Page 33 of Savage Mates (Ruthless Instinct #2)

Thor

Danger.

I sensed it all the way to my bones.

There was no denying the strange stench in the air, the odor permeating the jungle surrounding the encampment.

Our little mate’s suggestion that we’d be captured had merit.

The moment the plane had dropped from the sky, I’d sensed the hunt from the men she called mercenaries had taken a different turn.

Our summation of our stranded situation had been correct from the beginning. We were nothing but lab rats, still locked in a cage, only one with water as the iron bars.

When the other lions disbursed, I let out a deep breath before turning toward her. “While I don’t like it, we’ll take you back to the laboratory. What do you plan on doing, little mate?”

Lauren eyed me cautiously. Alexander’s news hadn’t surprised her. As soon as he’d mentioned his memories, I’d read her thoughts. None of the scientists involved had been implicated in a crime. As if what had occurred with the animals had been accepted.

She also believed she was being used as a pawn. But her tenacity refused to allow her to accept what she had little control over. She was as much a prisoner here as we were.

I didn’t need to read her thoughts to sense her agitation. I could smell her anger easily. She wore her emotions in everything she did, including in her smile. She was unique, human yet with distinct predatory abilities that could be mistaken for being a lioness.

The thought was appealing and strangely provocative.

She grabbed the duffle bag she’d come with, shoving the samples into them from where she’d taken blood and fur from us. When she noticed the weapon we’d taken from her, I sensed another wave of fear and with shaking hands, she stuffed it into her bag.

My instinct told the three of us she wouldn’t be safe for long.

We’d need to stay close, which meant we’d need to move the pride closer to a set of caves we’d found.

They weren’t intended for decent living conditions, but they provided a sense of protection since the terrain surrounding them was rough and highly dangerous for humans.

“The others need to believe I was injured and drugged but managed to hide and the man with me was shot and killed by the mercenaries. What did you do with the soldier’s body?”

“I assure you it won’t be found.”

“Maybe I don’t want to know. They need to think I have no clue about the experiments. That will buy me some time. So in order for them to buy the story, I’ll need to look roughed up and terrified. That will only keep their suspicions at bay for so long.”

“Meaning?”

She ran her fingers through her hair, tangling the long strands. Then she headed to the well, pulling up a bucket of water. I watched in fascination as she dipped her hands into the liquid before crouching down in the dirt. She dug her wet fingers into the surface, creating mud.

With a smile, she wiped the mud on her face and arms, the remainder on her clothes. Taking long strides, she started to reach for a fallen branch, but thankfully Zeus snapped his hand around her wrist, wagging a finger on his other hand.

“Not that one, little human. The plant is highly poisonous. You could be dead within an hour. I know what you’re thinking.” He bent down, grabbing another twig. “Use this one, but do so carefully. I wouldn’t want your lovely skin scarred.”

“What are you doing?” I growled.

“You’ll see.” The little human was fearless.

After taking a deep breath, she purposely scratched one arm and her legs. When bubbles of blood formed, she appeared satisfied.

“I think this will do. It has to. Let’s go. If you see anyone from the lab, you need to disappear.” She glanced from one to the other, hoping for some acknowledgement.

She wasn’t given one.

“They won’t believe you. If everything you told us is accurate, they won’t allow you to disappear again.” Zeus was still highly agitated, but he was right.

She nodded. “Unless they think I’m leading them to where you’re staying.”

She was playing a dangerous game. We all were. “We will be watching. We will know if you are in trouble.”

“We can’t let her go,” Titus snarled.

“She’s right. There is no other choice,” I snapped back.

“I’m right here,” she insisted. “I can do this. They won’t kill me.

They’ll need me alive and since their initial plans were botched, it will take them time to try to figure out what to do.

Plus, they thought it was going to be easy capturing you.

I’m certain of it. We still don’t know if the mercenaries are working for them or someone else. ”

I took a deep breath, eyeing the area. “Then that’s what we’ll find out.”

When I glanced at Zeus and Titus, they both nodded.

“Don’t put yourselves in that kind of danger,” she told us.

While I did not like being separated from her, there was no other choice. Reaching out, I took her into my arms, pulling her close and cupping both sides of her face. “This will be treacherous.”

