Healed By The Stars: An Alien Reverse Harem Standalone Romance (SOS Space Station)

by Jade Waltz

  Before yesterday, I had thought my brothers and I had fallen to the lowest point in our lives.

  We had docked at the SOS Space Station after being recently fired from working in the royal palace and banished from Rowdu space with nothing but our vessel, broken triad spear, and a handful of credits to make do.

  I couldn’t believe my brothers had managed to make our situation worse in such a short period of time, but somehow, they had managed it.

  Now, they were searching for someone with knowledge about a young Ely Rowdu named Caia in hopes they would be able to lead them to our core. Only this time, they promised they wouldn’t try to confront her until I was present.

  If I continued to live my life as a virgin, I better have the opportunity to speak with her before she rejected our triad once again.

  I had sworn my celibacy to my future core and only wanted to experience the bliss my brothers had explained to me in the past with her. Then, of course, they liked to tease me, calling me old-fashioned—or traditional—but truthfully, the fact was that I hadn’t ever been interested in a female.

  Why would I tangle my sheets with someone when I knew they didn’t make my markings glow?

  A triad’s core was supposed to be shared by the clan. It symbolized how close-knit and synchronized the brothers were with both her needs and one another as they climaxed together as a clan.

  I knew it was common for brothers to seek pleasure with willing females from other species, especially after failing to find their core amongst the available Rowdu within our system. However, the allure of interspecies relationships and rumors that it may be possible to discover who the Stars had fated with them outside our own sol system made them desperate to try anything.

  Up until our core touched Eynar, it was unknown if such a pairing were possible. Most other species didn’t have signs to tell them that they were destined together. Some were lucky to have an ability like an acute sense of smell, capable of determining how compatible a potential partner may be.

  Sadly, most species, like Humans, had to depend on trial and error.

  Bless the Stars that we were able to find her through our markings, even though I believed we had a long journey ahead of us when it came to winning her over.

  “Excuse me?” A soft feminine voice called out. “Is Medic Xzisk-ttzk here? I need her.”

  I peered over at the entrance from my working station and noticed that the infirmary was remarkably slow. There were only a few patients on the floor, and each one of them was being cared for by a medic, leaving me the only available one currently on duty.

  “I’m sorry, Lady Elya,” the receptionist replied. “The Ttzks took time off for their anniversary and won’t be back for a few days. Is there anything a different medic could assist you with?”

  “I’m not the one that needs care,” the female human explained as she turned to grab the hand of the young female Rowdu standing behind her. “Caia was injured last night, and her wound hasn’t healed yet, despite sleeping through the night.”

  Caia.

  That was the name of our core’s daughter.

  She needed me. They needed me.

  My brothers had failed to describe how gorgeous our fated was in person.

  Her long, lush hair was dark as the abyss of space, framing her face perfectly. Her standard station suit hugged her gentle curves, leaving little for the imagination.

  Yet when did they? There was a reason why I never wore them and preferred my black utility pants, equipped with a matching belt.

  It allowed me to put on a buttoned-up tunic whenever my job required it. Outside of work, I would rather walk around with a bare chest to proudly display my markings.

  Unmated female Rowdu couldn’t resist tracing exposed markings in hopes they would find their triad. Being easily accessible only increased the triad’s chances to discover its core.

  Not like I needed to do that now.

  The Stars had led her straight into my infirmary on the exact day that I started.

  This time I didn’t have my brothers here to mess things up again. Maybe if I provided excellent care for her daughter, I could convince her to hear me out regarding being our triad.

  Watching her dote over her daughter brought a wide smile to my face as I walked toward them.

  Even though she was a whole head shorter than both her daughter and the receptionist, she didn’t let it deter her. Instead, Elya stood on her toes as she attempted to tame Caia’s unruly hair by combing it back with her fingers.

  “It would be an honor to assist Caia, Lady Elya,” I announced, shooting them both the best welcoming grin I could muster. “Since we are the same species, it would be easy for me to come up with a solution. There isn’t another Rowdu medic on the space station, and I know our biology the best.”

  Biting her bottom lip, our core peered at the amateur bandage job wrapped around her daughter’s torso before addressing the receptionist.

  “Are you sure Medic Xzisk-ttzk isn’t around?” Elya sighed as if she’d already known the answer before she’d asked. “She was the medic who helped deliver Caia and has been her primary provider.”

  “I’m sorry, Lady Elya.” The blonde-haired receptionist frowned. “There’s nothing I can do for you other than to suggest that you accept Medic Karvyan’s offer to tend to her wound.”

  Biting her lip, Elya scanned me as if she were trying to gauge whether she should trust me. Something about how doubt filled her gaze made me feel like her eyes were stabbing me whenever they passed.

  How could others in the past hurt her so much that she feared anyone who came into her life? Going on life in total fear wasn’t living—but existing. She was still alive because of her daughter—nothing else.

  I wanted to know everything about her—and make sure she never had to feel like this ever again—that she could learn to live for herself once more.

