by Piper Stone
“Move out. Make certain the other Breeds are safe. They are coming with us.”
“But sire, that can’t happen!” another lion called.
Luca only issued another bellowing roar.
His bold command wasn’t well received but followed, one of the other lions grabbing Brandon and tossing him across his back. The others did the same, yanking the fallen Breeds over them and racing out into the darkness. Then the leader turned to face me, padding closer, his claws scratching against the cement in a way that permeated my entire mind. He was so damn impressive.
Intoxicating.
Mesmerizing.
And he had his sights set on me.
“Come with me.”
I backed away, unable to catch my breath, his command just as terrifying as the carnage erupting in front of me. “No, I... I have to fix this.”
A deep growl erupting from his throat, he advanced like a true predator and with his oversized paw, his claws extended, he scooped me over his shoulder, planting me on his back. Fear unlike anything I’d ever known swept through me, my skin prickling from the electricity soaring between us, but there was more.
My body was changing, altered from whatever dose they’d given me. As he raced out into the night sky, I was forced to grab ahold of his mane and squeeze my knees against his massive chest. A rush of adrenaline exploded deep inside, my entire body aching but not from the horrific jolts of current I’d been forced to endure or the hard punches.
From the heightened level of desire for the beast rushing between my legs. I was wet and shaking, my pussy aching to have his cock buried deep inside. I wanted nothing more than to succumb to his will.
The king.
My king.
My alpha.
The words he whispered as he ran exploded in my brain and were ones I’d never forget.
“You belong to me, required to obey my rules or you will be punished. Your human life has ended. Now, you will become one of us.”
Chapter Twelve
Luca
She’d called to me.
My mate.
The pain had remained for some time, the agony crippling. She’d been in danger, humans attempting to end her life. Yet Brandon had attempted to save her, prepared to sacrifice himself in order to do so.
Jonas had yet to gather enough of our soldiers together, but when called, they came, racing through the night in an effort to free the Breeds as well as to save the life of my mate.
The carnage I’d found at the facility had sickened me, provoking my beast to a level I hadn’t obtained for years.
Unrestrained.
In releasing the incarcerated Breeds, I knew they wouldn’t be safe until they were miles away from the facility. Not a single one of them had an ability to turn, their systems infiltrated with some kind of drug as well as because of the abuse they’d taken. I also knew that the tigers weren’t the only ones who would reject them. The decision wasn’t easy or taken lightly, but they were coming with us, their safe harbor in our camp.
Everything would escalate from here, the humans behind this near massacre hunting for us. There were no Breeds that would remain safe. None. Even if I was right and only a few human monsters were attempting some kind of coup for fame and glory, they would need to spin the story in order to protect themselves.
The Breeds would be hunted like animals once again.
I would need to command the other Breeds to call their kind to safety in order for them to survive.
We would also need to be prepared for an ensuing attack and that meant greater numbers in order to fight them. There was still so much we didn’t know. There were no other choices, no chance at second guessing.
I also had no doubts about Clarise. Her scent was stronger than ever, her skin glowing as she began another phase of transition. I would be required to fully mate with her, pushing her farther than she knew she could go.
And she could die in the process. There was no way of telling, my hunger too great, my beast too close to the surface.
However, she now belonged to me.
Mine to fuck.
Mine to dominate.
Her training would be difficult but necessary, breaking free a part of her humanity.
The timing was all wrong, but we’d been pushed into a corner, our ability to decide stripped from us. The humans behind this had likely started the war we’d avoided at all costs.
As we raced out into the night sky, a portion of the building exploded behind us. While I’d heeded her request, leaving the humans intact, there was no way they could survive the fire. Perhaps that would end their experiments. Sadly, I suspected otherwise. Whatever they’d set in motion would continue on some level.
We escaped into the forest, easily evading any form of surveillance, moving quickly toward our camp. While my rage remained, there was nothing like the increasing feeling of absolute freedom as we raced through the dense foliage into the darkness.
My body felt as if it was on fire, my heart thundering in my chest. I’d never experienced such power before, as if I was complete. As if I’d accepted my position as king.
And all because of her.
My mate.
I could sense the other Breeds we’d rescued were restless, their fear increasing. They had every right to be terrified, the uncertainty of what we were all facing almost as difficult as the first time we’d begun to shift. This time, we would take control, building our own cities and taking command of our destiny.
This time, we would be free.
I roared to the very heavens at the thought, even though I wasn’t certain I could believe it. What we would face could mean the loss of so many of our own, and it would be the same for the other Breeds. Maybe this was what we’d been preparing for all along.
Clarise’s soft moans infiltrated my mind, the sound stabbing at my heart as much as the agony of knowing she’d been in danger. She didn’t understand what was happening to her, refusing to accept her increasing abilities.
We continued to head through the forest, only confident when we were within a few miles of our camp that we hadn’t been followed. While we slowed our progress, there was no stopping until we reached our protected grounds.
