•

Artemis awoke with a start. The room was empty of the large Yautja she had slept so comfortably beside. Outside the suns were barely rising in the distance, the city partially covered in the early morning darkness. That darkness was similar to the one in her heart that occasionally flared up, especially at that moment.

Like every night, she saw the faces of the ones she loved, their faces contorted in pain as their bodies lay broken on the blood covered floor. She saw the faces of each guard who had been tasked to execute her family and friends. It was with those deaths replaying in her head that she woke with tears in her eyes. Fresh salty tears fell down her cheeks while she covered her mouth in an effort to be as quiet as possible.

She didn't want Rhage to see her like this.

With a little hop, she left the bed pulling the weird-feeling blanket behind her to walk to the door that she assumed was a bathroom. The door slid open automatically and she found it was a bathroom. There she huddled in a corner beneath a weird shower-head-like object jutting from the wall.

The room was a large size with a shower and toilet on one side and the other a sink and giant pool-like tub, the thing so big she could swim in it.

It was too bad she didn't see any of it clearly due to the tears that blurred her vision almost completely. She wrapped the blanket around herself until she was cocooned with just part of her face uncovered and curled in as small a ball as she could, her pregnant belly didn't make it very easy; the baby was growing fast.

Artemis stayed there letting her emotions run the course as big fat tears continued to wet her cheeks. A few noises managed to slip out of her mouth despite her best efforts. Every part of her soul hurt, the big gaping maw of mental anguish threatening to drag her into the darkness that played on the edge. The memories were so strong, visceral, that it was a wonder she hadn't succumbed to them.

Their screams were the worst part as they suffered. They had a way of recording themselves into her memory.

With the beginnings of her back starting to hurt from being in the fetal position for so long, she struggled to her feet and walked to the door. Taking a deep shaky breath to calm her nerves, she braved herself to leave the safety of the bathroom. She wiped the remaining tears out of her eyes and stepped close enough for the door to open.

Standing on the other side was Rhage.

His eyes were set on her as he met her gaze. The giant Yautja was silent as he took in the sight of her rosy face and the shadows that played in her eyes, pain visible; what kind of pain he could not figure out.

Artemis stood there surprised that she had been found out. "H-Hi." She mustered, biting her trembling lip. More tears threatened to spill forth but she fought them. Crying in front of Rhage was not happening.

She didn't want to appear weak.

He didn't speak but instead brushed a fresh tear away as it fell with a thick finger. He inspected the liquid on his digit before advancing forward causing Artemis to back up so he wouldn't bump into her. She ended up against the wall next to the tub, her mind racing as she tried to guess Rhage's intentions.

What was he thinking? The fact that he hadn't said anything yet was driving her nerves haywire.

He clicked a button on the wall panel next to the tub and immediately it began to fill with water. Steam rose from the tub while the room became steamy and warm. The young woman stood still as Rhage pulled the blanket away from her and used a claw to remove her clothing. The fabric fell to the floor around her and she immediately went to cover her chest and privates, but Rhage lifted her up and set her in the tub.

Artemis averted her eyes when he removed his loincloth to reveal his privates. The water rose slightly when he climbed in behind her.

One of his arms dragged her closer where in his hand was now a sponge-like object that he used to bathe her. She felt very warm and began to calm down in the hot soapy water. His gentle touch both washed her body and her mind of the nightmare she had earlier. She relaxed and let the memories fade into the cloudy recesses of her mind.

Being naked around him made her nervous but he didn't seem to notice. He seemed perfectly comfortable being naked around her at least. When he had removed the one article of clothing he wore she didn't even want to guess or get the idea of what he packed; certainly a creature as big as he wasn't small by any means. Given his age, she wondered what it looked like down there and if his kind looked like the males on her world.

It was when he had cleaned himself and pulled her into a warm hug from behind that she got her answer, a thick arm protectively covering her rounded belly. A thick rod of flesh pressed against her bottom as he nuzzled her hair with his mandibles. Surprisingly he wasn't showing any sign of sexual interest, much to her relief.

She had never been with a man...or anyone.

"Why did you not come for me? I would have helped sooner." His deep growly voice rumbled in her ear as he held her, resting the side of his face on her head.

"I...I'm sorry. I—"

"Do not apologize, Artemis. You have done nothing to warrant an apology." His hands turned over hers, a claw lightly tracing the many light pink scars that decorated her inner wrists and forearms, each long line at an angle as they had been stacked. She shivered involuntarily as he observed them.

"There was a point in my life where I thought I couldn't take it anymore so I tried to...end my life."

"Yet you are still here. They are beautiful. A sign of a battle that few could imagine. The mind is the greatest foe; it is prey that cannot be understood nor easily slain. I see no weakness, only strength to keep moving forward, mate." Rhage held her closer as he made sure to trace each and every one of her self-harm scars.

She let his words soak in as he moved his hands up her arms, his claws gentle as always. With his hands so close to her breasts she couldn't help but feel a pulse of need spark to life between her thighs. His hands briefly paused in their exploration of her sides while he pushed her slightly forward in the tub.

Rhage purred quietly as he continued, his hands moving to her sides where quickly he caressed her swell and felt their child squirm around inside.

