Savage Hunger

By Shelli Stevens

Sienna Peters is a scientist trying to get ahead in the field. But her world is sent spinning when she discovers a secret shapeshifter species being held in the lab where she works. Realizing the horrible things being done to them, she’s compelled to free the creatures.

Warrick Donovan is a federal agent on a mission who just found more trouble than he bargained for. Unfortunately, trouble comes in the form of Sienna Peters, the younger sister of his close friend. Now not only does he need to save her pretty butt, he needs to discover just how involved she is with the imprisonment of the shifters.

Sienna has been told she can’t trust anyone. As the danger escalates, so does passion. She finds herself wanting to trust Warrick. With her life and with her heart. Even if it means he’ll break it all over again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shelli Stevens
• Release date: Jun 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798987942932

Shelli Stevens

Shelli is a New York Times Bestselling Author who read her first romance novel when she snatched it off her mother’s bookshelf at the age of eleven. One taste and she was forever hooked. It wasn’t until many years later that she decided to pursue writing stories of her own. By then she acknowledged the voices in her head didn’t make her crazy, they made her a writer.Shelli currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her daughter where she writes various genres of romance. She’s a compulsive volunteer, and has been known to spontaneously burst into song.

Book preview

Chapter One

Screams ripped through the hallway of the deserted lab. The not-quite-human sounds bounced off the walls of the dark corridor, reverberating through Sienna Peters’s skull and all the way down to her high-heeled toes.

Stop. God, she just wanted them to stop. But the feral screams continued, shaking her resolve almost as much as they did the building. The raw, guttural cries implied something primitive. Something filled with rage.

Frozen in place, her heart pounded a furious tempo as she pressed her palm against the wall to orient herself, struggling to control her erratic breathing.

She glanced around the building she was in. It was unmarked, far from the rest of the structures on the institute’s property, and strictly off-limits.

The outside of the lab had been littered with Keep Out and Private Property signs. The inside was dusty enough to tickle her nose, while cobwebs stretched across darkened corners to increase the creepiness of the place. The few ceiling lights that still worked flickered and wheezed with the effort to stay lit.

From its appearance, the building owned by Feloray Laboratories hadn’t been used in years, but anyone who could get close enough could plainly hear otherwise.

Or, if they got inside, they’d spot the sparkling state-of-the-art computers and digital cameras mounted to the walls that recorded every move. Those cameras weren’t recording right now though, she’d personally seen to it.

Sienna’s hand trembled as she bunched the blue chiffon of her floor-length evening gown up her leg, baring her thigh. She pulled the knife from the sheath hidden beneath the elegant gown, then let the fabric drop back to the floor in a billowing drift of silk.

She’d chosen her attire for tonight’s charity gala carefully, so she’d be prepared when she finally got the chance to slip away from the formal occasion. The full skirt of her dress hid the weapon in case she was discovered, because getting caught would be epically bad.

Resolutely she continued down the hallway. With the screams echoing around her it was all too tempting to turn and head to the safety of her car a mile away. The logical side of her brain demanded she do so. But something inside her was fiercely determined and wouldn’t let her turn tail.

There was no option but to help these creatures, especially since, despite all her years studying to be a biochemist, she couldn’t help them in the way they needed.

Until this afternoon she hadn’t even known of their existence. Logic and science should’ve ruled out the possibility. Even now, had it not been for the ungodly screams from the room down the hall, she might not have believed it.

The cries died out again, leaving a sudden silence that felt every bit as alarming and frightening as the cacophony of screams had been.

Keep moving, she whispered steadfastly to herself. "You will do this."

Sienna wiped a trickle of sweat off her forehead. The lab was sweltering without air-conditioning in the midsummer heat.

Another howl pierced the air. Lingering. The anguish in the owner’s voice made tears of empathy prick at her eyes.

Sienna drew in an unsteady breath and moved down the darkened hallway toward the screams, the knife clutched in one sweaty hand.

Donovan, can you confirm hostage location?

Affirmative. Warrick Donovan touched the button on his earpiece while one hand rested on his weapon. He stared down the dim passage of the building and took in another lungful of musty air. Keeping his voice quiet, he replied, Seven hostages, secured in one large holding cell.

Taking down all cameras in five, Nathan Larson, the commander of the op, said through his headset. Stand by and avoid surveillance in section four—it isn’t networked and won’t go off-line with the others.

The communication device in his ear went silent as the agent on the other end hacked into the Feloray computer system.

Warrick stroked the butt of his Glock as adrenaline rushed through his blood.

Stand by?

