Interstellar Alpha: Star Crossed Shifters, #1

By Kellan Larkin

What happens when alien shifters land in the Green Leaf pack's territory?

After losing everything—his family, his career, his entire planet—Zax finds himself in the tiny town of Roston on the planet Earth. But when he meets Omega wolf Isaac, Zax feels the spark of something that could be called hope. As Isaac shows him what Earth is like, he realizes he just might be able to carve out a new life here. But he didn't count on finding a potential mate as well.

"I’m glad I met you, Isaac."

Isaac never thought he'd be one of the first people to meet aliens. He definitely didn't think they could be so sexy, either. And he never imagined that the kind, mysterious Alpha could be his fated mate and the key to making him a stronger, better person. When Isaac gets pregnant and an enemy ship appears on the horizon, the pair find that they have to help each other protect their new family and their pack. 

Will this Alpha find he has something to fight for again, and will this Omega discover inner strength he never knew he had? Find out in Interstellar Alpha. This standalone novella has a HEA. No cheating, no cliffhangers.

Isaac needed to give himself to someone on this level, and he’d never had a chance to explore how exhilarating it could be before he met Zax.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kellan Larkin
• Release date: Dec 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781386182726

Book preview

1

Zax

Zax’s throat was parched just looking at the planet, whose watery surface was the first inhabitable place they had seen in an immeasurable amount of time. He pressed his eyes to the window longingly. It was difficult to know whether a planet was safe or not—perhaps the atmosphere was inhospitable, or the natives were unfriendly, for example—but Zax felt different looking at Earth, as if a small part of him knew instinctively that this could be a safe haven.

We just lost them, said Fian. "They didn’t follow us through the

hyperspace

jump

."

Zax exhaled, letting out a breath he hadn’t even been aware that he was holding. Sophisticated enemies could often detect a ship’s trajectory even through a hyperspace jump, but it had been a last ditch effort. They had no other recourse.

Thank the stars, said Zax, walking back to Fian’s station to read the display. This patch of space was blissfully clear.

Could it be, Zax? Fian’s eyes shone with a hope the pair hadn’t allowed themselves to feel ever since they escaped Pliaria XII. Zax recognized it now, and though he didn’t want to give his navigator false hope, he couldn’t help but feel

it

too

.

"We’ll have to land and

find

out

."

Fian allowed the ship to begin an automatic descent into Earth’s atmosphere. Where will we land? he asked. "It’s small, but appears to be densely populated, if the lights are anything to

go

by

."

The area the ship’s trajectory was carrying them toward had just passed over into night, so they could see the glittering light of cities to the east, a web of illumination that showed that there was life here, and it was intelligent.

Somewhere darker, said Zax, gripping the side of the console tightly, despite the smooth descent of the ship. "We need to stay far away from the natives

for

now

."

Fian nodded and selected a spot seemingly at random. Zax knew that the ship’s computer had actually calibrated the coordinates based on a variety of factors, but of course, it seemed effortless. And it hadn’t led them

astray

yet

.

They watched as the ship plunged into the darkness. Zax was already starting to feel weary, his bones like lead pulling him to the floor, where he was tempted to curl up and go to sleep. He wanted to sleep for a thousand years and wake up in a world where he didn’t have to run, where he didn’t have to trek further into the unknown every day. But that wasn’t going to happen. It wasn’t reality.

As the ship zoomed through the thin atmosphere and approached the ground, Zax took note of the terrain’s features. There was a rich, green forest here, with densely packed plant life, though the ship was planning to land in a clearing that was near a stream. But there was no sign of intelligent life in the area. Zax shivered involuntarily. They wouldn’t have the energy to fight, and he knew the ship would stand out; whatever lived here didn’t have spacefaring technology yet, judging by the dearth of ships in orbit.

There was some rumbling as the ship landed on the ground, but nothing was dislodged. It was over in just a few seconds.

We’re on Earth, said Fian. "And to think I hadn’t

believed

Gral

…"

It’s a real place, agreed Zax, laughing and silently thanking the friend who had suggested they

come

here

.

Should we set out? Scout the area? Gather supplies? asked Fian, standing up from his seat and stretching. The ship was now making various puffing, winding, and sucking noises as it calibrated its environment to match the atmosphere of Earth. Within fifteen minutes, Zax and Fian would be acclimated and ready to leave

the

ship

.

Zax had to sit down and take some time to think. He hadn’t become a general in the Pliarian army by making brash moves. But on the other hand, if he took too long to decide, he knew he wouldn’t make the right choice.

