Page 33 of Feral Mates (Ruthless Instinct #1)

S avannah

Vampire.

In all the books I’d read as a child, none had scared me like the sight standing next to me.

There was no rhyme or reason to what I was seeing. It was as if I’d been transferred into some twisted nightmare where creatures of all kinds thrived on blood and bones.

Blinking, all I could hear was the rapid thrumming of my heart, the sound echoing in my ears.

Dr. Blackwell dragged his tongue across the sharp points, canines that glistened in the harsh light. I was mesmerized even as fear trickled down my spine.

Carl and I had mused over drinks one night early in the project about the what-ifs.

That had been after the source of light had been confirmed as the first sighting from the recent discovery of the portal.

We’d enjoyed vodka martinis while laughing over the possibility of eventually seeing aliens of all colors, shapes, and sizes.

The thoughts had been ridiculous, but we’d enjoyed the conversation, even imagining a life where creatures of the night walked the earth with animals, reptiles, and humans alike. Horror and science fiction brought to life.

“How?” I whispered, a lump forming in my throat. I suddenly felt completely suffocated, incapable of thinking clearly. Another rumble occurred and I sensed with every ounce of my being my wolves were trying to get to me. They were awake and pissed. “Vampires don’t exist.”

He closed his mouth, peering down at me as if I was a morsel. My skin suddenly crawled, wondering whether he now needed blood to survive or if his newly created lifeform fed off energy. Based on what I knew from the experiments, I suspected the latter.

“Come now, Savannah. You’ve heard stories of vampires from centuries past. They were as vile as what was depicted in movies and books.

As you heard in the very classes you were just lecturing me on, there are endless possibilities of lifeforms in a vast array of universes.

We’ve only touched on one. Beings in the parallel universe feed off our fear and imaginations.

They adapt and form as desired. They can utilize legends from ancient civilizations as well as modern day predators.

They simply reform them and make them even better. Stronger. Faster.”

He paused, a sick smiling twisting his face. “I can tell you that from experience. The man you knew as Dr. Blackwell is gone, but his mind and memories will usher in a new era. In his limited moments of resistance he called me Thanatos. You may as well.”

His chest was rising and falling from excitement.

I continued to shake, horrified at his words and actions.

“So you’re saying any type of creature could potentially be formed.”

His eyes lit up as if on fire. “Exactly. As proven already. The experiment with the wolves was successful, more so than I could have dreamed. I’d feared the creatures would be revolting like the others, incapable of surviving on Earth.”

“That’s why you had them killed. Because they weren’t good enough and you couldn’t control them.”

“Correct. Now that you understand, it’s time to begin phase two of my experimentation.”

“You won’t get away with this. The oversight committee will stop you.”

He chuckled. “As far as the committee is concerned, the project is dead. It went up in flames right in front of their eyes.” He pulled his hand away from my pussy, holding his fingers under his nose and taking a deep breath.

“That’s why you had to blame someone. Why kill Carl? Why?”

“Because he planned on telling the committee members everything he knew. Carl was much more important than he allowed you to know about, Savannah. He was my eyes and ears on your floor.”

“You made him watch me?”

“I was curious as to how far your research would take you.”

Another wave of horror settled in. I couldn’t think clearly. How could we get out of this? My God. “What do you want with me? To kill me?”

He laughed. “That would defeat all the work I’ve put in over the last few years.

Now, wouldn’t it? I had hopes that you would be my prize pupil, but there’s too much good in you, Savannah.

I truly believed that you would finally see how important our work was, but you simply can’t look past the notion I made the mistake of putting into your mind all those years ago.

Of course I’m not going to kill you. That would defeat the purpose entirely. ”

“Then what?”

He took a step away, using the same remote to turn on the surrounding lights. I knew at that moment why my skin had been crawling. There were others in the room. They’d been watching the entire time.

Waiting and eager to help the madman.

With blank faces, they were all dressed in white lab coats.

