Page 18 of Feral Mates (Ruthless Instinct #1)

S avannah

The building shook. Glass shattered as vials were pushed against others.

Papers flew.

Another rumble, the deep vibrations penetrating my feet and legs.

Then a loud boom.

Suddenly, the lights went out.

Gasps occurred all around me.

People were afraid.

It took a few seconds before the generator kicked in, but instead of full overhead light, only the warm, flashing glow of the emergency system highlighted the room.

“An explosion,” someone exclaimed.

I scanned the room just as another even more violent shake brought plaster down from the ceiling. A sudden panic swept the laboratory, people rushing toward the door. When the fire alarm kicked in, even more chaos ensued.

“We need to get out of here,” the scientist at the station next to me yelled. “Go to the exits.”

Whether or not anyone from the upper floor would give the okay, people were leaving. I took a deep breath, staring at the laser system. The pulses were wild, every color of the rainbow reflected as various shapes scattered and formed, growing bigger.

One slammed into the glass and I jumped back, but almost instantly pushed my way through the three scientists scurrying to leave the building. When I was only inches away, I eased my arm out, hesitating before touching the glass.

It was hot to the touch.

The lifeforms behind the glass immediately responded, every shape suddenly right in front of the glass. They converged together then broke apart, but there was no doubt they were watching.

And listening.

And hungering.

I could feel it in every molecule. My breath skipped and suddenly, there was another even more powerful sensation.

The wolves, my wolves were calling me.

No, they were warning me just as I’d done for them.

The four of us were in danger.

“Come on. You need to get out of here.” Carl appeared. He’d purposely come to find me.

I remained mesmerized by the lifeforms, more certain of my findings than before. Whatever had transpired had been done intentionally. That much I knew by instinct.

“I’m coming,” I told him, but I couldn’t look away.

He tugged on my arm. “Come on, Sav. The building is on fire. An explosion.”

“Where?”

“On the upper floor.”

“Let me grab my things.”

“Hurry.” He waited for me and before we headed to the door, he handed me a flash drive. “I downloaded what I’ve been working on. I think you’re going to want to see this. I asked a few questions.”

“And?”

“I was shut down almost immediately. You’re right. There is something going on behind closed doors Dr. Blackwell doesn’t want anyone to discover.”

Even with Carl’s admittance, I could tell by his voice he’d been keeping something from me. Grabbing the stick from his hand, I quickly moved to my station, snatching the drive I’d hidden, along with a handful of my notes.

There were shouts coming from everywhere, people racing down the corridor. I took one last look at the figures behind the glass before heading to the locker. With everything in hand, I nodded. Together we rushed into the hallway, almost knocked down by several people coughing and choking.

Two had been burned.

Carl pushed me back as another crowd pushed forward, one huge man barreling into Carl and knocking him down while the momentum of the others drove into me. I was shoved forward by the crowd.

“Carl! Carl!” I yelled his name, struggling to free myself from the entanglement.

“Just go,” he called in return.

There was little I could do. I held my bag close to my chest as I fled. Once outside, I turned toward the door, intending on waiting.

Another quick popping sound was followed by shrill screams. Several security guards appeared, all directing people away from the building.

“Miss, you need to leave. Now,” one of them said.

“I have a friend inside.”

“And hopefully your friend will be able to get away.”

Sirens sounded in the distance and I could see smoke billowing from the roof, embers showering down in the darkness. Hours had passed. I wasn’t even certain what time it was.

I backed away, terrified for Carl, but something kept nagging my mind.

What if the explosion had also been done purposefully?

It was crazy to think that way. Why would anyone, especially Dr. Blackwell, sabotage his own project?

For one reason. Whatever he’d been doing had nothing to do with the plan intended by the grant. Maybe the oversight committee had been breathing down his neck and he’d set another plan in motion.

Then again, maybe my theory was based more on thriller books than reality.

Whatever the case, I had evidence that I’d need to sort through to determine if I was right and what the hell was going on.

Another gut reaction was that I needed to get to somewhere safe. And I needed to warn the wolves.

My wolves.

