they had tracked it, and soon the silence was forgotten. The hunters who had been with him when he'd tracked the hrath added to his story, reenacting the best parts where they snuck up on the beast. They moved with such exaggerated stealth that the whole camp roared with laughter.

"Are you well?" Zovak asked his mate under the cover of the laughs. She looked a little less frightened now that she wasn't the center of attention, but she still hadn't eaten anything.

"I don't know," Emily answered. The simple pain of her words made him wince inwardly, though he hid that reaction. The Clan couldn't see their leader in pain.

"You must eat," he said, tearing a hunk of meat from the hrath. The creature was massive, and what wasn't eaten tonight would be dried and kept to feed the Clan for a long time, but it was best eaten fresh. "Everything will feel better once you're fed."

From the look of disgust she gave the meat, Emily didn't seem to agree. Her face paled and she turned away as he offered it to her.

"What is wrong, my mate?"

She looked up at him, a flash of annoyance in her eyes. "It's raw. I can't eat that."

It took him a moment to understand what she meant, and then he laughed. Some foods needed to be exposed to the flame before they could be safely eaten, and it seemed that his mate thought the hrath meat was one of them.

The glare she shot him shut up his laughter quickly, and he reminded himself how strange all this must be to her. She was far from home, in a land of strangers, and the customs were not her own. That wouldn't be easy for her to deal with, and there was no need to make things worse for her in her new home. If he could make her feel more at home by burning her food, so be it.

Looking around he found a sturdy stick and impaled the meat on it, holding it over the fire to cook.

"I do not mean to mock you, beloved," he told Emily as the meat sizzled in the flames. "Your ways are strange to me, that is all."

"How do you think yours look to me?" she said hotly before sighing and shaking her head. "Nothing here is normal for me, Zovak. It's all so different from what I know."

"It is your home, and you will come to love it," he said, looking into her eyes and trying to project his confidence to her. "There is nothing to fear."

She smiled crookedly, shaking her head. Zovak felt her doubts, her loss, and reached out with his free hand to hold hers. "I will make it your home," he promised. "You will want for nothing. In the meantime, I would like to know of the place you come from. Tell me?"

Emily's smile strengthened a little, and she nodded. Reaching into the pocket of her clothing, she brought forth a small rectangular device, activating it and swiping a finger across the screen that appeared on one surface. Zovak leaned in, fascinated by the gadget.

"What is that?"

"It's my phone," she explained. "Back home I could use it to speak to people far away, or to look things up on the internet. Or to take pictures. Here: this is the coffee shop where I worked. Work, I mean."

Half of what she said made no sense to Zovak, but when she held up the picture he understood that. It took a moment for him to grasp the image it was so alien to him, but he focused and slowly it became clear. Some kind of gathering place, he realized, where people came to drink. He nodded, and Emily swiped the picture to the side, showing him a different image. Zovak's smile broadened. There is so much I do not know about my mate, and this device can show me, he thought.

Pulling the meat from the fire before it began to burn, he offered it to her.

"You must tell me about the world you came from, of this 'coffee shop' and more," he told her as she took the stick and cautiously blew on the hot meat. "I wish to know all about you, Emily, and the world that used to be your home."

8

Emily

It was a strange thing for Emily to talk about the life she'd left behind on Earth, but it felt good to look back at it. She talked, flicking through the pictures and telling him what he saw. There was the coffee shop, there was Mr. Hendricks trying to smile for a picture, there the snow-covered parking lot outside. Zovak seemed surprised by many of the details, almost shocked as she explained her life.

"This man did not appreciate your labor," he told her once she'd told him about her job and her boss. "He does not deserve it, or you."

Emily couldn't argue with that. Instead she moved on, showing him pictures of her family, of her apartment, of the park in the snow. Emily wasn't sure he'd know what snow was, but he laughed at that idea. There was snow on the mountains, he told her, and on many of the other worlds he'd visited.

The charge on her phone drained quickly as they sat together looking through the pictures. Around them the rest of the Sun Shadow Clan ate and drank but no one disturbed them as they sat away from the fire and flicked through the pictures one by one. Zovak surprised Emily with his interest in the smallest details of her life back on Earth, and she found herself leaning into his broad chest as they talked and the moon rose overhead.

She could hear a sadness in his voice as she spoke of home, and it made her feel sad too. She didn't know what was getting to him, but she found that she didn't want him to feel hurt.

At last the phone's battery gave out and the screen faded to black. Emily felt it like a stab to her heart, the last link to her home on Earth vanishing. If she couldn't find a way back, how long would it be before she couldn't remember what her home was like, how long before she forgot her friends' faces?