There were also the same men in uniforms filling space in the room. All watching. All studying and prepared to keep us from escaping.

Another shudder.

Another realization.

This truly was a nightmare.

Suddenly his nickname suited him. The man was no longer the guardian of life as he’d touted himself to be in the early days of his career, but a manipulator of the very life force and essence shared by every living being.

“Now, Dr. Morgan, I’m going to enjoy the next round of tests with phase two.

” As soon as he pressed a button, I heard noise, as if a metal shield was being lifted from somewhere in the room.

At the same time, one of the other scientists moved closer, shifting the gurney around to face the direction of the noise.

Apollo, Kai, and Roman were in an oversized glass cage that had been built in the center of the room.

I could see cameras in every corner and several of the soldiers were actively parading around the perimeter, acting like vultures.

They had automatic rifles in their hands, their expression of anticipation hopeful that they’d be able to return to acting like bullies.

There were huge rivets of steel attached to the floor with massive chains attached. Thick metal cuffs surrounded their necks, ankles, and wrists. They stood in the center, snarling and snapping their heads in the direction of the soldiers.

They were no longer in their wolf form. They were human.

Even more muscular than I remembered.

And they were very, very angry.

The moment they realized they could see me, all three tensed. Thanatos chuckled.

“They are none too happy with me.”

“What is this?” My voice rattled as I slowly began to succumb to both fear and the full understanding that the man I thought I’d respected was nothing but a monster.

I tried to lift my arm, longing to be able to touch them. Not only could I see pain in their eyes, I could feel it, my skin vibrating from the anguish.

“This is what you wanted. Isn’t it? New lifeforms in all their glory. All because of your work, Dr. Morgan. You should be very proud of what you’ve accomplished.” When he laughed, my blood turned to ice.

Then it curdled. I’d helped create this. There was no denying the truth.

Thanatos walked closer to the glass, standing with his arms behind his back, his hands clasped. Even from where he was standing, I had a full view of the men, the wolves I’d not only helped to create, but had also come to adore.

Kai turned his head, snarling.

“They are magnificent specimens. Don’t you think, Doctor?”

I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t swallow.

“It will be extremely enjoyable to spend time testing them.” He inched even closer to the glass.

The wolves reacted instantly, the low thrumming growls permeating the glass. They were dangerous and threatening even in their human form. Enough that two of the soldiers guarding them took a step back.

Apollo uttered a sharp, keening growl and the length of chain he was on allowed him to rush the glass, bashing against the surface. The moment he did, he was given a massive electric shock. His entire body spasmed, his jaw clenched to the point I could tell how much pain he was in.

Two other soldiers bounded backward, immediately raising their weapons.

“For the love of God, stop being afraid of them,” Thanatos hissed. “They can’t break the glass. Not with the drugs they are on and while humans.”

They’d been given something to keep them in human form. My God, the man was a sick fuck.

“No! Stop. Please, stop. You don’t need to do this.”

“Apparently, I do. They are dangerous beasts, Dr. Morgan. Don’t fool yourself otherwise.”

Thanatos continued to laugh as both Kai and Roman threw themselves at the surface, instantly electrocuted the same way Apollo had been.

“I said stop, you motherfucker. Don’t do this,” I snarled, shaking as I struggled with the shackles. I couldn’t care less the metal was biting into my skin. “Apollo. Kai. Roman. Don’t. Don’t fight. I’m just fine.”

I was anything but fine.

“They can’t hear you unless I allow them the privilege. Or can they? I’ve certainly heard wolves have extraordinary abilities. Along with our help, they’ve become great powers.”

My God. The insanity of this man was… I had to remind myself that Dr. Blackwell was now hosting another creature and it was obvious the vampire was pure evil.

There was no other choice to make but to destroy the portal. If we didn’t it could mean unleashing dangerous, lab-created creatures into the world. Mankind as we knew it would be forever altered if not completely destroyed.

“Just stop. Please,” I whispered, softening my voice. “I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt them.”