Page 17 of Taken By the Alien Merking
Zetron saw the tumult still in Brooke’s brown eyes, a storm as wild as the sea they stood before. Her fingers trembled against the new scales that graced her skin, a miraculous echo of his own. He understood the uncertainty that came with such a profound transformation, and he knew he had to be her anchor in this alien tide.
“Brooke,” he said, his voice steady and commanding, a beacon in the chaos of her emotions. “Look at me.”
Her gaze lifted to meet his, the apprehension in her eyes clawing at his insides. He moved closer, the sand cool beneath his feet, the scent of the sea mingling with her own unique fragrance.
“Everything is going to be all right,” he assured her, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “I will be with you, every step of the way. I will protect you, cherish you, for all time. There is no need to worry.”
The waves kissed their feet, the cool water swirling around their ankles, tugging at them with a gentle insistence. Zetron felt the familiar tingle as his body prepared for the shift, his scales shimmering with an anticipatory glow. He knew Brooke felt it too, the call of the ocean, a siren song that was now a part of her.
“The water,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. “It feels… different.”
He took her hand, entwining their fingers, grounding her. “It is different because you are different. You are a part of this world now, as am I. We are bound by the sea, Brooke. It is a part of us, and we are a part of it.”
Zetron’s mind raced with the implications of her transformation. She was changing, adapting to his world in ways he had not dared to hope for. It was a sign, a cosmic nod to the bond they had forged. But he kept these thoughts to himself for now, knowing that the revelation of her new status would soon come.
“Trust in me,” he said, his voice resonant with the alpha authority he was born to wield. “Trust in the bond we share. The sea will not harm you. It is your ally, as it is mine.” Brooke’s breath hitched, and he noticed the struggle within her, the fight between her humanlogic and the primal instinct awakened inside her. She was strong, his Brooke, resilient and fierce. She would adapt, he was certain of it.
“I—” she began, her voice faltering.
“Do not speak,” he interrupted gently, placing a finger against her lips. “Just feel. Feel the water, the life that thrives within it, the power that courses through your veins. You are not alone, Brooke. You will never be alone again.”
As they stood at the precipice of land and sea, Zetron felt the significance of his promise, the vow he had made to this extraordinary woman. He would stand by her, through the depths of the ocean and the heights of the heavens. She was his, and he was hers.
Zetron’s heart pounded in his chest, a rhythm that matched the crashing waves before them. He watched Brooke, her eyes wide with the shock of her transformation, and knew the time for revelations had come. He was the king, a fact she had alarmingly stumbled upon, but there was more—so much more—that she needed to understand.
“Brooke,” he began, his voice a deep rumble that resonated with the authority of his position. “There is something you must know.”
She turned to him, her dark eyes searching his, her full lips parted in anticipation of his words. The sight of her, scales shimmering in the sunlight, sent a fresh surge of possessiveness through him. She was his—more than she knew.
“I am not just a king,” he said, the weight of the words heavy on his tongue. “I am the sovereign of the Quxoni, the ruler of these waters and the land that kisses the shore. And as such, I have made a decision that cannot be undone.”
Brooke’s brow furrowed, a clear sign of her confusion. “What decision?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You,” he stated, his gaze never wavering from hers. “You are to be my queen.”
A laugh, half-hysterical, escaped her. “Your queen? But I’m human! I can’t even breathe underwater!”
Zetron stepped forward, his presence commanding her attention. “That is where you are mistaken,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “The bond we share, the venom that now flows through your veins, it has changed you. You are no longer fully human, Brooke. You are something more, something extraordinary.” Her eyes widened, fear and wonder warring within their depths. “Changed me? How? What are you saying?”
He reached out, his fingers gently brushing a stray curl from her face. “Our union, the exchange of our essences, has triggered an unprecedented transformation within you. It apparently has the power to alter, to adapt, to create a bridge between our species. You are becoming something that has never existed before—a true queen of my people.”
Brooke shook her head, her hands instinctively reaching to touch the scales that now adorned her arms. “I don’t understand. I can’t…”
Zetron’s hand moved to her shoulder, grounding her with his touch. “The universe has conspired to bring us together, Brooke. This is no mere accident. Our bond, it transcends space and time. It is a force of nature, as powerful and unpredictable as the sea itself.”
He saw the turmoil within her, the struggle to accept this new reality. But beneath the shock and denial, there was a spark of excitement, a recognition of the incredible potential that lay before them.
“But why me?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion. “Why now?”
“Because you are strong,” he said, his voice filled with admiration. “Because you are brave and selfless and fiercely intelligent. Becausewhen I look at you, I see not just a partner, but an equal, a queen who will stand by my side and lead our people into a new era.”
Brooke’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, reflecting the enormity of what he was offering her. “And what of your people? Your council? They will accept me?”
Zetron’s jaw set in a determined line. “They will accept you because I accept you. Because they trust my judgment and know that this union is a sign of great things to come. Together, we will bridge the gap between our worlds and forge a new path forward.”
He saw the resignation in her eyes, the moment she accepted the truth of her new existence. “And if I can’t do this? If I fail?”
He stepped closer, his hand moving to cup her cheek. “You will not fail, my queen. For I will be with you, every step of the way. We will navigate these uncharted waters together.”