The thought stayed with me as I rushed toward my car, taking another back to glance at the building. One side was in flames.

Fire engines roared into the parking lot. There were vehicles everywhere, employees trying desperately to flee the scene. I continued to clutch the bag, more terrified than I’d been in years.

Just before I climbed inside, a series of tickling sensations pricked every nerve ending.

A sudden vacuum enveloped my system, all sound fading into the distance. I turned slowly toward the woods behind the parking lot.

Three pairs of eyes were watching me.

Apollo. Kai. Roman.

My protectors.

They appeared larger than before, the amber eyes glowing under the stream of moonlight. I held my breath as Kai lifted his head, sniffing the air before letting out a soft, yet distinct rumbling growl.

They’d detected danger.

Apollo took a step forward, swiveling his massive head from one side to the other. He was the most aggressive, his anger close to spiraling out of control. He bared his canines, long and sharp, yet I felt no fear. He was laying claim.

No one was allowed to touch me.

Neither man nor beast.

Suddenly, he let off an intense howl so loud and vibrant that the haunting sound permeated the air, overwhelming the chaos, if only for a moment.

Then he was quiet.

I bit my lower lip to keep from crying out. They were telling me to leave. Had they been the wolves that had attacked the hikers?

No.

No, I felt it. They weren’t.

There were others. Just like what Camden had said earlier.

They could see me. They would follow me. I was certain of it.

The thought comforted me, boosting my courage.

Another strange sensation drowned out the comforting one. Once again, I turned toward the building. Through the melee, men and women still rushing into the night air, I was certain Dr. Blackwell was standing outside, his gaze locked on where I was standing. How was that possible?

Fear returned, crippling and suffocating.

The haze of terror and danger was broken by a series of low, husky growls.

Another warning. I needed to get the hell away now.

Jumping inside, I tossed the bag onto the passenger seat, immediately starting the engine.

Once in a long line to exit the parking lot, I grabbed my phone and dialed Carl’s number. “Come on, Carl. Pick up the phone.” The call went straight to voicemail.

He had to be okay. He was doing what I was doing, getting as far away from the laboratory as possible.

I felt sick inside as the vehicles crawled forward, almost blocked as two fire engines roared into the parking lot.

I could still feel them. My wolves. Forever protecting me.

When I was finally on the road leading from the laboratory, I continuously glanced into the rearview mirror expecting to see them.

Yes, I could sense them, their concern and anger, but they remained in the shadows and protection of the woods.

Ten minutes passed before I reached the main four-lane road, able to pick up speed. With my fingers white knuckled while wrapped around the steering wheel, I pressed down on the accelerator. Where the hell could I go? At this point, back to my apartment.

They’d follow.

I knew they would.

The seconds ticked by in perfect rhythm to the wild beating of my heart. This was crazy, yet still exciting in a twisted way. Once on the highway, the sensations lessened. Were they still following? Had something happened to them? No. They had to be alright.

I tried to control my concentration, freeing my mind. Perhaps the fear was too intense, too significant to harness the energy and connection we’d shared before. I’d tried to pretend as if it didn’t exist, but I’d been wrong.

Whatever reason we were tethered together, it would be used against us. That I knew with utter certainty.

There was no one following me, but I remained alert, finally breathing a little easier when I turned into my apartment community. After pulling into a parking space, I waited for a few seconds. When I glanced into the rearview mirror again, they were there. Eyes burning into mine.

Red-hot electricity shot through me, but at that moment, another wave of calm swept away the fear.

I climbed out, scanning the parking lot and letting them know mentally they were safe.

But was that the truth?

Everything that had occurred was crazy, including the fact I was completely aroused. The scent of my desire wafted into the night air, leaving me embarrassed and confused. How could I be turned on when our lives were most likely in danger?

The prickling on my skin continued, every cell in my body ignited from an intense fire.

I stood where I was as they advanced, shadowed predators that had become my lovers.

My mates.

What I knew in my soul was that this wasn’t simply a normal level of desire, but something that transcended space and physics. But there was no denying the deep, dark craving I had for all three. My pussy was wet, my panties soaked, and the intense throb was leaving me as fractured as the fear.