Page 9 of Guardians

CHAPTER 6

D iego paced the darkness, partially to keep warm and partly to burn off the anxious energy building up inside him. Unable to carry the cases in lion form, he’d had no choice but to run through the forest as fast as his human legs would carry him. He was cold, impatient, and unbelievably restless. He couldn’t stop thinking about Lexie. He wanted to taste her pussy and possess every hole in her body. He wanted her dripping with his seed or, better yet, impregnated with his offspring. These urges were raw, demanding, and completely unfamiliar. He’d had plenty of women before his captivity. It wasn’t like fucking Lexie’s mouth had been a new experience. He’d just never craved a woman again moments after spilling his seed down her throat.

“You reek of lust and… female? Why do you smell so strongly of female?” Gabriel stepped out of the darkness. Moonlight revealed the shape of his tall, lean body, but his features were still in shadow.

Diego didn’t need to see him to know what he looked like. He’d known Gabriel nearly as long as he’d known Travis. They’d all been captives in the same lab, had been subjected to the same experiments. Gabriel’s features were sharply angular, his eyes an unusual shade of orange. His dark blond hair was now sun streaked and flowed well past his shoulders.

“Thanks for coming,” Diego muttered. “I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Answer the question or I’ll leave.”

Damn it. This was not how he’d intended to broach the issue. He’d planned to ask him about the scanner devices and use them as a segue to the alliance. “My coalition just claimed a mate. She’s the reason I am here, at least indirectly.”

Gabriel moved closer, his gaze gleaming in the muted light. “Explain,” he demanded, his tone brooking no refusal.

It was hard to see Gabriel like this. When they met, Gabriel had been stubbornly optimistic. He frequently cheered up those around him and held on to hope longer than anyone else. Perhaps that’s why he fell so hard. When the bastards at Nuevo finally broke Gabriel’s spirit, it changed him permanently.

Diego paused for a moment and chose his words carefully. “Kane secured an alliance with the humans. We have agreed to provide for and protect any of their males willing to work for us and any female who agrees to being claimed by a coalition.”

Silence stretched between them, tense and electric. When Gabriel finally spoke, his voice was harsh and gravelly. “You took one of those monsters to your bed? They held us against our will, mutated our bodies without our permission. The real question is why are any of them still drawing breath?”

It was easy to understand Gabriel’s reaction because part of Diego felt the same way. He’d voted against the alliance. But that was before he saw Lexie, before her scent awakened his mating instincts. Besides, she had never been directly involved in the Griffin Project. The only thing she was guilty of was not disassociating herself as quickly as she should have.

It was time to point out some simple facts to his disagreeable friend. “Unless something significant changes, we have no way off this planet. You’ve refused to help us repair the shuttle, so we moved on to our next strategy.”

“To claim wives and start popping out hybrid babies?” His voice was cold and scathing now. “Are you going to sit in a rocking chair on your front porch and watch your grandkids play in the yard?” His eyes flashed through the darkness, momentarily revealing his features. He looked menacing and furious. In a word, demonic. “Fuck you,” he growled out. “I’m not growing old on this planet!”

“That’s not our intention either,” Diego insisted. “We haven’t given up. We just intend to make life here more bearable while we keep trying.”

“Bullshit. Mates and babies mean you’re ready to put down roots.”

To be honest, Diego could think of much worse things than settling on this primitive planet. The weather was extreme, but the scenery was stunning. Its majestic mountains and expansive lakes reminded him of Alaska, before the developers ravaged the wilderness. Diego had no desire to return to Earth. Humans had turned their backs, dumped the hybrids here like garbage and left them to rot. Why shouldn’t they tame the wilderness or, better yet, find a way to live in harmony with it?

Gabriel shook his head, eyes narrowed. “I’m not ready to become a farmer. Not even for easy access to pussy.”

“Then help us repair the shuttle,” Diego snapped. “If life here is so intolerable, then let’s leave!”

“I went to the cave and looked over the damage. It cannot be repaired,” Gabriel admitted with a sigh. “The entire navigational system would have to be reprinted component by component. Without schematics or some form of detailed reference, I don’t think I can do it.”

Now they were getting somewhere. As long as Gabriel was willing to participate, Diego would move all of the obstacles standing in their way. “Wouldn’t the shuttle’s computer have reference files, maintenance records, or repair schematics?”

Gabriel shook his head, arms crossed over his chest. “Those files would have been stored on the mother ship. You haven’t managed to find it, have you?”