"I hate crying in front of other people."

"I am more than other people." He stated matter-of-factly.

She couldn't help but smile at the tone of his voice. He sounded so territorial. It was attractive on such a large creature as he.

Artemis was still getting to know Rhage but she wandered if one day he could really be someone more to her. Someone such as a life partner, a lover, and maybe even a best friend. It was possible, she knew this.

"Yes, yes you are." With her renewed good mood she scooted back so she could lean against his chest.

His large hands still caressed and stroked her swell, at least, until her butt pressed against his rigid member. It felt hot and heavy, foreign. She had never felt so...intimate with another. They weren't doing anything but just being naked and being so close to another naked person was exciting. Her body was alive with awareness.

"Little human, you test my discipline." One of his hands moved to circle one of her thighs, her legs opening instinctively to give him access.

A low growl came from him as she squirmed. "It was an accident." She whimpered as his thick finger found her clitoris and toyed experimentally with it.

"My sense of smell is much more sensitive than yours and you smell very enticing when in heat." His finger continued to rub slow circles expertly. Little ridges on his scaled skin helped to stimulate her sex.

"We barely know each other, Rhage."

"You will quickly come to know me in this way."

Fire raced through her body as he pleasured her. It felt so good, like nothing she'd ever felt before. His rough skin rubbing against her soft felt so right. She hadn't entertained the idea of them being intimate but damn a girl could get used to this!

Artemis couldn't voice a response since her body was doing the talking for her. Moaning was her vocalization. She grunted as she reached that peak of ecstasy. Rhage's thick arm prevented her from closing her thighs as she started to ride the wave of her orgasm. Her nerves came alive, the fireworks bursting.

While she rode the last of it, she lied limply against the giant Yautja who held her in his arms. Getting her first orgasm from an alien hadn't been on the bucket list. Getting one in general hadn't been something she'd ever thought of, her life too busy before she had been kidnapped. Something told her that this wouldn't be her last orgasm brought on by Rhage, the alien who claimed she was his mate.

Behind her Rhage purred like a giant cat. A few of his long cloudy locs rested on her shoulders as he hunched over her.

He pulled his hand away, only to lick it clean of her juices. Seeing him do that was the most erotic thing she'd ever seen. If she wasn't so spent then she would've craved the actual act of sex but she didn't think she was ready for that big step; not yet anyways. She was sure she'd die from shyness before she could ever do that.

"Back to the nest for you, mate. It is early." Rhage picked her up in one arm and hauled her out of the tub.

"The sun is up, though." She protested as he clicked another button on the wall. A heat wave encompassed her until she was completely dry as if she hadn't just stepped out of the bath.

It had been like magic to her. The Yautjan technology was impressive.

Following Rhage's naked form, the alien clearly having no shame to walk in his birthday suit, she kept her eyes on the shaded windows. Shades had been drawn over the windows where it blocked most of the morning's light as it poured in from outside. Outside the city skyline was full of flying ships and other objects she didn't recognize as the city came to life.

She wondered how much time had passed.

"Yes, but you look tired. Rest will do you well."

"Rhage, I can't stay in bed all day." Her arms crossed her chest as she came to a stop a few feet away from the bed where Rhage was busy straightening the covers.

He turned his lime green eyes to her and cocked his head, his tusks clicking together as she stood there awkwardly covering her nudity. Those cloudy blue dreads of his tipped in red looked beautiful with his freshly clean scales, both glistening in the morning light. She thought he looked quite handsome.

Strange emotions that she knew would grow bubbled with excitement. To anyone else he would be terrifying but to her he was her buoy in a raging sea. This savage giant that could take out platoons of soldiers as if it was an annoyance, a flick of the wrist job, was the one who didn't mock her for her weakness but instead comforted her; gave her a bath and distracted her mind.

"Why not?"

"First off, I need something to wear at least." She kept her eyes to the ground as she stood awkwardly, avoiding Rhage's banging naked body. She knew her scent would have him on her again and she was just now processing what happened.

"Ah, my apologies. I forget your species is not open with nudity like mine." He walked past her, a large hand covering himself while he went to push another hidden panel on the wall. A sliding door about the size of a dumbwaiter slid open to reveal a machine built into the wall, floating holographic letters rising above a smooth panel.

It vaguely reminded her of a 3D printer back home on Earth.

With a few letters clustered together, he selected something that quickly popped out a piece of fabric into a tray that had opened on the bottom as he commanded it to do his bidding. She took it from his outstretched hand as she approached, seeing that it was a nightgown made from a silky black cloth. The cloth reminded her of the loincloth he had been wearing; both had the same silky sheen.

Artemis wasted no time putting it on. It was a simple strapless dress that loosely clung to her body and ended a few inches above her knees.

The dress was just her size and didn't feel tight on her rounded tummy. She much preferred it over the clothing the facility had provided. Her fingers stroked the silky fabric while Rhage procured his own clothing — another loincloth that covered his groin and behind but simultaneously left open slits on the side so she could admire the small patching of rough scales and tiny black quills on his hips.

