Page 45 of Savage Mates (Ruthless Instinct #2)

Lauren

Boom!

“What the fuck was that?” Titus hissed as he moved to the window.

Daylight had broken, but the darkness from the oncoming storm created a series of ominous shadows.

“Trees are down, and the wind is picking up,” Zeus answered.

I moved to my computer and to the satellite highlighting weather.

We’d regained it only an hour before, but I had a feeling given the proximity of the typhoon, the connection would be short lived.

“Fast approaching. We have maybe an hour before it arrives.” While the rain had come in bands, it was barely drizzling now, but we were just at the beginning of the huge storm.

“The sound wasn’t trees falling,” Titus snarled, swinging his head around.

“Then what was it?” Carrie asked, her voice tinged with the same heavy dose of anxiety I felt.

The lioness had hung on, but from what I could tell, she had maybe a couple of hours before she’d lose her battle. I moved to the table, rubbing my hand on her muzzle. “I’m sorry, baby girl. I’ve done everything I could.” The sadness was overwhelming.

“Then what the hell was it? There’s flying debris outside. Maybe parts of the building.” Zeus was crazed with anxiety.

I curled my fingers, taking several deep breaths as I walked back to the larger room.

“No, the building is too secure,” Peter insisted.

Glancing around the room, I realize Dr. Douglas had mysteriously disappeared. We’d regrouped in the medical facility, deciding to stay close together. While we hadn’t seen any sightings of Kyle and the others, they were still on the island and they were still armed and very dangerous.

“We’re missing someone,” I gritted out. He’d acted strangely since returning after our round of passion, his eyes entirely different, his demeanor aloof. “Bastard.”

I didn’t trust him at all.

“Fuck him,” Thor said in his usual commanding way.

The electricity suddenly went out, leaving the room in a slight orange haze. Instantly, prickles danced on my skin.

Shit. As expected, the satellite was down again. The island was effectively cut off.

“There’s a backup generator,” Peter said. He’d been the one to account for every amenity in the facility. “Five seconds.”

Yet five seconds passed and there was no light. Another ten and I sensed the lions becoming restless.

Another boom and Alexander rushed into the room. “We have problems.”

Titus’ snarl was loud. “What?”

“A sighting. Two men with weapons.”

Thor glanced in my direction. “We need to stop them.”

All three wanted to drive them out and eliminate the threat.

It was obvious they’d done something to the generator.

At least there was some light outside. “Go. We’ll be safe here.

I’ll lock the door behind you. Keep us safe.

” Even as I encouraged them, I was still fearful.

Maybe the soldiers and Dr. Abbott were trying to seek refuge and nothing else.

However, I would guard the test results with my life.

I’d secured the samples, sending the results to both my father for safe keeping and my personal email, which no one had access to. I wasn’t taking any chances.

Thor took long strides toward me. In his hand was a weapon, which struck me oddly. They were far more powerful and dangerous as lions.

Yet they knew the risks at facing men with guns.

“You will not leave this space. Do you understand?” When I didn’t answer right away, he cupped my face. rubbing his thumb back and forth gently even though his hold was possessive.

“I won’t. We’ll be fine. I still have my weapon and I won’t hesitate to use it.”

I felt Carrie’s sharp gaze. She had no idea what I was capable of.

Something had occurred, allowing me to read snippets of their minds. I had no understanding of how that had happened, but I did sense our connection grew stronger every time we mated.

“I won’t leave the lioness. Not like this.” I gripped his wrist.

Another slight boom drew his attention and a growl. “Fine. Do not disobey me. We’ll be right back.”

“Okay. Be safe.” I watched as he pulled away, almost instantly feeling a loss of the three of them.

Alexander offered a nod as if finally able to respect me. But before he walked out, he gave a longing look toward Carrie.

The moment was almost sweet if not completely out of place.

When they were gone, I did as I’d told them, locking the door and backing away. The quiet was shattered by sounds of the storm ripping away at trees, limbs flying against the building.

“Shit. This is bad,” Peter said as he moved beside me.

“We’ll be fine. The building is concrete.” Which was true, but I didn’t feel safe in the least.

Exhaling, I returned to the pane of glass separating me from the lioness. If only the lifeforms had heeded my wishes and claimed her as a host.

Shit.

The lifeforms. What if the loss of power meant they wouldn’t survive? Maybe I was crazy, but I really wanted them to. If there was a slight chance they could fix the horrible disaster that had occurred before, then maybe I could ignore the fears I’d had earlier.