Diego shook his head, struggling not to glare at his friend. Gabriel’s sarcasm could abrade after a while. “The transport ship is a burned-out shell, but we have access to others. All of the ships that transported us here were similar.” Old and antiquated, expendable. Rydaria had been a one-way trip for everyone, even the ships. The only exception had been the military team responsible for ensuring that the hybrids could not leave. They allowed the molecular conversion systems to remain functional, but sabotaged everything else then flew away.

Another long pause followed as Gabriel stared off into the darkness. “It might be feasible to convert one of the operational systems into a rudimentary relay. Getting a message off-world would be infinitely easier than flying to the nearest outpost.”

Diego wasn’t sure how they would lure someone to this secluded planet. They had no universal credits and nothing of worth but personnel, and admitting that would attract all the wrong sort of traders. Still, he wasn’t going to discourage Gabriel in any way. “What do you need to make that happen?”

“I’m not sure,” Gabriel admitted. “I’ll have to go back to the cave.”

Diego nodded. This wasn’t as much progress as he’d hoped to make, but it was progress. “Send me a message once you’ve had time to reassess. You know where to find me.” He leaned down and picked up one of the cases, ready to show the devices to Gabriel so he could return to Lexie.

“What’s your mate’s name?”

The question surprised him. Why would Gabriel care if he was as disapproving as his initial reaction indicated? “Lexie. She was a consultant for Nuevo and never left Earth. She had no direct contact with any of us.”

“Then why is she here? I thought all the exiled humans had actively participated in the Griffin Project.”

Diego shook his head. “They all worked for Nuevo, but Kane only made the offer to those with no direct contact. Anyone who touched a hybrid is not eligible for the alliance.”

“And who makes that determination?” Gabriel challenged. “There were hundreds of labs on that outpost. How can you possibly know who staffed them all?”

Diego grinned at him, more than happy to share this secret. “We have an employee roster with their job titles and locations. No one will slip through the cracks.”

“Anything associated with Nuevo is tainted,” Gabriel sneered. “I want nothing to do with any of them.”

“Understood.” Diego picked up one of the cases and held it out toward the cantankerous raptor. “They claim that these are simple scanners, incapable of anything but basic analysis. I don’t want to return them until I know for sure that the description is accurate.”

“You snuck into Elias’ village and stole those back from him?”

Not sure why Gabriel sounded so disapproving, Diego studied him carefully. “Do you have a problem with that? We’re in an alliance with the humans. Allies help each other.”

“I thought Zion was trying to avoid a war. You know damn well that Elias will retaliate. Why provoke him like this?”

Diego clasped his hands behind his back to keep from punching Gabriel in the face. He was always disagreeable, but he was being particularly difficult tonight. “Just tell me if it’s safe to give them back.”

Gabriel took the case and knelt as he placed it on the ground. A small light activated when Gabriel lifted the lid. There were four devices in all. Each was slightly different from the others. Gabriel picked them up one by one and looked them over before saying, “They’re harmless, meant for basic assessment and comparison. They can provide detailed information on plants and soil samples. That one is a simple medical scanner, but none of them are capable of mutating anything.”

“Perfect.”

Gabriel closed the case and picked it up as he pushed back to his feet. He handed the case back to Diego, then shocked the hell out of him as he said, “I have no interest in a mate, but there are those in my village who would strongly disagree. I’ll mention the alliance to my brother. See if he wishes to be part of it.”

“Thank you. For that and for this.” He lifted the case.

“Is she worth it?”

“It’s too early to say for sure, but I’m definitely intrigued.”

Gabriel just shook his head and melted back into the darkness.

The following morning Lexie woke up gradually. She was warm and comfortable, well rested and sexually satisfied. It felt good just to lie there and relax, so she remained still and let her mind wander. She was also being a coward. The longer she lounged around in bed, the longer she could avoid the challenges of the new day.

After her conversation with Tara, Lexie returned to the cabin she shared with her mates. She secretly enjoyed having Kane carry her around, yet she was anxious to move about freely. Malik was waiting with a warm beverage rather like spiced cider with a shot of rum. She sipped the kidolen while she asked them questions about their lives since coming to Rydaria. She knew they were part of Zion’s security team, but she hadn’t realized all the responsibilities involved in that position. The guardians oversaw the safety and security of the entire village. Protecting Zion was simply one task among many. They also gathered information and planned attacks on enemies. They resolved conflicts and negotiated alliances. They were the secret service, FBI, and the president’s cabinet all rolled into one.

The relaxed atmosphere didn’t last long. By the time she finished the kidolen , Kane’s and Malik’s eyes blazed with carnal hunger and all three were ready for more of their combustible passion.

