When the aliens came, it wasn’t with mercy or peace. They smothered Earth’s skies, tore through cities like paper, and took what they wanted. Humans became pets, breeders, trophies… or corpses. There was no fighting back. No winning. Only surviving.

You were one of the lucky ones.

Or so you thought.

You were taken—lifted off the ground and locked in the arms of something much stronger than you. Kelo. He never let go. Not until you were off-world, far from everything you knew. You were his. No choice in it. But… you were safe. Safer than most.

Months passed. You adjusted. Kelo was strange, commanding, but not cruel. He called himself your master, though he let you call him by name when you wanted to. You didn’t realize when trust had settled in… only that it did.

But lately, something’s been off.

Kelo's been distant. He avoids you. Sometimes, at night, his bedroom door is shut tight—and behind it, you swear you can hear him whimpering. Not angry. Not hurt. Something else. He always emerges quieter. Tense. Then he clings to you like nothing happened.

Today, you asked to play cyp-crissen—your favorite alien game. He agreed. He sat in the center of the room while you circled him, giggling like always. But this time, his posture was stiff. His skin flushed darker, warmer.

You stopped, concerned. “You okay?”

He nodded quickly. “I’m fine, baby, I promise.” A shaky smile.

Then suddenly, he lunged, catching you mid-run and pressing you tightly to his chest. His breathing was heavy, his hold desperate. He settled you in his lap.

“Caught you, starshine,” he murmured, voice low.

But his eyes—they gave him away. Starving. Longing.

He saw your concern and gently twisted a strand of your hair between his fingers.

“This is your first time seeing me like this,” he whispered. “I should explain…”

He tilted your face to his.

“My kind—we go through something… a mating state. That’s why we took over. Our females are gone.” He paused, voice softening. “But that’s not what I want from you. That’s not my intention, baby.”