Saved by Sweet Alien Box Set by Selena Bedford, Mia Perry

holds my hand.
    “Why?” I look at him.
    “This is your dirty hand.  Use that one instead.”
    Oh, wow, this is… gross, I have
to admit.  They use their left hand as toilet paper, huh?
    I shake my head and smile. I have
a lot to learn before I can become the qualified wife of a great warrior.
     
    We eat and chat.  The wine
tastes like Jack Daniels, but it’s much stronger.  My throat is burning, I’m
sure I’m actually catching fire.
    “You guys drink this every
day?” I gasp, trying to blink back my tears.
    “Only the best warriors.  The
regular wine is tasteless.”
    I look at the amber liquid
carefully.  I see a few tiny leaves and God knows what else floating up and
down.  “Is this home made?” I ask.
    “You mean ‘is this clean’,
right?” he chuckles. 
    “Okay, let’s pretend that’s
what I mean,” my cheeks are burning hot.
    “Look, alcohol is
disinfecting, okay?”
    “Sure, wine does kill
disease,” I take a small sip and let out a long breath.
    Suddenly I remember
something.  “Auzo, what does that mean…” I try to bring back my memory.
    He looks at me with a broad
smile, waiting.
    “You know, in the meeting,
the chief mentioned something about our wedding?”
    “Oh, that.  It’s a good thing
he let you to be my wife, right?”
    “Right.  But I remember he
said something, like… rules?  You have some rules?  What the heck are those rules?”
    Auzo sucks at his wine and
smiles, “Let’s eat first, okay?”
    I look at him.  Weird, why
didn’t he answer my question?
    Curiosity seizes me.  “Auzo,
can’t you just tell me what I should be expecting?”
    Auzo studies me for a short
moment and then asks, “Sure you want to know?”
    “Yup.”
    “These are not pleasant traditions
though.”
    My heart sinks.  What the
heck is going on?  This tribe is full of stupid rules.  But still, I want to
know them, good or bad.  “Don’t worry, Auzo.  I know how to deal with bad
news.”
    “Okay… the first rule is no
sex before the wedding.  You okay with that?”
    My heart hops like a scared
bunny.  I was actually expecting a hot sex after this meal.  But now I have to
wait till our wedding.  “I think so.  You?”
    “I will try,” Auzo grins. 
    “What do you mean?  Are you
going to break the rules again?  You may actually get punished this time.”
    “Hell, I’ve broken the rules more
than once already.  It doesn’t really matter if I break one more.”
    I look at him and smile,
“then I’ll break the rules with you.  What’s the second rule?”
    “The second… the second,” his
voice diminishes, his teeth chewing hard at his lower lip.
    “Auzo?”
    “The second… Leila, you… you
will have to spend the wedding night with the chief.”
    “What?” I can’t believe my
ears.  To be in bed with that old jerk?  This is so gross.  I want to be with
my new hubbie for my wedding night.  “No fucking way, Auzo.”
    “But this is the tribe rule.”
    “So what?”
    “Look, Leila, you may not
understand.   I swore to obey these rules.  Our ancestors are watching.  I have
to obey these rules.”
    “I’m sure your ancestors
understand what’s wrong and what’s right.”
    “This is the tradition that
has been going on in the tribe for generations, okay?  Everyone believes that this
is the right thing to do.”
    “Everyone?  How about you,
Auzo?  You think this is the right thing to do as well?  You won’t feel the
anger and humiliation when that old jerk fucks your new wife?”
    He stands up, his hand
turning into a fist.  Blood veins shoot up high on his neck.
    After a long while, he sits
down again, hitting his head with his huge fist.  “Sorry, Leila, I can’t
protect you for this.  I’m not a real man.  I’m nothing.”
    He raises his head, looking
at me.  I see sorrow in his eyes.  After a long while he whispers, “Leila, are
you going to leave me?”
    I walk over and kiss him,
“Don’t be silly, Auzo.  Now