Page 31 of Savage Mates (Ruthless Instinct #2)

Lauren

The moment the cub was placed in my arms, I was in love.

Beautiful and perfect, the furry little creature was a ball of energy and fluff.

While still a wild animal, there was extreme intelligence in his eyes.

I could feel his sensitivity and understanding of what was going on all around him in my bones.

I’d spent my entire life surrounded by animals and could sense the cub was different.

Or maybe a part of my scientific mind had finally begun to accept the reality that life as I’d known it had been altered forever.

“What’s his name?” I asked, trying not to make any sudden movements. I could sense anger and uncertainty from the members of the small pride.

“Phoenix.” The man’s voice was deep and full of anger. My presence hadn’t been well received. Conall wasn’t happy I’d been allowed into camp let alone touching his cub.

I lifted my head toward him.

“A perfect name. Rising from the ashes.” I wasn’t certain my analogy would go over well. At least Conall nodded. His entire massive body hummed from continued distrust.

His mother, a beautiful golden lion, stood a few feet away. Predictably anxious. Undeniably curious. Even with her wariness, I sensed she knew I would never hurt her baby. We’d connected eyes the day before. Maybe my mother’s gift was alive and well.

“Her name is Skye,” he continued.

After answering, Conall, still in human form, paced the area near where the mother waited, upset that I’d been allowed to hold his child.

“Let it go, Conall,” Thor commanded, giving his fellow pride member a sideways glance.

“She’s not one of us,” Conall insisted. “She’s one of them.”

“She’s here with us as our guest and it’s possible she can find answers.” Titus’ insistence was met with grunts from the others. They surrounded us in a complete circle, ready and even eager to attack me if required.

Yet I didn’t fear them.

I reveled in them.

But I wasn’t certain I could find the answers they deserved.

“Why did she need to see the cub?” Conall growled.

I threw a look in Thor’s direction, sensing his unrest was stronger than that of Titus and Zeus.

Thor nodded even though every muscle in his body tensed.

“I’m just going to take a fur sample. Nothing invasive. Doing so will allow me the ability to take a few tests. Hopefully, those will provide a few answers. Is that alright?” I knew better than to make any assumptions.

Conall glared at me, utter distrust in his eyes. Yet when the three alpha lions gave him a stern look, he swung his head toward his mate, and I had no doubt they were communicating between each other.

With his chest heaving, Conall gave me a nod.

I pulled out the small bag I’d brought and the pair of scissors. I allowed everyone in the group to see what I was doing. Several bristled, but they dared not attempt to interfere. There was extreme electricity surging through the camp. I was unwanted. They had every reason to remain leery.

What humans had done to them was atrocious. They’d been left confused and aching for a life that would never be the same. Now they were trapped.

With the small amount of fur snipped off and safely placed in the bag, I eased the cub onto his paws.

Just before he scampered off, I managed to take a couple of photographs.

He headed directly for his mother and the love the two shared was exactly as I remembered from my childhood.

No alien lifeform or scientific experiments could alter the love between a mother and child.

I shoved the baggie in the pocket of my cargo shorts, still doing what I could to remain calm.

I couldn’t lie that I was nervous. They were powerful animals, capable of killing with a single swipe of their claws if they wanted.

Along with already taking hair and blood samples from Thor, Zeus, and Titus, comparing their DNA with the cubs could provide some quick and easy answers.

Such as if the double helix structure was the same or completely altered.

The charge in the air increased, the testosterone high.

However, my gut told me the three lions… my mates would protect me.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the playful mother and cub as she grabbed Phoenix around the scruff of the neck, immediately trotting off to somewhere she considered safe.

Conall took that moment to storm toward Thor, who was much larger. The flash of Thor’s eyes was mesmerizing, beautiful in the icy tint of blue.

“Why do you allow her to be here? I demand to know. We all demand to know.”

Conall’s deep voice reverberated throughout the group.

“He’s right,” another said. “We demand to know why you’ve placed our camp at risk.”

“She is working for the same people who turned us into this… abomination.” The third man was puffed out, his eyes piercing mine and I didn’t need to read his mind to know he’d just as soon kill me as receive an answer.