Zovak hugged her gently, cradling her against his bare chest and she lay back against him, trying not to worry about that. There was nothing she could do tonight, at any rate. Better to enjoy what solace she had and perhaps there would be a way out tomorrow.

If she didn't dwell on where she was, it was a nice evening. It could almost have been a night by a campfire back home, but the details kept intruding and reminding her that something was wrong. Back on Earth, it would be the middle of winter, too cold to camp like this. And the man she sat beside, if she'd had a man, would not be a powerful warrior like Zovak. Even the moon was wrong — this one was much bigger than Earth's moon, and she could see patterns on its surface. Staring up at them she realized that she was looking at buildings, cities.

"Who made those?" she asked Zovak. He looked up along her pointing arm and shrugged.

"The Ancients, I suppose," he told her. "Perhaps the Elders know more, but there are no tales about those places that I have heard."

She shivered. There is so much to know out here, she realized. Cities on the moon, a gate for walking between worlds... Earth suddenly seemed very small in comparison. Small and safe.

"You are cold, my Emily," Zovak said, standing and lifting her as though she weighed nothing. Emily wanted to object but he was right. With the suns gone from the sky, the camp was getting cold and they'd been sitting away from the fire to look at the pictures on her phone.

Zovak's body was warm though, and she snuggled into him as he carried her back to his tent. She remembered the shock she'd had running out of it — that felt like days ago, but it couldn't have been more than a few hours.

Or could it? Emily realized that she didn't know how long the day was here. Could it be different than a day back home? She wished that she'd paid more attention to the clock on her phone while it had been switched on.

He lowered her to the furs at the back of the tent and stood back, looking down at her in the moonlight that spilled into the tent. The hot intensity of his gaze made her feel self-conscious again and Emily found herself blushing and biting her lip as he looked her up and down.

She couldn't help returning the favor. Zovak's body was simply too hot not to look at. Her gaze rose up his body in the dim light, tracing the contours of the muscles on his legs. She paused for a moment as her gaze settled on his cock, feeling her cheeks heat as she couldn't stop herself staring.

With an effort of will she tore herself away, looking up at the strong muscles of his abs and his broad chest. Emily felt her body respond to the sight of him, the powerful masculinity of this man, this alien. Her body wanted him, wanted him badly.

And it was clear that he wanted her just as much.

Their eyes met and he growled, a deep and powerful sound that made her shiver and her heart race. It was the sound of a predator sighting prey, and in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to be caught.

"Take off your clothes," he said, his tone making it a command, not a request. Emily was moving before she thought about it, her fingers fumbling with the buttons of her top as she stood. Her heart fluttered as she let it fall open, and Zovak's hungry gaze fell upon her breasts. He reached down to pull the blouse off her and she gasped when his fingers brushed her skin. The slightest touch was electric.

She fumbled with the catch of her bra, her shyness washed away by the tide of desire that he raised in her. Zovak's impatient growl made her breath quicken, her heart race, her body melt with a fierce need. The bra finally came open and he pulled it from her, casting it aside and pulling her to him.

Their kiss was a firestorm of need and desire. Zovak lifted Emily off her feet and she wrapped around him, wanting to be as close to him as she could. Needing his touch, his heat. She felt the hardness of his cock press against her, and that only made her ache for him more.

His tongue parted her lips, pressing into her mouth, and she moaned into his kiss. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, pulling herself to him, her hesitation burned away by the desperate need his body awoke in her.

At last, Zovak put her down again and they parted reluctantly. Both of them were breathing quickly now, and Zovak's grin bared his sharp teeth in a way that made Emily feel small, vulnerable, and aroused. She kicked off her shoes, fingers pulling at her jeans, wanting to be naked for him.

As she undressed, he reached out to grab her breasts, strong rough hands exploring her, caressing and squeezing and driving her wild.

"Oh, oh god," Emily groaned as his fingers pinched her nipples, making her back arch. She managed to step out of her jeans as he swept her back to him, and now there was nothing between the two of them.

But her wild hunter wasn't in a hurry. He kissed her lips, then her neck, his fangs grazing the skin and making her shiver in desire. Her hand stroked down his body, reaching between them to hold the iron hardness of his cock, and she gasped again at the size of him. Stroking his shaft as he nibbled on her neck, she breathed a wordless plea.

He understood, lifting her and carrying her down to the furs, pinning her beneath his body. Lifting his head from her neck, he grinned, his eyes alight with desire.

"Don't be impatient," he told her as she moaned and pulled him, trying to guide him to her. It was like trying to move a statue. Emily could do nothing to hurry him as he began to kiss and lick and bite his way down her body.

