Page 12 of Their Defiant Mate

“Please continue,” she urged when she could speak again. “I didn’t mean to derail the conversation.”

Isaac turned back to Diego and went on. “A couple entered the cabin while we were there. She seemed intimidated at first, but the rest of the conversation convinced me that she was not being abused.”

“That’s debatable,” Kyle grumbled. “Babcock is giving her injections that spike her libido. Her mate’s attitude was upsetting.”

“Spiking her libido wasn’t the purpose for the injections. It was a side effect,” Isaac argued.

“And she still agreed to be injected?” Tara wanted to know. “If she was being forced in any way, we need to?—”

“She wasn’t,” Jon assured. “Her mate insisted that the choice was hers and she agreed to the next injection. She might feel pressured by her desire to please him, but she was not being forced.”

“You think they’re trying to breed her.” Diego guessed. “Is that why you want to speak with Kane?”

Isaac nodded. His hands were clasped behind his back and his features remained tense. “I know he hates talking about his captivity and I won’t ask any personal questions. I just want his insight into what we witnessed.”

“I’ll arrange it,” Diego told him.

“Thank you, sir,” Isaac responded. “I wish we had better news.”

Nearly all the hybrids had been, or in many cases still were, in the military when they’d been captured by Nuevo Biotech. The familiar culture and heightened aggression of the hybrids led them to create societies with strict rules and rigid power structures. Each village had chosen its strongest member, ormembers, to lead. Any misbehavior was dealt with swiftly and severely.

Social dynamics were arranged similarly. Each feline coalition had its own cabin and the coalition leader’s word was law. Not surprisingly, females were expected to do as they were told. According to Lexie it was only in the bedroom that their submission was absolute. The rest of the time, women were encouraged to find challenges and meaningful ways of contributing to the village.

It was the absolute submission part that worried Tara. Lexie had adapted to Rydarian expectation with relative ease, but Tara valued her independence. She wasn’t sure she would ever be happy under someone else’s control.

“Are you enjoying the party?” A hint of mockery rippled through Isaac’s deep tone.

Awareness pulsed between them, warm and electric. “I know these gatherings are necessary. We don’t have a lot of opportunities to interact with anyone. Still, there are much better environments if you want to get to know someone.”

“Like the storeroom upstairs?” Jon suggested with a fleeting grin.

Tara just glared at him and took another sip of her wine.

“My teammates have the advantage over me.” Kyle’s friendly tone drew her attention. “I wasn’t at the meeting this morning, but I’d love the opportunity to learn more about you.” Kyle managed to appear engaged without seeming predatory, until he said, “Our cabin is nearby. We can escape the noise and get to know each other.”

Tara swallowed hard. She knew damn well what would happen if she went to their cabin. Finding mates was the point of all this, and Isaac and Jon had already indicated their intention to claim her. Hybrids were driven by instinct. It took them minutes or days to determine compatibility, not months or years. She sucked in a steadying breath and considered her options. If she wanted to remain in the village, she had to choose a coalition. And these three were the only males who had attracted her interest. She found them physically appealing and was intrigued by their abilities. Why not find out more about them?

She licked her lips and stated, “I’d like that, as long as you understand that all I’m agreeing to is conversation.”

“You’re safe with us, Tara,” Jon assured her, but the smoldering intensity in his dark eyes made it hard to believe.

They were engineered to hunt, overpower, and dominate. Trepidation gathered in Tara’s belly, and she looked at Lexie. Lexie knew all the Shadow teams. Wouldn’t she have warned Tara away if this one was dangerous?

Lexie lightly elbowed Diego in the ribs and nodded toward his subordinates.

“I expect all three of you to be on your best behavior.” Diego’s voice rang with authority and his serious expression grew even more stern. “Tara is my mate’s best friend. You will treat her with the same respect you would offer Lexie.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Of course, sir.”

“Understood.”

The overlapping responses made Tara smile. Her father had offered a similar lecture to her sister’s first boyfriend. The ‘behave or else’ threat had been relatively effective with the sixteen-year-old football player, but she was less sure it would curtail the behavior of three sex-starved Shadows.

“Let me grab my coat,” Tara said. The Shadow team went with her and again everyone seemed to scurry out of their way. “Is the entire village afraid of you?”

“They’re curious about us,” Kyle answered, “but they’re afraid of Diego.”

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