Lexie knew what to expect this time so she was less timid, if not yet bold. They undressed her slowly, running their hands and lips all over her body as they too shed their clothes. When Kane ordered her over his lap, she argued that she hadn’t done anything wrong.

“This is still new to you,” Kane told her. “I want to make sure you don’t forget who’s in charge.”

Their earlier interactions had taught her the futility of arguing with him, so she bent over his lap and waited for her spanking to begin. The first slap was more of a warning. It barely stung, but the crack echoed in the nearly silent room. Discipline would be part of her life now. She could accept it or allow it to make her miserable. He spanked the other side, then stroked her warm skin, accenting the sensitivity caused by the light slaps.

“Your ass is so soft,” he murmured, almost as if he didn’t realize he’d spoken out loud. “So perfect.”

The next set of swats were harder, more jarring. Lexie remained in position, absorbing the slight sting and concentrating on the spreading heat. Her pussy began to ache, her clit tingling. She had no idea why being spanked aroused her sexually, but there was no denying that it did. Even the harsh belt spanking earlier had driven her close to an orgasm. This was simply foreplay.

Kane continued to spank her upturned bottom until her cheeks glowed with throbbing heat and her pussy was soaked and swollen. Then he paused again and caressed her skin. She was so sensitive now that his touch was slightly painful. “Lovely. Your bottom is hot pink. My favorite color.”

He seemed to be finished, so she started to get up. He pushed her back down and drizzled something cool and slippery into her bottom crease. Lube. She tensed and started to struggle. “What are you doing?”

“Anything I want.” Kane smoothed the slick gel over and into her reluctant pucker.

Lexie squirmed, anxious and angry. “I don’t want that,” she cried, shifting her hips from side to side. She could deal with routine spankings, but their obsession with her bottom needed to stop. “I’ve told all of you that I don’t like it.”

Kane’s finger pushed against her opening, teasing the sensitive flesh before forcing the muscles open. “Who does this ass belong to?” His finger slid in and out, an obvious foreshadowing of what they intended to do.

Dread, and something she refused to name, washed over her body, making her restless and achy. Her core spasmed hard, tightening her back passage around his thrusting finger. “Are you going to fuck me there?” They’d taken her mouth and pussy. Would they now claim her final opening? She shivered. Excitement or trepidation, she honestly couldn’t say.

“Would you like that, mate?” He worked another finger into her tightest hole, stretching her muscles in the process.

She sucked in a breath at the pressure, but remained over his legs. “What I want doesn’t matter. You’ve made that perfectly clear. If you’re going to do it, get it over with.”

He chuckled and removed his fingers. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Something smooth and cool pressed against her slick opening. Another butt plug, no doubt. “Where are you getting those things?”

“Training devices don’t require vouchers,” he told her as he began to insert the new plug. “We can print as many as we like.”

Her bottom was forced open by the tapered toy. Pressure became pinch and then a flash of pain before her muscles contracted around the notch at the top of the plug. She moaned helplessly. This one was bigger than the first, at least it felt bigger. Kane drew the toy back, stretching her open all over again.

“It hurts,” she whined.

“It will hurt even more if Diego just shoves his cock inside you.” Kane fucked into her ass slowly several times before adding, “Besides, you like the pain.”

She shook her head, humiliated by the possibility. This was degrading and uncomfortable and unwanted. So why was her pussy rippling and her clit tingling nonstop? “I’m naked and on display. That’s what’s making me wet.”

“Really? If you can keep from coming for five minutes, I’ll let you name a reward.”

“Anything I want?” she asked hopefully. She already knew what she’d ask for. She’d take food to her camp or maybe just her tent mates if he refused to feed the entire camp.

“You cannot undo our claiming and you cannot take food to your camp.”

She harrumphed. “I don’t want anything else.”

“Then I’ll decide on your reward and your punishment will be admitting—in great detail—that you enjoy having your bottom fucked.” He worked the plug more aggressively, stretching her muscles over and over.

She fisted his pant legs and closed her eyes, determined to ignore the sparks of sensation triggered by the motion of the plug. It felt naughty and uncomfortable, but undeniably evocative.

With her eyes tightly shut, her imagination took over. She pictured herself bent over the side of the bed, legs spread wide, ass in the air. Diego held her down as he drove into her pussy. His strokes were hard and fast, brutal. “Beg me, sweet slut. Beg me to fuck that tight little ass.”

She shook her head and made a distressed sound, but she kept her lips pressed together.

He pulled out and slapped her cheeks, a harsh flurry of stinging slaps. “Beg me!”

“No,” she cried. “I don’t want that.”

