Page 93 of Savage Mates

My God. The expanse of what they’d accomplished was worse than anyone had discovered. The knot in my stomach was huge, but I refused to allow them to be hurt because of me. I stepped away, fueling the hate. They would not destroy the lions. I would find a way to keep the bastards from doing that.

“The lions will destroy you.”

Every laugh seemed maniacal. “There’s not enough of them, Lauren. As of this very moment, the mutant lions have been destroyed, soldiers deployed to annihilate the pride you so covet. Except for the three lions you’ve grown affectionate of. Now, if you’re very good, they won’t be tortured, but that’s entirely up to you.”

Soldiers. He meant the mercenaries. “You had Rory drug me.”

“Yes. We felt it necessary given your acute sense of loyalty to the lions. But somehow you escaped. That’s when we knew we’d be required to change our plans to accommodate your… curiosity.”

“You were hopeful I’d get very close with the shifters. What did you hope to accomplish, breeding me?”

He studied the faded energy level within the glass cage. “While unexpected, what occurred naturally was more than we’d hoped. That’s why they will remain alive.”

“I will fucking kill you.”

His smirk remained, but at least he finally slipped the remote into his pocket. “No, you won’t because you cherish life far too much. Now, you will come to your senses, although it might take time.”

I should have known better than to try to discover the truth on my own. I’d placed my team in danger, along with the lions I had grown to adore and those who deserved to live.

Let alone what this could do to humanity.

When Kyle stepped into the room with an assault rifle in his hand alongside the pilot and co-pilot, all three grinning in a way that horrified me, I glanced at the lifeforms. If they were as intelligent as I believed, they would do everything in their power to remain alive.

“We don’t need to make this difficult, Dr. Radcliff,” he continued. “Just work with us. That’s all we ask.”

“Work with you. You are out of your mind.”

“Come with us, Dr. Radcliff. If you don’t, your assistants will suffer and you’ll be forced to watch.” Kyle pointed the barrel of the rifle toward my chest. While I knew they wouldn’t kill me because they needed me to communicate with the lifeforms, I believed they’d hurt Carrie and Peter to keep me in line.

There was no other choice but to try to contact my lions. It would appear Dr. Abbott had no idea just how close with them I’d become.

“Fine.” I moved away from the lifeforms, but not without taking another look. Perhaps pleading with them.

The wind was already whipping through the trees, a strong, strange scent in the air. I was led to another building, the one that had been locked before. As soon as I was pushed inside, I realized what the building had been used for.

Keeping people locked behind bars.

“Lauren!” Carrie called from her place locked in a cell. Peter was with her and so was Dr. Douglas.

“You’ll stay here until we’re ready to leave in the morning. As I said, if you’re a good girl, you’ll get to be with your lions.” Dr. Abbott laughed, his feet echoing in the dense space as he walked away.

“You’ll never get away with this, Steve,” Dr. Douglas called after his former friend and colleague.

As the horror settled in, I did the only thing I could do.

I called out to my lions and knew with everything deep within my scarred soul, they would come for me.

And they would protect me at all costs.

CHAPTER 20

Thor

“She was taken. They’re planning on slaughtering almost every lion.”

We were near the military compound, close enough we slowed, allowing the other lions to catch up. The females and the cub had been taken to the caves, Conall and two other strong males left to guard them while we’d brough Gabriel and Alexander as well as one other to attack the facility.

Titus grunted.“Except for the three of us. They want us taken captive.”