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shifters free. I think that cow Melinda is selling us to the highest bidder. I can t prove
anything but I ve heard a few suspicious conversations lately. He looked at James. It
would probably be easier to escape without the giant lion following us.
Lou shrugged. He has control issues. This is only the second time he s shifted.
Really. Surprise lit the Puma s face. Why?
His father suppressed it.
The puma gave James a distasteful look as if he d accidentally stepped in something
slimy. He s Dr Everett s son, isn t he?
Lou stepped protectively in front of the lion. He didn t like the look in the other man s
eyes. Why do you ask?
They talk about him a lot. He s trying to perfect a formula to prevent shifting. Why
would anyone not want to shift? I only came here because they said they d pay me for my
blood for scientific experiments.
James is a half-breed. His father was worried he d tear himself apart.
So better to destroy an entire species than let his son die?
I don t think that was his original goal.
Cameron looked sad for a moment. It doesn t excuse his actions but I wouldn t mind
someone loving me that much. Besides, lately I get the impression Melinda is in charge
now.
I doubt it. Dr Everett broke up with her. I think he s finally seen her true colours.
We can only hope.
A PRIDELESS MAN Amber Kell
55
Let s see if there are other people to rescue.
They walked through the strangely circular corridor to discover five more shifters tying
up some workers. None of them knew why the cells were unlocked or where the guards had
gone. There were mostly medical workers around.
This gets weirder and weirder, Lou said. He looked back and forth to the group of
shifters, two males and three females. They were all golden with matching gold eyes.
Lions?
They nodded with an eerie synchronicity.
Who s the leader?
He s gone, one of the female felines offered. He disappeared one day after he
challenged Melinda about lying.
They said he left.
But he would never just leave us, one of the male lions said. He was a good leader.
The other lions nodded.
Come with me. If we get out of here we can try and find your alpha.
Smiles all around. He felt like he just offered candy to a group of kids. They all looked
so damn young. It made sense that Andrew would want to experiment on lions the most. It
was the closest he could get to his own son s DNA.
I m Lou.
I m Danice, the most vocal of the females spoke. This is Liza, Jane, Arturo and
Rickey. Our alpha is Cesar.
Lou s mouth twitched at the alpha s name but he resisted comment. Do you know if
there are any more shifters around?
They all shook their heads.
Grab their door keys. The humans looked pretty calm for people trussed up. We
could interrogate them?
Worry crossed their faces.
No, Melinda wouldn t have told them anything. They re worker drones, the puma
said, watching their expressions.
From the little he knew of Melinda that was probably true. We need to find out what s
going on. We ll do better if we stick together.
Or we ll get recaptured together, Cameron piped up.
A PRIDELESS MAN Amber Kell
56
James growled at the puma. Lou watched with amusement as the other shifters stepped
away from the annoyed cat.
Together, I meant that was a great idea. We should travel together. Safer, Cameron
said stepping carefully backwards.
Good. Stick with me. Lou nodded for the others to go ahead. They were only too
eager to get away from the growling kitty.
Easy, babe. No reason to scare the sweet ones.
He got a flash of fang from the white lion.
Chuckling, Lou followed the others, completely confident his mate would come after
him. Lou was marked with James scent and he knew the lion wouldn t let him go no matter
what. As soon as they got back to his house and his lover returned to his human form he was
going to return the favour and mark the man until he knew he was claimed in return.
The others ran like they knew where they were going a path that came to a screeching
halt when a dozen dead soldiers lined the hall.
Oh, shit, the coyote got out, Cameron said with a whistle.
What coyote? Lou asked though he was afraid he knew where Dennis sister went,
but memories of Dennis sad eyes made him ask, What was her name?
Who? Danice asked.
The coyote.
Crazy lady, Cameron said. She never talked to the rest of us. She was kind of
damaged. They usually left her in her cell. I think they were afraid of her.
Looking down at the pile of ravaged bodies Lou decided they had more than a little
reason to be. Where do you think she d go once released?
Who knows?
He watched James sniff the mauled bodies holding back the bile rising in his throat. If
his lover ate the humans he didn t think he d be able to ever look at the man the same again.
It wasn t unusual for a newly changed shifter to lose control. His relief was enormous when
James lifted his head and wandered away from the dead humans without further interaction.
Is there anything you guys need before we leave? Because I m not coming back here.
It occurred to Lou he didn t know what was on the outside. Would they even be able to find
anyone to help and how would he explain about a white lion?
A PRIDELESS MAN Amber Kell
57
As it was they barely made it outside before a big van pulled up and Andrew jumped
out of the back.
Oh, thank god you found him. I went to your house and no one was there but I saw
the dart on your floor. Melinda never returned to the hotel so I got suspicious. Once I found
James missing I guessed she d bring him here. As he babbled his eyes took in his son s new
form.
Talan and Adrian came out of the front seats of the van.
The lions all looked immediately to the left, tilting their necks in deference to the
presence of an alpha. All except James, who trotted up to Talan and butted his head into the
alpha s thigh.
I think he wants a pet, Adrian said with a laugh.
You re kidding me! Talan stared at the white lion in astonishment. You are not a
housecat. I m not petting you.
James gave a low, mean growl.
Fine. I m scratching. Talan scratched the white lion behind the ears, under the chin
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