"I will show you," he said between kisses, "how much I love and need you. Every part of you, every inch of you."

Emily shuddered and he laughed, his teeth grazing her nipple as he sucked it into his mouth. She couldn't focus on anything but him, and she felt as though her desire for him was driving her crazy. Like every second she didn't have him inside her was a second wasted that she would never have back.

She pulled at his shoulders, nails digging into his skin, but he would not be hurried. He kissed his way lower, across her belly, down between her legs, and Emily cried out in pleasure as his mouth found her sex. His tongue was rough, strong as the rest of him, and he parted her folds to lick and kiss her. Shuddering, she arched her back, one hand on him still the other pressed to her mouth and stifling her cry of pleasure.

He chuckled, and she felt it echo through her. "Now you are ready for me."

His words made her shudder again, and though she tried to speak, no words came. They weren't needed, though. Zovak knew what she wanted, what she needed. Pulling himself up, he looked down at her and she felt the pressure of his cock against her entrance. She groaned, pulling at him again, and he didn't need any more urging than that. Driving forward, he buried himself in her with a slow, powerful thrust.

Her mouth opened wide as he slid into her, stretching her. It felt like she could barely hold him but he didn't stop until he was in her to the hilt, and her pussy squeezed tight around him. The two of them shivered, their bodies moving in unison as he slid back and then drove home again faster and harder.

"Oh my God," Emily whimpered, the sensation more powerful than anything she'd ever felt. Zovak felt perfect inside her, as though he belonged there, as though their two bodies had been made for this.

He growled something, she couldn't tell what, but the light in his eyes showed that he was enjoying this as much as she was. His thrusts moved faster and faster, rocking her on the furs, and Emily gripped his shoulders hard as he pushed her to the edge of orgasm.

"My perfect mate," he gasped, finding words at last as her world started to dissolve under the waves of pleasure he sent washing through her. "My beloved."

With that he leaned down to bury his face in the hollow of her neck, biting down. His teeth on her skin made her cry out, pleasure and pain mixing as he took her over the edge into a blinding sea of pleasure.

Together they rode out her orgasm, clinging to each other as Emily writhed under him. Her howls of joy filled the tent and his hungry growl drove her on, one orgasm following another until she could barely breathe for the sensations that flooded her body.

At last she felt him swell inside her, his iron shaft twitching and his breathing growing ragged. He raised his head so that they looked into each other’s eyes as he relaxed his self-control and came, filling her as her final orgasm overtook her. Together they cried out, their bodies spasming together as all control fled them.

Once the moment passed they sank into the furs together, panting and clinging to each other. Zovak's sweat-slick body felt perfect to Emily's touch, and she snuggled into him as they tried to catch their breath.

"My perfect one," he said, voice raw from shouting. His hand stroked through her hair and Emily smiled sleepily. Her hands grazed across his chest, feeling the strength of his heartbeat and for the first time since she'd arrived in this strange land she felt at peace.

"My wonderful warrior," she whispered, letting sleep drag her down into darkness. In that moment, she had no doubts, no fears, and no regrets. She belonged with him.

9

Emily

The next day she awoke with the dawn, and Emily couldn't help smiling at the satisfied feeling that still lingered in her body. Last night had been extraordinary, like nothing that she had ever experienced. In fact, she'd have thought it was a dream if she hadn't woken with her head still resting on the deep blue expanse of Zovak's chest, the strange silvery patterns of his tattoos shining in the light leaking in around the tent flap.

He was still breathing slowly and evenly, and she didn't want to disturb him. He'd earned the right to sleep in, she thought. Carefully, slowly, she sat up and moved away from his sleeping form, gathering her clothes as she went.

She paused a moment, looking at them. Wearing the same clothes as she had yesterday was hardly ideal, but what choice did she have? She'd have to wash them later — at least on this hot planet they wouldn't need long to dry — but until then, she wasn't ready to wander around naked.

I could just wear some furs? She shook her head. That would be too hot, too heavy, and she'd still feel half naked in them. A few hours in yesterday's clothes wouldn't kill her.

Dressing quietly, she fished through her pockets for reminders of home. There wasn't much. Car keys, apartment keys, a few dollars in change, and a check. The check. She looked at it, remembering how she had come here: it felt like forever ago, but it had only been a day. $1,000 was enough to fix a lot of her problems at home, and surely Dr. Hughes and his colleagues would pay more for her story once she was back? They'd been trying to move her across a room and had sent her to another world instead, and that had to be worth something.

She bit her lip, deep in thought. Last night she'd almost forgotten about Earth in Zovak's arms, but the check reminded her that she had a home to go to. If she wanted to, and if she could cross back. The ache of homesickness ate at her heart even though she knew her life hadn't been great before. It might not have been wonderful, but it was her life. Her choices led her there.

