Jagger carried Cora away from the settlement, heading toward the steep, jagged cliffs at the back of the valley.

The noise of the tribe faded, replaced by the sound of rushing water. Cora let her head rest against his chest. The adrenaline was crashing, leaving her bones feeling like lead.

The path upward was treacherous. It was a near-vertical climb over sharp, loose rocks.

Jagger didn't even breathe hard. He scaled the cliff face with terrifying ease, his arm locked around her waist like an iron band.

Cora made the mistake of looking down. The ground was hundreds of feet below, a dizzying drop that made her stomach lurch. She squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face into the crook of his neck, her fingers digging into his shoulders.

Jagger felt her tremble. His throat worked, swallowing hard, and he adjusted his grip, pulling her even tighter against him.

They reached a wide ledge hidden entirely behind a massive, roaring waterfall.

Jagger stepped through the mist. The entrance to the cave was lined with sharpened bone spikes and tripwires-a paranoid, highly lethal defense system.

He navigated the traps with practiced ease and carried her into the dry, cavernous space. Faint, glowing moss illuminated the walls.

He walked to the back of the cave and gently set Cora down on a massive bed made of thick, snow-white furs. His touch was incredibly light, a stark contrast to the violence he had just displayed.

"BEEP! Congratulations. Host has successfully survived and entered a Safe Zone."

"Quest Settlement: Thwarted the malicious female's plot. Reward: High-Tier Survival Loot Box."

Cora's heart leaped, but she kept her face blank. She watched Jagger through her eyelashes as he walked over to a fire pit in the center of the cave.

He struck two dark stones together. Sparks flew, catching the dry moss instantly. The fire flared, casting dancing shadows over his heavily muscled back.

He reached into a pit dug into the stone floor and pulled out a massive, bloody haunch of meat. He used his bone knife to hack off a thick slab, the blood dripping onto the floor.

He walked over and held the raw, dripping meat out to her.

The metallic smell of blood hit Cora's nose. Her stomach violently rejected the idea. She clamped a hand over her mouth and shook her head frantically, pressing herself back against the furs.

Jagger frowned. He looked at the meat, then back at her. He thought she wanted a softer piece. He turned back to the haunch to cut a different slice.

Cora panicked. She pointed at the meat, then pointed at the fire, making a sizzling sound with her teeth.

Jagger stared at her, completely baffled. In his world, only the weak and toothless cooked their meat, burning away the raw energy.

But he looked at her pale face, her desperate eyes, and he sighed. A low, rumbling sigh.

He grabbed a thick stick, impaled the meat, and jammed it into the ground next to the flames.

While his back was turned, Cora mentally screamed at DAISY. Open the loot box!

The virtual box exploded in a shower of golden pixels.

"Items acquired: Earth-grade Appearance Restoration Serum (Oral), Plant-fiber Towel, High-Purity Synthetic Salt (1 jar)."

Cora nearly cried with relief. These were exactly what she needed.

The smell of burning fat filled the cave. Jagger pulled the charred meat from the fire and handed it to her.

It was tough, unseasoned, and tasted like ash, but Cora forced it down. She needed the calories.

When she finished, she looked down at herself. Her hazard suit was torn, caked in mud, dried blood, and the acidic slime from the predator. She felt disgusting.

She looked at Jagger, then mimed scrubbing her arms and pointed toward the back of the cave where the sound of water echoed.

"I need to wash," she pleaded softly. "Please."

Jagger looked at her dirt-smudged face. Something soft flickered in his dangerous gold eyes.

He stood up, his massive frame blocking the firelight. "Come."

He didn't wait for her to stand. He scooped her up again and carried her deeper into the dark tunnels of the cave.

The air grew thick and heavy with warm steam as Jagger carried her through the narrow tunnel.

They emerged into a hidden cavern. A natural geothermal hot spring bubbled in the center, the water crystal clear and radiating heat. Bioluminescent ferns clung to the walls, casting a soft, ethereal blue glow over the water.

Jagger set Cora down on a smooth, flat rock at the edge of the pool. He pointed at the water.

Cora looked at her ruined clothes, then up at Jagger. He was standing there, arms crossed over his massive chest, watching her intently.

Heat rushed to her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around herself, biting her lower lip. She couldn't undress with him staring at her like a predator watching its next meal.

She gestured with her hand, silently begging him to turn around.

Jagger raised a thick eyebrow. The concept of modesty didn't exist for him. Mates didn't hide from each other. But he saw the deep flush on her face and the way she shrank into herself.

He let out a low, rough chuckle that vibrated in his chest. Slowly, he turned his back to the water.

Cora let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She quickly unzipped the ruined hazard suit, peeling the stiff, filthy fabric off her skin.

She stepped into the hot spring. The hot water enveloped her aching muscles, and a soft, involuntary sigh escaped her lips.

The sound echoed in the quiet cavern.

Jagger's broad back went completely rigid. His hands curled into tight fists at his sides. The muscles in his neck strained as he fought the overwhelming, primal urge to turn around and drag her out of the water.

Cora didn't notice. She pulled the plant-fiber towel from her system inventory and began scrubbing the grime from her skin.

Under the hot water, the mud and dried blood washed away, revealing her pale, delicate skin. The heat brought a healthy, pink flush to her cheeks.