Easier said than done. Especially with the screams of pain that continued to shake the walls of this run-down, mildew-infested hellhole. This building was the secret bastard child of Feloray Laboratories.

Damn it. Let’s do this already.

Another agonized shriek split the air. The sound sent a frisson of unease down Warrick’s spine and made the hair on the back of his neck raise. God only knew what the hell was being done to the guys locked up in the cell. But whatever it was, it stopped tonight.

Anger brewed, making his blood pound and his jaw clench as he waited for the go signal. Though nobody would ever claim Warrick to be a patient guy.

We’ve got a problem.

Besides the obvious?

He didn’t say the words, knew they had to keep chatter at a minimum. Instead, he waited for Larson to continue.

Someone already disabled all the cameras. I think we’ve got a tango in the building.

Well, shit. Warrick glanced down both directions of the hallway, his eyes narrowing with interest. The new reason to be alert.

They can’t be our guys, Larson continued. The P.I.A. only authorized the four of us. And Rafferty and Hilliard are waiting with the vans. There was a pause. I’m calling Rafferty in to help with the rescue. I need you to find the tango.

Will do.

Warrick pulled the Glock from his holster, not the least bit disappointed in the change of plans. If anything, the thought of confronting someone who might be a part of his comrades’ imprisonment brought a ruthless smile to his face.

He moved forward stealthily, watching and listening for any sign of movement.

Come out, come out, wherever you are. And you might just get your head blown off.

A faint clicking noise made him still. He cocked his head, trying to place the sound. There it was again, a soft but rhythmic clicking.

Something familiar about the noise prickled in the back of his mind. Almost like…high heels? His brows drew together and he drew in a slow breath.

Oh, yeah, their tango was a woman. He crept forward, his lips quirking in amusement as he finally spotted her.

And a regular Cinder-fucking-rella by the looks of it.

Her blonde hair was in some fancy knot on the top of her head, leaving the smooth, alabaster skin of her neck to gleam in the dim lighting.

She looked as if she was on her way to the damn ball, wearing a floor-length, completely out-of-place evening gown. He almost missed the knife in her hand when his attention got snagged by the pair of small, perky breasts.

You’re not here to appreciate the female anatomy, buddy.

He turned his attention back to the little KA-BAR folding knife she clutched. Was she using it for protection, or with the intent to cause harm? He made a small grunt in the back of his throat. Either way, she should’ve picked a bigger knife.

Warrick pressed himself against the wall and took another step toward her. He had to move fast. The woman, though still a good distance away, kept pausing and glancing around. And though he didn’t doubt for a moment he could easily take the petite gal, the fact that she appeared jumpy and wielded a knife made her unpredictable.

For a moment he thought she saw him—she stared down the hall where he stood in a dark shadow and seemed to hesitate—but then she turned and continued toward the hostages.

He kept his breathing shallow. The likelihood that she could see him was slim. He was covered in black from head to toe, with just his face exposed, and he was standing in a corner of the lab where the lighting was out, blending easily with the shadows.

Another ear-splitting scream ripped through the building and the woman jerked, sending the knife skittering across the floor.

It was the only opening he needed. Warrick reholstered the Glock, lunged away from the wall, and went for her.

The woman didn’t even see him coming. She was leaning down to grab the knife when his arms locked around her waist and he knocked them both to the floor.

His palm slipped over her mouth, smothering the scream that erupted past her lips. She bucked beneath him, the soft curve of her ass grinding into his hips as her muffled cries of fear left hot puffs of air on his hand.

Jesus, she needs to stay the hell still.

Warrick ground his teeth together, trying not to think about the softness of her body as he let his full weight pin her to the ground, making any movement on her part impossible.

He used his free hand to touch the communication button near his ear.

Tango apprehended.

Lowering his head so that his mouth was just above the pale curve of her ear, he muttered, Any more weapons on you, Cinderella?

Another warm puff of air caressed his hand as she replied with what sounded like some kind of expletive. His lips curved into a humorless smile as he moved his hand down her side, searching for more weapons. Who was she? And more importantly, why was she here?

I think you came to the wrong party, princess.

He patted down her side, pressing firmly against the smooth fabric of her gown to check for more weapons. It became difficult to breathe as he slid his hand down her tiny waist and inward.

Warrick eased his weight off her just enough to maneuver his hand up her front, shutting his brain off from anything but finding more hidden weapons. The woman began to struggle again, her muffled cries outraged when she realized where his hand was traveling.

Just need to make sure you’re not armed. This time his lips brushed the soft curve of her ear.

