The world spun slightly as Artemis opened her eyes. The spinning only ceased when the lights dimmed subtly. Looking around the room, she found herself in the recovery bay of the medical center.

She was in her own room with all black metal walls and no decoration save for a plant in the corner. The bed she lied in was huge but very comfortable and one of the large blankets from her home placed atop her. A tray of food sat to the side, the sight making her stomach rumble. Inspecting the room she found she was missing something very important.

Orion.

Her hands flew to her now flat, but slightly fleshy stomach, to shove back the covers. Underneath the gown she wore, her skin had the faint lightning bolts of stretch marks and a faint scar along the bottom of her pudgy belly.

As she was reacquainting herself with her pre-pregnancy body, she missed Rhage entering the room carrying a small bundle in one arm. A female accompanied him, the taller Yautja choosing to stay a few paces away from the Elder Clan Leader as he approached Artemis. She didn't notice him until she smelled his familiar scent.

He stood there, handsome as ever, holding a small wrapped bundle in his arm.

She could smell it stronger than usual but mixed with something unfamiliar.

"Artemis, you are awake." He sat on the bed beside her and purred as she reached for Orion. His long locs fell to the side as he leaned towards her, the clouded blue and red ripped locs contesting beautifully against his skin, like always.

Here he was. At last. In her arms. The little bugger who had occupied her womb without her permission for seven months.

Her eyes welled with emotions as she held Orion in her arms. She noticed how he looked human in his features except for the green and creamy white scales that covered parts of his body. He opened his eyes as she touched his little nose and stroked his pink cheeks. They were a brilliant blue, similar to her own but with black sclera.

Rhage wrapped an arm around her as she leaned into his side. His warmth was comforting and only spurned the tears to fall down her cheeks.

She only felt pure love as she eyed every inch of him.

"He's so damn cute. He has some of your coloring, babe." Artemis smiled up at him.

He drew his mandibles back in the Yautja version of a smile, "Indeed he does. He has done nothing but slumber since he arrived." One of his claws plucked a curl and petted the infant's head. "He will be a strong and unique hunter."

So much love filled her chest that she was almost speechless, the sensation of completeness washing over her. This was everything she wanted. Her life couldn't be any more perfect.

Artemis had a home, a mate, and a child of her own.

Much of her hopes for the future had been realized. Even more would hopefully come true.

"Artemis," She met Rhage's eyes after leaving soft kisses all over their son's face, "I have brought someone with me for you to meet. Her position is very important in Yautja society and she is also my bearer."

It was then that she noticed the huge Yautja standing a few paces away by the door. Upon mention of her, she strode forward.

She was easily almost nine feet tall with accentuated hips and a small but noticeable chest bound with blue cloth, her hips and groin covered by the same colored cloth. On one shoulder was a golden pauldron with symbols carved into it, complimented by armor pieces protecting the sides of her legs.

Much like Rhage, her skin was a dark green, yellow, and creamy white. Gold metal bracelets decorated her wrists and neck. Her long, waist-length white locs were left loose to sway about; almost every strand decorated with the typical rings she was used to seeing but also many tiny bones and teeth, beads, feathers, and decorative metal pieces that curled around them.

The female's eyes were piercing green and shimmered with curiosity. This Yautja walked like the ground was supposed to worship her, her gait predatory and graceful.

The sight of her was slightly unnerving, but she also felt nervous at meeting Rhage's mom.

His freaking mom!

She was gorgeously terrifying.

Yautja must have long lives, she concluded. It was the only way to explain it. His mom would have to be nearly a thousand years old! Such a thing was impossible, but here she was, proof of that.

Said giant mom of Rhage's stopped by the bed to offer a respectful nod before she spoke, her voice higher and much softer than what she was used to hearing from Yautja.

"Artemis, I am Sha'ani. There has been much talk about you." Her green eyes made Artemis's heart skip a beat. "Do not be afraid. I only wish to meet the clan's first hybrid. I am on the Council of Ancients representing our clan."