As she finished washing her hair, a sudden realization hit her.

Her hazard suit was destroyed. She had absolutely nothing to wear.

Panic flared. She sank deeper into the water, bringing her knees to her chest until only her head was visible.

"Jagger..." her voice trembled slightly. "I don't have any clothes."

He didn't turn around. "Wait," he grunted, his voice tighter than before.

He marched out of the cavern.

Cora sat in the hot water, the silence pressing in on her. Ten minutes passed. Then fifteen.

Heavy footsteps echoed in the tunnel. Jagger returned, his arms full, and immediately turned his back to the pool again. He tossed a bundle over his shoulder. It landed softly on the rock next to the water.

Cora swam to the edge and pulled the bundle down.

It was a massive, incredibly soft white animal pelt. But beneath it was something else.

It was a crude, makeshift skirt woven from thick, green vines and broad leaves.

Cora stared at it. The knots were messy, tied by massive fingers that were used to killing, not weaving. A hard lump formed in her throat. This terrifying, lethal beast had sat outside and clumsily tied leaves together just because she asked for clothes.

She quickly wrapped the soft white pelt around her torso, securing it tightly, and pulled the vine skirt over her hips. It was bulky, but it covered her.

She climbed out of the water, using the towel to squeeze the excess water from her dark hair.

"I'm done," she said softly. "You can turn around."

Jagger turned.

The moment his golden eyes landed on her, he froze.

With the mud and grime gone, her skin was luminous in the blue light. The white pelt clung to the curves of her breasts and hips, and the damp hair resting on her bare shoulders made her look impossibly fragile and breathtakingly beautiful.

Jagger stopped breathing.

The gold in his eyes flared, burning away all restraint. His chest he heave as a raw, possessive hunger took over his features.

He took a slow, heavy step toward her.

Jagger's massive frame blocked out the light as he closed the distance. The heat radiating from his skin was palpable.

Cora took a nervous step back, her bare heel hitting the slick edge of the rock. She had nowhere to run.

He reached out. His rough, calloused thumb traced the line of her jaw, his touch feather-light but trembling with suppressed power.

"Mine," he rasped. His voice was a dark, dangerous promise.

He lowered his head, his gaze fixed on her lips.

Panic flared in Cora's chest. This was moving too fast. She pressed both hands flat against his rock-hard chest. "Wait! I... I'm not ready."

Jagger's body jerked to a halt. His jaw locked so tight the muscles ticked. He stared down at her, his breathing ragged and heavy. The violent clash between his alpha instincts and her rejection played out in the tightening of his muscles.

He let out a frustrated, guttural snarl, stepping back so abruptly it startled her.

"Hurry," he barked, turning on his heel and storming out of the cavern, needing distance before his control snapped completely.

Cora collapsed against the cavern wall, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had survived, for now.

She quickly opened her inventory and pulled out the small vial of Earth-grade Appearance Restoration Serum. She popped the cork and downed the blue liquid in one gulp.

A cool, tingling sensation rushed through her veins.

The small cuts and bruises on her legs faded. The dullness in her skin vanished, replaced by a flawless, porcelain smoothness. Her features refined, returning to their absolute peak state before the crash.

She looked at her reflection in the still water. She was stunning.

Taking a deep breath, Cora adjusted the white pelt and walked out of the tunnel into the main cave.

Jagger was sitting by the fire, aggressively sharpening his bone knife against a rock.

He looked up as she entered.

The bone knife slipped from his hand, clattering loudly against the stone floor.

Jagger stood up, his body rigid. If she was beautiful before, she was a goddess now. The sheer perfection of her face hit him like a physical blow.

The last thread of his control snapped.

He crossed the cave in three massive strides. He grabbed her chin, tilting her face up to meet his burning gaze. "You are my mate. We bond now."

His intensity terrified her. Cora yanked her face away and stumbled backward.

Her shoulder slammed into the cave wall, crushing a cluster of glowing pink flowers that grew naturally from the damp crevices of the stone. Jagger often let them bloom because their scent repelled the venomous cave-centipedes, entirely unaware of their biological effect on alien females.

A thick cloud of pink pollen exploded into the air, directly into Cora's face.

"BEEP! Critical Warning! Inhaled high-concentration 'Lust-Silk' pollen. Extreme aphrodisiac and hallucinogenic effects imminent!"

Cora inhaled sharply in surprise, drawing the pollen deep into her lungs.

Instantly, a scorching, liquid fire ignited in her lower belly. It shot through her veins, melting her bones.

Her legs gave out.

She collapsed forward, falling directly into Jagger's waiting arms.

Jagger caught her easily. But as he looked down, he saw her eyes glaze over with a hazy, unfocused lust. Her skin was burning hot against his bare chest, and a deep, unnatural flush spread across her chest and neck.

He recognized the smell of the crushed pink flowers. Lust-Silk. It was harmless to males, but a devastating breeding drug to females.

Cora moaned, a soft, desperate sound that went straight to Jagger's groin.

She twisted in his arms, her hands sliding up his chest to wrap tightly around his neck. Her hot, rapid breath ghosted across his collarbone.

"Hot," she whimpered, pressing her hips flush against his.

Jagger's sanity shattered.

He scooped her up into his arms, his golden eyes blazing with unchecked fire, and carried her straight to the bed of furs.