An electric current ran through him and his eyelids narrowed as he breathed in the perfume she wore. Some kind of spicy vanilla scent. Sweet, sexy…and somewhat familiar. A memory tingled in the back of his head, but before he could acknowledge it pain rocketed through his hand.

"Shit!" He pulled at his hand, but her teeth followed, piercing the skin until he felt the wet trickle of blood.

The hell you bite me, he snarled.

Warrick flexed his hips against her, grinding her lower body hard to hold her still against the concrete floor, and used his free hand to grab the back of her hair.

His fingers wrapped in the knot on top of her head, grabbing her hair and jerking her head backward.

She eased her bite, opening her mouth and unclamping her teeth, before finally crying out in frustration and pain. Her furious scream pierced the air of the hallway, echoing in the building and setting off the hostages, their enraged howls starting up once more.

Warrick cursed and clamped his palm across her mouth again. Bite me again and I swear to fucking God you’ll regret it.

Donovan, is that the tango? You need backup?

Warrick’s lips tightened at the amusement in Larson’s tone as his voice came through the earpiece. He pressed the button to reply.

Under control.

Larson gave a soft laugh. Take all the time you need, buddy. I’m good here.

All the time he needed?

Bullshit. He’d have this bitch contained in seconds.

Warrick eased his weight off the woman and without removing his hand from her mouth, grabbed her hip and flipped her onto her back. He caught her flailing hands and pinned her wrists above her head with his free hand.

"Now listen up, lady. I need you to…fuck me! He blinked and shook his head against the roaring in his ears. Sienna?"

Oh my fucking God.

Sienna stared up at the man above her, her eyes rounded in disbelief. She probably would’ve recognized the voice earlier if she hadn’t been so damn terrified. The only part of him visible was his head and face, but it was a face she had never forgotten.

Her heart slammed in her chest like a caged bird and a sound of disbelief erupted from her throat, again to be caught against the calloused palm of the man above her. But not any man. Warrick Donovan.

She’d gone from getting felt up by some kinky burglar in black, to discovering that the man on top of her was no stranger.

This wasn’t happening. This had to be some kind of weird, messed-up dream. Maybe she’d fallen and hit her head. She blinked, then blinked again. But he still didn’t disappear.

Okay, not a weird dream.

Sienna? he repeated again, harder this time. She gave a jerky nod.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, he muttered and looked up toward the ceiling before turning his frustrated gaze down to her again. I don’t believe this.

Yeah, well, that made two of them. She stared up into familiar gray-blue eyes that were narrowed with incredulity and something else.

Something so hot it sent a shiver of awareness through her body. That look…she’d seen it before. Though that had been a long time ago.

He lowered his head a bit, so their faces were just inches apart.

Okay, I’m going to remove my hand. But you need to promise me you won’t scream.

She nodded again. He slid his palm off her mouth and she gulped in air. Her throat was so damned tight she probably couldn’t have screamed if she wanted to.

Okay, now will you please tell me what in the hell you’re doing here? he bit out harshly. Did your father send you here?

My father? she repeated in dismay, shocked by his anger. "Why in the hell would my father send me? I work here. Maybe we should talk about what you’re doing here?"

His mouth tightened and his gaze narrowed again. You work here? Not exactly the answer I wanted to hear, kid.

Her emotions, already running on a pretty short fuse, exploded. She made a choked cry of anger, her body bucking beneath him as she tried to free herself.

Kid? Six years had gone by, but nothing had changed. Nothing. She was still just Daniel’s little sister to him.

Unfortunately, she realized her mistake in trying to get free of him, when her movements brought the apex of her thighs into hard contact with a certain part of Warrick she was trying very hard to ignore right now.

Sienna, Warrick hissed in warning, his mouth tightening almost as if he was in pain.

She stilled, acutely aware of his tall, heated and muscled body trapping hers against the cold concrete floor of the building. Heat sizzled through her body and it became harder to drag in a breath.

I’m not a damn kid. Her cheeks heated as she realized the adolescent protest made a mockery of her words.

Warrick gave a harsh laugh as his gaze slid to the swell of her breasts above the strapless blue gown. No, of course you’re not.

The unusual gleam in his gaze had her eyes widening.

What you are is a shitload of trouble, he muttered, his head lowering slightly.

In that moment she felt it. The memory of what his mouth would feel like on hers. The firmness of his lips. How he’d taste again. But Warrick didn’t kiss her. Instead, his sensual mouth, just inches from hers, twisted into a scowl and the muscles in his shoulders coiled.

I’m here.

Sienna blinked, arousal and confusion slowing her ability to think as she glanced around but saw no one.