Rhage nuzzled Artemis's head with the side of his face in an attempt to relax her. The new mother laid her head against his side, his purrs helping her mood.

Artemis swallowed her nerves, holding Orion close, "It's an honor to meet you, Sha'ani." She gave a small smile despite the absolutely massive female before her who smiled down at her in return.

"Indeed. The pup is tiny but he will bring great honor to the clan. Mistake not his small size for weakness. May I hold him?" Sha'ani queried as she sat on the end of the bed gingerly.

The new mother worried for the safety of her son, but Rhage's purrs helped to quell that worry enough to hand Orion over to the massive female. She took him very gently and she herself purred as she looked down at the baby. Her long white locs fell over her shoulders as she leaned closer.

It was when Orion started to cry that she broke from her staring.

"Artemis, you have earned the right to be blooded should you wish. Some of the ancients dislike half-breeds, but since this is a pup of my pup's then I will fight for him to be accepted." She handed Orion back to Artemis who immediately popped a nipple in his mouth.

To her relief, he started suckling right away. She had worried if he would be one of those babies who had trouble breastfeeding, but thankfully he wasn't. The sensation was definitely new and something she'd have to get used to.

"Blooded? Like, one of you? I haven't done anything." It was her turn to cock her head to the side, a learned behavior from Rhage and the Yautja.

They both chuckled, "Mate, birthing a pup is considered a trial in itself." Rhage informed her.

"I had to have sur—"

"That does not matter in this instance. You endured the battle with your body. Any longer and you would have been forced to naturally give birth. According to our ways, you are now blooded, should you choose." Sha'ani further explained.

Rhage grunted in agreement as she mulled it over. She would earn her own honor within the clan without it being handed to her. She quite liked doing stuff on her own to better herself. It made her feel good.

Useful, even.

"Of course. I'd be honored." There was no way she would wimp out for this. She would accept being blooded so she could have some standard on her own without Rhage spoiling her.

This was her first step towards being able to be useful.

Rhage and Sha'ani exchanged a few words as she procured a crystal-like container and handed it to her man. He took it gingerly, as if it would break in his hold. She turned in the bed and maneuvered Orion to her other arm when she noticed the little guy had drank himself to sleep.

Orion slept peacefully in her arms as she watched Rhage open the container after pulling his arm free from around her.

A weird musty smell filled the air as he popped the lid and pulled out a long skinny finger-like object that had been severed at the end. It was like a finger without a nail and slimy green blood congealed on the severed end. She had no idea what the hell it was.

"What is that?" Her hand covered her nose to block out the musty smell.

Sha'ani chuckled, "A pki'tle. It is what the kiande amedha come from."

"This is how hunters mark themselves. They take the leg of a pki'tle and use it's blood to make the mark." Rhage added, pointing to the scar he had on his own forehead. The triangle with a dot, although slightly faded, was still there for all to see. "Remember when I told you the first night you were on Yautja Prime?"

Artemis nodded, prompting him to continue.

"With this," he moved the leg closer for her to see, "I can mark you as blooded. The pain will be brief, love."

She eyed it apprehensively and eyed him silently with her hand outstretched towards the finger-like appendage. With the okay from Rhage in a nod, she touched the thing.

Beneath her touch it was smooth and almost slimy. It was lukewarm like it was recently alive. That little understanding made her a little uneasy, but then she decided that she had enough of touching it.

Marking her face wasn't something she liked, so instead she asked about her shoulder, instead. She never wore anything that covered them since the planet was rather warm and less clothing was necessary to combat the heat.

A moment later Rhage was pressing the oozing end into her skin.

The ooze burned her skin as he made the clan mark on her shoulder. Her nails dug into her palms as she hissed in pain. It felt like someone was dragging a hot poker across her skin, almost like acid instead of fire. She hated the feeling but thankfully it was over quicker than she expected.

Sha'ani and Rhage exchanged some words as Artemis looked at the symbol of the clan burned into her skin. She had never thought she'd wear it, with her not being a warrior and all.

