I was completely focused on trying to remember what was so important about the word 'mate' when the world around me exploded.
The force of the blast was enough to send me flying into the furs in front of me, my ears ringing as I heard the roars and cries of the males around me. I panicked for a moment, hoping that the ties that were keeping my grey toga together held.
Before I could confirm that I was covered, I felt a pair of strong arms around me, pulling me closer to a male's chest. He held me like I was a breakable treasure even as both our bodies vibrated with his growls.
"Kill them," grunted the male. It wasn't until that moment that I realized that Axis was holding on to me, my face buried against his skin so that I couldn't look around.
My head started to spin more and more as I felt a sticky, wet substance flow down the side of my face, not pressed against the male.
"We don't want a fight," came a new voice just as my hearing returned to normal. I stiffened. I don't remember ever hearing that voice before, but my body was reacting as if Satan himself stood before me.
Sweat started to drip down my nose, mingling with my blood until I could see a slight pink color against Axis' black skin. The strength went out of my legs, and Axis caught me at the last second, swinging me up into his arms.
My face naturally found the crook of his neck, and I huddled into as small of a ball as I could, trying to become invisible.
I felt soft fur brushing against my skin and a slight chirping sound as Fluffy tried to calm me down. I had no idea why I was reacting like this… but I couldn't control it.
"No," chuckled the Purple Dude as I watched him out of the corner of my eye. My hair was acting like a barrier between my face and the world, and I used the privacy to watch what was going on around us.
The Purple Dude was speaking to someone who looked like a beanpole—a white beanpole with a black diamond in the center of his head and two black holes where his eyes were. He was bald and looked so much like a human that it freaked me out.
But the worst part was that he never displayed any emotion. He simply gazed at the Purple Dude, his face blank.
The Purple Dude pulled out something that looked like a gun from his hip and pointed it at the white beanpole. "The Viarvi never want to fight. There is no profit in that," continued the bigger Silver Dude. "But then again, there is no profit in attacking a trading station either. So, what's your plan?"
"You are currently in possession of one of our most profitable merchandise. We want it back. We are willing to compensate you." The male's voice was soft, almost soothing, but his words chilled me to the bone. Especially the way he was looking at me.
"We have nothing that belongs to you," interjected the Silver Dude, going to stand in front of me, blocking the guy's view.
"You do. The female you are holding is one of our most profitable merchandise. We are aware that you weren't the ones who stole it from us, and therefore, we will not be pursuing legal matters with you."
He spoke like I was nothing more than a fur or a plate, something that managed to make them a profit, and that annoyed the hell out of me. I was more than just a warm body for males to fuck.
"I repeat, I don't have any of your merchandise," growled the Silver Dude, and I could hear the frustration in his voice.
"You don't need to be so obtuse, Ba'dqeel," came yet another male, but this one made me see red. It was the smaller version of the Silver Dude… of Ba'dqeel. "You and I both know that he is referring to the hirini. I am hereby ordering you to return the Viarvi's merchandise to them."
The male under me turned tense, and I could feel his muscles bunching together as if he were about to fight. I had no idea if he was going to hand me over to the beanpoles or if he was going to run away with me.
He had called me his mate. But until I knew exactly what that meant, I didn't know how much I could trust him.
"Please don't give me back to them," I murmured, finally understanding where my fear of the beanpole was coming from. They were the ones who ran the pleasure station. It was the only thing I could think of.
I had never seen one. The sale and purchase of me was all done between them and Lucifer. I was knocked out one night and woke up already in the room at the pleasure station.
Not for the first time in my life, I wish I was capable of killing someone. If I could, I would kill the white male in front of us, wanting to take me back to that hell like it was nothing.
"They can't touch you," sneered Axis, pulling me in closer to him.
"It had our number and our chip inside of it," replied the Viarvi, his expression never changing. "That is legal proof that it is part of our merchandise."
My heart sped up at the idea I had a GPS chip inside of me, but that made sense, considering they were able to find me on this station.
"She is my mate," shrugged the werewolf. He continued to hold me as if I weighed next to nothing.
"That means nothing. If you wish to purchase it, an agreement can be reached," said the beanpole, shaking his head. "But it must be returned to me right now."
"I don't think you understand," smiled Axis. "I am the Eldest Son of The One Chosen To Lead. I am the next Alpha of the planet Nuzora. If you even attempt to take my mate, you and yours will be facing the entire strength of the Njeriuujks."