Page 71 of Savage Mates
“Because we can read your thoughts.”
Zeus’ statement was fraught with frustration. “Because I’m your mate.” Just saying the words seemed so incredible I was still taken aback. Of course in their human form they had all the abilities of anyone born with human DNA. Yet, there was a stark difference.
For example. How had it been possible a cub had been born to a shifter and a lion? The thought boggled my mind. But I’d had nagging feelings the very first time I’d read anything about Blackwell Industries. I’d known then evil had occurred, whichwas what had prompted me to write the paper. Now that paper was being used against me.
“Maybe I was born with some of my mother’s gifts. If only she were alive to walk me through what to expect.”
“Is it possible this benefactor knew about these gifts?”
Thor’s question was a valid one and something I hadn’t thought about. “Yes, it is, although I don’t know what angle he’d use. My parents were widely known for their work with wild animals and the sanctuary they created. Not cages, but creating a protected environment where lions, leopards, panthers, and wolves were allowed to roam freely. Including where we’d lived and our clinics had been located. People thought my parents were crazy allowing wild animals to coexist with them and a small child, but they proved everyone wrong.”
The three of them looked at each other.
Using my skills and my gifts had been planned since discovery of the paper I’d written. I could feel that in my bones. That scared me more than almost anything else. The moment I’d applied for the grant… “Wait a minute. When were you dropped here?”
“Time has no meaning,” Thor admitted.
“This could be important. Weeks. A year?”
“Maybe six months.” Zeus’ answer brought yet another wave of chills.
“About the time I started working on the grant. The university knew my intentions and I was given time to prepare the scope of the project. Some of my higher-ups could be complicit in this, but without proof, I can’t change anything. I need to return to the lab. I need to blend in and find out what their plansare.” Zimmerman had played me. With Blackwell being alive, the chance they were working together was something I couldn’t ignore.
Titus also stood, his entire body tensing. Every muscle strained. Every tendon ready to pop. “We cannot allow that to happen.”
“We have no other choice,” Thor said. “We have less than twelve members of our pride with several other bloodthirsty mutants eager for another hunt and as soon as Dr. Radcliff is secured behind the laboratory walls, the people you call mercenaries will strike. Whatever their intentions, either caging us for further experiments or extermination, they will take what they need.”
“They could learn much about our abilities and DNA structure from our dead bodies. Yes?” Zeus asked.
“Yes, which still begs the questions of why wait so long and what they really need me for.” I hated admitting the inevitable. Unless they could get off the island safely and find a secure location, they’d continue to be hunted. There was no telling how many scientists or greedy businesspeople were involved with Blackwell. Or with Zimmerman’s corporation.
The concept of how many shifters could be out there was mind boggling.
Especially given the birth of the cub.
They could blend easily into society based on whatever host the lifeforms had adopted. My head hurt from the possibilities. If there were offspring, they could alter the face of our world. And that of the animals.
Including in a very bad way.
“Did you know what happened to Doctor Morgan?” Thor’s question was one I’d already been thinking about.
“From what I remember reading, all charges were dropped against her. Then she stepped out of the limelight. I don’t know if she’s even involved with science any longer.”
“That’s not all, little mate. She cared for several wolves. She was taken and tested for her breeding capabilities.”
“Unbelievable. You’re saying she was their mate. So they were already trying for reproduction. That’s what this is about. They are trying to create a master species.” I looked away, nervous energy ticking inside. The ideology around my thoughts and summations shouldn’t excite me in the least, yet it did.
“It would seem so,” Titus said quietly. “The mutants. The mercenary humans are violating them.”
It took me a few seconds to realize what he was telling me. “Either they don’t know what they could be doing and are simply sick fucks or they were hired to do that. Unbelievable.”
“A controlled species,” Thor snarled and looked away.
“Human and animal. A controlled population.” I was thinking out loud.
Nothing could shock me any longer. Not this. Not the endless possibilities of what happened with new life being created. However, his answer did provide me with yet another one I needed to process the detailed information. If I was their mate, somehow either Blackwell or Zimmerman had known or suspected.
But how? Blood tests? DNA samples?
