Page 86 of Savage Mates

Two or three laughed while we bristled, growing enraged. As our little mate had reminded us, they were victims, still suffering from experiments that hadn’t been completed.

“We can’t do that. Blackwell’s orders.” The man’s dark voice permeated the jungle.

“He doesn’t rule us,” the first human retorted.

“He can while he’s paying us a salary.” A series of loud thumps sounded off in another location. Metal against metal. “You forget how much we’re getting paid to keep these fucking vermin in line.” When a lion charged the cage, he threw himself at the cage, issuing a human roar.

As if that would terrify the lions.

It only further enraged them. And us as well.

Two more marauders came into view. “We’ve been paid shit, Sarge. When the hell are we getting the rest of the money? We’re stuck on this fucking island. It was supposed to be a couple weeks. Not this fucking long.”

Sarge. He was the man who’d just roared. That meant the men on the island weren’t mercenaries or common criminals like we’d believed, but American military men.

“They’re prepared a military-style action.”My statement was met with low-slung growls from the other two. I knew I was right. I’d learned several aspects of military-style operations in talking with Alexander.

“Just listen,”Thor snapped as if he was the pride’s only alpha.

“Why the fuck do you think we’re packing up, soldier?” the sergeant threw back as he walked away from the cages. The lions were momentarily quiet. While we couldn’t read their thoughts, their actions indicated a planned attack of their own. Where I’d once thought of them as less intelligent given what they’d been through, I was beginning to think otherwise. They were cunning.

“Does that mean the damn project has come to a conclusion? I need a goddamn cheeseburger and a cold beer, for fuck’s sake.” Three more of the marauders came into view.

Zeus shifted, his entire body stiffening.“They’re in uniform.”

“The mission is just being changed. Evidently there are other fucking mutants like these bastards. I guess the cat is out of the bag.” The sergeant laughed. “Too much collateral damage. Plus, we need to get the fuck off this island before the storm rolls in.”

Turning my head, I studied Thor. The electricity surged from his body to mine. Collateral damage.“They’re going to capture the pride.”I wasn’t just experiencing anger any longer. There was sadness, not only for everything I’d lost, but for the small pride formed from discarded beasts.

The lions reacted again, ramming the cages, almost muffling another noise.

More metal hitting metal.

More growls.

More men appearing in the darkness, all armed.

“How the hell are we getting off this shithole? We saw it crash land.” Yet another soldier’s voice.

“The plane will be ready tomorrow. Just get everything loaded up.”

“What about the mutants?”

The sergeant chuckled. “We’ll kill them before we leave. They’ve served their purpose, which was worthless if you ask me.” He prodded the lions again and one of the largest of them threw himself at the bars, jamming his paw through, his claws catching the man on the face.

“Motherfucker!” The sergeant jerked back, immediately reaching for his weapon and pointing it at the beast.

Every cage began to rattle, almost tipping over from the force.

“We need to get the fuck away from them. You’re right. Let’s go. The storm has picked speed and intensity.” Whoever the other soldier was stopped his actions.

“Fuck.” The sergeant jerked down his weapon, immediately touching his face. “Move out. Now.”

They’d planned on using the plane the entire time.

“We can’t let them get off this island,”I told them.

“And we won’t. Our little mate’s benefactor is a piece of shit.”Thor’s statement was tame in comparison to what he was thinking.