Page 40 of Savage Mates (Ruthless Instinct #2)

Thor

“She was taken. They’re planning on slaughtering almost every lion.”

We were near the military compound, close enough we slowed, allowing the other lions to catch up. The females and the cub had been taken to the caves, Conall and two other strong males left to guard them while we’d brough Gabriel and Alexander as well as one other to attack the facility.

Titus grunted. “Except for the three of us. They want us taken captive.”

Zeus slowed even more, his breathing completely labored. “Over our dead bodies. We will kill all of them.”

There was little else we could do.

We were close, enough that I could feel her heartbeat thumping in time with mine.

“She’s alive. I feel her, but she’s in distress,” Titus snarled, eager to free them. The storm was less than twelve hours away. We could also feel the rapid expansion, winds increasing every hour.

We had limited time to try to make it off the island.

Our beautiful human mate was constantly reaching out, calling to us and begging us to be careful. A trap had already been set. They intended on caging the three of us.

I threw my head back and roared, the booming echo of my cry likely heard for hundreds of yards if not more.

We were too late to keep her from harm’s way.

The jabbing electricity flowing through my muscles and bones was tearing at my soul. An intense ache tore at me, my heart and mind.

While the powerful explosions had delayed the soldiers from leaving the encampment, their frantic attempts to put out the fire buying us time, they wouldn’t be stopped. They’d been given orders.

To kill.

At least we’d exterminated several, but there were at least a dozen others, all loaded with weaponry.

“There’s a vulnerable location in the back of the property,” Alexander told us. He’d been the one to scope out the entire facility months before.

The sense of urgency was even stronger than before, boosted by what our little mate was thinking.

She and the two members of her team were locked in cages, one of the scientists as well.

“What about the weapons?” Sebastian asked.

“We destroy them,” I answered. “But first things first. We kill the soldiers.”

We moved with precision through the jungle on the outskirts of the compound, remaining out of sight. Just as we were about to close in on the building where our mate and the others were being kept, the rumble of engines indicated our task would be that much more difficult.

The two Humvees powered into the compound, the brakes squealing as the drivers jerked to a stop. They jumped out immediately, the group of men brandishing their weapons as they advanced.

“Took you enough fucking time, Sergeant Martin.” I recognized the one scientist, a man Lauren had originally trusted.

“We wait,” I growled, barely able to contain my anger or the need to slaughter every last soldier.

“We had some obstacles to overcome, Dr. Abbott. The encampment was torched. It would seem the fucking lions you believed ignorant are much smarter than presumed.” The sergeant stormed toward the building.

“That means you and your team are inept.” The arrogance of the scientist wasn’t well received.

As soon as the words left the scientist’s mouth, the sergeant had him around the throat, driving him against the side of the building. “I would be very careful if I were you, Doc-tor. You have us to thank for keeping your worthless beasts from killing you.”

Dr. Abbott threw up his hands in surrender, coughing from the pressure being used.

He had no idea what price he’d pay for selling his soul. I dragged my tongue across my jowls, exposing my sharp canines.

“Did you eliminate the other lions?” the doctor managed.

The sergeant slowly backed away, snarling as soon as he did. “According to your conditions, there was no time. Let them rot on the island. From what I’ve seen on the radar, this entire island could be wiped out. We need to leave by first light. Will you be ready?”

“Yes,” the doctor hissed. “We will have passengers.”

The sergeant exhaled. “That wasn’t the arrangement.”

“It is now. I’m in charge of this operation. You can talk with Blackwell if you don’t like the situation, but you won’t like his answer. We need the female alive. She’s too valuable to us.”

“Blackwell stiffed us before. Why should we trust him?” another soldier threw out.

Sergeant Martin snapped his head in the young man’s direction. “Trust me. We’ll get the damn money. If it’s the last thing we do on this freaking earth. Right, Dr. Abbott?”

Sweating like a pig, Dr. Abbott took a step away from the man. “Just make certain she isn’t harmed, or you won’t get a goddamn penny. I’ll see to it.”

The sergeant laughed. “Have it your way, but she will be kept in a cage.”

My patience had disappeared.

As it had with the others.

“Attack,” I commanded although there was no need. The other lions were ready for their piece of flesh.

While our pride had been together for six months, strong lions with a penchant for killing and a taste for blood, our communication system and our instincts were strong.

We moved forward stealthily, using the darkness to mask our approach. Until the very last moment.

The attack was swift, the human monsters unprepared for the sudden onslaught of rabid and very angry beasts. There was utter satisfaction when I drove my incisors into the sergeant’s neck, tossing him around like a rag doll before finishing him off.

With the taste of his blood in my mouth, I turned toward two others, both men shaking while they held weapons out, trying to get off a shot.

But we were too quick for them. I threw myself in the air, dropping both to the ground, their weapons flying from their hands.

“Let me finish them off,” Zeus snarled, giving me no chance to object.

Not that I would.

He was masterful in his killing method, ripping the bodies apart within seconds.

Titus was having the same success, spurred on by the screams of soldiers who’d finally realized even with fully loaded weapons, they were no match for our skills.

Or our rage.

A rush of adrenaline powered me on more than even the anger furrowing inside. Protecting our mate was the only thing I could think about, blinded by the need as I ripped men apart.

The other three lions were relentless, racing down others who were attempting to flee.

I spun around, licking my chops, realizing the scientists and the pilots had disappeared, hoping to find safety in the shadows.

Another roar ripped from my throat, something catching my eye.

A lone soldier had his weapon pointed at Titus.

