A snarl of rage tore from 880. “She was my mate!”
Breeze motioned the other female to silence as she continued to warily watch him. “We know that and meant no insult. Did Alli harm you? Did she hurt you?”
“No.”
“She stole you to save your life. I want you to understand that. She cared for you and stayed by your side. She put her life at risk to save yours. Do you know what happened to her?”
“No.”
“They locked her up. She’s a prisoner inside her home. She isn’t allowed to be a doctor anymore and is no longer trusted.” Anger deepened her voice. “We don’t agree with that but the males won’t listen to us. They are butt hurt over her being able to steal you as easily as she did. A mere little human smuggled you past all their security measures.”
“Butt hurt? Did she give them injections to make them unconscious?”
“No. Their pride is injured and they are being stupid,” one of the women by the door softly growled. “You’ve got to help her after all she did for you. It is the right thing to do.”
Anger gripped him at being given orders. “Humans are my enemy.”
Breeze growled back at him as the color of her eyes darkened. “She isn’t your enemy. She’s our friend and she woke you from a coma.”
He threw the shirt at her. “She is not my concern.” He hated the way his voice lacked sincerity. He didn’t enjoy owing anyone but if the human female had saved his life then he would feel honor bound to repay her some way.
Breeze caught it and rose to her feet. She hesitated. “One day you are going to be deemed well and leave Medical. Do you know what you are going to want?” She tossed the material to one of the females and reached for the front of her shirt to lower it enough to reveal the tops of her breasts. “Us. You’ll miss sex, won’t you? You had a mate. Remember her body? The feel of her in your arms?”
His body tensed as his gaze locked on the skin she revealed. He wasn’t interested and felt offended that she’d believed he’d be tempt to want her. The female yanked her shirt up to cover the view of her cleavage. His gaze lifted to hers.
“That will be the last bit of skin you see on a female unless you get motivated to help Alli. I speak for myself and all our females when I say none of us will share sex with a male who allows someone we care about to remain in captivity. We’ve discussed it and you will be one lonely, sexually frustrated male unless you learn to care about Alli’s fate. Do you understand me?”
“She’s human and I don’t want to share sex with you.” He might injure Breeze’s pride by stating he didn’t want to mount her but she made threats. He didn’t care if she felt offended.
“Alli is Species as far as we are concerned. She’s not your enemy or ours.” She backed up. “Tell them you want to see her even if you don’t. You could even say you feel depressed from missing her scent. Just be nice to her. Tell them you trust her even if you have to learn to do so. She risked her life for yours. Remember that instead of what other humans have done to you in the past.”
He growled, resented being ordered what to do and say. The females seemed unfazed by his anger as they calmly watched him. The idea of seeing Alli again was very tempting. He wanted to know why she had gotten into trouble on his account. His pride refused to allow him to admit as much though.
“Don’t scare or harm her.” Breeze backed up more. “Remember, she believed you could be saved when others had given up hope. You will help her if you have any pride left. You owe her a debt.”
He considered his options as the females silently regarded him. It would be a mistake to show weakness, such as interest in speaking to the human. They could use it and her against him to attempt to control him. Mercile had done it often with 46. Of course Alli wasn’t his mate. They wouldn’t threaten to kill her if he refused to do as they demanded.
“I will see her to repay the debt,” he conceded carefully. “That is the only reason.”
The females withdrew but one of them tossed the shirt at him again. He caught it and the sweet smell of Alli filled his nose. Confusion filled him over why others of his kind would care so much about a human. They had all survived Mercile Industries and should hate humans too.
He fisted the shirt in his hands and lifted it to his nose. One deep inhalation of Alli’s scent triggered memories of her against his side while she’d slept. Her hand on his chest had been nice when she’d stroked him. His eyes closed and he remembered seeing her on the ground with males standing over her.