Page 32 of Savage Mates

“In a minute, soldier. Why don’t you go ahead without me. The lions will protect me. I don’t need you any longer.”

His laugh highlighted his disbelief and I’d be damned if he didn’t have a sly smile on his face. Maybe he wasn’t hurt as badly as I’d believed, especially since he rose to his feet. “Fine, Doctor. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

My fucking God. The bastard threw me one last hateful look then lumbered into the woods.

You’re crazy, girl. What the hell are you doing?

Trusting my instinct.

I turned in a circle, admiring the lions. Another strange sense of knowing tickled the back of my mind. Why did it seem as if they were prodding my mind for answers of their own? And why was my body reacting to them in an entirely inappropriate way? As soon as I shifted, my nipples were scratched by the thin material of my bra and I winced from the extreme sensitivity.

“As I told you before, I won’t hurt you. I promise.” Could they understand?

After the same three shared a look, the white lion padded closer. He was incredible, his thick muscles clearly outlined even through his thick fur. Instead of amber eyes, his were ice blue. Soulful. Luminous. Rare, but not unheard of in the Sri Lanka species. I’d only seen one up close, but this specimen was even more incredible.

I felt giddy. Happy.

“You’re amazing.” Reaching out, I had no fear of the beast. Nor was he afraid of me, allowing me to touch his face and rub his muzzle.

The Congo lion caught my attention, his black mane even more luxurious up close. Thick and standing proud, he was the epitome of the king of the jungle. He eyed me not as a feast for his stomach, but for his… Cravings.

Good God. What was wrong with me?

My heart fluttered from the thought. My reaction was so strange. “You can understand me. Can’t you?”

As I heard a slow, rumbling growl coming from the Congo lion, I shuddered, the sound crawling deep within my core.

Then there was the Cape lion. He padded closer, throwing the other two a look and if I didn’t know better, I’d say the three of them were communicating.

That wasn’t possible, of course, and I was shocked that it seemed all three were alphas. That was something else impossible in the wild. Three alpha lions from different species would rip each other apart.

Yet they were allowing me to touch and explore each one of them. They were coexisting. As if friends. As if ruling their pride together.

A soft laugh left my lips as I rubbed the mane of the Cape lion.

“How do you exist? You’re supposed to be extinct.” I continued marveling at what I was seeing.

Yet another question I wouldn’t immediately be able to answer. Another shot rang out and the lions immediately swung around to face the new threat. One of the lions in their pride was hurt.

“No!” I screamed.

There was no immediate understanding of where the shot had come from. Until a man dressed in all black appeared, his face painted like a warrior.

Everything occurred at once. The lions advancing. Rory appearing, immediately firing his weapon.

There were thunderous roars as the lions prepared to strike.

“Don’t do it. Please,” I pleaded with the lions, immediately reaching into my bag and grabbing the weapon. “One of them is with me.” My hands were shaking, but I held the Glock in front of me, ready to fire if necessary.

Using the last of his strength, Rory wrestled with the mercenary, their bodies tightly woven together in a dance of death.

Until there was another close, muffled shot and both stopped moving.

The quiet was eerie.

“Fuck this shit.” Rory pushed him off and I walked closer, peering down at the bastard.

“You were going to shoot the lions.” I’d seen him aiming his weapon at them. He was damn lucky they hadn’t ripped him apart.