His hand came up between her thighs, slapping her pussy. Lexie cried out, shocked by the intense pleasure/pain. Her clit twitched wildly, driving her precariously close to an orgasm. Shit! Those feelings weren’t imaginary. She was just about to come.

The plug slid in and out, spreading her wide as it filled her up inside. She groaned helplessly and her pussy clenched in on itself. “No,” she moaned, but her body wasn’t listening. The orgasm crested, sweeping over her in tingling waves. She shivered and rocked, driving herself up onto the unwanted plug.

“Two minutes, forty-seven seconds,” Malik told her. “Still going to deny that you like ass play?”

She shook her head, humiliated and defeated by her body’s betrayal.

“Not good enough.” Kane pushed the plug deep, spun it slowly inside her, and left it there. “Say, thank you, Sir, for fucking my ass with the plug. It felt really good.”

Still tingly and weak from the intense pleasure, Lexie simply surrendered. “Thank you, Sir, for using the plug on my bottom. It felt really good.”

Kane chuckled. “Close enough. Get on the bed, hands and knees. Malik is going to fuck your mouth while I fuck your naughty pussy.”

She hadn’t been sure why her pussy was naughty, but she soon found out. She’d come without permission, so Kane spanked her pussy firmly before they filled her with their long, hard cocks. She came four times while her mates enjoyed her willing body and then fell into an exhausted sleep. In the wee hours of the morning, Malik woke her with a kiss. He drove her to another orgasm with his skilled fingers, then he guided her hand to his cock, and she stroked him to climax. He spilled his seed on her belly, marking her body as his.

Now they lay in a tangle of naked limbs, Malik in front of her, Kane behind. She felt transformed by her claiming, as if her old life had no connection to who she was now. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that, but she knew for certain that she couldn’t go back.

An hour later they were showered and dressed for the day. Mercifully, Kane gave her permission to recycle the butt plug. She’d been concerned that he’d make her wear it all day. They sat around the kitchen table enjoying a leisurely breakfast before heading over to the human camp. Lexie and Tara wanted to see if they could convince anyone else to volunteer. Surrender really was the only option and they saw no reason to prolong the suffering.

The door to Diego’s bedroom opened and he walked out into the living room, still pulling on his shirt. His entire torso was corded with muscles, but Lexie’s gaze quickly migrated to his face. He looked blurry-eyed and scruffy, as if he’d had a rough night.

“When did you get back?” Kane wanted to know.

A better question was where the hell had he gone? Her other mates refused to tell her. All Kane would say was Diego was on village business.

“About three hours ago.” He walked over to the table, but didn’t sit down. “I made the mistake of stopping by the lodge to update Zion and he was in the mood to drink.”

“No wonder you look like shit,” Malik said compassionately. “Zion doesn’t break out the booze very often, but when he does, look out. Have a seat. I’ll make a pot of coffee.”

“Coffee?” Lexie cried. “You have coffee?”

“The Rydaria equivalent,” Malik cautioned. “We’ve been searching for a replacement since we arrived and this mixture is the closest we’ve come so far.”

Diego sat down directly across from Lexie. His long, dark hair was loose, making him look younger and less menacing. “Was your mission successful?” She glanced at Kane as she said, “The others wouldn’t tell me where you went or what you were trying to accomplish. Am I allowed to know now that it’s over?”

Rather than speak, he motioned toward the front door.

Lexie looked in the direction he’d indicated and gasped. “Are those the scanners?” Her gaze flew back to Diego. “You snuck into the wolf village and stole back our scanners?”

“We didn’t want to tell you in case he failed,” Kane defended.

“As if,” Diego muttered, clearly insulted by their lack of faith.

“We wanted it to be a surprise,” Malik reiterated.

She got up and went to Diego, carefully hugging his broad back. “Thank you. It’s a wonderful surprise.”

Malik returned to the table with four mugs and a pot of Rydarian coffee.

Back in her seat, Lexie took a tentative sip. The initial taste was sharp and unpleasant, but additional sips made it seem less alien. It was richer than tea and more complex than coffee. There were dark, earthy notes, yet something light and floral also. “I don’t hate it,” she concluded and the men laughed.

“It’s an acquired taste,” Kane agreed. “Like real coffee, it’s a mild stimulant and it’s better than nothing.”

“Zion decided to keep the cases here,” Diego informed them as he finished his drink. “They’re available to anyone who volunteers to join our village.”

“The scientists aren’t going to like that,” Lexie warned. “It feels too much like blackmail.”