Artemis had never been much of a fighter, even with the skills that she had from those Taekwando classes as a teen. Sure, she could fight when necessary, but it wasn't even close to what Yautja were capable of. Their idea of a fight was much different...and brutal.

"I will be seeing you again, Artemis." Sha'ani nodded respectfully and left, her long locs whipping around as she left the room.

The tense air around her left with the closing of the door. Almost immediately Artemis could relax, her shoulders slumping slightly in relief.

It was over!

Rhage pulled an injector from his waist pouch on his opposite side, a fluorescent green substance nearly filling the vial. She now noted that he had doffed his blue cape and just worn his loincloth, a vibrant red. The color change was new and she liked how good he looked in that color. It suited him.

"You people and your injectors. Don't you have pills?" She stroked Orion's cheek absentmindedly as he turned once more to face her.

Her Yautja mate chuckled, "We do not. This is what I promised to you." A claw tapped on the side of the gun-metal syringe as he spoke. "With this...you and I will be everlasting."

That news made her perk up. She had completely forgotten about Yautja blood extending the lives of humans. He even told her that it could heal wounds almost instantly. Such a thing was of science fiction, but there it was, glowing in the vial.

"You can promise me a happy ever after with that?" One side of her mouth curled up.

"Sei'i. I can. You and I. Forever." With those final words, he pushed the needle into her shoulder beneath the new mark and injected the blood.

A heat bloomed in her body briefly before fading away. Rhage put the empty syringe on the bedside table and rose to his feet. He stretched, his muscles pulling taught along his back and body.

The sight was magnificent. This male was a work of art. A living marble statue.

She also got to see his skin in the sunlight that streamed through the windows of the room they were in. The faded colors of his skin looked lovely, his scales shimmering in the light.

"Your mom is intimidating."

"She tends to have that effect on people."

"Why?" She queried, sweeping her long dark hair out of her face as she lied back on the bed with Orion still in her arms. The little guy was spent.

His lime-green eyes met her blue as he turned to face her, the sunlight surrounding him in a halo of golden light. "Sha'ani is two-thousand years old. She has held her seat on the council for a thousand and has led it for five-hundred years. The Council of Ancients is our central governing power."

Surprise filled Artemis as he continued on about his mom, "My bearer is the most respected of females, so it is of the highest honor that she chooses to meet the pup and you. Humans are prey to our species, as you know, so for her to come for his birth casts our union in a positive light."

The leader of Rhage's planet had taken the time out of her day to come for their child's birth. She wanted to go back in time and somehow try to appear less weak.

"Your mind runs wild with thoughts." He approached with the food tray and set it between them on the bed. "What troubles you?"

She watched as he removed the lid of a bowl to reveal a steaming bowl of a chunky soup that smelled heavenly. There was a little platter next to it full of the sweet fruit she liked, the orange color bright next to the dark brown soup. A tall glass of bubblegum pink fluid sat on the opposite side of the food. The whole of it had her stomach rumbling with hunger once more.

Rhage took the baby from her and set him in a small hammock by the bed. The little guy slept on.

Watching him like a hawk, she missed Rhage clicking to get her attention as he held the glass of liquid out to her. Knowing that he would be safe put her at ease. She turned to her mate and took the glass, giving it a whiff.

There wasn't a smell of any sort so she drank a little of it as Rhage busied himself with his wrist gauntlet. He pressed buttons as she plowed her way through the soup, fruit, and mystery liquid. All of it was delicious and filling. The pink liquid tasted vaguely like some kind of fruit juice and it left her feeling reinvigorated. A little bit of energy wound its way back into her worn out body.

Once she finished, she finally answered him. A full stomach helped to put her thoughts in order.

"I don't worry about anything, I just had no idea about your mom. I just thought that...she...you know...wasn't around...err...alive." She scratched at a spot that wasn't itchy to avoid his eyes.

He purred again, a thick finger tipped her chin upwards so she was forced to look at him. His mandibles were relaxed and he had his head cocked to the side slightly, those green orbs full of warmth.

