Page 38 of Savage Mates (Ruthless Instinct #2)

One hour earlier…

Lauren

The DNA test results told no lies.

A strange sense of foreboding had fallen as soon as I’d read them. Enough so, I’d had them run again.

I’d also initiated a test with my previous data regarding the two most prevalent and life-threatening diseases plaguing lions throughout the world.

I was minutes away from a final conclusion although my gut already provided enough answers.

The experiments performed two years before had at least in part created an altered state of creatures. Likely more than one.

A strange, even edgier feeling rolled through me. It was as if I was standing on the cusp of a glimpse into the future. Proof that intelligent alien lifeforms existed, creatures capable of helping the human race. I was both excited and terrified, the what-ifs too much for me to comprehend.

Yet I’d be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t eager for the truth to surface.

What I did know from reading about how Blackwell Industries had managed to make so many advances in their discoveries was that there would be other evil people determined to take control.

They’d exploit the research, spinning the information for their own good.

Even if the use of animals was no longer needed, what did that leave?

Experimenting on humans? Kidnapping them off the street or just using test subjects who were dying. Maybe then they could justify what they were doing.

Then again, if the lifeforms could create new life, what was to say they couldn’t do so without using a physical host? Why couldn’t they create monsters or replicate other alien creatures in different galaxies?

The moral dilemma far outweighed the possible achievements.

Not without rules being created. That wouldn’t bode well for men like Marcus Blackwell.

What about Walter Zimmerman? Where did he stand?

How deep was he into the fold? Had he been lured by the possibility of significant wealth and extreme power?

And there was power with the project. Just imagine what could be done by controlling new species. I shuddered from the thought as I moved toward my equipment, pressing my fingers on the spacebar of the laptop.

With thoughts of my lions in the forefront of my mind, I finally found the courage to study the findings.

I studied the various screens, moving back and forth from one to the other.

Was it horrible to admit that I felt some level of excitement along with a heaping dose of apprehension?

Yes, but in seeing the results, in studying what they meant, several aspects of what we were dealing with were made perfectly clear.

Now I was standing in front of my laptop after noticing the flash on my screen. Batch two results.

Here we go. I closed my eyes briefly before demanding to learn the truth. Again.

Their DNA was a complete fifty/fifty animal and human.

Titus and Zeus held no dormant genetic signs of the diseases in question. I’d even introduced the disease to tissue samples they’d provided. It was shocking to note how quickly their white blood cells had eradicated any sign of them. And Thor? His test results were nothing short of miraculous.

He’d died from the very disease I had hopes of eradicating. And here he was, back to life. Even more impressive, his white blood cells had destroyed the new diseased cells at what appeared to be a higher rate.

Incredible. If this was the only discovery and use, I would consider it profound. But I knew my findings would mean nothing. Not unless someone could profit from finding similar cures for humans.

As far as the little cub, his DNA was also a fifty/fifty split, which meant he should be able to shift at some point in his life. The findings would be worth dying for.

Worth killing for.

My thoughts drifted to Dr. Savannah Morgan. She’d escaped with three wolves. Did that mean she was their mate? If so, had she reproduced and assuming she had, had the cubs or human babies been viable? The possibilities continued to blow me away.

The tests weren’t as positive for the lioness.

Her results indicated she had twenty-five percent human DNA.

I was guessing, but I believed she couldn’t shift because she was mostly lion.

Yet not deformed. Able to heal more quickly.

Further testing was needed, but there was something even more troubling.

She was dying. Not from her internal bleeding, but from the fact her white blood cells were destroying the red.

One form was trying to destroy the other.

Without intervention, she would die. So would her cub.

The realization hit me hard. I moved to the glass window, staring into the room where she was being kept. I placed my hand on the cool surface and for a few seconds I felt vibrations.

Not from any of the equipment I’d brought with me.

And with the lioness still sedated, the heat of her body certainly wasn’t creating them. Where in the hell was that coming from and why had I felt it on the glass surface? I turned around, trying to think what it could be.