Here she had no choices at all.

Behind her, she heard Zovak stir. Emily turned, her face flushing guiltily as she looked at him. His eyes were open now, and she wondered how long he'd been watching her with that sad look on his face.

"Good morning," she said, trying to sound cheerful. But the reality of her situation, trapped on an alien world, was settling back on her and she couldn't force herself to sound happy.

Sitting up, Zovak stretched and shook his head. His eyes locked on hers, considering her for a long moment before he sighed softly and shook his head. When he looked at her again his gaze was full of a powerful melancholy she couldn't interpret.

"Good morning to you, Emily," he said, his deep voice sad. Emily couldn't meet his gaze. He stood and offered her his hand. "Come with me, we must go now."

I don't like the sound of that, she thought. "What's wrong?"

He led her out of the tent, into the bright light of the single sun that was above the horizon. The chill of the night still hung in the air and Emily shivered, though even naked it didn't seem to bother Zovak at all.

"Emily, you have been clear," he said, squeezing her hand. "You were stolen from your world and I will not force you to remain against your will. Not when I know how you can return home."

Home? Emily's heart leaped. "I thought I was trapped here. I thought I couldn't go home ever again. Darya said that she couldn't help me."

"No, love. She said that she wouldn't," Zovak said. "Believe me, it was tempting to say nothing, to let you believe that it's impossible. But I am Zovak son of Koth and you are my mate. I will never lie to you by word or deed, Emily. The way to your home is in your grasp."

"But... what about your family, your Clan?" Emily asked, struggling to keep up as he guided her to the outskirts of the camp. There were a few others of the Clan up and about, but it seemed that most were still sleeping. Those who were awake paid no attention to the pair leaving the camp.

Zovak was silent long enough that she thought he wasn't going to answer. But once they were away from the camp, he turned to take both of her hands in his.

"You are more important to me than the Clan's politics," he snarled, and she almost flinched away from his anger though it wasn't directed at her. With a visible effort, he calmed himself. "You've made it clear that you are not happy here, and your happiness is more important to me than anything else. If any of them give me trouble over that, then I will teach them not to question me."

The intensity of his stare was frightening, and Emily closed her eyes against it. Her heart hammered at the thought of going home, of leaving him and returning to Earth again. The choice tore at her, and she didn't know what to say.

Zovak didn't give her time to say anything. He pulled her against him and held her tight in an embrace for a moment before letting her go. "I will return you to the Worldwalker's Gate and from there you can travel back to the world of your birth. You will be safe."

"Come with me!" The words burst out of Emily's mouth before she had time to think about them, and the look Zovak gave her showed that they cut him like daggers. Now it was his turn to look away in pain.

"I cannot," he said. "My father is old and someone must lead the Clan. Only I can take up that burden and protect the Clan against the Fire Wolves, and I will not abandon them. Besides, Emily, your world is not mine. How could I live there?"

He was right and she knew it. An alien man like Zovak couldn't exactly hide, and who knew what the government would do with an alien warrior stranded in their midst? It wouldn't be good. Emily shivered at the thought of Zovak tied to a table surrounded by government scientists wanting to find out what made him tick.

She had to go home. He had to stay.

There was nothing more to say, and Zovak turned away again. As Emily watched, he changed, shifting into a great blue wolf. Emily stared, wide-eyed, remembering his transformation at the Gate when she'd just arrived. I guess that wasn't a dream, that really happened. It seemed impossible but it was real, real as anything else on this strange world, and at his wordless urging she climbed on the mighty wolf's back. He was magnificent; she could appreciate that now that she wasn't so afraid of him. The strong muscles under his thick fur carried her easily, and she clung on tight as he pointed them north.

He set off at a run, bounding across the landscape and quickly leaving the Sun Shadow Clan's camp behind. Emily clung on for dear life, and in another time and place it would have been an exhilarating experience. Here and now, though, she was too distracted by the pain and doubt in her heart to enjoy it.

She'd been unconscious for the journey to the camp so this was her first chance to see the landscape of the planet she'd landed on by accident. It was, she had to admit, beautiful. Stark and empty for the most part, but strange trees grew in small groves amongst the hills, something like reddish grass blowing in the morning breeze. Everything looked different from Earth, subtly or obviously, and she found herself wishing for the chance to examine her surroundings more closely.

I can't take the time, she reminded herself. If I don't go home now, I'll lose everything anyway.