  “I promise I will treat her as if she were my own,” I hedged, bowing my head slightly. “I will tend to her to the best of my ability so that she can return to her daily life, and you can rest easy knowing she’s in good hands.”

  “It’s okay, Mom,” the young Rowdu whispered, stilling the hand her mother was tending her hair with. “I trust him… and I don’t believe we should wait until Medic Xzisk-ttzk returns from her vacation.”

  “It’s just—”

  “I know, but it’s not like we have any choice.”

  “You’re right.” Sighing, her shoulders sagged in defeat as she turned to the receptionist. “Caia will see Medic Karvyan.”

  “Excellent.” The blonde human beamed. “I’ll enter her into the system.”

  “Follow me,” I said, afraid Elya would change her mind if we lingered any longer. “The table beside my working station is open and already prepared for an examination.”

  Chapter Ten

  Elya

  I don’t believe in coincidences—not anymore.

  Obviously, this medic already knew about me and was the third member of the triad I had bumped into yesterday. The way his gaze had lingered far too long on me between passes made my skin come to life.

  A part of me knew it was from the mating pull. It made the triad’s core feel comfortable within their presence as if it were designed to help lure her in.

  That was what initially gave me a reason to trust them… But, instead, they had used our connection to their advantage to toy me along and abuse me, filling me with broken promises that they didn’t keep.

  Since I knew what to expect, I could guard my heart and prevent it from happening again.

  But for some reason, I couldn’t picture Karvyan doing anything my abusers had done to me. The way he gently removed my bandage from Caia and was cautious whenever he touched her weren’t the actions of someone who believed he was above everyone.

  No, he took his time scanning her, was aware of any discomfort he caused, and instantly adjusted the medpen.

  Why would the Stars give him—and his brothers—t
o me?

  “Have you discovered what’s wrong with her?” I finally asked, needing to know what he believed was wrong. “Will she scar?”

  “How old is your daughter?” He glanced up from his tablet as his soft violet eyes met mine. “Our medical records don’t have a date of birth nor her sire listed.”

  “Who said she was my daughter?”

  Stilling, I let out a quick breath as his question felt like he had punched a blow in my gut.

  I’d been cautious with addressing her in public. The only way he had concluded was if his triad had already spoken to him about our connection.

  He peered around the infirmary to see if the others were listening in before stepping closer until he was an arm’s length away.

  “I won’t lie to you,” he whispered as his eyes searched mine. “My triad brothers told me what happened last night and how they made a mockery of themselves, and by connection, me. It didn’t go past them that your daughter claimed you as her mother, nor did I miss how Caia addressed you earlier.

  “I don’t know your history, but I hope to be a part of your future.”

  “What makes you believe you will want me after you learn what happened?” I countered, needing to prove my point before either of us foolishly got our hopes up. “What if I am too damaged?”

  “All of us have a past; that’s what makes us who we are today,” he explained, making it sound as if it were that easy. “I am a medic. It’s my job to tend to others. If I can’t find a way to heal all the wrongs done to you, then I should retire.” He chuckled and shot me a quick smirk. “I don’t know why the Stars have led us together, but I know they always have a reason for doing things the way they do. I beg you to allow me and my brothers time to take it slow and court you before you reject us outright. We’ve waited all our lives to find you. Let us spend the rest of our lives getting to know both you and your daughter.”

  “You say a lot of sweet words for a medic,” I said, biting my lip as I took in his offer. “I thought those who study in your profession often fumble on their words… unless they are speaking about medicine and research.”

  “Knowing this may be the only chance I have to speak with you, especially after what my brothers have foolishly done, has given me enough courage to be this blunt and open with you. If I had failed to get my words across to you now, then you may never want anything to do with us. Our triad would continue life without ever feeling complete, knowing that our core existed and rejected us.”

  “You shouldn’t make my mother feel guilty about wanting to guard her heart.” Caia scoffed, crossing her arms as she frowned at Karvyan. “We came here because of my back, not so you can persuade her to change her mind.”

  “Caia,” I hissed, shooting her a glare as my cheeks burned with my embarrassment. “You don’t need to be rude.”

  “I only want the best for you,” she replied, her tone softer as she flicked her gaze to me. “I don’t want you to get hurt once again, knowing you may never recover if you do.”

  “While I appreciate your concern for me, let me decide what I want to do. Last night, you told me that I shouldn’t be quick to judge when it came to their instinctual demands. He just made a similar argument about how unfair I’m being.”

  “Life isn’t always fair, but we must take what the Stars gave us and make the best out of it,” Karvyan explained. “While my triad may be crushed, we wouldn’t have blamed you for rejecting us, but those who came before us for giving you a reason not to trust the bond.”

  “Give me time,” I begged. “Let me wrap my mind around everything that’s been said. I can’t promise you that I will accept your triad… but I will entertain the idea as I get to know the three of you.”

  “That’s all I ask,” he said, instantly relaxing. He looked at his tablet, bouncing it in his hand as he flicked his gaze to Caia’s back. “Until you answer my questions about your daughter, I can’t give you a fully accurate diagnosis.”