“It’s simple motivation, like the food, shelter, and warmth. It’s our job to recruit females with the right qualifications. Bring them here and Zion will reward them with the scanners.”

“He’ll reward them with our scanners, scanners that were stolen from our camp. Does that seem fair to you?”

Diego shrugged as he pushed back and stood up. “We never claimed to play fair. Now, do you know who to target when we get to the human camp?”

She glared at him. How could he be so sweet and such a jerk at the same time? Stealing back the cases had been a wonderful surprise, but his dismissive attitude was offensive. “I know almost everyone in that camp, so yes, I know who to target.”

“Is Tara ready to go? Malik asked.

Lexie nodded. “She’s waiting with Bianca. Just knock on the door and Tara will join us.”

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Kane asked Diego. “It looks like you could use some more sleep.”

Diego shook his head, his expression grave. “Elias will retaliate. I’m not sure when or how, but we need to be extra vigilant until he does. A Shadow team is going with us. You won’t see them, but know that they’re there.”

Kane nodded. “That’s a wise precaution.” As he spoke, his warm gaze drifted over to Lexie.

Heat washed over her as it always did when their eyes met. Her nipples tightened and her clit tingled, her body becoming almost instantly aroused. She’d felt connected to Kane from the start and now their intimacies had made that connection electric.

“Let’s get going,” Malik urged as he adjusted the front of his pants. “If we hang around much longer, it’s doubtful we’ll leave at all.”

Kane dragged his gaze away from Lexie and looked at Diego again. “Did you happen to grab Lexie’s clothes while you were at the lodge?”

“Details are what I do best.” He motioned to the bundle in one of the armchairs. “Personally, I’d rather keep her naked and wrapped in a blanket. It’s so much faster that way.”

Lexie grinned. Their banter made her feel special and desired. She was unfamiliar with the emotions. She was a research scientist. Outward appearance had never been important to her. But in the short time she’d known these males, they made her feel beautiful.

She tugged on her boots and Kane helped her into her coat. Her knit cap was tucked into one of the deep pockets. She pulled it on before raising the hood. “Ready,” she announced with an uncertain smile. Her welcome back at camp wasn’t assured. Many might view her as a sellout, especially when she started campaigning for more volunteers.

Tara joined them a few minutes later and her lively conversation helped calm Lexie’s nerves. “I can’t believe how much better Bianca looks this morning.” Tara looked at Malik and smiled. “Whatever you’ve been giving her has worked miracles.”

“I’m thrilled that we could stop the infection before it spread to anyone else. We can deal with individual illnesses, but I’m not sure we can keep up with an epidemic.”

“Hopefully, that’s something we humans can help change,” Lexie said. “If we can convince the right people to stop being stubborn.”

As Lexie feared, they were greeted with mixed enthusiasm when they arrived in the human camp. Lexie looked around for her remaining tent mates. Kelly, Claire, and Dawn were the most likely to accept her decision without recriminations. They knew how sick Bianca had been. Didn’t saving the life of a good friend justify allying with the hybrids?

Tara spotted Kelly and Claire, calling out their names to get their attention. Everyone exchanged hugs, then Kelly nodded toward the men. “The dark-haired one has been here before, but who are the other two?” She spoke in a dramatic whisper and curiosity lit her dark gaze.

Seeing no reason to deny the truth, Lexie admitted, “As of last night, they’re my mates. The one you’ve seen before is Kane. The mean-looking one is Diego, and Malik is the one who just smiled at you.”

“Malik?” Claire looked at him curiously. “The guys who picked up Bianca mentioned him. Isn’t he the village doctor or something?”

Lexie nodded. “He couldn’t practice medicine back on Earth, but he knows enough to treat injuries and infections.”

As Lexie and Tara answered their questions, onlookers gathered around them. Fifteen minutes later, at least a hundred people crowded into the clearing between the rows of tents. The afternoon was cold but sunny, making a leisurely conversation possible for the first time in nearly a week.

Letting her gaze drift over the faces of the onlookers, Lexie tried to judge their reactions. The men looked hostile. Their flashing gazes were filled with resentment. Why would they have any other reaction? According to the conditions of the alliance, the best they could hope for was a life of physical labor and loneliness. A pang of guilt assailed Lexie for a moment, but she smothered it with determination. They were all fighting for their lives. The alliance would keep these men alive long enough to find a better solution.

“To prove his commitment to this alliance, Diego sneaked into the wolf camp and stole back the scanners.” Lexie held up one of the devices as proof. “We have all of them, but they will only be available for use in the feline village.”