“I know that, Thor. I’ll be okay. If I need you, I’ll reach out mentally. Don’t hurt the other lions. They are victims just like you are. Maybe there’s a way they can be helped.”

“As you already told us, that’s not within your expertise.” When her thoughts drifted to whatever was in the hidden crate, the thought was fleeting, as if she wanted to hide what she was thinking. But I captured enough.

She believed the other scientists had brought another portal with them.

That was something I hadn’t considered. The hunger spiked between us, the draw to each other exactly as I’d felt earlier. The moment I crushed my lips over hers, she placed her hands on my chest, the touch even more electrifying.

The way she arched her body into mine was a reminder of how interconnected we already were. Letting her go even for the short term was going to be difficult. I swept my tongue inside, greedily tasting her.

My cock ached, pushed between her legs and she was shivering in my hold. The kiss was powerful, something that I appreciated about my ability to shift.

Titus and Zeus grew restless, Zeus surprising me by pulling her away and into his arms. He’d been just as affected by her presence, his stubbornness finally fading.

I took a step back, sniffing the air to ensure we were still alone.

She pushed away from him, dragging her tongue across her bottom lip before reaching for Titus. Her scent was growing stronger. She was definitely in heat.

She leaned into Titus, rising onto her tiptoes so he could kiss her. He wrapped his arm around her, as possessive as I’d ever seen him.

The three of us were deeply concerned. All we longed to do was to wallow in our carnal needs, but that would need to wait.

“We need to get her back before nightfall,” I gritted out.

Titus glared at me even before he pulled away.

Her scent continued to drive me completely insane. Every time the little human touched me, a calm washed over me. But right behind the moment of serenity was the mental agony that went with it.

I couldn’t hide or dissuade the feeling that she was in significant danger. If she was removed from this island once again, we would never see her.

“Stop torturing yourself,” Titus said mentally. “We won’t allow that to happen.”

How many times was he going to try to reassure me when we knew otherwise?

“There’s a storm coming, little human,” Zeus said. He’d been glaring at the sky for several minutes.

She held her arms, glancing in the direction of his gaze. “I can tell by the dark clouds.”

Zeus shook his head. “Not just a thunderstorm. Something much more dangerous.”

Lauren inhaled, a visible shiver coursing through her. “You’re talking about a typhoon.”

“Yes,” he told her.

“Shit. Your camp might not be safe.” With her eyes full of fear, she looked into mine.

“There are caves located not too far from here. We will be protected there.”

“Good,” she whispered, running her fingers across her lips. “How long before it arrives?”

“Maybe a day and a half.” Zeus seemed certain. I could smell the heaviness in the air, the barometric pressure changing.

“Then there’s no time to waste.” When she placed her hand on my arm, I teased her with a slight roar even as a human. The electricity was overwhelming.

“Let’s go,” I said, angry with myself for not being able to control the situation. What little I remembered about my life before was muddled with the here and now, but every time I was around her, I ached. I’d only had one mate before. Her personality was very much like that of the little human.

Feisty.

Arrogant.

Refusing to give in.

She’d fought bravely, both with me and on the hunt when I’d left her alone with our cubs. It had been a mistake to leave her when poachers had been hunting for us. Yet we’d needed food. The cubs had been starving. Our entire pride had been. So I’d tried to be the king and failed.

Seeing her lifeless body and those of my cubs had nearly broken me.

While I’d exacted revenge, it hadn’t brought them back nor had it eased the heartache and loneliness.

That wasn’t going to happen again. If anyone had to die, it would be me.

Lauren

Was it possible the connection I shared with the lions was growing stronger? I’d captured a single glimpse of Thor’s thoughts, images that even he’d had difficulty remembering.

I’d felt his pain deep within my body and soul. Even now, my skin tingled from the same anxiety he was experiencing.

He’d lost someone a hundred plus years before.

Both Zeus and Titus remained as quiet as Thor.

They would do whatever they felt necessary to keep me safe. I only hoped they understood if push came to shove, one or all of them could lose their lives.

No beast, no matter their incredible attributes, could survive a strategically placed bullet.

The jungle was ominous, every sound from the wind rustling the thick foliage to the cawing of birds and slithering of snakes seemed exacerbated. I sensed the approaching storm. That added another layer of fear that I hated. There was far too much uncertainty with what we were doing.