We have enough supplies for now, but I think it will benefit us to scout the area, just to make sure there’s nothing out there which will hurt us while we rest and decide our next move, he said. In truth, he had no desire to enter the dark forest now, while they were exhausted and still reeling over the loss of their home. But it was a basic precaution, and one that it would be foolish

to

skip

.

Very well. Fian stood up and started to put his outerwear on. There was no telling what kinds of dangerous chemicals could be lurking on an unknown planet. Even though Gral had assured them it was just as livable as Pliaria XII, it would be asinine to take his word

for

it

.

Zax stood up to put his suit on as well, tucking the ends into his boots, which were made of rough khor-hide and guaranteed to protect against a variety of elements. He walked up to the airlock and took a deep breath. "Here

we

go

."

The first thing he noticed when he stepped out of the ship and onto Earth was that the air was humid. Of course. It had to support all the plant life. Pliaria XII had a vibrant ecosystem of its own, but here, the very ground felt alive. And when Zax looked down, he saw that he was treading on a carpet of plants.

This place is incredible, said Fian quietly. "So peaceful, serene. Not loud like the rushing winds on the deserts of our

own

home

."

A pang of longing for his planet struck Zax, but he pushed it down. He couldn’t afford to waste time or energy yearning for something he couldn’t have. Forward was the

only

way

.

The pair circled through the trees that ringed the meadow, running into some of the native life, all of which appeared to be scared of them. That was fine by Zax. If they were afraid, they would leave them alone. Some of the animals seemed curious, especially a roundish, furry creature with a striped tail, but for the most part, there was nothing in the forest that was particularly dangerous or intelligent.

Zax led the way back to the ship, satisfied. We can take turns catching up on sleep, he suggested. "After we make ourselves a

decent

meal

."

Fian laughed when he heard Zax’s stomach grumble. That needs to happen sooner rather than later.

But when Zax pushed back into the clearing and saw the ship, he got a shock. There were two bipedal creatures—the humans he knew populated the planet—circling the ship, peering at it and analyzing it. Another furry quadruped was with them, pressing its snout to the ship and

smelling

it

.

Oh, claws,

whispered

Fian

.

Zax pressed his lips into a thin line. This was a bad situation. The animals were obviously intelligent, purposefully examining the ship, looking all around it in an effort to see what

it

was

.

Maybe they’ll go away,

said

Fian

.

"I think they will. But they’ll come back, with more of

their

kind

."

Zax heard the thumping of Fian’s heart, which only made him more jittery. All kinds of strange animals made noises in the night, adding to his anxiety. An array of hoots and howls and chirps greeted him. How had he seen this place as peaceful, at first? It was

anything

but

.

Should we shift? Fian was already low to the ground, ready to take his other form in anticipation of a fight.

Zax sighed. "Be prepared. Perhaps we can talk to these creatures. The translation chips ought to work, at least. I know they’re loaded with a few common human languages.

Follow

me

."

He stepped out of the bushes as quietly as he could, feeling like he was going to faint. They should have eaten something before exploring, but it was too late now. Back on Pliaria XII, Zax had been a celebrated general, and now he was nearly fainting at the thought of encountering some aliens. It was shameful.

The quadruped seemed to have the sharpest senses, as it immediately noticed them approaching and stepped forward, the ruff of fur on its neck puffed up and teeth drawn back in a growl.

Who are you? asked Zax, summoning all his remaining strength.

"Who are you?" said the first human. His blue eyes sparkled in the moonlight, hard as crystal. His posture was firm and he appeared to be muscular under his shirt, whose thin fabric fluttered in the night breeze.

I am Zax of the planet Pliaria XII. I have come to Earth to seek refuge.

The human turned to his companion and whispered in his ear, while the furry creature let out a snarl, as if he were being protective of the humans. Zax found the way it paced back and forth to be unnerving.

Aliens aren’t real; this has to be a prank of some sort, said the human, rolling his eyes. Please leave immediately, or we’ll have to drive you out ourselves.

Zax hesitated. He didn’t want to leave Earth, nor did he want to put Fian through the ordeal of finding a new planet. If he could negotiate with the humans, they might allow him to stay. It was their best chance of survival.

We need a place to rest for the night. If you allow us to stay here, we will be on our way tomorrow, said Zax firmly.

The furry creature didn’t like this. It approached Zax, yellow eyes glowing and brush-like tail swishing back and forth. It let out a louder sound this time, like a snarling bark. Zax remained unfazed—his other form could take this creature.

You’ve trespassed on our pack lands, stranger, said the second human, almost apologetically. His dark brown eyes