Page 10 of Savage Mates (Ruthless Instinct #2)

The only two remaining male lions were fighting with each other to get to her. The blur of activity kept me from seeing what was happening at first.

Zeus flanked my side, also poised to strike. “The fuckers are going to violate her.”

His statement brought a growl from my throat. He was right. My fucking God. The monsters deserved to be killed.

Suddenly, there was additional noise, another crashing sound.

Then all hell broke loose.

Lions escaped, attacking the men.

Others rushed from two of several buildings, their attempt to control the situation thwarted as the beasts who’d escaped moved from one human to the other, sinking their canines into human flesh.

A single shot was fired off before the first man was killed. He’d been the would-be violator. Other lions remained locked in their cages, several of the other humans rushing inside to safety.

There were shouts echoing into the night, fading into the wind even though the brutal fight continued.

We remained on the outskirts. This wasn’t our fight. We had too many others in our pride to think about. Yet the moment was captured in my mind, processed in the same way I’d done with every other experience since being turned into an abomination.

The melee lasted for several minutes. The carnage was intense, but the injured lions wouldn’t stop with killing the humans who hadn’t fled.

They would attack any creature who got in their way.

Three of the lions who’d escaped took off running. If necessary, we would fight to the death to protect our pride.

Only they were racing in the direction of our encampment. They were headed toward the laboratory. They’d sensed the arrival of fresh blood and food.

Their senses were much stronger, as ours had become. From what we could tell, their predatory needs far outweighed any concept of danger. They were programmed to kill.

“We need to stop them,” I growled. “They are going after the humans in the military compound.”

“Your hunger betrays you, Titus. The woman means nothing to us,” Zeus insisted.

His face was painted with annoyance and determination.

He’d remained aloof during the last few months, angry with everything and everyone.

Right now, he was pissing me off. Maybe he had no ability to feel the strange and intrusive sensations, the electricity that we’d felt earlier, but he could go fuck himself.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Thor snarled and swung his head from Zeus to where I was standing. “There’s something about her that calls to me. Can’t you feel it? Can’t you sense it? For some reason, we must protect her.”

Zeus snorted. “You’re not thinking clearly. Your dick is doing the talking.”

Thor responded with a low roar. “Then so be it.” He took off racing, his powerful form crashing through the jungle. Without hesitation, I followed. I felt the same thing.

There was no explanation.

No understanding.

But the pull was strong, forceful enough all I could think about was protecting her. Even though the jungle was filled with musky stench, odors of rot and death, life and food, her scent was stronger than anything else. It filtered into my nostrils, lingering and pulling me.

Staining my skin.

Intoxicating me.

Moments later, I felt Zeus’ presence. We were connected, the three of us. All alphas. All pride leaders. It had caused several confrontations before we’d surrendered to the understanding there wouldn’t be a single leader of the pride.

He was angry. He was close to being unhinged and he refused to admit we couldn’t allow her to be harmed. Or worse. Yet his body vibrated much like Thor’s and mine. We weren’t just feeling the need to protect.

We were hungry for something else entirely.

Up to this point, we’d never felt anything other than hatred toward a human. The desire was powerful.

And very wrong.

We powered on, our stealth keeping us protected.

Every attribute was enhanced. Speed. Sense of smell. Sense of sight. We could see clearly in the dark, run faster than ever before.

The mutants were fast as well, but not nearly as much as the gift we’d been given.

With every step, the pull was stronger, her scent all around me.

As we neared the compound, we knew the other lions were already just outside the buildings. There was no time to waste. Remaining quiet, we moved through the foliage, keeping low, swinging our heads from side to side. The old military base was quiet, the darkness comforting.

No watchdogs. No men with guns.

Just silence.

But we could hear their advance, tongues licking jowls in preparation of a fine meal. I advanced, studying the three from only yards away.

They were so intent on killing the humans that they hadn’t sensed we were right behind them. Two males. One female.

There was no need for words. We knew what we had to do. I padded closer, swinging my head toward Thor. He sensed the same thing I did.

The largest lion was prepared to break through the glass window. Once inside, carnage would begin.

With no second guessing, I lunged forward just as the male jumped. We collided in mid-air, our massive bodies slamming together.

Snarls.

Growls.

I raked my claws across his face just before we pitched and rolled.

Thor had taken on the second male, chasing him away from the compound. Zeus attacked the female, only I had a sense he had no intention of killing her. She was a victim, not a monster.

“Leave her alone,” I growled before raking my claw across the lion’s face for the second time.

He jerked back, issuing a low-slung growl before leaping forward and knocking me to the ground.

“Why don’t you pay attention to saving your own miserable life,” Zeus countered.

Anger furrowed deep within, fueling my actions. I swung my paw, knocking the mutant beast to the ground. Before he had a chance to attack, I sank my canines into his neck. His howl was cut short when I ripped out his throat.

Snarling, I spit out flesh and fur before turning my head toward Thor. He’d already eliminated the second male.

The female was in Zeus’ mouth, her cries filtering into the night.

“Leave her alone,” Thor snapped. “She can’t hurt us.”

He was right. The female had limited attributes, her deformity making her ill equipped for fighting three powerful alpha lions.

Zeus glared at us, still sinking his incisors into her flesh. When we challenged him, he finally dropped her, issuing another growl as a warning.

Injured, bleeding, and moving slowly, she finally disappeared into the darkness.

We stood in the shadows, waiting and watching as our wounds began to heal. The ability another gift from the lifeforms who’d created us.

Turning, I walked as close to one of the buildings as I felt comfortable doing and I could feel her once again.

She was waiting.

Watching.

Hungering.

Just like we were.

Everything about her put me on edge.

Even in the darkness, I could sense her curiosity, a need troubling her as much as it did with us.

She didn’t bother turning on a light, but I could still see her beautiful face as well as the silhouette of her voluptuous body. What struck me as even more powerful than her natural beauty was her lack of fear.

The little human was calm. Too calm.

And that only made me hunger for her even more.