Ahead of them, the hills dropped down to barren plains and in the distance, she saw the ruins where she'd arrived. The Worldwalker's Gate, as Darya had called it. Zovak came to a halt at the sight of it and as she got off his back he shifted back to his human form. His back to her, he stared down at the plain below, and the Gate. There were figures outside it now, distant enough that she couldn't make out any details, but she guessed they meant trouble.

"This is Fire Wolf territory," he said, turning to face her. "It seems they've left guards and they are not going to be pleased to see me. So when I take you to the Gate, you must be swift. We will have no more time for goodbyes."

"I don't even know what to do once I'm there," she protested. "How do I use the Gate?"

Zovak brushed her cheek with one strong hand. "The Ancients were clever, Emily, and their technology still is. There is no great trick to it: go to the center of the Gate and think about the place you desire to go. The machine will know where you mean and send you to the receiver on your homeworld. Your scientist must have created a link to the Gates by accident to send you through, and that means the Gate can send you back to it."

I hope Dr. Hughes' lab counts, Emily thought, remembering the pieced together mess of wires. It was so different from the majestic ruins that still functioned after centuries of neglect, but it would just have to do. It sent me here, surely it can take me back. She took Zovak's hand, bringing his palm to her lips and kissing it. The pain of saying goodbye was too much to bear and she felt the hot tears running down her cheeks.

Zovak understood. There was no need for words between them, not when they both felt the same pain. He turned, transforming again into the blue-furred wolf. Emily watched him shift, marveling at the transformation that changed him so completely but left him unmistakably himself. The wolf was Zovak and there was no mistaking that, it wasn't just the look in his eyes that let her recognize him. It was as though she could see his soul and knew that it was the same.

She approached him again, climbing on his back and running her fingers through his fur. The sadness they shared weighed them both down a moment longer, and then he tensed under her. She understood. If they were going to do this, better to get on with it and get it over with: no good would come of clinging to the moment.

Emily grabbed on tight and they were off at a run.

10

Zovak

The weight of his mate on his back didn't slow Zovak at all, though the weight in his heart pulled him back. But he had set himself on a course, and he had made his mate a promise. He couldn't turn his back on it now.

He didn't want to think about what would come after this, when she had returned herself to the icy winter-world she clung to. That was a worry for the future and he told himself it could wait. It wasn't easy to ignore, though, and it preyed on his thoughts as he raced down toward the Worldwalker's Gate.

My father will be displeased, he thought, and almost laughed at the idea. It would be a great disappointment that he'd found his mate and then sent her away, but at least it would be a unique achievement. No one in the history of the Clan had been so foolish — his name would live on forever.

The second sun had risen now and the day was heating up as he ran. At the Gate, someone saw him and a warning cry went up. Zovak felt Emily's hands tighten in his fur but he didn't change course. He hadn't expected to arrive unnoticed, after all.

By the time he slowed to a stop beneath the walls, the Fire Wolves had gathered. Five of them that he could see, and there might be more around the building. Not good odds if he had to fight them all, but Zovak didn't care. He wasn't going to fail his Emily no matter how many stood against him.

Emily dropped off his back as he came to a stop, and he took a couple of paces forward before shifting. The leader of the Wolves stepped out to meet him, smiling an unpleasant smile. Zovak recognized him, though he'd been in wolf form the last time they met — it was the same Fire Wolf who had threatened Emily when she'd first stepped out of the Gate.

Zovak met his gaze, taking the measure of his opponent. The man was big, as tall and muscular as Zovak, and had the scars of a warrior along with his tattoos. Though he'd run from their first encounter, this was no easy target for a fight.

Good. I need someone I can take my anger out on, Zovak thought with a snarl.

"I didn't think you'd be so foolish as to return," the Fire Wolf said. "You tried to rob our Clan, you stole my prey, and now you come back. Why?"

"I have come to deliver this woman home," Zovak replied, gesturing to Emily. "Let her use the Worldwalker's Gate and I will have no quarrel with you."

He knew that it wouldn't be that easy, but honor demanded that he try. The Fire Wolves exchanged looks and laughed.

"No," their leader said. "You have trespassed on the lands of my Clan and I, Gorvar son of Tark, will see that you pay for it. Once I have slain you, I will kill the female too, for she is my prey by right."

Gorvar. It was a name he knew, the cruel son of the Fire Wolves' Ard. A man who had to prove himself worthy of leading his Clan, just as Zovak had to show his own worth. Nodding, Zovak smiled a grim smile. One of them would get what they needed today, and he would make sure it wasn't the man who threatened Emily.

"No, Gorvar," he said. "If you wish to fight me, so be it. Let us settle the matter between us as men and fight for the honor of our Clans. But this does not concern Emily: she will travel through the Gate while we fight."