“Listen to me. I’ll be right back,” I told the others.

“Where are you going?” Carrie quickly moved in front of me.

I had to think about how to phrase my answer. “I need to check on the lifeforms. I know what I’m doing.”

“Are you crazy? There are madmen out there and you want to check to see if lifeforms from another universe are okay? Do I need to remind you the horrors they caused?”

A part of me was surprised at her vehemence. “They didn’t cause the atrocities, Carrie. Humans did that. They were used. They don’t deserve to die. Maybe they can return to wherever they came from.”

Peter sighed. “You’re not going to stop her, Carrie. Just take your weapon with you. We have no clue if Dr. Douglas is for them or against them. I’ll block the fucking door if I have to.”

“I know. I’ll take a flashlight too. Just stay here and I’ll knock when I return. Okay?” I moved to my duffle bag, grabbing both the gun and the flashlight. Since I had no doubt my mates would figure out what I was doing, I was quick in my steps.

When the door clicked behind me, another group of eerie sensations prickled my skin. I flicked on the flashlight, grateful for the wide beam. Moving quickly, I headed toward the where the lifeforms were being kept. With the lock broken, I had hopes Kyle hadn’t thought to replace it.

Thankfully, he hadn’t.

While the door was closed, I turned the handle easily and walked in. The darkness in the room was oppressive, the sounds of a pumping device I’d heard before silenced.

But I felt them.

They were still alive.

Before I swung the beam toward the glass, I was given confirmation. Tiny beads of light in bright colors appeared. They swept toward the glass, growing in size.

I approached cautiously, placing my hand on the surface. As before, it was hot. I stood silently, pleading with them. But not knowing if they could also read my thoughts, I asked them one last time for help.

“I know you can hear me. I feel it deep inside. Please help the beautiful lioness lying in the clinic. She’s carrying two cubs inside her belly and they deserve to live.

” I hadn’t told anyone I’d felt two forms. Sadly, without an ultrasound I had no clue if either were viable fetuses other than their two faint heartbeats.

I could only pray they were. “Plus. There are other animals a couple miles from here. They’re malformed as if you couldn’t finish transforming them.

They will die that way. They are dying now.

If you have any understanding of how important life truly is, then please finish what you started. ”

Maybe I hoped to hear a voice, but when a shape formed as I’d seen before, floating to the glass, I sensed it deep within my brain that they had heard me.

In return, they were talking to me.

They couldn’t help because they couldn’t escape.

Shit.

I swung the flashlight, noticing a tube connecting the vessel they were caged in to another piece of equipment. Moving closer, I shifted the beam from one to the other. The connection was maybe two inches by two. Would it be large enough for them to escape if I pulled the hose?

A laugh bubbled to the surface. Of course it would be. They could become any shape, any size. Any color. They were energy. They were life in mere molecules. Quantum strands.

I placed the gun on the floor, positioning the flashlight in a location that would give me some light. Then I wrapped my fingers around the tube, taking a deep breath before tugging.

It didn’t budge.

Sweat had already formed on the back of my neck. I couldn’t fail.

Using all the strength I had, I yanked on the tube. Suddenly, it popped free. Elation tore through me, a slight moment of giddiness outweighing everything else.

“I thought I’d find you here.” Kyle’s voice echoed behind me.

Stiffening, I glanced toward the glass. The lifeforms were smashing against it.

“Turn around and don’t do anything stupid.”

With no other options, I did as he told me, darting a quick glance toward the weapon.

He laughed, taking long strides forward and snatching it off the floor. “Nice try, Doctor. Now, come on. You’re coming with us.”

“Where?”

“Off this fucking island.” He grabbed my arm, yanking me toward the door.

“Do you not realize there’s a fucking storm outside? The pilots can’t fly in this.”

“They’ve assured me they can.”

“I’m not going.” I jerked my arm, but his hold was too strong.

“You don’t have any choice.”

As we passed by the container holding the lifeforms, there were no more beautiful shapes and colors. The interior was pitch black.

They’d escaped just like I’d hoped.

Now I prayed they’d honored my request, even if they had no reason to trust any humans on this earth.

With the wind wreaking havoc outside, there was no use in screaming. But he had no clue just how close I was with my lions.

I didn’t try to stop Kyle as he dragged me outside. One thing I knew for certain.

There was no way I was getting on the plane.