Titus glanced at me before throwing his look toward Thor and Zeus. His powerful voice also resonated in the clearing. “They deserve to know, Thor.”

Exhaling, Thor rubbed his jaw, snarling from annoyance.

“Tell us, Thor. Unless you want us to take matters into our own hands. And we will. We’re not your lackeys.” Conall’s chest was heaving, his hands fisted.

I don’t know what I expected, but not for the man instead of the beast to take three long strides in his direction, wrap his hand around Conall’s throat, and lift him in the air.

“You will not touch her, or you will die! Cross me, Conall. Do it. Don’t come any closer, Alexander.” Thor snarled at the large blond brute inching even closer. The man’s face was twisted in fury.

“Don’t,” I said, automatically placing my hand on Thor’s arm. He bristled, unused to a human interfering. I curled my fingers but refused to back down. “Just don’t. They are your pride. They look up to you. To all three of you.”

The other lions backed away, realizing Conall had crossed the line. They knew their place in the pecking order and wanted no part of infuriating the alphas.

Now that her cub was protected, Skye padded closer. Her canines were bared, her growl coming from deep in her throat. Her body language indicated she was ready to lunge with Thor set in her sights.

“Let him go, Thor. He had every right to question our motives.” Zeus’ voice was deep and soft. And the interference irritated Thor, who snapped his head toward him.

“He’s right,” Titus added. “You want to know who she is? All of you, gather her scent. Fill your nostrils with her fragrance. Does the fragrance seem off to you?” Not a single lion moved or complied. “Do it!”

Thor dropped Conall to the ground, growling at him before walking off in disgust.

The lions remained uncomfortable but did as they were told. Alexander looked in my direction. “What is that?” I wasn’t going to be winning any points with them unless I proved myself.

Zeus took a deep breath. His eyes always found mine, his breathing remaining labored. Yet when he answered, his voice held certainty.

“The scent is ripe with pheromones because she’s our mate.”

The bombshell announcement was met with shock. They’d heard the words before. Now the information was being shoved down their throats.

Their surprise wore off quickly.

There was a deep vibration as the members of the pride grew restless. Every pair of eyes was illuminated as their lions shifted closer to the surface. They acted as if they were going to charge until Zeus turned to face them.

Every one of them moved closer, their expressions full of fury as Conall’s nostrils flared. However, he finally lowered his gaze as he followed the command. A few growled, one turned away in disgust, but the others continued glaring at me as if I was the antichrist.

“Fuck,” Conall gritted out. His eyes flashed the same hatred, yet also uncertainty. At least he understood even more than the others that things within the pride had changed. “That is not possible.”

“Yes, it is.” Titus lifted his head. “None of us, including Dr. Radcliff understand how, but there is no denying what’s happening. The signs are all in place.”

Alexander hissed after breathing in, narrowing his eyes as he slowly turned his head toward Thor. “She’s in heat. A goddamn human.”

“Maybe,” Thor answered. “All we know is that the mating bond is real. But Titus is right. We don’t have all the answers. The only hope of obtaining them is with placing our trust in the human.”

His indifference was a protective measure.

I glanced away, realizing what he’d just said.

In heat. I was ovulating, capable of becoming pregnant.

Less than twenty-four hours before I would have said breeding between two different species was scientifically impossible.

Now I was as clueless as they were, but my instinct told me the reason for capturing the lions and perhaps other species was to push the limits of procreation, developing potentially an even stronger lifeform than what had initially occurred in the laboratory of Blackwell Industries.

It was all conjecture at this point, but plausible.

The thought was both terrifying and exciting, yet the danger involved in the reality was sky high.

“How do they know I’m your mate?” I asked, more curious than ever. The looks on the faces of the lions were incredulous.

“There is no mistaking the scent of the mating bond, little mate,” Thor answered.

“You must have gone into heat after spending time with us,” Titus added.

He meant after we’d fucked like wild animals. I rubbed my arms, still trying to come to terms with the possibility. “An increase in estrogen. That’s why my scent is stronger.”

Zeus sighed. “Yes.”

“What the hell is happening, Zeus?” one of the other lions barked. “Now we’re going to start breeding with humans?”