Gorvar shook his head, grinning broadly and confidently. "Why should I let her past? What does it gain me?"

Zovak shook his head in turn, growling low as he stepped closer.

"There is no honor in killing her," he said, quiet enough that the other Fire Wolves couldn't overhear. "She is weak, helpless. I am your prize, and no one will remember what you do with her. Send her on her way and you will be remembered as a magnanimous leader. Or threaten her again and I will tear out your bloody throat, but you will not touch her."

Gorvar's smile died on his face and he paled slightly. There was no mistaking the deadly seriousness of Zovak's tone. After a moment Gorvar forced a laugh and waved to his men. "Fine, let her through. She is no fit prey for a true warrior."

Emily tugged at Zovak's arm and he stepped back, keeping a wary eye on his enemy.

"What are you doing?" Emily hissed. "They'll kill you."

"No," Zovak said with a confidence he didn't entirely feel. He would take his skill as a warrior against any Fire Wolf, but if they teamed up on him he would be in trouble. That would be dishonorable, of course. The question was whether they had any honor to count on. "I'm not worried about me, beloved, but you are in danger if you stay. Go, go now."

Tears welled in Emily's eyes as he spoke, it took an effort for him not to show the pain he felt. No wound the Fire Wolves could inflict on him would hurt as much as saying goodbye to his mate.

Grabbing hold of her, he pulled Emily close and kissed her firmly. If this is to be the last time I see her, then I will make it count, he thought as he lost himself in the passion of their embrace. Emily's arms wrapped around him and he felt as though his heart was going to explode with the warring emotions.

It wasn't just for her safety that he needed her to leave now. If she stayed any longer, he knew his resolve would falter and he might not be able to let go.

"Now, get inside. Quickly," he told her as he put her down. She blinked tear-filled eyes, backing away.

"Goodbye, Zovak," she said, voice small and sad. "I will never forget you."

"Nor I you, beloved," he said. Pushing her toward the break in the wall, he turned away. He couldn't bear to watch her leave, and he couldn't let her see how much pain it caused him.

The Fire Wolves watched from a safe distance, and he had to grudgingly respect them for not interfering in his goodbyes. Two had shifted to wolf form and the rest looked on with grins that told him they, at least, were confident that Gorvar would win a heroic victory.

Let them think what they will. I will teach them the truth.

He strode forward, eager to get to grips with his foe. Emily still needed to actually use the Gate, and he didn't trust the Fire Wolves to keep their word and leave her safe if he wasn't there to protect her. That meant he had to keep them focused on him until she'd had time to get through to her homeworld.

Gorvar seemed just as keen to fight, striding closer and lowering himself into a ready crouch. His hands flexed as the two closed on each other, and Zovak bared his teeth in something that could only just be called a smile.

As soon as the two were in reach of each other they pounced. The warriors slammed into each other with blinding, bruising force, grappling and twisting, each trying to get the upper hand. For a moment, they were immobile, straining at each other. Zovak had time to be impressed. There weren't many men who could hold him in a contest of strength, and Gorvar was skilled as well. Then he gave up on rational thought, letting his wolf come to the fore.

Roaring, he twisted and flung his opponent to the ground. But Gorvar held tight and pulled him down as well, and the real fight began.

11

Emily

Descending into the darkness of the ruined Worldwalker's Gate, Emily flinched at the sounds she heard behind her. But Zovak would be safer, she knew, if she left. He had his people and his home here. He'd win his fight and go home and be happy.

If I wait, I'll only bring him more pain, Emily told herself. She wondered if she really believed that or if she was trying to convince herself, but in the end, it didn't matter. Pushing forward into the dim interior of the Gate, she left the sounds of combat behind her.

The chamber at the center of the building was as she remembered it, though this time, less confused, she paid more attention. The walls had faint marks on them, perhaps the remains of ancient decorations barely visible in the faint glow that lit the room. The chair she'd fallen from on her arrival was still there in the center of the chamber, a strange sight from home in this alien room. Emily hurried to it, not wanting to give herself time to overthink what she was doing. If I have to do this, let's get it over with. No point in hanging around.

Sitting on the chair she tried to think about home, but found that it wasn't easy. Her thoughts were dragged back, time and again, to the man who had carried her here. The alien warrior who had made it his life's goal to give her what she wanted, even if it meant giving up his own happiness for hers.

No one's ever cared for me like that before, she thought. And now I'm turning my back on him.

She put that thought aside, pulling the check out of her pocket and staring at it. That was an anchor to her life, to her home. It represented a chance at freedom, a chance to pay off enough debts that she might be able to start saving money again. It represented another chance at life. But only if she went now. Tomorrow, she'd have missed a day's work and probably wouldn't have a job to go back to.

