Page 41 of Savage Mates (Ruthless Instinct #2)

Lauren

“Blood. I need more fucking blood,” I commanded.

A million emotions tore through me.

Rage.

Fear.

Need.

Longing.

“We don’t have any. There were only the six liters and we used five on the lioness,” Carrie said, as exasperated as I was. We were supposed to bring more lion’s blood that had been stored in case of injury. Something else they’d lied about.

Hissing, I glanced at the door. Zeus and Titus had left only moments before to ensure the compound was secure since Kyle, the two damn pilots, and Dr. Mother-fucking-traitor Abbott had managed to escape.

I barely remembered racing toward the laboratory, horrified that Thor lay dying.

Unfortunately, in his weakened state, he’d shifted.

That allowed for Zeus and Titus, who’d also returned to their human forms, to carry him into the clinic.

However, I had no idea what that could mean.

Was the DNA altering again, making his human side more dominant? I just didn’t know at this point.

Seeing the mauled and mutilated bodies had horrified Carrie and Peter, but deep down inside, in the darkest places of my soul, I’d been thrilled.

Even Dr. Douglas had stared down at their corpses. Maybe he was starting to realize that what he’d been a part of had created monsters. And I wasn’t talking about the lions and other creatures forced to live their lives as shifters.

Think, Lauren. Think!

A brilliant idea came to me. “I know exactly what we’re going to do. We’re going to use my blood. Get everything ready for a transfusion.” My two assistants stared at me like I was nuts. “Just fucking do it!”

“But you’re human and he’s a…” Carrie had no idea how to end her statement. “A lion. I mean not now, but before. Just like the other two. Now they’re men. I mean very handsome men, but still.”

“Shut up,” Peter hissed. “Freaking out isn’t going to do us any good. You heard about Marcus Blackwell. You heard the rumors.”

“But they were rumors. No one really suspected they were real,” she threw back.

“Stop. Both of you. There are lifeforms in another building from another world. They are partially the reason this is happening. And at this point, I need them to mesh what we know to try and save lives. And maybe, just maybe we can cure a few diseases along the way. So, watch the lioness. The heartbeat of her fetus is very weak,” I threw out, barely able to control my nerves. This was crazy.

“A cub,” Dr. Douglas said with far too much gleam in his eyes.

“Yes, Doctor, and if you touch her, you die,” I told him. At least Titus had told me Phoenix and Skye were safe, protected in some cave on the island. The last thing I wanted was for him to discover that piece of information.

“I have no intentions of harming a fetus.”

My laugh was bitter. “The cub growing inside of her is not a fetus. Not to me anyway. But don’t worry, because of what your men did to her, she will likely lose it.”

Both Zeus and Titus appeared in the doorway, their faces highlighting the anger we all felt. Their bodies were buzzing from a dangerous level of electricity.

“What?” At least he had the good graces of acting horrified. “That’s not possible.”

“Who the hell did you think you hired, Douglas?” Zeus refused to mention he was a doctor.

“I didn’t hire anyone. I had nothing to do with it. I’m shocked. That’s disgusting and nothing I would ever condone. I’ll report their activities when we return.”

Sighing, I shook my head. “Fortunately, almost all of them face the price for what they’ve done to all the lions you kept incarcerated on this island against their will. Just leave the lioness and her cub alone.”

“Of course. I’m very sorry. I had no idea the atrocities performed.” Maybe he didn’t. But I certainly couldn’t trust him. None of us could.

“I’ll take care of the lioness,” Peter said, obviously happy to walk away from the bloody scene. I had no idea how I’d managed to keep my shit together enough operate on Thor. I’d never used my medical training on any human.

“Using your blood could work. At least in the short term,” Dr. Douglas said. “I’ll get the transfusion ready. I don’t understand it completely, but you’re connected to him as you are to the other two. I think your blood can help heal him.”

“Well, I need to try something since he will die without it.” At least I’d managed to retrieve the bullet, but there had been some internal injuries. What shocked me was the other external injuries he’d received appeared almost healed, the deep scratches all but invisible.

There was so much to learn. Yes, I wanted to spend more time with the lifeforms. I could swear I felt them sweeping my brain, gathering information. They were pulsing. That much I was certain of.

“We need to get off this island,” I said.

“And go where, little human?” Zeus asked.

“Like I told you before, somewhere special.” With the storm, the satellite was already affected.