The moment I padded into our familiar forest, the keening howls and roars of the other lions were like sweet music. We were home. Their announcement we’d rescued our brethren brought almost everyone else into the clearing to celebrate.
I finally stood in the center, scanning our people, proud of what we’d accomplished even though I remained nervous. We would have maybe a day of safety before all hell broke loose if not less.
“What are we doing, Luca?” Clarise asked, a heightened level of fear in her voice.
“We are beginning a new chapter of our life.”
“You came for me.”
“Because I heard your call. I suffered your pain. You are a part of me as I am of you.”
“What does that mean? I can hear you but you’re not speaking. I can see the creatures in the darkness. How is that possible? What is happening to me? I don’t understand.”
I eased down on my haunches, allowing her to slide off my back then rose to my full height. She backed away, another wave of fear sliding into her mind. Then she reached out, allowing her fingers to brush across my face. “You’re incredible. A white lion. I never knew they existed. I thought your... kind were dead.”
“Look around you. This is my Pride. These are now your people.”
Clarise did as asked, turning in a full circle as the other lions drew close, sniffing as they circled her, just as uncertain of the future as she was.
“How is that possible?”
I clawed the earth, a growl rumbling from the very depths of my soul. “That I do not fully understand. There are things you must learn, Clarise, things that will disturb you. You can’t be afraid. You have to trust me. Can you do that?”
She looked into my eyes once again, a slight smile curling on her lip. “Yes.”<
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I moved away from her, still remaining within her sight. I would take her here in the forest, in the meadows by the stream. I would shower her with the love that I felt, the hunger for her increasing every passing second. I would share in her joy during her first shift, learning how to become a lioness. And I would forever protect her with my life.
As the other lions backed away, the different Breeds remaining curious, I began the transformation back into human form. I closed my eyes, allowing my muscles to begin the process, shortening as the fur began to fade away, replaced by human skin. I tipped my head back and roared, the anguish blinding, the earth beneath my feet rumbling from the violence of the shift.
“Oh, God. Oh...” she moaned, taking several steps away.
“Look. At. Me,” I commanded, the sound of my own voice further terrifying her.
“I can’t. This is too much to bear, Luca. I can’t.”
“You can and... you will.”
As the process continued, she held her hands over her mouth, watching in growing fascination as my claws receded, fingers elongating from the gaping holes. Within seconds, my legs had formed, slicing free of the confines of my animal form. I struggled to stand, the cold breeze both invigorating as well as providing a different breath of life.
When my body stopped shaking, I threw my head back, still roaring to the very heavens, the other lions following my lead as they began to transform, filling the night sky with cries of affirmation and joy.
As well as ones of sadness.
This could be the beginning of the end for many of us. But we would fight together.
For we were as one.
* * *
The others were gone, their orders in place. They were to secure the camp as well as attend to the injuries the rescued Breeds had suffered. As I studied Clarise, my entire body remained on fire, the hunger riveting in unusual ways. Her scent had kept my beast close to the surface, yet I needed to take her as a man, the human part of me that I’d learned to understand, even appreciate.
I’d never enjoyed the act of fucking until taking her the first time. Every synapse on fire, I approached slowly, my eyes never leaving hers as she attempted to process everything she’d seen. There was no explanation that would help ease her fears, no scientific process that would calm her nerves. She had to place her trust in me.
I’d taken her to my special place, the riverbank one of the only locations that allowed me to experience a true calming of the beast. While the moonlight was bright, adding a luminescent glow to the rippling water as it cascaded over the rocks, neither of us had the need for the magnificent light.
Her senses were heightened more than I’d expected, her transformation shifting quickly. I could feel her quickening pulse, the way her heart skipped several beats. I also read her thoughts, the anger as well as intrigue. But she knew what was happening.
Clarise backed away from me, moving against a massive tree, her fingers digging into the bark. “Why have you brought me here?”
“You know why.”
“Tell me.”
“Because I’m going to punish you. Then I’m going to fuck you.”
Her lower lip quivered, her eyes burning into mine as she gazed down the length of me. There was no doubt about her hunger. When she dragged her tongue across her lips, fisting her hands, she issued a growl of her own. The sound floated into the night, awakening the creatures around us, an admittance of her change.
I wasn’t surprised that she took off running, her long legs and increased power allowing her to jump easily over fallen foliage and rocks. While I allowed her a few seconds of freedom, I wasn’t a patient man.
And so I hunted.
Clarise raced along the river’s edge, darting her head over her shoulder every few seconds. Her stream of long hair was as alluring as the scent of her feminine wiles, the intense fragrance filtering into my nostrils, pushing me to an almost drunken state.
And fueling the beast dwelling within.
I released a series of growls as I powered forward, finally catching her by the arm. She swung at me when I whipped her around to face me, the hard punch just as unexpected as the woman herself. She would not be taken easily tonight.
“You are mine, Clarise. My woman. My lioness.”
Her defiance flashed in her eyes as she shoved her hands against my chest, breaking the connection long enough to be able to shift backwards several feet. Grinning, she had no idea how enticing her actions were, or how thirsty I’d become.