“Why bother stealing them back if you’re not going to return them to us?” Claire objected. A gust of wind blew her bright red hair across her face. She tucked it behind her ear as she asked, “Are any of the cats familiar with scientific equipment?”

“We’re hoping someone like you will volunteer. Zion will allow the development of medications and nutritional supplements, but for obvious reasons, he wants to supervise the operation.” Lexie placed her hand on Claire’s upper arm. “Have you thought about volunteering? Tara and I would love to have you join us in the village.”

Rather than responding to Lexie’s question, Claire asked, “How is Bianca?”

“Bianca is doing really well,” Tara assured. “I’ve been staying in the same cabin, so I’ve seen her recovery firsthand. She has been given antibiotics and breathing treatments to help loosen up the congestion in her lungs. She’s still weak, but Malik is confident that she’ll recover completely.”

“And all it cost was Lexie’s soul,” Eugene Babcock jeered. “Do you like being a hybrid’s whore?”

Lexie’s entire body tensed at the sound of his voice. This bastard was the driving force behind the Griffin Project. He’d sanctioned the worst of Nuevo’s experiments. She was about to tell him to shut the hell up when Kane took care of it for her.

“You’re ineligible for the alliance,” Kane reminded, his deep voice cold and cutting. “Shut your mouth or leave the clearing.”

“What the hell are the rest of us supposed to do?” Babcock argued. “You can’t just leave us here to starve.”

“If all the eligible females join our village, your supplies will last twice as long,” Diego pointed out. “That should get you through the worst of the winter.”

“And then what?” Babcock persisted, arms crossed over his chest.

“Then you learn how to hunt and fish,” Malik jumped in. “Food is plentiful in this valley. You just have to develop the skills to go get it.”

“We’ve tried!” a dark-haired male called out as he shoved his way to the front of the crowd. His name was Stan Luden. He was one of the lab supervisors, so he’d been in the middle of everything that took place on the Nuevo outpost. “The wolves took all of our weapons and most of our supplies. We’re not entirely useless. I could make fishing poles and rudimentary snares, but I don’t even have a knife.”

Apparently tired of the arguments, Kane took the knife out of the sheath at his waist and threw it at Stan. It imbedded itself in a tree near the man’s head.

“Are you insane!” Stan cried. He jerked the knife from the tree then rushed over to stand next to Babcock.

Ignoring the outburst, Kane turned back to the group of females. “If you come back to the village with us, you’ll sleep in a warm bed tonight. You’ll be safe, cared for, and appreciated.”

“You can take a shower and eat a hot meal before you crawl into that warm bed,” Tara added with an encouraging smile.

“Don’t forget that three hybrid males will be waiting in that bed,” Babcock sneered. “Do you really want to spread your legs for a good meal and a warm?—”

An energy pulse streaked through the air, obliterating Stan’s face and splattering Babcock with blood and gore. Babcock screamed at the top of his lungs, visibly shaking. Stan’s body crumpled to the forest floor as a howl echoed through the forest. For one stunned millisecond everyone looked around, unable to comprehend what just happened. Then lupine hybrids rushed in from every direction, attacking the unsuspecting humans.

Wolves charged in a moment later, but these were wolves unlike any Lexie had ever seen before. Larger and more muscular than the wolves found on Earth, the pack howled, and the hybrids echoed, until the entire area pulsed with the eerie sound.

Shocked and terrified, Lexie stood there paralyzed by fear. Kane yanked a pulse pistol out of the back of his pants and started firing. Malik and Diego surrounded her, shielding her with their bodies as they fired at the wolves. They maneuvered her into a thicket, using the trees to protect her while they shifted position and did as much damage as possible.

Lexie crouched down, making herself as small a target as possible. She looked around for anything she could use as a weapon, a large rock or stout tree branch. There was nothing. Her anxious gaze shifted back to her mates and she gasped. Their eyes were glowing, and their features had partially transformed. Their cheekbones were sharper, noses broader, and long fangs were visible between their lips. Each male was still recognizable, but they appeared more feline than before.

A shrill scream drew Lexie’s attention away from her mates. All around her humans scattered, diving into tents or sprinting into the forest. Their attempts to escape did little good. The wolves were ruthless and focused. A few of the hybrids had pulse pistols, but most of the damage was being done by the wolves. They ripped out throats and shredded their victims with long, sharp claws.

Sudden movements drew her attention back to her mates. Kane stood in front of her, firing his pulse pistol at everything that moved. Malik and Diego were stripping off their clothes. The action was so bizarre that she glanced away. What the fuck were they doing?

A massive lion leapt into her field of vision and Lexie could barely breathe. She’d heard that the hybrids could shapeshift, had been told that they could by people who would know. Still, her mind just seized, refusing to accept what she was seeing.

