Page 27 of Savage Mates

“Don’t worry, Peter. I know what I’m doing. I think perhaps Dr. Zimmerman doesn’t understand my background or my capabilities.”

“Woe is him,” Peter said, finally laughing. I touched his arm, smiling in hopes of providing some comfort. Meanwhile, my skin was crawling and only partially because of the potential danger.

What I felt was a rush of adrenaline and excitement in possibly getting to meet the lions.

My lions.

After placing the strap around my neck, I headed out, finding Rory waiting like a good little soldier. Now he didn’t feel the need to hide who he was and his purpose for being here. He’d attached a weapon’s holster to his waist and was dressed in fatigues. I had to laugh as I walked by him.

At least he also carried a machete, which was the only implement that could create a workable pathway. That led me to believehe’d had experience overseas. That might come in handy if we had any issues from humans instead of lions.

“Hoping for some hand-to-hand combat, soldier?”

He said nothing, but I sensed him trailing behind me as we headed down the gravel driveway and into the jungle. I didn’t waste any time, moving quickly through the dense foliage, whacking away as we went.

Every sound was eerie, every whistle of the breeze through the trees sending tingles coursing through my body. Not from fear, but something else I couldn’t get a read on.

At least Rory didn’t try to talk to me. Perhaps he realized I was in a foul mood. I concentrated on my surroundings, keenly aware there were a few questionable sounds.

We’d traveled at least a mile and a half, stopping only once for water and for me to check the GPS. We were on the right track.

“Do you hear that?” Rory asked from behind me.

I stopped walked, taking a moment to tilt my head. When he started to say something again, I threw my arm out to stop him from making a single noise.

As I’d experienced before, the hair stood up on the back of my neck, but this time the sensations weren’t infused with the vibrant electricity I’d experienced just before seeing the lions.

The feeling was darker, creating a wave of nausea.

A sound assaulted my senses, a low rustling of the foliage maybe twenty feet away. Then there was silence, as if every creature in the jungle was holding their breath.

After a few additional steps, I realized we’d come into a slight clearing. I took a few seconds to look around me, half expecting to see glowing eyes. There was only the thick, oppressive foliage all around us. I continued, forced to swing the machete a few times.

Then another sound.

Closer.

Vibrations occurred under our feet and I could tell Rory was experiencing the same sensations. He ripped his gun free, unlatching the safety.

I gave him a dirty look.

If he dared fire on my lions, he would learn just how well I could handle myself under times of pressure. And danger.

Another sound. Even closer. This time, my chest tightened.

I knew instantly the reason for the hitch in my breath.

We were being hunted.

Turning slowly, I could swear I saw something peering at us through the massive leaves, the creature just waiting for the right moment to strike.

A sickening feeling pooled into the base of my stomach and I had no doubt this wouldn’t end well. While I wasn’t prone to overreacting, my instinct told me what we were about to face was bad.

Really bad.

“Rory. Listen to me. Just listen. We need to get out of here. Back away very slowly until we have a clear distance.” Then fucking run like hell.

“I can handle fucking animals,” he growled, even issuing a slight howl. What the fuck was he doing, trying to entice whoever it was by impersonating a wolf? I’d known better than to bring the asshole along.