Olivia couldn't stand it. The monster was eating Jesse! The only guy to ever prove somewhat promising in the relationship department, and a reject from the Black Lagoon was devouring him.
“Hell no,” she yelled and gave in to the sudden well of rage boiling inside her. She used the creature's own hungers to foster a need to kill within herself. Screams and alien noise from all around her only added to the insanity of the situation. Jesse's large, tough body continued to bleed out as the thing tightened around him like a coiled boa.
On fire, Olivia pulled at her clothes and stretched with every cell she possessed. The pain was agonizing, but the mutant's fury fed her desire to destroy. When the ache finally passed, she clenched her fingers, aware of a subtle difference. Her nails were an inch long and hard as steel A glance down at herself showed her body to be darker, taller, and way more muscular.
She smacked her lips, called for the mutant, and had to avoid piercing her tongue on the long, sharp fangs in her mouth. Holy crap.
“I'm here, you prick,” she yelled to it again. The scent of its internal decay sickened her, but in a way she also felt a strange pity. The thing had no sense of self, only a lonely need for companionship. It broadcast like a radio tower, its feelings loud, all-encompassing, and pathetic.
“I'm here. Come to me,” she said more quietly and held out her arms.
It didn't break its stare at her as it released its hold on Jesse. He slumped on the ground while the mutant crawled to her. Before she could figure out what she intended to do to it, a dark blur flew in front of her, taking the mutant away once more.
Two more Circs entered her immediate space, and she crossed to hover protectively over Jesse. A glance at him made her wonder how she'd ever thought him a beast. He still appeared like himself as a man, but he was better, stronger, harder. The blood all over him bothered her, and she sent him a burst of heat, warning him with an emotional tug to heal himself.
“Christ, that's perfect.” Jules's sarcastic growl came from the large Circ to her right. He radiated power, and she couldn't help her instant attraction. The beast within her preened at having the leader's attention. “A female Circ out here to tease the rogues circling us like a damned hunting party. Talk about a helluva trip.”
Kisho blinked at her and cocked his head. “I didn't see this coming.” Bigger, like Jules, he took her breath away. Exotically slanted eyes, thick, long, dark hair, and muscles that gleamed in the Brazilian sun. Were it not for her mate, she might have tried claiming the others as her own.
But she needed to protect Jesse first. The rest of her new family could come second.
In the back of her mind, Olivia recognized her newfound thoughts and emotions as not quite a part of her, but right now she focused her attention on those directly within reach of Jesse.
The mutant uttered a hoarse cry before growing silent, its lack of noise a distinct warning that something much worse had joined them.
To her shock, she barely recognized Gunnar. He stood a head larger than Jules and Kisho.
Ripped with muscle, the tendons in his neck and arms stood out in stark relief. Veins bulged as he moved like a hulking bodybuilder who ate other bodybuilders for breakfast. But it was his eyes, bright blue blazes bathed in black that alarmed her. Nothing about him looked remotely human. His claws dripped with a black, oily substance, and his teeth dripped with the same stuff.
Not fangs, but sharklike, pointed teeth that could rip into a body and decimate his opponents.
He raised his head and sniffed and took a threatening step in her direction.
She pulled at his rage and snarled in warning.
He stopped and blinked and, to her surprise, began to shrink in size. He remained large but not so gigantic, and his eyes once again looked normal, the slit pupils declaring him Circ.
“Olivia?” he asked, his voice hoarse. He absently wiped the black stuff from his face and hands. “Fuck, you fully changed.” He stared hard, his gaze centered on her breasts as he licked his lips.
“Is Fallon okay?” Jules asked.
She didn't know, but when he moved forward to check, she growled at him to stay back.
“We don't have time for this.” Jules scowled. “We need to get you both out of here before the others find us.”
“Others?” Olivia knew it was Jules; she trusted him. But her beast didn't want to give up her mate's safety to anyone.
“Remember who's in charge,” Jules rumbled and released a torrent of vanilla that soothed her protectiveness.
“I—Sorry.” She shook her head and allowed Jules to pull her away. Hayashi rushed to Jesse's side. “I don't know up from down right now.” She rubbed her jaw, aware it felt heavier than it should. She should have been embarrassed about her nudity in front of the others, but seeing them all naked, in their natural forms, took away any sense of shyness from her.
Jules ran his knuckle over her cheek. “It's okay. The beast acts on instinct. Jesse Fallon belongs to me, but he belongs to you as well.”
She nodded.
“We have to leave. Rogues are unsafe, and as you saw, mutants are a real problem.
Hayashi, you and Tersch lead them away, then lose them in the jungle and circle back to the safe house, not the hotel. They'll be waiting for us there.”
“Right.” Gunnar waited for Kisho. “Olivia, listen to Jules. Protect your mate,” he growled, his eyes blazing.
“I will.”
“We'll see you soon.” He nodded at Kisho, and they left without a sound.
Jules bent down and hefted Jesse, who was no longer bleeding, over his shoulder. He gave her a grin that lifted her spirits. “Don't worry; we do this all the time. Our boy will be just fine after some rest. Now let's lose these assholes and stash you someplace safe.”
“Stash us someplace safe,” she corrected. “He's not ready for battle yet.” She glanced at Jesse, lying helplessly against Jules.
“Right. Don't worry, Olivia. He'll be swearing up and down at you in no time. Trust me.”
“I do.” She paused. “Or I would have ripped out your throat the minute you touched what's mine.” She blinked. “Did I just say what I think I said?” Jules chuckled. “I can see you're going to fit right in. You'll keep Fallon in line. Come on.” Fit in. Acceptance, family. Mate. Despite the extremity of the situation, all was right with the world. “Lead on, boss.”
Chapter Nine
Jesse woke to throbbing ribs and a pounding headache. He stared at a broad back and tight ass and recognized them as belonging to Jules.
“Olivia?” he croaked.
“I'm here.”
He pushed up from Jules's back and stared, amazed, at Olivia in shifted form. Dear God, she was perfect. Tall, lithe, yet packed with muscle. Her golden skin had deepened, not so much brown as tan. Her dark hair hung in thick black waves down her back. Her fangs peeked over full bloodred lips pursed in displeasure. And that body…
“Jules, he's awake and hurting. I can feel it.”
“So take some of the pain.” Jules didn't slow down.
She frowned at him, pleasing Fallon that she didn't like his leader as much as he'd feared.
Jealous bastard that he was, he wanted her affection all for himself.
Her blue-green eyes shone with energy as she absorbed some of his aches, leaving him with a hazy sense of wonder.
He smiled at her. “Nicely done, baby. Now how about a little kiss?” Her expression of joy made him hard in an instant.
“Shit, Fallon. Your cock is digging into my chest. Save it, would you?” He couldn't help it. Seeing all of Olivia in her nude, changed glory, aroused him. Her full tits were fuller, tipped with rosy nipples he intended to suck as soon as Jules put him down. Her long legs would wrap around his hips tightly while he pounded into her. So good, she'd take him as roughly as he wanted.