Free Alien's Runaway Mate (SciFi Paranormal Alien Romance) (Vistran Love Book 2) by April Osirus

“When’s the ship from Europa coming?” Brax asked as he watched his men unloading the recent shipment from the Saturn settlement.
    “Later today,” his foreman replied. He looked down at the tablet in front of him, swiping through the order file. “They’re also sending about a dozen earthlings to help unload and plant.” The foreman snorted.
    Brax shook his head. Compared to a Vistran, earthlings were tiny. Puny, really. The average Vistran, women included, stood at about seven feet. Brax himself stood at an impressive seven and a half. And with their incredible height, Vistrans were muscular in their physique. They were a warrior race that had been built upon battle. It was in their genes.
    A shipment that would take a dozen earthlings to unload would probably only need three or four Vistran men. But Brax knew that by sending a dozen men, he would be charged for their labor as well, increasing the price of the shipment. He took note to rethink a partnership with this company. He did not appreciate such sneaky underhanded business dealings.
    Brax looked out onto the unloading dock. Normally, there would be women and men working on the dock together. But ever since Vistra had opened its doors to the wider galactic community, there had been a running shortage of females on the planet.
    Vistran females, unlike the males, did not have the gene for eternal bonding when mated. This was at first thought advantageous for all because many Vistran males often died in battle. Not being eternally bonded allowed for the females to re-mate and procreate.
    But once Vistra had opened itself to the outside universe, Vistran females became curious about the idea of quick mating or multiple partners while mating. They traveled to distant worlds and began exploring the many options they now had in partners.
    This left Vistra with a nearly all-male planet. The only women present were those who had already mated and created children or a few single women who were no longer interested in mating. Ah, except , Brax thought with a wry grin. He looked up in the distance to see the outline of the palace.
    There was now a human female to be counted as well. The King had taken an earthling to be his mate only a few months ago. Although it had caused quite a ripple of shock, since many Vistran females were willing to come back home to win a shot at the King’s hand, it also made some sense. Anatomically, humans were nearly identical to Vistrans—the main source of difference being their sizes.
    Brax remembered seeing the King and Queen strolling near the palace gate one time. He had watched as the large King tucked his delicate Queen safely and securely by his side. The warm look of tender love written all over the King’s face showed Brax that there could have been no other woman for his ruler.
    But seeing the tenderness and bond had struck Brax deep in his chest. Many Vistran men had gone many years passed their mating age because of the lack of women. Some had gone off-planet to find mates. Some had convinced the remaining the females to reconsider mating. But Brax wanted that true calling of mating. He wanted love.
    But looking out at the sea of giant, muscular workers who also all wanted the same thing, Brax knew his chances of finding love were next to impossible.
     
    ***

              Sarah Peyton kept her cap pulled low as the cargo ship orbited around its destination, waiting for clearance to land. She could feel the heat and stench of the men around her. Sarah would be offended if she didn’t also know that she was contributing just as much of her own heat and stink to the ship.
                  Her heart raced as she waited for the ship to finally begin its descent. She wouldn’t let her believe that she had actually gotten away. Without thinking, Sarah rubbed her arms. Underneath her stolen shipping uniform, she knew her arms were mottled black and blue. She pulled at her cap again to make sure her