A deafening roar whipped her head back around and Lexie screamed. A tawny lion crouched where Malik had been moments before, and Diego was… transforming. His features distorted for a moment as his human shape gave way to his much larger lion form. His body expanded as well, growing thicker and longer.

This couldn’t be real. She was having a stress-related hallucination. Shapeshifters. Were they all shapeshifters? The word echoed through her mind while she struggled to accept what was going on all around her.

Her lion mates charged past her and joined the fight, attacking every wolf they encountered. Their powerful jaws easily snapped the wolves’ necks and then they tossed the lifeless bodies aside.

She stood there shocked and horrified, hand covering her mouth. For the first time since hearing of Nuevo Biotech, Lexie understood the decision to exile the hybrids to Rydaria. She’d known they were dangerous, but she never imagined this .

Everywhere she looked there was blood and chaos. Diego and Malik had been joined by three other lions. Were they from the Shadow team? The lions were much more powerful than the wolves, but they were greatly outnumbered. The wolves killed every male they came across, while females were tossed over their shoulders and carried off into the forest.

As if triggered by some silent signal, the focus of the attack changed. The wolves no longer bothered with the females. They went from tent to tent, dragging out the males or ending their lives where they stood. Then they casually turned around and went looking for other victims. The only word for what was happening was massacre.

A sharp movement drew Lexie’s attention to her right. A lupine hybrid lunged for Kane, ready to plunge his long blade into Kane’s chest. Lexie screamed and knocked Kane off balance. He twisted and fired as he went down to one knee. The energy pulse hit the hybrid squarely in the chest. The impact drove his body backward. He slammed into a tree and then crumpled to the forest floor.

Kane looked at Lexie and grinned. “Nice move, mate. I’m pretty sure you just saved my life.”

His reflexes were incredibly fast, so she wasn’t convinced. Still, it felt good to have contributed something other than screaming.

The entire attack lasted less than ten minutes, but when the wolves finally retreated, fourteen females were missing and one hundred and nine humans had lost their lives. One hundred and seven were male. Two were female. Stunned and horrified by the brutality—not to mention the reality of shapeshifters—the survivors gathered the bodies of their friends and colleagues and laid them out in neat rows. Blankets were draped over their faces while the survivors solemnly debated what to do next.

Lexie and Claire knelt by one of the bodies. The redhead was weeping, and Lexie was trying to comfort her. Lexie felt numb. The attack had been surreal, so savage and senseless that her mind refused to process what she had seen. Nearby she could hear her mates speaking in urgent whispers. Diego and Malik had shifted back into their human forms and quickly redressed.

“We can’t leave them here,” Malik insisted. “They’re defenseless. If we consider these females potential mates, we must take them to the village now.”

“I agree,” Diego said.

Kane shook his head. “I’ll dispatch guards to protect them, but they have to stay here. Zion was clear about that. No female is allowed inside the village walls unless she has been claimed.”

“He already bent the rule for Bianca and Tara,” Malik pointed out.

“It’s not the same,” Kane objected. “Bianca’s life was on the line.”

“So are theirs,” Diego argued, motioning toward the traumatized humans. “Sending guards here will only get our people killed. I don’t care what Zion said. Without some sort of barricade, we would be defenseless too.”

“Why would the wolves do this?” Claire sobbed, finally composing herself enough to speak. “Why slaughter everyone?”

“They didn’t. They only killed the men,” Kelly, another one of Lexie’s tent mates pointed out. “Gale and Tammi got in their way, but they weren’t meant to die.”

Scrambling to her feet, Claire spun around and glared at Kane. Tears streamed down her face and grief obviously fueled her anger. “You knew this was going to happen. Didn’t you? Why didn’t you bring more men? For God’s sake, you can shift into lions!”

Lexie stood as well, but her attempts to calm Claire had been futile.

“We suspected that the wolves would retaliate,” Kane admitted. “We had no idea they would do this.”

“But why slaughter our men?” Kelly persisted. “This makes no sense.”

“Men are expendable. We are not,” Tara said softly. “This makes us even more vulnerable.”

“He was my baby brother,” Claire cried, suddenly sobbing even harder than before. “He went to work at Nuevo because of me. He’s dead because…”

Lexie wrapped her arms around Claire, but her own emotions were starting to awaken. There were so many bodies, and so much blood. She’d never been exposed to such savage violence. “This was not your fault. The wolves are vicious. Their leader is clearly a lunatic.”

