Tammy forced a smile, tried not to gawk at him, but he was a celebrity. He was the leader and figurehead of the New Species Organization and the most well-known of them. On television and in print his eyes and hair didn’t seem so dark. Tammy wasn’t sure if she should just keep smiling at him or if she should try to shake his hand.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she rose to her feet but stayed in place.

He smiled at her but she noticed he carefully made sure his sharp teeth weren’t noticeable when he faced her. She almost smacked her forehead as she realized why she hadn’t recognized him. That was why she hadn’t gotten it was him. It wasn’t just the hair and eyes but he smiled without showing his sharp teeth every time she’d ever seen him on TV or in pictures.

“It is good to meet you as well, Tammy.”

“Did you see the baby?” Valiant closed the door.

Justice chuckled. “I did. He’s perfect. Slade and Trisha are very proud and happy. We all are overjoyed with his healthy birth.”

“A nd the boy is Species.”

Justice seemed to beam with joy. “He is definitely Species.”

“I had wondered if the human traits would be stronger than Slade’s.” Valiant spoke softly. “I hope, if my mate and I have a child together, that it will resemble me. Tammy believes our baby would be adorable.”

“We all hoped Species traits would carry on when the baby was born. It is a good thing to no longer be alone and know we will live on in our children with future generations.” Justice paused. “But to have a child who would appear fully human would be a blessing too. To just be given the gift of them is enough.”

Tammy kept silent, not sure what to say, as she watched the two men talk. She wondered if she should give them some time alone but then Justice looked at her. He chuckled as he glanced at Valiant.

“You are so small.” Justice studied her. “Forgive me for my amusement but Valiant was adamant in some discussions we held that we should never be with humans and if any of us were going to mate with one, they needed to be strapping, large females. I find it humorous that he would claim you. I mean no offense but it is,” he grinned, still hiding his teeth, “amusing.”

“I understand.” Tammy smiled. “I’m not offended.

He’s huge and I’m not. Would you like to have a seat?”

“I unfortunately can’t stay. My life is filled with schedules that always keep me on the move. I will be here for the day to meet with security and I have an appointment with the person who does my hair.” He reached up to touch it. He sighed heavily. “Our public relations team demands that I lighten it before I go before any cameras.” He met her gaze. “Do I appear more frightening with dark hair, to you?”

“I didn’t recognize you at first. I thought you looked familiar but I didn’t know why until I heard your name.

Your eyes seem darker right now too.”

“I am forced to wear contacts too. A gain, they seem to think humans will accept me easier if I appear softer.

They also change my looks when I’m traveling in public to try to hide my real identity since I’m so well-known.”

“You look fine to me,” she admitted. “But different.”

“Thank you.”

Valiant studied the other man. “A re you staying in the hotel tonight? We’d enjoy sharing a meal with you.”

“I wish I could but I have to hold a press conference tonight at Homeland for the evening news. A helicopter will fly me home after my last meeting this afternoon. I’ll probably eat dinner on the ride home. One day I wish to take a few days off. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening any time soon. I will be back the day after tomorrow. I have to fly in for a meeting with the mayor of the town before I go back to Homeland for an interview with a local newspaper. It’s endless.”

“You should find someone to claim.” Valiant gave him a sympathetic look. “A mate would make you happy.”

Justice chuckled. “I don’t have the time, Valiant.

Every day is usually this hectic. There are always meetings and conferences or places I need to go to for more meetings. No female would wish to share my burdens.”

“You have a hard life.” Valiant inched closer and grasped his shoulder to give it a squeeze before his arm dropped. “You have sacrificed much for us, Justice. We all owe you and appreciate it.”

Justice shrugged. “Someone had to do it, Valiant. I was the best at adapting to humans and had the best ability to blend in. It was just natural that I took the job.”

“If there is ever anything…” Valiant left the rest of that sentence unsaid but his meaning was clear.

“Thank you and I already know that.” Justice smiled at Tammy. “It was very nice to meet you and welcome to the family.”

Valiant closed the door after the departing New Species leader and walked to Tammy. He had a sad expression on his face. “I do not envy him his life.”

“He’s a busy man, that’s for sure.”

Valiant nodded and suddenly pulled Tammy into his arms. “I am glad that my only responsibility is to make you happy. He carries the weight of all New Species on his shoulders.”

“A re we going to take the last name of North too when we marry?”

Valiant nodded. “Yes. It is an honor to carry the name he chose. I support him and everything he has done for our kind.”

“What did that mean when he said welcome to the family?”

“You are one of us now. You are family. We do not have parents or uncles or cousins the way humans do.

have parents or uncles or cousins the way humans do.

We only have each other. Family is very important to us and all New Species is considered such. Together we stand strong.”

Sadness filled Tammy. “Do any of you know who your birth parents are? I mean, you had to have parents once, right? A t least a mother who carried you.”

Valiant growled. “We are all orphans. Our parents abandoned us to hell. They allowed Mercile to create us, we were nothing more than donated material to them, and the females who birthed us were done as soon as they cut our umbilical cords. We learned that from some of the doctors who were arrested.”

“I’m so sorry, Valiant.” She hugged him, heartbroken over his past. “I always said love is all you need to form a family. My mother abandoned me. I will never understand how she could do that but I’m grateful she gave me life. I wouldn’t be here without her.”

He stared into her eyes. “Where is she? Does she live?”

Tammy shrugged. “I have no idea. She dumped me with Grandma and we never heard from her again. My grandma thought she probably died. She said my mom would have at least contacted her for money otherwise. I used to pray that she’d show up one day to tell me she loved me and how sorry she was over leaving me. You know?” The pain still made her chest ache a little. “That she’d tell me she made a horrible mistake. A fter a few years I realized it wasn’t going to happen. I began to hate her a little and that turned into outright anger. I don’t want to see her now if she is alive.”

Valiant smiled. “You have me now and I will never leave you, Tammy. You belong to a large family. He or she will always know love and how it feels to be a part of a large group who will love them greatly if we ever have a child. Our child would never suffer loneliness or pain.

Or ever experience a loveless life.”

Her heart broke a little more for him. She heard the pain in his voice. Had anyone ever loved him as a child?

She’d at least had her grandmother to love her. Tammy tightened her hold on him.

“I love you, Valiant. I love you so much.”

“I love you too and you make me happy that you love me.”

The doorbell chimed. Valiant growled. “I was going to take you to our bed.”

“I would have let you.”

The doorbell chimed again. Valiant released Tammy when she stepped away from him. He stormed to the door, looking irritated. Tammy had to fight a grin. He had no patience whatsoever. Valiant flung it open.