Page 28 of Savage Mates (Ruthless Instinct #2)

Lauren

Primal attraction.

Clinically stated, the term referred to the powerful, instinctual, and typically subconscious desire for someone that was rooted in basic biological and evolutionary drives.

A visceral yearning.

I certainly had that in spades around Zeus, Thor, and Titus.

Their names alone brought imagery of brutal savages in the wild, foraging successfully for food then returning to the cave to ravage their mate.

The thought brought continual shivers.

Every time I glanced in their direction, I promptly forgot how to breathe for a few seconds.

The fact my pussy continued to throb was a testament to the intensity of my body’s reaction.

And the fact that over the last twelve hours, I’d been fucked several times by not one, but three wildly well-endowed men.

Who just happened to be lions.

As the majestical beings, all three were stunning, but as men…

As men they were chiseled gods. Striking. Commanding.

Thick hair that I wanted to do nothing more than run my fingers through.

Huge muscles that gave the understanding of their brute strength.

Glistening eyes that demanded acquiescence.

If they walked into a room wearing suits, they’d command not just the room, but would find themselves surrounded by women who would be happy to do their bidding.

Only they weren’t in expensive Armani. They were completely naked and thoroughly comfortable being that way.

Me? I was still floating on some crazy cloud, a sexual fog that left me tingling all over.

Even the way the three of them were looking at me left no room for imagination.

They craved ravaging every inch of my body all over again.

Was it ridiculous to want the same when I needed to figure out what to do next and if there was a way out of this nightmare?

“How did you get your names?” My question came out of the blue, but I was curious. The names were too rugged, too romantic.

I’d seen them sharing a look among each other several times.

I certainly didn’t need to be a scientist to know they were communicating with each other mentally.

Right now, it was slightly annoying since my lion whisperer wasn’t awake yet.

Certainly not like the connection I’d experienced with Jonas as a child.

“And don’t do that,” I said in passing.

“Do what, little mate?” Thor asked.

“First of all, I’m not completely convinced I’m your mate. Second, it’s frustrating that the three of you are talking with each other while keeping me out of the loop. Speak out loud.”

Zeus snorted. “She doesn’t understand her place.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Titus agreed. “Perhaps she’ll need another lesson.”

I decided to allow the moment to slide. “Answer the question. Pretty please.”

Thor leaned back, eyeing me curiously.

We’d returned to the camp not long before and I knew that I’d need to return to the lab very soon.

I’d yet to figure out how to handle things when I did other than demanding answers.

What continued to trouble me almost as much as realizing I’d been pulled into something I hadn’t agreed to was if the other soldier, Kyle Singleton, was actively planning on finishing what Rory had started.

For the time being, my instinct screamed yes.

“We were given our names after being brought to the refuge center.” Thor’s answer was clipped.

My mind processed what he was telling me, trying to remember details from what I’d seen and read. “Serenity Wildlife Refuge. You were tagged.”

While Zeus nodded, none of them needed to answer the question. I could feel the extreme heat of rage burning deep within.

“The facility was less than two miles from Blackwell Industries. From what I read, initially the facility and the people were all about providing care to injured animals, but right around the time Blackwell began operation, something changed. They were almost shut down long before the top-secret project was brought to the public. Their facilities burned to the ground, Blackwell’s building catching fire. Some mechanical issue so I read.”

Thor laughed. “That’s what the monsters wanted you to believe.”

“What does that mean?”

There was that look again shared among them.

“That means a former scientist who’d worked on the project discovered what was really going on.”

I shook my head, not understanding.

“The lifeforms from this alternate universe had somehow managed or had been allowed to escape.”

His statement made sense. I thought about what they’d told me, suddenly remembering a piece of the fascinating story I’d forgotten all about. “When it leaked a government oversight committee were questioning ethics, a fire of some kind occurred and a scientist was blamed.”

“Yes,” Titus hissed. “Dr. Savannah Morgan.”

A strange sense of excitement surged through me, which didn’t make any sense.

They knew much more about what they’d gone through than they should know.

It was still crazy to think that they were products of the outrageous experiments, but here they were.