Above her, she heard something shift like gigantic machinery coming to life somewhere in the building. Her skin tingled as a charge filled the air and she could feel the world weaken around her, just as it had in Dr. Hughes' laboratory. Suddenly, that memory was clear as day, and she tried to focus extra hard on that picture. The walls with notes scrawled on them, the wires trailing everywhere. That's where I want to be.

Except... she remembered how she'd felt the last time she'd sat in that chair. The wish that the machine would take her somewhere, anywhere, away from her life in the cold. That it would send her somewhere she could be happy.

And then it had taken her here, to this place. To the world where she'd met Zovak.

Sparks crawled over her skin as the machine readied itself, and in an instant Emily made a decision. She threw herself from the chair, diving off the platform it stood on, hitting the ground with a painful thud as a blinding light filled the underground space.

Blinking back tears, she pulled herself to her feet and looked behind her. The chair was gone, flung back across space to Earth, leaving her behind.

12

Zovak

The Gate crackled with energy beside him, and Zovak knew it had done its work. His heart ached with a sadness he knew he could do nothing about, but he told himself that at least Emily was safe and on her own world now. He hoped that she would find happiness there, somehow.

Beneath him, Gorvar struggled, pinned to the ground by Zovak's weight. He hissed and squirmed, twisting to throw Zovak off, howling in pain as Zovak landed a punishing blow on his enemy's ribs before rolling to his feet. The two of them circled, the other Fire Wolves quiet now. They watched intently, tense and ready to pounce. Zovak didn't know whether they were going to interfere or not, but now he didn't care.

Emily was gone. Nothing much would matter for the rest of his life.

The pain of that thought drove him on, and he leaped back into the fray. Driving punch after punch at his enemy's face, he rocked the Fire Wolf backward with his undiluted fury. Gorvar countered, striking back hard, but Zovak ignored those blows. It was only pain, and he could take more of that than this man could dish out.

Grabbing him by the throat, he twisted and pulled Gorvar down to the ground again. This time he set his weight on the man's neck, squeezing hard and pinning him to the floor. Gorvar's hands groped at Zovak's neck but he couldn't find purchase and his strength ebbed as his face darkened.

A growl gave Zovak just enough warning to turn and duck as one of the Fire Wolves rushed him. Charging in wolf form, the warrior slammed into his side, teeth snapping shut on thin air, and the three of them tumbled across the ground. Zovak had to let go of Gorvar's throat to hold off the wolf, and the others were closing in too.

Zovak smiled grimly, twisting clear of the fight enough to smack the lead wolf across the face and get to his feet.

"You think you can beat us all?" Gorvar said, his voice hoarse from the choking. He pulled himself up, standing weakly and staggering a little. His smile was vicious as the other Fire Wolves gathered around him, facing Zovak.

"No," Zovak said, smiling wider. "But I can kill you before your friends can take me down. And I'm not sure how many of them will walk away from that fight, either."

He met Gorvar's gaze steadily and without fear. It was the simple truth, and as he watched, the Fire Wolves started to look less comfortable with their advantage. Gorvar looked around at them and took a step backward.

Zovak stepped forward, closing the distance and growling, his teeth bared and ready for the kill. His wolf strained against his control, eager to be free, to rend and tear at the enemy, and one of the Fire Wolves saw the look in his eyes and turned to run.

That was enough to break the confidence of the rest of them, and as one they turned, fleeing north across the plain. Gorvar was the last to turn, shooting Zovak a poisonous glare before shifting and running after his Clanmates. Zovak stared after them, his emotions mixed. He was half disappointed to have won, half surprised to have survived.

He took a deep breath, and when he released it much of the weight he'd been carrying faded with it. He couldn't be happy without his mate, that was certain, but accepting his fate brought him a kind of peace. He would do the best he could for Clan and family, guide them as best he could, and that was all anyone could ask of him.

Watching the retreating Fire Wolves, he knew that they'd be back. He might frighten them off for now, but their Clan was too big to defeat that simply. He'd have to work hard to keep his own Clan safe from them, but he knew he was ready for the task. It would be something to fill up the time he had in front of him.

His focus was entirely on the future, and the sound of movement behind him came as a shock. He whirled to face whoever had crept up on him, too slow to avoid a solid thwack to the arm. The counter-punch he started froze in midair as soon as he recognized his attacker.

"You idiot, you'd really have let me leave?" Emily said, face flushed with emotion. She was panting, as though she'd run up the stairs from the Gate below, but it wasn't enough to stop her hitting him again. "Idiot!"

