“Why?” She was stunned and curious.

“Nothing smells better or tastes better than a female in heat.” His gaze roamed her body. “May I ask you questions that might make your cheeks pinken more? It is attractive.”

“Um, I guess. What do you want to know?”

“Our females strongly desire to share sex while they are in heat. Don’t humans react that way?”

“No. We don’t even know when we’re ovulating.”

He frowned. “Really?”

“Obviously. You’re telling me something I didn’t know. I had no clue.”

“Don’t you feel an increase in your sex drive?”

She had since she’d met Tiger but he was hot. “No,” she lied.

He leaned back in the chair and his fingers tapped the arms. “Shared sex between us would be good, Zandy. I can be gentle. Are you sure you aren’t interested? Have you had time to think about it?”

Her eyes widened. “Thanks, but no.”

“You want Tiger.” His fingers stopped tapping. “He will never be open to taking a mate. You’re a single female. Don’t you want a mate?”

She was starting to feel uncomfortable. “Look, Smiley. You’re an attractive man but I’m not interested in you. I’m flattered but it’s a firm no.”

“You were aroused by Tiger. You are also human. Our females don’t enjoy bonding with males but I’ve been told yours do. He rarely shares sex with the same female more than twice a year. I haven’t heard about him ever touching a human one. You have needs he is never going to meet.”

“Just because I’m attracted to someone doesn’t mean I want to have sex with just anyone.”

He smiled. “I will never understand human females.”

“It’s not just you. All men don’t understand us.”

“I have something in common with your males then after all.”

“I guess so.” She stood. “You can go home. I don’t need a babysitter and it’s late. I’m going to try to get some sleep.”

He didn’t budge. “Are you sure you don’t want company in your bed? I’m skilled with sex. You’ve had a trauma and shouldn’t be alone. I could distract you.”

The guy was persistent. “I’m very sure.”

“I’ll stay here until the male is caught. That’s what I was ordered to do. I won’t bother you.” His gaze roamed down her body. “I would never go where I wasn’t wanted. Have no worry that I’ll enter your room. Rest well, Zandy.”

“Thank you.”

She fled and closed the door between them. She wasn’t worried he’d come after her. Her gaze drifted to her bed. New bedding had replaced the old ones. One of the officers had made the bed for her.

Tiger wasn’t coming. That was obvious. Disappointment gripped her and she changed out of the heavy sweatpants into a pair of thin shorts. The window had been boarded shut and someone had turned up the heat too much to compensate for how chilled the room had grown after the window was smashed.

A yawn broke from her as she stretched out on top of the comforter. It had been a long, traumatic day. She’d been attacked at the gates and then again on Reservation. The day couldn’t end soon enough. Smiley was in the living room and she knew no one would get past him. She was safe.

* * * * *

Tiger jogged to the left of the trees while Vengeance dodged to the right. The human had taken to the forest and they’d had to leave the Jeep behind. The human had made a mistake since his scent was easier to follow with the thick vegetation blocking the wind. Tiger crouched, sniffed the air and knew he was close to finding his target. The scent was strong and the prey was terrified. He’d made it almost two miles but it wouldn’t be far enough to escape. The human had slowed from exhaustion and his weakness was sure to get him caught.

Tiger ran, following the scent. He saw something ahead and sprinted quickly for it. His eyesight was good at night. It was a gift of his altered DNA. He was grateful for it tonight.

The human was limping. Tiger smelled Vengeance coming from the other side to trap their prey between them. This was the male who’d touched Zandy. He silently slowed before leaping to land next to his target.

The human gasped and fell back on his ass. Tiger roared. The male screamed in response. The stench of terror intensified—a bittersweet smell. The urge to tear the son of a bitch apart was strong but instead Tiger reached down, fisted the male by his shirt and yanked him to his feet. He was big for a human male.

“Why did you attack the female and trespass into her quarters?”

The smell of urine was strong. The human had wet himself. Vengeance laughed. Tiger waited for the human to respond.

“We thought she was Jessie North,” he sobbed.

Tiger growled. “She is not.”

“I know. I saw her driver’s license.”

The man’s front pocket started to beep. Tiger tore the material open, grabbed the cell phone and looked at the caller ID. He growled and turned it to face the male he held. “Who is this?”

“One of the guys. He said he’s going to meet me over the wall to get me the f**k out of here.”

Vengeance growled. “You will not be meeting him. I’m hungry, Tiger. How about you? I say we chow down on this son of a bitch.”

The human moaned in horror, almost causing Tiger to smile. Vengeance was good at terrorizing the stupid ones. He believed they’d eat him now. If the male had a brain, he’d know they didn’t eat people and, even if they did, they sure as hell wouldn’t want something that reeked of body odor and piss.