I look down, and there’s something gleaming in the firelight on the tip of my boot. I pick it up, frowning. It fell out of my leggings. What on earth? It looks like a plastic little Y of sorts, which is weird. Did it get stuck in my boot from when we were at the Elders’ space ship? But if so, how…
I gasp as I realize what I’m looking at. It’s not from the elders’ ship.
It’s my IUD.
Somehow, my body has forced it out. My khui must have been silently working on pushing it out of my system. I clutch it in my hand, my heart hammering with excitement.
This changes everything!
Now, I can get pregnant.
Now, I can resonate. I can have a mate!
I can have a family, a happy ever after. I can have everything I always dreamed of. I don’t have to wait for Harlow to fix the surgery machine, because my body fixed itself. Thank you, khui! Thank you! I take back all the awful things I said about you.
I look around eagerly at the people by the fire. Who’s going to be my mate? There’re several males in the tribe that are attractive. Vaza returns my gaze with an assessing look of his own, and to my relief, my khui remains silent. Good. It’s not desperate. Vaza’s older and he’s tried hitting on everything with tits. He’s seated next to Bek, and I’m glad that my khui isn’t making a sound for him, either.
Hassen is probably my number one draft pick at the moment, because he’s sexy, but he’s nowhere to be found. Taushen either. There’s two elders talking off to one side but I’m pretty sure one had a mate back in the day and the other could be my grandpa. Just to make sure, though, I stroll past them.
Nothing. Whew.
No problem, cootie. We still have lots of man-meat in this cavern before we run out. “Anyone seen Hassen?” I ask.
“He’s in his cave, packing,” Vaza says.
“Super.” I jump to my feet and head in that direction. Even if I don’t resonate to Hassen, there’s a few guys back at the other cave that might not be bad picks. Rokan, for one, is kinda studly and he’s always been nice to me. I’d be down with that.
I head for the cave that many of the single hunters live in, and the privacy screen isn’t up. “Yoohoo,” I call out, my voice sweet. Tonight’s the night, I can feel it.
Tonight, I get my mate and my happy ever after. I’m so excited I could cry tears of joy. Tonight, my life starts. Tonight, I get my family. Tonight, I’m no longer a reject.
Hassen pops out of his cave, a confused look on his face. “Yes? What is it?”
I smile at him, but…nothing happens. “Just…thought I’d say hi? Have you seen Taushen?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “He is here.”
“Can I say hi to him too?”
“Is this a human custom?”
I keep smiling, because even his puzzled look is not going to get me down. Not tonight. “Yes, yes it is.”
He grunts and heads back into the cave. I admire his ass for a moment, because, darn, it was a rather nice ass. Not my ass, though. Oh well. I’m sure mine will be awesome. Taushen’s got a tight little bod himself, and—
–And he pops out of the cave a moment later, giving me an eager look. “Ho, Jo-see. What is it you need?”
Nada. Dammit.
I make my excuses, citing a sudden need to find a potty, and hurry away. Who’s left? There’s Vadren talking to Harrec, and while both are middle aged, I could learn to love me some May-December relationship action. I sidle up to them, pretending to listen to their conversation. Nothing.
Is…my cootie on vacation?
I put a hand to my heart, worried. I’ve approached every guy in the cave that’s single. Maybe my mate’s back at the other tribal cave? That’s disappointing, but I guess I can wait another day or so. I start to head back to the fire when…my chest feels funny.
I automatically look down and my small boobs are vibrating. I gasp, clutching my tunic tighter to my body so no one sees that. My chest continues to vibrate, and as it does, the noise grows louder. I’m resonating.
I’m motherfucking resonating!
I want to scream with joy. I look around with excitement, trying to see who it is that set my cootie off. Who did I forget? Or did someone trigger me on a second chance? Or—
I turn around and Haeden’s standing right behind me, frozen in place.
My eyes widen and I clutch my vibrating boobs.
No.
Hell to the no.
“It’s not you,” I whisper.
He looks down at his chest, and then at me.
Then, I hear it. A matching thrum, a low purr.
And it’s coming from my worst enemy. As I watch, his nostrils flare and there’s a look of such anger and agony on his face.