There was no way of contacting anyone. We’d be lucky to get off the island.

They’d need to have the faith in me that I would do my best to take them to safety.

I had hope that my father could help, but it was a longshot.

“Come over here, Lauren. We’ll transfuse the blood directly,” Dr. Douglas said as he dragged the steel table closer. “Lie down. We need to do this quickly. You’re right that his condition is weakening.”

I glared at him, shaking my head slightly.

“You need to trust me, Lauren. I know I have a lot of explaining to do, but right now, you might be the only hope of saving this lion.”

“If you touch her, I will kill you,” Zeus growled as he walked further into the room, Titus was right behind him, both immediately taking long strides toward Dr. Douglas.

“It’s okay, Zeus. He’s helping me save Thor. Please, just back away and give us some room.”

Zeus snarled, even baring his human teeth at the scientist.

Alexander appeared soon after and what amused me was that even standing naked and very much human, the shifters appeared completely formidable, rough and tough with impenetrable bodies.

Even if I knew that not to be true. They weren’t gods.

They weren’t invincible. They bled and suffered just like any other creature on Earth.

Just like they’d done before because of men like Dr. Douglas.

Carrie’s lips were pursed together, her eyes opening wide. But instead of the fear I’d seen when the lions had shifted in front of her, she was staring at Alexander, her expression laced with lust.

I almost laughed as I climbed on the table, yanking up my sleeve.

They’d saved us. They’d protected me, their mate. Their… mate.

They’d do anything to keep me safe and I’d do the same with them.

“Okay, we’re about ready,” Dr. Douglas said as soon as he attached the IV to my arm. “We need to do this carefully and not take too much of your blood.”

“Take what you need. Did you find the others?”

Alexander shook his head. He was still having some difficulty accepting me as their mate, but given his appreciation of the human female form by way of Carrie, I had a feeling he was caving to the idea.

“I don’t like this,” Zeus hissed, lifting his gaze to the lioness.

“We need to save him,” Titus reminded him.

I threw out my other arm, beckoning to them. As soon as we touched, the same explosive jolt of current spun through me. I was briefly lost in the desire.

“Okay. We’re in. I’ll monitor your progress. You’re already in a weakened state, Lauren. We need to be careful.”

“Thank you, Dr. Douglas, but I will save Thor. I don’t care what I need to do, but he will be saved.

” I continued to seethe, horrified at what I’d heard and what Zeus and Titus had told me they’d overheard.

If the mutated lions were still alive, at minimum they had to be freed.

My guilt at feeling that I was in some small part a reason they continued to suffer weighed heavily on me.

“Please call me Adam. We’ve been through too much for formalities.” When I didn’t respond, he nodded, gave the other lions a glance, and headed out of the room.

“What’s Thor’s condition?” Alexander demanded, his tone prompting Titus to move in front of him.

“Back down, Alexander.”

“Stop. We’re all concerned. The wind is picking up. The storm is getting closer. We’re all under duress so stop allowing your testosterone to drive you.” My words were met with Alexander bristling.

“She cannot speak to me that way.”

“You mean like a child because that’s exactly the term I’d use to describe your behavior.” Carrie was in his face, no longer afraid of the man who stood almost a foot taller than she did.

Alexander bristled, his jaw clenching, but she held her own, jutting out her chin.

“I’m not a child,” he insisted.

“Oh, no? Then that means you’re just an asshole.”

He took a slight step closer and I had to squeeze my hand around Zeus’ arm to keep him from interfering. Meanwhile, Titus was as amused as I was. There was definitely some heat between them.

He inhaled several times, snorting after each action. He was allowing himself to play dominant lion by issuing a possessive growl. Carrie responded with a side of spunk I’d never seen before.

She slapped him across the face.

“How dare you take a whiff of me without my permission. Beast or not. Learn manners.” It was almost impossible to hold back a laugh when she dropped her gaze, staring at his fully aroused cock.

With her face suddenly red, she turned abruptly, heading to the laptop to continue monitoring my progress.

Alexander was floored and I had a feeling that was something he rarely experienced. “Human women. I do not like them.”

Zeus snorted. “Your fat cock says otherwise.”

“I’m going to check the perimeter again. It would appear we are going nowhere,” he snarled and stormed out.

“A perfect match.” Titus’ deep voice caught my attention.

Huffing, I glanced at him, trying to smile. He was serious. “Oh, no. We are not playing matchmaker. Not now. Not when…”