I snagged her easily, pulling her against the heat of my chest. With one hand, I ripped away her shirt, tossing it away as the limited hindrance it had become. My growl permeated the night sky as I cupped both sides of her face, dragging her onto her toes. “You can’t get away from me. You already know that.”
She snapped her hands around my forearms, digging in her sharp nails. “What have you done to me?”
“I’ve freed you, the woman inside. All the dark cravings you hungered for are possible.” As I captured her mouth, she moaned into the kiss, her body arching as I held her. The explosive heat between us was intensified, drawing every ounce of energy from my body. Even the ground beneath us rumbled as I thrust my tongue inside her mouth, tasting her sweet essence.
She dragged her nails down my naked chest, the hint of pain only adding gasoline to the fire. When she wrapped her hand around my cock, stroking the base, lights flashed in front of my eyes, my ability to focus shot to hell.
I dug my fingers into her cheeks, savoring the softness of her skin against the callused pads. Everything about her was sensuous, drawing me deeper into the woman I so desperately craved. As the kiss became a roar of passion between us, she rolled her hand up and down my cock. I was nothing but a live wire, ready to consume every inch of her.
The moment of passion became crazed, her body undulating against mine, my heart racing as I dominated her tongue. There was no denying the connection, the roar of both our beasts hungry to ravage. I’d never felt so primal, my carnal needs unlike the times I’d shared with her before.
Shifting my hand, I fisted her hair, yanking until I broke the kiss, exposing her lithe neck. I dragged the edge of my exposed canines across her jaw then down to her pulse of life, swirling my tongue in lazy circles.
“Luca,” she whispered in a husky voice, her tone dripping with desire.
I could tell her eyes were closed, her body quivering as she rolled the tip of her finger back and forth across my sensitive slit. As I bit down on her sensitive, skin, she whimpered, her body tensing. Very slowly I brushed my lips down to her shoulder blade, my rough tongue lapping every drop of perspiration as if drinking a fine wine.
She became lost in the moment, lying limp in my arms as I feasted on her delicious body, rubbing my lips to her breast.
“Perfect,” I managed before nipping her tender bud, taking her nipple into my mouth.
Her breath scattered, she planted her hands on my arms as she moaned.
I shifted to her other breast, flicking my tongue back and forth across her aroused nipple before biting down.
“Oh, God. Oh...”
“You disobeyed me,” I whispered, my balls aching to the point I was in extreme pain.
“And I’d do it again.”
Her words tickled the white-hot heat, my body shaking as I found it difficult to keep my beast at bay. As I brought her face close to mine once again, her expression had darkened, her eyes luminescent blue.
Her beast had awoken.
I dragged her to the ground, tearing off the remainder of her clothes as she fought to crawl away, her yelps and growls mixing with my savage sounds. I entangled my fingers in her hair as I forced her onto all fours, immediately bringing my hand down against her bottom.
“You will obey me,” I commanded, holding her in place even as she dug her nails into the soft grass.
She issued a series of guttural sounds, hissing and growling as I swept my hand from one side to the other. The feel of
her heated skin against my palm was invigorating, the flames turning into a firestorm. Even the perfume of her increasing desires further fueled the fire.
Her body pitched and rocked as I spanked her long and hard, every sound we both made magnified. The moment I kicked her legs wide apart, sliding my hand between them, she let out a keening roar. As I pinched her sensitive flesh, she bucked and purred, slapping her hands on the cool earth.
The feel of her wet pussy, the juice trickling down my fingers, was almost too much to bear. I took several deep breaths before smacking her swollen folds, enjoying the savage sounds she made. When I resumed the spanking, she jutted her hips as if attempting to meet every hard slap. The second I drove three fingers into her channel, her entire body froze.
“Fuck me. Just fuck me,” she pleaded, her voice barely audible.
A smile curled on my face even as I smacked her several more times until I could take it no more. We were to be as one. Lovers. Mates. Whatever the future would bring, we’d face it together. As I prepared to mount her, every hair on my neck stood on end. We were being watched. Someone dared to invade our privacy, to defy the king of the jungle.
I let off a keening roar, my command clear in the action I’d just taken.
Yet the beast remained.
Snarling, I couldn’t stop my needs, refusing to allow anyone to come between us.
As I raked my nails down the length of her back, I studied the night sky, hoping that this moment would be enough.
Yet I wanted her as a human, if only for a little while. As I eased her down, rolling her over, she reached for me, the tips of her fingers brushing down my chest. Her shimmering eyes bore into mine, her voluptuous lips parted. “Fuck me,” she whispered.
I lowered down, growling as she wrapped her legs around me. The friction as I shifted back and forth was incredible, my pulse skipping. As I slid my cock just between her folds, she arched her back, her hunger increasing.
“So wet,” I whispered then slowly slid my shaft just inside her tight channel, savoring every second of watching her beautiful face as I claimed her.