“Yes, my pet. You are so wet.” He slipped his fingers between my swollen folds, pumping several times.

  I could no longer think or breathe, my entire world turned upside down. The pleasure shifted into a roar of bliss. Only when I felt him shifting his body back and forth across mine did I stiffen.

  “Now, I fuck you.”

  There was no hesitation, no ability to scream before he plunged the entire length of his thick cock deep inside.

  My mouth opened yet there was no sound. The sensations as they rocketed through me were thrilling, my muscles immediately clamping around the huge invasion.

  As scattered whimpers finally left my mouth, he pulled almost all the way out, slamming into me again.

  And again.

  With every brutal thrust, I was tossed into a whirlpool of blackness, no longer able to decipher between what was real and what had to be fantasy. The railing creaked as he powered into me, his heavy breathing matching mine.

  “Wet and tight,” he struggled to say, laughing softly as he continued to take me. Somewhere deep inside, I knew the beast wanted to break me.

  In those few minutes of hard fucking, I knew he’d captured me as his own.

  His pet.

  His mate.

  And the thought was… revolting. Then why was I so wet? Why did I continue to hunger for him?

  As his breathing became erratic, his growls more beast than man, I closed my eyes. This couldn’t be real. This was nothing more than a dream.

  His body shaking, I knew he was close to coming and my body betrayed me all over again, an orgasm sweeping through me.

  I bit back a scream as he tipped his head back and roared.

  As only an alpha male would do.

  Claiming what was rightfully his.

  And telling the world I now belonged to him.

  You are now mine…

  “No!”

  Jerking up, I realized I was shaking all over, my body aching from an intense chill. The early morning light was almost too bright, my head killing me. Blinking in order to focus, I realized I’d kicked off the sheets and comforter sometime in the middle of the night.

  I also realized something more… terrifying. I was completely naked. What the hell?

  Suddenly, memories of the dream filtered into my mind. But was it a dream? As I pressed my hand to my throat, I felt tenderness, enough so I was forced to swallow.

  “Okay. You’re okay,” I whispered hoarsely. When I attempted to crawl out of bed, I almost fell to the floor. Not only did every muscle in my body ache, my buttocks were sore. As if…

  As if I’d received a hard spanking.

  I shifted my hand around my hip, cradling my bottom. The heat resonating through my fingers was intense.

  What the hell was wrong with me? Had I injured myself in some way? Think. Think clearly. There had to be some reasonable explanation for the way I was feeling. I remembered having at least two drinks after Yasmine had left, the last one on the porch as I enjoyed the night air.

  That was correct, wasn’t it?

  Maybe it had actually been three drinks.

  One thing was certain; the dream I’d experienced had been even more vivid than any of the ones before.

  His rugged body.

  His long, muscular legs.

  His thick, throbbing cock.

  My pussy ached from the thought of seeing his naked body, the gorgeous blond mystery man who’d been the center of my fantasy.

  A sensuous mouth with kissable lips.

  A rough and tumble demeanor as he’d…

  Spanked me. Hard.

  “Way to go, girl. Now you’re fantasizing about a stranger breaking into your house and punishing you.” The words sounded cold. They also sounded fake.

  A strange scent remained in the room, so musky and ripe with testosterone.

  As well as sex.

  Oh, God. Oh, God.

  It was entirely different than before, even more real.

  I bit back a laugh, realizing I’d had too much to drink and not a scrap of food. My God. I hadn’t experienced a hangover in several years. I managed to stumble into the bathroom, wincing as the light came on automatically. Exhaling, I wiped my hand through my damp hair, before attempting to look into the mirror.

  The shock of what I was seeing forced a series of whimpers from my mouth.

  Scratches.

  There were several of them covering my arms as well as my neck. I tilted my head, gingerly pressing my fingers against the tender areas.

  “No. There is no way.” Very slowly I turned around, only keeping one eye open as I glanced at my bottom. My very reddened bottom. “Fuck.”

  Yet as the same unrecognizable scent wafted into my nose, I let out a moan and slipped to the floor, still able to hear him calling to me. Beckoning for me.

  I was covered with his scent.

  The tiger.

  The beast.

  There was no way to avoid the truth. The mating process had begun.

  With a Breed.

  Chapter 5

  Akuma

  Boom!

  The shot sliced through the air, the understanding clear in my mind.

  Another Breed had just been shot.

  I’d left our encampment several days before to try to collect the information sought after by Luca, finding enough to corroborate his fears. While the data I’d discovered was limited, there was enough to warrant concern that all the camps and villages in the area had been targeted by the dissidents.

  I’d been away for longer than I’d wanted, but I’d yet to be able to spend time at the laboratory Luca had mentioned. There were always people working. I would try one additional time. The same dreams had continued almost every night, pulling me in the direction of where I remained when not visiting the city.

  The river near her home, the very place she returned several times a week in order to paint.

