Page 33 of Savage Mates

“But I didn’t, Doctor. Besides, they’re gone,” Rory said. “Maybe they aren’t such stupid animals after all.”

Bristling, I resisted telling him exactly what he could do with his ugly thoughts. My body aching, I turned around. Oh, no.

My lions had disappeared.

Sadness wrapped around me, my pulse racing. I’d never had such a strong reaction before. Not even when I was a little girl and we’d lost a lion to disease or another predator.

Tingles repeatedly coursed through me, leaving me lightheaded and achy all over. There was no sight of them, but their incredible scents lingered in the air. Staining my skin.

And my heart.

I could still feel them as if their possessive presence would always remain with me.

Watching.

Waiting.

Protecting.

After a few seconds and they hadn’t reappeared, I took a deep breath. It was time to get back to the lab and find out exactly what the hell I was dealing with. I took one last longing look. Still tingling. Still wishing.

Still able to feel them.

I would see them again. Soon.

A slight whooshing sound caught my attention and I froze just as a pinprick danced across my skin.

What the hell?

“Rory?” I turned around, almost stumbling. Instantly, my vision was foggy, my stomach lurching and even after blinking several times, I couldn’t focus on anything in front of me, but I sensed a dark figure coming toward me.

Fight or flight kicked in and I fought the paralyzing feeling, clawing my neck and willing myself to make any sound.

“Help… me.” As my body failed me, dropping to the ground, darkness swept over my vision and I…

CHAPTER 8

Thor

Excitement.

Electricity.

Hunger.

There were too many vibrations coursing through my body, ridiculous thoughts racing through my mind. The human female had slipped into the cracks in my brain. I’d felt the same rush of need that Titus had felt the night before, although I’d tried to ignore it.

Zeus couldn’t care less, but there was no doubt he was feeling the exact same longing that threatened to derail our control.

I’d been right about the marauders in that they would attack the newcomers. Whoever the little human turned out to be didn’t matter. Scents didn’t lie.

I snapped my head to the left, instantly growling.

We shouldn’t have walked away, leaving her alone.

She was captivating.

The moment I’d laid eyes on her, my lion instantly scratched at my skin, dying to break free. She was human, but somehow different. She carried the faint scent of a lion, which was impossible. She wasn’t a shifter. Yet, the scent was unmistakable.