Page 3 of Their Shared Mate
It didn’t matter how often Claire saw shapeshifters transform, it always filled her with wonder and discomfort. If it weren’t for the ambition of her unscrupulous colleagues, the hybrids wouldn’t exist.
“What happens now?” Heather whispered uncertainly. “Will they return us to the feline village or keep us for themselves?”
Claire was wondering the same thing. All the hybrids had made it clear that they wouldn’t open the gates of their villages out of the kindness of their hearts. “I don’t know,” she admitted. None of the hybrids would endanger themselves without being rewarded in some way. And the women only had one thing of value on this godforsaken planet.
Orange Eyes turned back to Victor, but Claire couldn’t hear what they were saying.
The wolves still in animal form were motivated to shift back by the raptors’ blasters. Soon all the wolf hybrids knelt in a row, their hands bound behind their backs. They were naked and glaring, but they’d clearly lost this fight.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to so many people walking around naked,” Heather whispered.
Claire looked at her and smiled. Shapeshifting had a way of destroying clothing, so the hybrids frequently stripped down when they were preparing to transform. “They all look like fitness models. I’m not sure I mind.”
“I second that,” Kylie added as her gaze swept over the line of naked wolves. “I like those bastards better in restraints, however. Especially that one on the end.”
The designated wolf had been particularly rude, taunting the women every chance he got.
“Raphael,” one of the soldiers called out. “Where do you want them?”
Orange Eyes turned his head and paused. “Bring the females out here and lock the wolves in their room. At least for now.” Raphael was obviously in charge of this mission. It was likely he was one of the avian leaders. Tara and Lexie, Claire’s original roommates, had mentioned the brothers who ran the raptor village. Their personalities contrasted sharply, but both had angel names.
“Yes, sir.” The soldier nodded then turned toward the hallway.
Claire urged her friends back and quickly shut the door. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself. She knew nothing about the raptors. Were they resentful and brutal like the wolves, orstern but reasonable like the lions? Had the lions sent this team in their place or were the eagles acting on their own? She had so many questions.
The door swung open, and the soldier stood in the doorway. “Everyone out.” He motioned toward the corridor, his tone clipped and impatient.
Positioning herself in the middle of the stream of frightened women, Claire walked out into the main room of the cabin. The seven women who had been locked in with Claire were joined by eleven from other parts of the house. That likely meant three had been claimed by wolves.
Claire was thrilled to be away from the vicious bastards, but she hadn’t yet determined if the raptors were better. Would the women be free to return to the feline village, or had the raptors only ‘rescued’ the women because they wanted access to breeders?
“Robert and Thom, go watch the trail leading up here. I don’t intend to hang around, but I want to know immediately if there’s any indication that the wolves are sending reinforcements.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m on it, sir.” Two of the soldiers spoke at the same time then headed for the front door.
The wolves were led to the largest of the bedrooms. It was the one Claire had been locked in for the past three days. There was a small bathroom, but no windows or exterior doors. One of the raptor guards could easily control the entire group.
Raphael faced the women and stated in a loud, clear voice, “It’s my intention to take you to Eagle Village. We can protect youbetter there. But you’re no longer prisoners. If anyone wants to stay here, we will not stop you.”
Claire’s heart was fluttering wildly, and she wasn’t sure why. Raphael was handsome; most of the hybrids were. But she had no interest in finding a mate. Her brother’s death had shredded her emotions, left her feeling raw and yet numb. She couldn’t return to Earth. No one on Rydaria could, but the thought of being claimed held no appeal whatsoever.
“There are skimmers out front,” Raphael told them. “We need to get moving.”
Skimmers? The raptors had functional skimmers? The only ships Claire had seen since being dumped on Rydaria were the rusty hulls on the outskirts of the feline village. A few of the transports that brought the hybrids to Rydaria had been left for the hybrids to scavenge. The primary systems, anything relating to flight or communication, had been deactivated. But the cats had access to molecular conversion units and solar generators. Other than blasters, the wolves didn’t have any technology. Apparently, the raptors were more like the cats.
With the help of the hybrids, the women climbed onto the skimmers. The small, fast ships were designed for six people, so half the females had to sit on the floor. Heather quickly claimed the last seat, so Claire and Kylie sat on the floor on either side of her. Kylie folded her legs in front of her, while Claire drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees. She shut her eyes and tried not to imagine all the horrible things that could await them in the eagles’ village. Each change that had come into her life since arriving on Rydaria had been for the worse. It was nearly impossible for her to believe that this rescue was a good thing.
“We’re not going far.”
The deep male voice was vaguely familiar, so Claire opened her eyes. Victor sat directly across from her. Compassion shone in his warm amber eyes. His blaster was now strapped to his muscular thigh, but the change did little to make him look less dangerous. “Everything will be explained to you once we arrive.”
“What’s to explain,” Claire grumbled. Fear and helplessness made her argumentative, but she couldn’t sit here and passively accept her fate. “We were basically owned by the lions until the wolves captured us. Now you guys have taken us from the wolves. Through it all our situation hasn’t changed. If we want food, protection, and shelter, we have toserviceone or more of the males.”
“You prefer to starve to death in the forest?” Victor challenged, a hint of mockery sharpening his tone. “I assure you. It’s a horrible way to die.”
“I prefer to return to Earth and the life I worked hard to build for myself.”