  The woman who left me panting from desire, my hunger building every day. The very day I’d seen her for the first time, I’d been forced to face the fact that she was my mate.

  Even if she was human.

  I licked my paws, memories of the night before rattling every one of my senses. I’d been able to tell she still couldn’t come to terms with the truth, but that would come in time. I’d risked her running away by taking her in the middle of the night, but my mating instinct had driven me to escalate the process. I had to protect her from other beasts as well as humans.

  Soon, she’d have no choice but to return to the encampment with me. The remaining days close to Savannah would be fraught with danger.

  I gathered a whiff of her scent, although she remained far enough away from the hunt that I’d detected miles away. I had to be careful what I did with regard to taking her. Once she was discovered to be my mate, a target would be placed on her back.

  Another cracking sound drew my attention back to the ugliness I’d be forced to deal with.

  Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time I’d encountered smaller groups of dissidents while attempting to find out as much as possible.

  I raced through the line of trees, fighting the rage that had remained since the attack in the forest a week before. After tasting blood and learning that several of the Breeds had been attacked on the same night, I had no issue killing these two particular hunters.

  Humans.

  They would die by my hands.

  The scent of blood and gore was heavy in the humid air, further igniting my rage. I continued my trek, racing through the trees until I was able to garner a sight of the horror.

  This wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last. A smaller group of humans were on the hunt, attempting to eradicate every lone shifter they came in contact with. Even picking us off one by one would help them with their plan.

  “Die, you piece of shit,” one of the hunters yelled before pumping another round of bullets into the creature’s brain.

  While I remained in the shadows, I was clearly able to see the humans as they advanced on their kill, already gloating over the treachery they’d committed.

  The beast rested in a pool of blood, his lifeless body a testament to the slaughter.

  A lion.

  A Breed.

  A laser had stopped the beast cold. Their rage had taken their kill several steps further.

  I couldn’t resist the hunger for blood unfurling within every inch of my being. As the four filthy humans stood over their kill, laughing as if they’d performed a service for the human race, I padded closer, taking a deep whiff of their stench.

  As the shadows of the forest did their part to protect me, I did exactly what was necessary.

  I lunged forward and attacked.

  The screams of the men became beautiful music, the rage flowing through me requiring satisfaction.

  I would perform the same brutal deed when and if it was necessary.

  And I would enjoy partaking in the kill.

  When I’d eradicated the enemy, I stood over them as I tipped my head back and roared.

  The humans would pay for their sins.

  I eased my paws into the crystal clear water, watching as strings of blood floated over a series of rocks. The death of the humans would hopefully send a message to whoever was in charge of organizing the dissidents in Savannah. I’d learned enough in my nightly treks to realize that there were several humans involved, likely more than Luca had originally thought. There’d been secret meetings at clandestine locations. The fact they’d used filters to block out my ability to hear was telling.

  The plans were well under way.

  I would need to move the Streak if necessary. We weren’t strong enough in numbers to handle more than two hundred human soldiers. Even that would certainly mean dozens of casualties.

  Another scent wafted into my nostrils just as I lapped up the cool water.

  Her scent.

  Nicolina.

  She was here.

  And I was very hungry.

  Given what had occurred between us the night before, I’d begun to more easily read her thoughts. She continued to refuse to accept the passion that had embroiled us, preferring to believe she was losing her mind. Soon, I would have no choice but to take her whether she believed or not.

  My thoughts drifted, a level of anger remaining from everything I’d seen and heard. The dissidents had been able to gather additional disgruntled humans, their hatred of Breeds even more intense than I’d realized. I had to get her away from here. I also couldn’t help but wonder what our coupling would mean.

  Hope?

  I continued to have difficulty believing all the hype. However, I couldn’t deny the meaning of finding her.

  I shifted my gaze toward the trees on the other side of the river, able to catch a glimpse of her as she worked. She’d remained in the same location, already working on a second painting. I was uncertain if she was aware of my presence, but there was no fear in her, no aura of worry. She’d found a special place of her own.

  To think that my dreams had actually been a foretelling of what was to come continued to gnaw at my mind. While I’d heard Luca had dreamt of his mate as well, the mating with the human had also been interfered with, a reaction to infused Breed DNA implanted in the human female for years. I hadn’t seen or felt any evidence of that possibility within Nicolina.

  Hell, I’d scoffed at the idea of finding a mate, no matter the stories my father told me, or the fact Luca and Jabari had discovered theirs. Nicolina was a precious gift, a perfect creature.

  A fucking human.

  The irony was almost ridiculous. The last thing I’d wanted was for the concept to be true, but here I was, remaining in the forest near her home instead of returning to the encampment. My testicles were full, aching like my cock.

  She was mine, a fantasy come to life.

  Taking her again would be my greatest joy.

  My mate…

  I only hoped I could keep her safe. I growled, remembering my father’s greatest wish, his excitement at the prospect of his only cub finding a mate.

  Saving the Streak.