To her surprise, Rhage had the machine make her a hairbrush which she quickly put to use. She felt a little better appearance wise once her long dark hair was smooth and tangle-free. Rhage plucked a curled strand that was in her face and stroked it between his thick fingers. He purred as he played with wayward strands of the chocolate brown waves, her hair shining in the ambient lighting of the room.

"Pretty." His hand dropped as he made his way back to the bed, a claw gesturing towards it. She saw a gleam in his eyes when she sighed.

Artemis stomped her way back to the bed and with Rhage's help climbed into it, expressing her annoyance under her breath. She was sure he heard every bit of it but she was too frustrated to care. The big alien climbed in next to her where once again she was tucked into his body as he big spooned her.

Lying there she watched the world outside wake up and go about whatever business aliens had. The suns had risen too high for her to see them still, their rays basking the city in an orange-yellow light, something not too different than Earth. At the very least, she felt comfort that the city was recognizable. She had begun to worry how different the world would be compared to hers.

Of course it would, but she wanted to grasp onto familiarity. It could anchor her in this new life she now had. For now she enjoyed the comfort Rhage brought to her with his warm body wrapped around her like a blanket.

• • •

When Artemis later woke she found Rhage gone. She found she missed his quiet presence, the way he held himself with such grace for being so big. The bed was colder without him, too.

She passed the time playing with the object making machine. It had the ability to connect to Earth's internet and she was quick to have the machine bring to life many designs she had seen in digital magazines, also making sure to print off enough bras and panties. On a whim she had it print off a few lingerie undergarments and silky babydoll dresses for sleeping in. Seducing an alien wasn't on her radar but she didn't mind showing at least a little bit of skin; it was better than sleeping naked and she liked showing off the baby bump.

The baby was growing unusually fast, her tummy already looking like she was six months along at the least. Tiny stretch marks were starting to make their appearance on her tummy and on her breasts. Her hips were hurting from the rapid growth of the fetus, her body having to play catch-up. She knew she shouldn't be feeling the baby move so much so early but she chopped it up to Rhage's alien genes — Yautja females must've had shorter pregnancies. It was the only explanation she could come up with that made sense.

Looking in the mirror after she donned a particular dress she had the machine make, she observed all of these changes in her body. Before she was pregnant she had always been on the skinny and slim side with little curves; that was changing now thanks to her current "condition".

Her height of five-foot-seven made the changes in her body fat easily seen.

Now that she was looking closely at the dress she wore she wondered if it was too much. It was plain white but regal and sophisticated, a simple golden string tied under her breasts to let her belly show itself through the fabric. She had donned a simple pair of gold sandals she had made as well to go nicely with it. In her hair she wore a gold-looking clip that held the long curls out of her face. On her arms were metal cuffs that resembled vambraces and a matching pair on her shins. Around her neck she wore a similar plain golden band circling her neck gracefully, a simple swirl etched into the center.

She felt like a goddess. She felt beautiful for once, even if she couldn't help but feel she had gone overboard.

There was a knock at the door that caught her attention. When she approached there was a large male on the opposite side dressed in bronze armor that partially covered his grey and black spotted skin. He towered over her, his blazing orange eyes taking her appearance in with that predatory gaze she was now familiar with.

"Yes? May I help you?" She offered him a small smile as he peered down at her.

"Leader Rhage requests your presence in the throne room. Follow me, Artemis."

The bronze armored Yautja struggled with his broken English but she understood him enough and gave a small nod. He led her down the stairs and out of the apartment. On they went through the maze of hallways and down a few flights of stairs. By the time they reached their destination Artemis was slightly out of breath and wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead.

They were now in an atrium-like room where the ceiling was high and two gigantic doors with intricate artwork etched into the metal stood at the opening where dozens of Yautja stood outside in a group talking among themselves in their growly language. The talking ceased, however, as she and her escort approached, many different colored eyes landing on her. Instead of letting her nervousness get the better of her, Artemis held her head high and walked with a straight back, her hands clasped relaxed at her sides.

Inside the room was even more Yautja wearing various different colored clothing or armor that ranged in differing shades of metal. She counted more than fifty, all of them standing to the side of a long blue carpeted walkway that lead to a massive throne at the end of the long room where Rhage sat upon it.

Seeing him sitting there looking regal in his long blue cape, no armor, and a staff in one hand was intimidating. He looked like a leader that she should bow to, a King in his own right. He looked slightly scary, even, with the way he commanded the room just by sitting there.

His lime-green gaze was all for her as she approached the stepped dais. Yautja ceased their quiet talking among each other as she passed by, a vision of long flowing white and gold accessories. For the first time in her life she resembled the goddess she had been named after. She felt a hint of power as she harnessed a grace she never had prior. If she were to be by Rhage's side, the leader of his people, then she felt she should play the part.

Long banners hung from the ceiling on the sides of the room with that same symbol on Rhage's head and the Yautja she passed on the way. It resembled an empty triangle with a dot in the center. The walls were that same black metal and the floors black stone. This place was both high-tech and primitive, thousands of skulls adorning the entire span of the back wall, each utterly alien minus a T-Rex and various human skulls — the human skulls in the hundreds.