The second punch stung, but not enough to stop him roaring with joy and sweeping her into his arms. She squirmed, helpless in his strong grip, as he swung her around and around.

"Emily! You stayed, you came back," he cried out, incredulous and joyful, the enemy forgotten. Putting her back down, he held his mate at arm's length to look at her. "Why?"

"Why, he asks," Emily said, addressing the sky and shaking her head. "You know why, Zovak. What I want to know is, why did you try to push me into going?"

"It's what you said you wanted," Zovak said, confused. "You told me you had to go home. You had a life there, waiting for you. And I would never keep you against your will. Your happiness is everything to me, Emily."

She sniffed, and he could see the tears in her eyes. Tears that mixed sadness with joy. "I was wrong, Zovak. Everything was happening so fast, and I made a mistake. There's nothing on Earth worth giving you up for."

Those words were enough to drive the air from his lungs, and the words from his throat. Speechless, Zovak pulled her to him, holding her tight and kissing her passionately. She gasped and then returned the kiss with equal passion.

Her eyes were bright and wide as she met his gaze. "Take me home, Zovak."

The End

Thank you for reading Zovak! Please take a moment to leave an opinion about the book, we appreciate every review.

If you’d like to hear more about our upcoming releases, sign up for our mailing lists:

Juno Wells newsletter

Leslie Chase newsletter

About Leslie Chase

LESLIE CHASE

I love writing, and especially enjoy writing sexy paranormal romance. It lets my imagination run free and my ideas come to life! When I’m not writing, I’m busy thinking about what to write next or researching it – yes, damn it, looking at castles and swords counts as research.

If you enjoy my books, please let me know with a review. Reviews are really important and I appreciate every one. If you’d like to be kept up to date on my new releases, you can sign up for my email newsletter by following this link.

My website can be found at here

Follow me on Twitter

My Facebook page is here

Email me at leslie@leslie-chase.com

About Juno Wells

JUNO WELLS

Juno Wells grew up on Florida's Space Coast, watching the shuttles take off from Cape Canaveral. When she hit college, her childhood fantasies about space travel turned highly romantic. Now her mind reels with space adventures of fantastic alien lords in distant galaxies, and the earth women they love.

Wells' stories explore the complex, sensual relationships between inhabitants of different star systems. There are always happy endings just as there is always a new world to explore.

Her work is exclusive to Amazon, so read as much as you like with Kindle Unlimited.

Have a comment? Make first contact with Juno at authorjunowells@gmail.com.

If you want to here about her new releases, sign up for her mailing list

Check out her Author Page on Amazon for all her books

Also by Leslie Chase

Paranormal Romance

Arcane Affairs Agency

A shared world of shifters, vampires, far, and witches - full of everything that goes bump in the night! Check out the full list of books here.

The Bear and the Heir, by Leslie Chase

When Cole North arrives in Argent Falls to investigate reports of magical storms, he doesn’t expect much to come of it. Not after the series of pointless missions the Arcane Affairs Agency has sent him on recently. This time, though, it’s different. The small town is plagued by bizarre weather, the storms are trying to warn him off, and there are fae running wild. And then there’s Fiona.

No matter how much the bear shifter tries to focus on his mission, he can’t get the hot, curvy girl out of his head. But the fae are after her too – and when they try and kidnap her, Cole’s mission and his feelings for Fiona collide.

Guardian Bears

Ex-military bear shifters providing protection from the threats no one else can deal with. Each book is a stand-alone plot, as the sexy bears find their curvy mates.

Guardian Bears: Marcus

Guardian Bears: Lucas

Guardian Bears: Karl

Tiger’s Sword

A four-part paranormal romance serial about Maxwell Walters, billionaire tiger shifter, and his curvy mate Lenore.

Box Set, collecting all four parts

Book One: Tiger’s Hunt

Book Two: Tiger’s Den

Book Three: Tiger’s Claws

Book Four: Tiger’s Heart

The Lion Princes

Roman, Mattias, and Gabriel are the heirs to the throne of Leotania, a small kingdom ruled by lion shifters. Each book tells the tale of one of the brothers finding his mate as they see which one of them will inherit the throne.

The Lion’s Castle

The Lion’s Share

The Lion’s Throne

Also by Juno Wells

Alien Barbarians of Zandipor

Kim Fox & Juno Wells

Barbarian One (Avery and Turic)

Barbarian Two (Rolanda and Pontuck)

Barbarian Three (Straykeer and Mandy)

Red Planet Dragons of Tajss

Miranda Martin & Juno Wells

Dragon’s Baby

Dragon's Mate

Warrior’s of Fisoar

Shea Malloy & Juno Wells

Kozan

Aizak