Page 121 of Savage Mates
“What now?” I took a step closer.
She smiled, glancing at Peter and the two of them moved away, allowing me to see inside the small room where the lioness had been kept.
Instead of a beautiful dying beast, a young woman sat on the edge of the steel table, her long blonde hair cascading all the way down to her waist.
“Oh, my God. The lifeforms heeded my request.” I walked inside, stunned at the sight of her. “Hi.”
She looked at me, smiling and nodding. “I can… understand you. I don’t know what happened.”
“Trust me. We’ll explain it to you. At least as much as we know. Just relax.”
“All of a sudden, she started shifting. In the middle of birth. It’s a little bit… insane.” Peter halfheartedly laughed and rolled his arm across his sweaty forehead. “I don’t mind telling you if I never see that again, I’ll be fine with it.”
Titus moved around me and closer to the glass.
The lioness lifted her head, peering at him with her large eyes. Then she shifted her attention to me and I could swear I could sense what she was thinking.
“Just so you know,” Carrie started. “She’s pretty intelligent. As in brilliant. As in just like a scientist I know and could be close with.”
“What are you trying…” Before I even finished the statement, I knew what she was getting at. The lifeforms had chosen to base her human form on me.
“What’s wrong, little mate?” Thor asked.
“Nothing is wrong. I think I have a twin. Of sorts.” I tipped my head, gazing from one of my mates to another.
Zeus shrank back. “We can’t handle two of you.”
“Well, you might need to figure out a way.” I clasped my hands across my face as I walked toward the door. I could see traces of myself in her eyes. The lifeforms had heard me. They’d given me a gift of life and no matter the hatred I felt for both doctors Blackwell and Zimmerman, I couldn’t ignore how grateful I was.
There were so many thoughts rushing through my mind, so many things that needed to be said, but that would come with time.
Now I was beginning to allow myself to believe there would be time and space to learn and grow, to teach each other the ways of life.
And happiness.
The lioness and I remained silent, doing nothing more than staring at each other. But finally, I sensed she knew she could trust me. She smiled again.
“I think you’ll want to see this, little mate.” Zeus’ tone of voice was insistent as he always was. Somehow, I’d need to teach him patience.
When I looked at him, I noticed an unexpected grin.
He was the easiest mind to read, maybe because he had the hardest head. Today was a day of surprises and miracles and one I’d remember for the rest of my life.
Every human and beast trailed behind me as I walked back outside.
The two new cubs met Phoenix, and I had a feeling soon they’d be fast friends, maybe one day creating a pride of their own.
Pamela had asked me such an important question now what seemed a lifetime ago. Did I want to play God? The question and any answer but no had repulsed me. But now, as I stood in a mixed crowd of lions, shifters, and humans, facing several stunning hybrids in their human forms, no longer mutants, I quietly reserved the right to change my mind.
Maybe if Pamela asked me the same question again, I’d feel comfortable telling her the truth.
It wasn’t about playing God as much as it was about savoring the creation of life. No matter what size or shape.
Did I want the project shut down permanently? Yes, I did. However, as a scientist, I realized that nature had a way of dealing with life and death that no human or beast could alter.
If shifters were meant to survive, there would be more cubs, pups, and calves born in the wild.
Somehow, I had a feeling their creation was already flourishing. All throughout the world.