  “Is it life-threatening?”

  Without thinking, I grabbed his free hand with both of mine and gasped when the golden swirls along his bare arm flashed, blinding the room.

  “I never thought I would see the day my markings would glow,” he said, his voice filled with awe as he stared at them. “I believed my brothers when they said it had happened but witnessing it for myself is an experience in itself.”

  “I’ll let go of your hand if you don’t tell me whether my daughter is dying or not.”

  “If my estimations are correct, Caia is going through her next stage of puberty. Given her height and build, she already went through the growth stage. Now her body will start…”

  “Start what?” Caia demanded. “What am I going to experience this time?”

  “She’s going to start filling out,” he explained. “The reason I asked for her age is because her body will continue to have dramatic changes until she turns twenty-five. That’s when Rowdu bodies reach full maturity and settle.”

  “So why isn’t her body healing as fast as it used to?”

  “It’s because young Rowdu are reckless and tend to injure themselves often. As a result, their bodies naturally put all of their resources into repairing themselves until they hit the two major growth stages. During those moments, their body’s ability to rapidly heal while resting takes a hit because the body focuses on maturing.

  “She will heal. It will just take about three times as long.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help the process?”

  His thumb traced the back of my hand as if he were trying to comfort me with such a simple gesture.

  “Just continue to wrap her wound up, so it doesn’t get anything into it before it seals.”

  “And work?”

  “She works?” He shot a glance over his shoulder to Caia and scanned her body. “Shouldn’t she be in an academy?”

  “Education on a space station costs digi—something that I’ve been saving up. So instead, my boss has been able to give me old versions of the material taught in the academy. She said they update the program every year, and usually, they only change minor things like data and charts, so the information should be current.”

  “You’ve been raising your daughter on your own this whole time?”

  “What else am I supposed to do?” I countered. “My old triad was worthless.”

  “Precisely,” he growled. “How could they do this to you?”

  “That’s what I’ve always wondered.”

  “It doesn’t matter now. My brothers and I will correct their wrongs and treat you both how you should’ve been treated all this time.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Eynar

  “Are you sure this is the right place?”

  “It’s what the merchant said,” I said, staring at the vidsign that read ‘SOS Host Club’ in big bright flashing letters. “He couldn’t explain what a host club was, though.”

  “It can’t be anything scandalous if it isn’t located on the bottom levels,” Ajamu said. “They only allow the nicer establishments on the middle levels, leaving the upper floors for the wealthy to indulge themselves.”

  “Should we go in?” I jerked a pointed thumb toward its entrance. “Or should we wait out here in hopes she will come out.”

  “I say we go in and scope the place out. We should figure out what this place is and if we should be concerned for their wellbeing.” He shrugged. “Who knows. Maybe they have jobs for us to do.”

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.” I chuckled. “We don’t even know what’s behind that door and if our core even wants us to work with her employer.”

  “But if we had a job, we could both make digis and watch over our core and daughter.”

  “I thought you didn’t want to have permanent employment on the space station because you feared we would never be able to escape and you would be forced to sell the Astral Horizon.”

  “If Karvyan likes working for the infirmary, we may not have a choice.”
He sighed. “You know as much as I do that our brother enjoys tending to others. If we take him away from the only thing he loves and force him to do mercenary missions, he would never complain—but he wouldn’t be happy either.”

  “You are right,” I said. “He never asks for anything, so it wouldn’t be right to deny him if he requests that we stay on the space station for the time being. With the discovery of our core, we may end up needing to remain here anyway—”

  “May I help you, sirs?”

  A female human with short brown hair and piercing blue eyes stood within the threshold of the establishment. She wore a short, black, one-piece dress with a white apron and black work boots.

  The way she held her hands together against her stomach and tilted her head as she stared at us didn’t make sense. Only palace workers and servers at high-class establishments acted like that. I wasn’t royal, and from the appearances of everything around us, this shouldn’t be considered equivalent to what would be available on the upper levels.

  “Is this SOS Host Club?” Ajamu asked, unfazed by the female’s outfit and manners. “And do Elya and Caia live here?”

  Instantly, her cheery face turned serious as she pursed her lips while glaring at us.

  “Why do you want to know?” Her voice was cold and calculated… but her extreme reaction gave her away, telling us that she knew them.

  “We are looking for them.” I shot her a gentle smile as I tried to ease the tension. “And we were told they lived here.”

  “That’s not a good enough answer,” she countered, crossing her arms. “Why do you want to know about them?”

  “Because my brother here accidentally touched Elya last night,” Ajamu explained, pointing to the largest swirl on my arm. “And their touch lit up his markings for the first time, proving to us that she is our triad’s core.”

  “And when we tried to explain this to her, she instantly shut down and ran away,” I added, raising my hands in the direction she ran from us. “All we want from her is an explanation why we offended her so badly that she rejected our declaration on the spot without giving our triad a chance.”