There was no time to react. Even as I warned him mentally, I threw myself in the direction.

Pop!

The single shot was the only one the soldier managed before I sank my canines into his chest.

As the screams and shouts began to die down, I could feel our mate’s cry, her terror that we were being killed. She could sense the danger.

A few seconds later, the only sound left was of the pride licking their superficial wounds, enjoying the taste of human blood on their fur.

There was no time to savor the victory or hunt the others, even though we weren’t certain how many had escaped. At least five including the other soldier who’d arrived with our mate.

“Remain behind,” Zeus told Alexander, Gabriel, and Sebastian.

Zeus, Titus, and I jogged to the other building where she was being kept. Zeus didn’t even hesitate seeing the thick padlock, taking the steel into his jaw and crushing the mechanism. The door sprang free, allowing us inside.

We were still being cautious even though there was no stench of the bastards, only the sweet and intoxicating fragrance of the little human and her friends.

I sensed her realization we were alive almost instantly, her slight gasps causing concern in the others.

“Dr. Radcliff. What’s wrong?” I’d heard the female’s voice before, almost as soft and lilting as Lauren’s, but on this night, it was shaking.

“They’re alive. I knew they’d come for me.

” In contrast, our mate’s voice was strong, full of joy.

“You’re going to need to trust me, Carrie.

Peter, the same. There are things you don’t know about, so many amazing realities I didn’t know existed, but they’ll challenge everything you thought you knew. ”

We padded closer.

“Who’s saving us?” Carrie insisted.

“My lions. My mates.”

“That’s everything we hoped for,” the other scientist said. I could smell the man’s fear. He would face our wrath later after she was freed and safe.

As soon as she was within sight, the three of us growled, the sound full of as much joy as we’d heard from her voice.

“Oh. My. God,” Peter exclaimed. “They’re huge.” He moved backwards, hugging the wall.

“Lauren. You managed to make a connection with them.” Now the scientist was eager, daring to move closer. “Do you have any idea what this means?”

“Shut the fuck up. I don’t want to hear it.” Her anger toward him was evident, but her gaze never faltered. “Just as you and Dr. Abbott intended. How could you lie to me, deceive me and hurt these lions, Dr. Douglas? You bastard. You’re complicit. You allowed this! You condoned it.”

“We had no choice, Lauren. You don’t understand how powerful Blackwell and Zimmerman are, how many connections they have. I argued with them. I told them what they were doing was wrong, but they threatened my family.”

“I don’t give a shit. You will help me save the lioness and the others if I can. You will!”

Titus and Zeus growled, providing the wretched scientist with a moment of fear.

Dr. Douglas looked at us nervously as we moved side by side, eyeing him carefully. “Yes, of course. Absolutely.”

I bared my canines. Let the human remain terrified.

“Are you sure they’re safe?” Peter asked.

A sharp pain tore through me, making it difficult to breathe.

“You don’t need to fear them, Peter,” our little mate said as she swept her gaze from one to the other. “They’re very special. You have no idea just how much. Kyle has the keys to the lock.”

Kyle. The bastard who ran away like a scared little boy.

Titus moved in front toward the cage, allowing her to reach through the bars to stroke his fur. “We don’t need keys. Back away, little mate. We’ll get you out.”

“Okay,” she murmured. “Back away, everyone.” Before she walked away, she lowered her gaze to my abdomen. “Thor. You’re bleeding. You’re hurt.”

While there was pain creeping through my chest, the discomfort didn’t matter. I needed her free. I needed to feel her arms wrapped around my neck.

I needed to taste her. Kiss her.

Fuck her.

As before, the desire was overwhelming. For all three of us.

She was fully in heat, the scent of her pheromones driving us crazy. My cock was fully erect, the ache so strong I could barely control myself. The longing for her was becoming insatiable.

“Get her out. Now,” Zeus roared.

We rushed the cage, Titus ripping at the lock, yanking it off after the second attempt. Almost immediately, our mate rushed toward us.

Fuck. Some of my strength had been sapped in the fight.

“I was so worried I’d never see you again.” She threw her arms around Titus first, but her head was turned in my direction.

“You can communicate with them?” Carrie asked. She was tentatively walking closer.

“Yes. I’ll explain later and no, I’m not sure why I can read their minds, but I can.” She crouched down in front of me. “Oh, my God. Thor. You were shot. Peter. Carrie. We need to get Thor to the medical facility.” She could read our minds. She could hear us.

She was safe. She was…

Another white-hot jolt of agony caught me off guard. The gunshot.

“She’s right,” Zeus snarled.

The pain was suddenly biting, shifting into a moment of agony unlike anything I’d felt. My weight suddenly was too much and I could no longer feel my legs. When I dropped onto my side, my vision instantly became blurry.

“Thor! No. Stay with me, Thor. You need to stay in your lion form. Do not shift. Not now. Okay? Can you do that?”

“Listen to her, Thor,” Titus told me, but even the mental tethering was garbling his words. “You’re vibrating. Stop the shift.”

“I can’t.”

“Come on, just hold on. I’ll remove the bullet and everything will be okay,” Lauren implored. “That’s the only way I can really help. I’m not a medical doctor. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“What do you mean shift?” Peter asked. “What in the hell is going on?”

“Too much blood!” our beautiful mate called. I heard her loud and clear. “He’s dying. Help me. Please help me.”

My eyelids were heavy, my pulse very rapid. “Lauren…” As I closed my eyes, my body shivered uncontrollably. I could feel her hands on me, her sweet breath tickling my fur. Her voice echoed as she cried out.

“No. No. No!”