  Increasing the fold.

  Christ.

  I growled again, my hunger increasing as I studied her, basking in her glory.

  Beauty.

  I’d often heard it said that beauty was in the eye of the beholder. However, she was truly a breathtaking woman, the kind who could make any man’s cock remain at full attention. One single whiff and I’d become intoxicated, her scent exploding in every cell and muscle leaving me crazed with desire.

  Beast.

  Why did the entire situation continue to anger me? It almost felt as if our combined desire had indeed been orchestrated. How the hell could that be possible? The wariness was something I’d keep in the back of my mind.

  A woman of such magnificence deserved more than to share her bed with a dangerous beast, a creature who enjoyed killing all those he considered his enemies. I was that beast, a monstrous creation altered by the hand of mankind.

  If I had any humanity buried in my altered DNA, I would walk away, leaving her perfect porcelain skin unblemished.

  Leaving her untarnished from the carnal acts I craved performing.

  Tasting.

  Feeding.

  Fucking.

  But that wasn’t going to happen.

  I’d already taken her and there was no going back.

  Besides, there was no humanity in my system, no wretched few molecules that had been infused with my blood. I was nothing more than a savage predator, enjoying my abilities to feast at will. The insidious hunger churning in my system had left me weak, my needs becoming intense and sadistic, even though someone as innocent and vulnerable didn’t deserve the atrocities surfacing in my mind.

  However, taking what I wanted was my right. There were no human or Breed laws capable of stopping me. I was the alpha male, and this was my requirement as foretold by my father and his father before him. I could no longer abandon the idea.

  She’d been my great find, or what my father would call destiny.

  I’d watched her over the course of the last few days. She always came to the same location, the lavish countryside considered off limits as well as dangerous to humans. The forbidden zone. The areas of abandoned cities and suburban villages that had been nearly destroyed by the humans’ last great war were usually occupied by vicious criminals as well as rogue Breeds refusing to comply to human laws.

  It would seem the sensual redhead had a daring side, but she had no idea just how much danger she was in.

  Perhaps that’s why I’d followed her to her house the night before, the cabin rustic and far removed from other humans. As I’d stood outside in the trees surrounding the bank of the river, I’d been able to study her in every detail.

  Her long, flaming red hair.

  Her shapely legs.

  Her voluptuous mouth.

  The lovely freckles dotting her cheeks.

  And my cock had remained hard the entire time.

  Then I’d broken the veil of fantasies. There was no turning back.

  I dragged my tongue across my canines, envisioning her naked body laid out in front of me, her wet pussy still glistening from a recent hard fucking. I scanned the forest to ensure we were entirely alone.

  Soon, you will be mine in every way.

  I knew she was able to hear me, our connection growing stronger. I would need to warn her to stay out of the forbidden zone.

  What she couldn’t know was that the dissidents were using the forbidden zone as a hunting ground. That meant the richness of the land and clean water had attracted other Breeds who refused to shift into human form, perhaps believing they’d found the perfect respite. They had no way of knowing they were being slaughtered one by one.

  I pawed the ground, taking another deep whiff. Her perfume floated across the expansive terrain, sliding across the water as the wind carried it in my direction. I was salivating from the glorious fragrance, my balls tightening.

  Visions popped into my head.

  Feasting on her delicious pussy.

  Enjoying the spoils of exploring every inch of her luscious body for longer than a couple hours.

  And ravaging her in every hole.

  I was almost blinded by my insane desires, my heart thudding against the massive cavity walls of my chest. I pawed the ground, my claws scratching the wet grass, the early morning dew still lingering on the foliage. I no longer cared she was a mere human, a creature I’d often called disgusting and unworthy of my time.

  My kind’s true enemy.

  I wanted her.

  I would have her forever.

  As I inched closer, I could see goosebumps popping along the length of her naked arms from the intense breeze. Several long strands of hair whipped against her face as she attempted to continue her work. I could make out her voluptuous curves and long legs. Now my cock was throbbing, aching to the point of intense pain. There was no holding back, no possibility that I could be gentle with her.

  Just as I was ready to pounce, she tipped her head toward the sun, arching and stretching her back. Her lines were graceful, her hard nipples pushing against the thin material of her tee shirt. I had difficulty focusing as she reached down, grabbing a vessel of liquid. I shrank back into the shadows, continuing to watch, fascinated by what she was doing.

  My heart racing.

  My body tensing.

  My blood boiling.

  The lilting sound as she hummed while working filtered into my eardrums, reminding me of a different time and place. A deep rumble occurred in my chest, every muscle tensing, a strange sense of knowing filtering into my system.

  She was mine. Mine. Mine!

  Unable to think straight, I threw back my head and roared.

  I’d found the one, the single female who could fortify my Streak, ending years of pain and strife. A woman so important to my kind that I would do anything to protect her.

  And I would take her, claim her.

  Fill her with my seed.

  Then she would bear my cubs.