Page 11 of The First Alpha on the Planet
Leticia hummed in the background, a predatory and flirtatious noise that made me glare up at one of her sensors. “Both of our operating systems are behaving oddly. We can reconvene once I land.”
Noel ended the call wordlessly, and I gave Leticia another withering stare.
All I had to do was play the waiting game and mentally prepare myself for Vil’s mockery.
I took a deep breath.
Fuck.
Chapter Five
Wallace
Nothing could have prepared me for the change in my body. The uneven weight of my new tail pulled at my spine in odd ways. I found myself compensating with bowed legs and a stilted step.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sloughing flesh, either, like slipping out of a bad sunburn after a long bathtub soak.
Fel stood at the end of my bed, eyes bright with excitement. “Friend! Your changes were successful!”
I looked at my largely unchanged hands and touched my chest, which had become flesh instead of scale, though that wasn’t quite right, either. Tougher than flesh. I plucked and pricked around with my sharp nails until I got to my ni—I’d not had nipples before. Tal didn’t, and I was more Tal than most. “Yeah—”
He almost squealed as I spoke, my tail twitching behind me. It did a little shiver. The emotion? I was happy to see him. I was confused about my nipples, but curious. Curiosity!
As if understanding, Fel pulled a viewscreen up and the view that met my gaze was… Not me. An image of someone else—no… As I moved, so did the picture.
My flesh was darker than Noel’s. I wasn’t sure what human percentage I was made from, but they were darker skinned, I assumed. I touched a face with soft skin pliant under my fingers, lips full and plush. I reached up to touch my scalp and instead of the eternally smooth expanse of scales, I felt the light fuzz of hair, coming in dark. And in my pattern of scales over my arms and legs, the rainbow of colors reflecting through the brownish-gray tinge shone through.
“You’re an attractive alpha.” Fel craned his neck to look me over, his tail giving that suspicious curl that drew my eye. When I didn’t reciprocate, his tail wilted, clear disappointment.
“Sorry.” I glanced away, but he shrugged.
“I’m such a plain creature. I understand. I’m the color of moss.” He sighed.
“Oh, no, that’s not it. You’re pretty and definitely attractive, but I need emotion and we don’t have that sort of thing together. I rather like your scale color.” As I gave him a second look, my tail did the little curl. I stomped a foot down on it as my face did something weird. “It’s hot in here. Is it hot in here to you?”
“You’re blushing!” Fel laughed. “I feel better. Thank you, friend.”
“This is what blushing feels like? I’ve never done it before!” I patted at my cheeks. “But, there, yes, I think you’re attractive. I’m selective about—that.”
“He’s a prude.” A new voice spoke up when the door to my medical room opened. Doc.
“I am not a prude! You and I have done—things.” I scratched the back of my neck.
“You’vewatched.”
“I watched and jerked off! And I fucked Gorm!”
“Everyone’s copulated with Gorm.” Fel gave me a long stare. And for him to knowthatafter such a short time on this planet…
“Noel hasn’t.” My point earned a sneer.
“Noel and Vil are mates. There is no tearing apart an omega once he’s chosen his alpha.” Fel sighed dreamily.
“Finding my chosen omega. I like that.” I caught myself grinning as Doc reciprocated. “Though… Wouldn’t I need a beta, too?”
“Well, Gorm is always willing to donate some tadpoles.” Doc’s upper lip curled a bit, as if he weren’t the one riding that thing on the regular until not too long ago.
“No, the fuck, I’m not!” Gorm’s thick accent piped up from down the hall, voice hoarse. “I feel like I’m gonna die, fellas! My spirit? Totally willing and all that, but my schmeat keeps giving me this sad look like he’s ashamed of me! The lil’ fella’s depressed!”
