Read Online Arak's Love: A World Beyond Book 2 by Michelle Howard - Free Book Online Page A

thing to come of his maman’s defection was the fact his father refused to relinquish his rights to a young Arak. His maman agreed in exchange for changing Arak’s surname to hers to give him a piece of his Argoran heritage. But that had been years ago and Arak hadn’t spoken to his maman since she helped him via the communicator when he went through his first shift as a teen. She was well content with her mate and their three daughters, while Arak’s papan remained alone and true to the female who still owned his heart.
    The urge to go to Sylvie beat at him once more until sweat beaded his brow. Arak paced toward his front door. Most times he could fall back on his Enotian genetics and maintain his calm but moments like tonight when the heat of a mission edged him toward his baser nature, Arak found it hard to not let his inner animal take over. And right now, his cat wanted Sylvie. Wanted to check on her and make sure everything was alright with her. The memory of her reaction in the medical center with Dr. Maku had a deep rumble rising from his chest.
    Arak clenched his teeth to stop the sound. No one could mistake the fear that exuded from her pores. Eyes wide and frantic, it had been easy to discern her discomfort with being seen by a medical professional. Something else to blame the Marenians for. The menacing aliens terrorized any held within their sex-slave auctions and the condition of those rescued often mirrored Joni and Sylvie. Sometimes worse. His Unit leader’s Chosen was a prime example. Not long ago Faye had been held by the Marenians for six weeks and tortured during her time there.
    Sylvie’s reaction made Arak wish he could return to the destroyed building and kill her captors all over again. Unfortunately, the enemy had chosen to blow the place sky high and they were lucky to be alive. What a mess.
    His thoughts of Sylvie and how she’d looked once she cleaned up aroused him further. Her hair matched the bright gold glow of Enotians, eyes the same shade of light blue. She could easily pass for one of the natives of his home world. Her body was delicately built but her strength and courage practically flowed from her pores.
     Her small stature reminded Arak of the condition of her feet before Maku had healed the damage. How could she have withstood the pain? And to not complain during the rescue made him admire her all the more. A low growl escaped. He couldn’t go to her. She needed time to recover. With a slump to his shoulders, Arak sat on one of the many pillows throughout his living area.
    His idle gaze traveled around the space he’d made his own. This facility was larger than the one the Jutaks lived in before, which meant each member of the team had their own decent size living quarters. Here, Arak indulged his senses. Body-sized pillows on the floor, rugs piled on top of rugs creating cushion soft spots over every inch of floor space to ease him in cat form. Vibrant colors. Red, green, and splashes of deep purple were everywhere. His cat loved to lounge and his nature demanded space for others to relax with him. Argorans were social and each member of the Unit knew they were welcomed. Would Sylvie like it?
    Arak mentally groaned and grabbed the back of his neck. He had to stop thinking of the female, yet the primal part of him wouldn’t let it go. Maybe if he checked on her he could settle for the night and sleep. His cat purred in agreement and Arak knew he would do it.
    A simple thought and he shifted into his secondary form. As a large, white cat, his senses took on the predatory nature of his kind. He stretched out taut muscles with only a minor twinge in his side. Arak pawed at the door release he’d had customized to let him in and out of his quarters in this body. The door slid closed quietly behind him as he padded through the halls.
    Fortunately, he didn’t run into any of his teammates, though they’d all seen him in this form enough times to recognize him and not shoot