With a heavy sigh, Kane looked at Malik and Diego. “You’re right. We can’t leave them here.”

The Shadow team, now human again, found a shovel and tried to dig a grave, but the ground was frozen.

Lexie’s heart sank and she began to shake. “We’re going to have to burn the bodies, aren’t we?”

Kane nodded and took a deep breath. “This camp is no longer safe,” he called out and no one argued. “Everyone who is eligible for the alliance will return with us to the village.” Again no one argued. “It’s dangerous and disrespectful to leave the bodies unattended. With your permission, we will build a fire and put them to rest.”

This upset some of the women, but Kane stressed that there was no alternative.

Anger, confusion, and grief took their toll on Lexie. She left Claire with Tara and slipped away into the trees. A harsh sob tore from her chest. She covered her mouth with her hand, determined not to reveal her weakness to anyone in camp.

Strong arms wrapped around her, and a lean body pressed against her back. Malik. She turned and buried her face against his chest, finally giving in to her emotions. She wept, her entire body trembling with the intensity of her emotions. She was furious and horrified, but most of all she felt guilty. If she hadn’t pressured the cats to steal back the scanners, the wolves wouldn’t have attacked.

“They were your friends too.” Malik ran his hand down her back and rocked her gently. “Let it out, love. Just let it out.”

She cried hard for a few more moments then stubbornly regained her composure. “I didn’t really know any of them before the exile, but three months in such a stressful situation made it seem much longer.”

“You have the right to grieve, just like everyone else.” He wiped away her tears and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I can’t help feeling like this is my fault,” she admitted.

“That’s ridiculous,” he insisted, easing her back so he could see her face.

“If Diego hadn’t?—”

“Don’t,” he warned sternly. “This was not your fault, nor was it Diego’s. The wolves were looking for a reason to lash out. If it hadn’t been the scanners, it would have been something else. They wanted females and they wanted you as vulnerable and afraid as possible. Clearly, they’ve accomplished both.”

Lexie shook her head. “But this sends us into the arms of their enemies. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to make us run to them?”

He shook his head. “Elias’ motivations are always complex and slightly twisted. I won’t try to explain what’s going on inside his head.”

She let it go. Dwelling on it would just upset her all over again. “Thanks for coming after me. I thought I wanted to be alone, but this was better. A lot better.”

He bent down and brushed his lips over hers. “One of us will always be there for you. That’s one of the advantages of having three mates.”

“When were you going to tell me?” she asked in a hushed voice.

“Tell you what?” His smile assured her that he knew exactly what she was asking.

“That I’m mated with three literal lions.” Her brows drew together, and she tilted her head. “Or is Kane unable to shift?”

“Kane can shift. All the coalition leaders can. No one would accept their authority if they couldn’t.”

“I have a million questions, but let’s get through this first.”

Malik wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and they returned to the clearing between the tents. A massive fire was burning, and someone was singing a hymn. Several people felt inspired to speak, but restlessness gradually took hold. No one felt safe. Would the wolves return to gather more females?

“Pack up your clothes and personal possessions,” Kane ordered after the impromptu memorial service concluded. “We’ll come back for the rest.”

Lexie understood his urgency. They were losing the light, and he wanted to be safe within the walls of the feline village before nightfall. So did she. If collecting females had been the wolves’ primary goal, they would be back for more.

Diego ordered the Shadows to remain behind and supervise the fire. They needed to ensure that the flames consumed all the bodies without destroying anything else.

“Did someone compile a list of the victims? I know we did a headcount, but do we know their names?” Tara asked as most of the camp prepared to leave.

“Not all of the bodies could be conclusively identified,” Kane said grimly. “The list was completed by process of elimination.”

Lexie shuddered. She didn’t even want to think about how damaged a body had to be before it was beyond visual identification. “And how many are we leaving behind?”

“Twenty-three,” Diego told her. “The worst of the worst were all killed by the wolves.”

Malik rubbed her back, his gaze filled with compassion. “They’ll never be allowed in our village, but Zion might be willing to make concessions for the ones we’re leaving behind.”

Lexie was relieved. She didn’t want to walk away and start her new life while people she knew were left in the wilderness to starve. There was one exception. “Is Babcock dead?” Just saying his name made her nauseous.

“We think so.” Kane hesitated. “There was a body we’re relatively sure was him, but a DNA test would have been nice.”

Lexie nodded then looked at the fire for a long, tense moment. It felt final, as if her past was being burned away upon that pyre.

Malik slipped his arm around her shoulders again and she moved closer to his side.

“Ready?” he asked.

She wiped away one final tear and then nodded. “Let’s go home.”