Maybe the power source used to keep the electricity going. Or perhaps the sewer system.

No, that didn’t make any sense. Then what?

The apparatus brought by the other scientists.

I moved toward the door, peeking out. It was now after two in the morning.

The chances the two scientists were awake were slim.

And I hadn’t seen Kyle in at least a couple of hours.

Unless he was a vampire, he couldn’t stay awake for days at a time.

It was now or never to see if I could get into the room.

Since Peter had described the lock, breaking it might be difficult, but I had to try.

I’d found a box of leftover tools including a small sledgehammer.

The location of the locked room was far enough away from the sleeping quarters the sound could be muffled.

Unfortunately, I’d left the hammer in my quarters.

I’d thought about contacting my father. I’d called and told him about the project.

While he’d been thrilled for me, he’d been wearing his fatherly cap, telling me to be very careful.

He knew enough about Blackwell that he could possibly discover some answers.

I typed him a quick email, realizing that trying to call him might alert the others.

This had been a military compound before and I couldn’t take any chances.

At least someone knew there could be trouble in paradise.

After giving the lioness another glance, I locked down my computer so no one could gain access and headed outside. The night was just as eerie as inside, but I felt closer to the lions. I could almost feel my mates watching me.

Worrying about me.

The stronger breeze tickled my skin and with the humid air, it felt like Thor, Zeus, and Titus had surrounded me, keeping me warm with their heated breaths.

The thought brought a deep throb in my pussy as I headed toward the sleeping quarters.

Once inside the building, I hugged the wall as I headed for my quarters, the tiny blue LED lights near the ceiling creating shadows.

With every turn, I was certain Kyle was standing there with a weapon in his hand.

But I made it to my room without making a sound or being noticed.

The hammer was right where I’d left it, but something seemed off in the room. I left things a certain way. I turned in a full circle, trying to figure out what was catching me off guard.

A scent.

It was faint, but nevertheless definitely lingering in the room, so faint I was surprised at how my senses were reacting to it.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say the odor was stronger than it should be.

What the hell was it? Flicking on the light, I stood in the middle, turning slowly so I could see everything. Then I noticed it. Maybe someone else without my anal-retentive qualities wouldn’t have paid any attention.

My hairbrush. It was one of few luxuries I’d brought with me, my long hair hopelessly tangled without it. The brush had been moved. Only by a few centimeters, but it was enough that I noticed.

Very slowly, I walked toward it, touching the bristles. There were always one or two broken hairs left in them. Not tonight. Another shiver coursed through me and almost instantly, I mentally called to my lions.

My mates.

Was it true they could tell what I was thinking?

Get moving. Find out what’s behind that door.

I moved quickly outside, constantly checking behind me as I headed for the other building.

My skin tingled more than before.

My pulse raced.

And my heart was thudding in my chest.

Not only from the fear of being caught, but also from the need that continued to burn deep inside.

My skin was hot to the touch, my breath coming in short pants. Beads of perspiration trickled down both sides of my face.

I needed them.

All three of them.

It felt as if they were closer, as if they were coming for me.

Creeping down the hallway, the only light was the few LEDs overhead and they barely did anything but create additional terrifying shadows. My mind was playing tricks on me, making it seem as if there were beasts everywhere.

Or men with guns.

Much more likely.

My instinct was working overtime. The mercenaries weren’t simply rogue men. Of course they weren’t. It had been a story told to keep me from venturing out on my own.

A sudden bluish light caught my attention. Now it was green with a yellowish tint. I stopped in my tracks, staring at the wave of different colors streaming under the door. I could feel another thick wave of energy pulsing in every muscle and vein.

There was no doubt in my mind whatever was behind the door was very powerful.

After licking sweat from my upper lip, I closed the distance. The door was locked, but I could feel a powerful energy humming, enveloping me.

A wave of urgency hit me, the feeling so oppressive I almost turned around and left.

But everything was telling me not to leave. I needed to find out for myself what was behind the door.