"It is understandable. Your kind does not live as long as mine. I take no offense, Artemis." The blunt of his claw traced her chin and up her jaw gently. "You could never offend me."

"Are you certain? I'd hate to offend you without meaning to."

Those clouded blue and red tipped locs sashayed about as he shook his head "no". The jewelry tinkled in his locs with the movement, the gold cuffs shining in the sunlight.

"You cannot."

"Good." She gave him a soft smile as he nuzzled his forehead against hers.

Shadows crossed his eyes as he leaned closer, his body heat chasing away the chill of the sheets. His flesh was heated and rough but she loved how it felt against her soft skin. Even as his big hands moved down her body, she couldn't help the shiver that went through her body at his touch.

It felt amazing to have him pull her against his body, bunching up the gown as his hands roamed upwards from her waist to cup her breasts. A soft moan escaped her mouth as he gently squeezed them. Softly he purred, the sound vibrating against her front and traveling through his hands. Biting her lip wasn't enough to prevent her gasping pants.

"When you are recovered, I will show you how Yautja mate." She shivered again as he trailed his long rough tongue up the side of her neck. His voice was a hoarse growling whisper in her ear as he continued to tease her breasts.

"I hope these stay." He continued, "I plan to taste your sweet nectar nightly."

Dampness spread against his hands as he continue to fondle her chest. She tried to pull away but a hand roamed to her back where he held her close and continued his exploration.

"I'm leaking. It's icky." She tried to smack his hands away but he snarled, her squeak drowning in another moan.

"This is natural, my dear mi'esui. Your mammaries leak to feed our pup. I do not find it icky."

• • •

He bent over her, his long locs falling forward to lie upon the bed and her abdomen while one of his hands propped himself up on the bed so he could keep teasing her with his other one. That hot rough hand of his felt amazing against her sensitive flesh and her body arched upwards against him. The giant male above her purred in appreciation, his ministrations paying off.

Spreading his mandibles wide, he opened his mouth and flicked his tongue over her nipples. Beads of liquid flowed in his mouth as he continued to lap at her pink buds. He purred, deep in his chest, as Artemis moaned beneath him, her body rubbing erotically against his own.

When he finally pulled back he licked his chops and smirked at Artemis. She lied there with heavy lidded eyes and pink cheeks. The sight of her lost in the passion made his heart squeeze with love. Before him, he once again saw Kayana in his mate.

A living goddess.

His Artemis.

Named after a famed huntress of ancient human myth.

She was all his. His to hold, to love, to protect, and to fight for. All in one soft little body she was his.

No other would have her.

He felt his cock harden at the thought of her once again swollen with young. The sight had been a constant turn on. When she was ready, and if she decided she wanted another, he would put a pup in her the right way. With her permission, he would keep her full of pups.

The advanced medical technology of the Yautja would easily prevent an unwanted pregnancy should she wish. This pup had been given to her through dishonorable circumstances and he didn't want to deprive her of the choice like the humans had done.

Rhage was far from a dishonorable male.

"Are you going to fuck me or are you going to just stare at me all day?"

He was wrapped in the web of his thoughts and didn't hear her at first. The small hand on his own brought him back to reality, his mate eyeing him with concern. Her eyes shone as she rubbed his hand with her own.

A huff of frustration left him. His control constantly slipped around her. Such a lapse in his centuries of living was still something that left him feeling vulnerable.

Vulnerability led to disaster, but not with his mate, however.

"Love...Rhage...is everything okay?"

Her concern for him was endearing.

"All is fine. I was lost in your beauty. Kayana blessed me with the perfect mate." His voice was nothing but a sultry rumble as he continued his petting of her breasts.

A soft mewl escaped her lips as he moved to palm and fondle her other breast, his tongue collecting her lactation. He purred deep in his chest as she bucked against him once more. Her small hands moved to tug at his belt as he had his fill of her.

One last languid lick had her crying out beneath him. Lost in her orgasm, she threw her head back to bare her pale neck at him.