Living proof. If only I knew more about what they’d gone through.

Maybe I didn’t want to know. “From what I heard, she disappeared.”

Thor lifted a single eyebrow. “She did. With wolves she helped escape.”

The story continued nurturing my fascination while also ticking off little boxes of information my brain needed. “Shifters.”

I didn’t need them to respond to have my answer, but Titus nodded.

“If only I could talk to her.” Which was true.

She could provide the answers I needed or perhaps some guidance.

There was no doubt I’d been brought here for my expertise, but now I was positive it had little to do with discovering possible cures for diseases and more about returning the work left by Dr. Blackwell.

“She’s being hunted like the rest of the shifters and mutants.” Zeus’ hate-filled answer wasn’t directed at me. He was reliving the pain he’d suffered.

“Victims of greed. The world wasn’t ready for what was discovered.

” We simply weren’t ready as a society to accept a creation melded from alien lifeforms and animals humans believed dangerous.

That would keep a target on their backs.

If they lived long enough to be hunted and captured.

Their lifespans could be much shorter. Or just the opposite.

“You’re right to believe Marcus Blackwell isn’t dead.” Thor lifted his head, his eyes full of fire.

Marcus Blackwell, a once brilliant scientist and educator, highly respected in the world of science believed to have gone insane. I’d read his white papers. He carried tortured brilliance inside of him.

The news was getting worse by the second. If he was alive then the chances I’d been lured to this island were even stronger than I’d believed. I pressed my shaking fingers against my lips, fighting anger and fear.

Thor’s comment added another dimension to the horrific situation. “How do you know this for certain?” Another cold shiver trickled down my spine because I believed what they were telling me.

“Because he was overseeing the cargo flight leaving a military airbase on the night we were transported to this… paradise.” He narrowed his eyes, allowing his heated gaze to sweep over me.

Fuck.

The military was involved? Of course: the mercenaries on the island, the two men accompanying us on this trip. That added another dimension to how many people supported his work and why it had been so easy for them to make details disappear.

I hugged my knees, fighting another wave of revulsion. No. No. This was horrible. “All lions?”

“No, little mate. There were other breeds. Leopards. Wolves. Panthers.”

“There were animal organizations, law enforcement agencies who swore all the animals had been accounted for, including those who’d lost their lives in the twisted experiments.

” I don’t know why I was repeating myself.

Perhaps to try to find a way in my mind to dispel what was glaring me in the face.

I was angry. So damn angry. While there was a little science fiction involved in the debacle of Blackwell Industries, including powerful lifeforms found in a parallel universe, there’d also been deliberate destruction and recreation of DNA. For what purpose?

I turned my head as I heard voices outside along with a few growls from lions. I already knew the answer. Just like I’d mentioned to them before.

Control.

Blackwell believed the hybrids could be controlled. Only he’d been unable to control the science because the lifeforms hadn’t wanted him and his team to do so.

The lifeforms had wanted to live. What if… What if a few had indeed escaped? Or hundreds? The thought was crazy, but…

Possible.

“They weren’t all brought here, were they?” I dared ask the question because I also knew the answer.

“No, little human. They were taken elsewhere and we do not know where.” Zeus finally stood, moving toward the open door and leaning against the doorjamb.

“If Blackwell is alive, why did he let you and the others go?”

“I don’t profess to have all the answers, but I believe for further study. We overheard things, plans for the future. Scientists were angry. The project was being shut down.”

What Thor was suggesting made sense. If the details about the secretive project were true, the human whose knowledge had been passed to them had been privy to sensitive knowledge.

And in turn, so were they. Which also made their existence that much more dangerous for everyone involved in the project.

If Blackwell also went to the extreme of bringing back an extinct species, he certainly wouldn’t be inclined to destroy his own creation. “He was waiting for the heat to die down to resurface.”

“You are highly perceptive, little human.” Titus had a gleam in his eyes.

“Zimmerman is either working with him or wants to take the glory for himself. I would bet on that. If I’m right, we’re all in danger.” I sucked in my breath. The only way out of this was potentially to play along. “He’s the one I told you about who funded my grant.”