Something was…coming for them.
“Move!”he shouted.
But it was too late.
A thunderous bellow echoed across the paddock.From the darkness charged a wall of muscle and antlers—Tank the moose, the park’s unofficial mascot.
They weren’t in one of the empty paddocks; they’d crossed into the norms’ paddock, where the non-shifting animals were kept.
Shit!
A nearby jaguar couldn’t get away in time as Tank gored him, tossing him into the darkness and bellowing his rage.Otto scrambled toward the other wall to get into the park itself, as Tank was standing between them and the maintenance shed.
Another jaguar was lost to Tank’s hooves, bones crushing with a sickening sound and the night filling with screams of pain and then nothing.
The remaining males followed Otto as he reached the gate to exit the paddock.The EMP had knocked out the gate’s electronic lock and he pushed it open, letting out his males, and closing it while Tank raced toward them.
The lights flickered back on and the sound of running feet came from all sides.
The security team was on the way and they were out of time.
Grabbing the nearest male, he tugged him forward, racing toward the center of the park.Otto was shaking, not from fear but from the burning rage that was seething in his chest.His plan had been thwarted by a damn moose, but he wasn’t going to run like a little bitch with his tail between his legs.
Security team members came toward them and Otto stopped with his males as they left the safari tour trail.
This was his last stand.
“Bring me Sera,” he shouted.“I’ve come to collect my mate.”
* * *
The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread lingered in the air as Caesar leaned back in his chair, one arm stretched over the top of Sera’s seat.Her hair brushed his fingers, and he absently stroked the silky strands.She was smiling, but her eyes were heavy with fatigue.It had been a long evening, but a good one.
They’d hosted a pride dinner Saturday evening in their home for the lions who weren’t scheduled to work.The house had been packed full and overflowing with laughter, good food, and the kind of camaraderie that came from a group of people who genuinely liked and cared for each other.After the party the night before, he wanted something a little more casual and the pride always enjoyed having a meal together.
The plates had long since been cleared and most of the pride had left.Only his sons remained at the table, sharing stories of the pride and their family.Jupiter’s and Lucius’s mates had gone to bed, and Caesar knew Sera was about to head to bed herself.
“I can’t remember the last time we just sat and talked,” Amadeus said.“It’s awesome.”
“It’s definitely a little slice of heaven,” Sera said.
Caesar was about to suggest that they call it a night when the overhead lights flickered.Not once, but twice.
And then they went out.
There was a thump and a hum, and the generator kicked in that would power the entire underground grid.
As the lights came back on, Caesar frowned.There were no storms that might knock power out, so what had caused it?
“What happened?”Sera asked.
“I don’t know,” Caesar said.
Caesar’s phone beeped, and so did the others.He read the screen:Alert!Security system is down.
“Shit,” Jupiter said.
They all stood, and Caesar bent and kissed Sera.“Stay down here, baby.I’m going topside.”
