Noir Kioko had only ever seen one human before his undercover work brought him to the diner at the Luna Terminal, and that was at a distance. Humans are rare, most of them disappear without a trace, and he hopes hanging around the restaurant will give him a lead on the smuggling ring he’s investigating. There was no way he could’ve known the human would turn out to be his mate, and no way he can let it show without putting his mate in danger and possibly jeopardising his mission.<br><br>Max Welch is the proud owner of the only restaurant within a light year’s distance. He left Earth four years ago to create a better life for himself, but he hadn’t considered the possibility of scary alien pirates making his restaurant their favourite hangout spot. As a measly human there isn’t much he can do about it, but as one of the pirates starts coming by almost every day he has to come up with something before he loses all his customers. That the giant cat man is rather nice to look at changes nothing.<br><br>When rumours of another human arriving at the space station start to circulate, Noir's species trafficking infiltrate and observe only mission may need a revamp. But will Noir be able to protect his mate and another one of his rare species?

It Doesn't Translate

“Yes?” He shook his head, trying to focus on what they needed to do.


“This mating thing, how do you even know?”


“I know. There is a bond, a connection. When I’m close to you I’m whole; when I go away, I’m not. Listen, Max—” How to put it so a human understood? How to do the right thing when all Noir wanted to do was lock the two of them up in a room and never come out again? “—I know humans don’t have bonds the way we do, and I know the concept of being with one person for the rest of your life probably is horrifying to you since, you know, you’re human.” Max widened his eyes. “But that’s how we work. We stay together for the rest of our lives unless you reject the mating. Nekoids aren’t like Reptoids, I won’t die if you decide you don’t want me, but it won’t be pleasant. If you can’t, I understand, though.”


It was Noir’s turn to widen his eyes. “Of course, no one would force their mate to do anything he or she didn’t want to do.”


Chapter 26