Her brows drew together. What—

Warrick lifted his hand to silence her, and angled his head so she saw his finger touching his ear. Everything’s fine. Just had a bit of a…distraction. His lips curled into a grimace. "Shut it, Larson. I’ll bring her out in a minute."

Seriously?

How had she not noticed the tiny little microphone running along his jaw? How much had the people listening on the other end heard? Ah crap, probably way too much.

Get off me, she whispered.

She’d had a purpose tonight. Dammit, while her teenage crush had been groping her on the floor, the creatures locked in the cell continued to suffer. And she was doing absolutely nothing to help them now.

What in the hell was Warrick even doing here?

Though a tiny part of her—and she hated to acknowledge it—welcomed his sudden presence. Knowing that she wasn’t in this building alone with those things. Because, truth be told, the unknown scared the living hell out of her. And those creatures were about as unknown as it got.

I said get off me, she repeated with more force, pushing her hands against his chest.

Warrick moved off her, his jaw flexing and his gaze not quite meeting hers as he grabbed her hand to haul her to her feet beside him. He seemed taller and broader than he’d been years ago and another shiver of awareness slid through her.

Sienna moved away from him and smoothed her dress back into place, a wave of unease running through her as she discreetly confirmed the items in her bodice were still there. Before she could take two steps away from Warrick, strong arms wrapped around her waist.

Sorry, kid.

Sienna shrieked as the hallway tilted and the ceiling swung into view. The air whooshed from her lungs as her stomach slammed into his shoulder in a fireman’s lift. His hand slapped down against her to hold her still. The floor of the hallway wavered beneath her stunned gaze as he started jogging as if she weighed nothing at all.

Warrick! Put me down! She clutched the bodice of her dress with one hand so the phone and jump drive she had hidden didn’t fall out, and used her other fist to beat against his back. Her pulse raced with panic and confusion. What are you doing?

We need to talk.

No. We absolutely do not— Her words died out as he turned a corner and the holding cell swung into view, even as he moved away from it.

Holy crap!

Her jaw nearly hit the floor as she watched two more men dressed in black break open the cell door and rush inside. But that wasn’t what had her insides twisting with horror.

She blinked, unable to connect what she’d discovered on the jump drive earlier with the reality in front of her.

Chapter Two

The creatures inside the cell continued to howl and scream as their bodies contorted. Fingers splayed out at awkward angles, stretching longer and longer, while joints grew thick and gnarled.

Hair poked through the human skin covering the—oh God, it was a wolf. The smell in the hall was rancid with sweat and human waste…animal waste.

Her heart stuttered at the sickening scene, and she wasn’t even aware that she’d stopped fighting Warrick, but was now clutching his shirt in fear.

Unable to close her eyes, Sienna watched as another creature appeared to shift back into human form, the fur on its body retracting as smooth, dark skin appeared.

And the change kept happening to all the creatures. Obviously uncontrollable, inexorable, and agonizing. They were human, and yet they were animal.

Her gaze landed on one of the creatures—a woman—inside the cell, and the glaze of pain in her stare had everything inside her clenching with compassion and helplessness.

I’m taking the tango outside to the van, Warrick said.

Her body jerked as he kicked open a door, his shoulder digging into her stomach. Then the door swung shut and the inside of the lab disappeared. But what she’d seen had been burned into her mind—she couldn’t get rid of the image.

Warrick’s grip on her tightened as he lowered her back over his shoulder and to the ground. Before she could get her balance or take note of their surroundings, she was forced up against the side of the building.

She welcomed the rough brick surface against her bare shoulders. It jarred her back to reality a bit. The slight chill in the night air would’ve added to the goose bumps that already covered her, but the proximity of Warrick’s hard body radiated a heat that reminded her this whole situation was entirely too real.

What she’d seen was real. She swallowed against the nausea that now threatened.

Warrick’s arms came down on each side of her head and his face closed in on hers, his expression fierce, any trace of softness from earlier long gone. She blinked, trying to familiarize herself with her surroundings. To calm down, and to form a clear thought.

Tell me, Sienna. What the hell are you doing here tonight?

Her heart couldn’t seem to slow from its erratic pace. In a daze, she shook her head, trying to breathe. It’s not possible… Things like that just can’t exist.

He laughed mockingly, even as something hard—frightening—flickered in his eyes. To the rest of the world, they don’t.

I…oh my God, Warrick, I don’t feel so well. Her body started to tremble and she shook her head. I need to get out of here. I need to get out of here! Warrick, let me—

Hey. Warrick caught her chin in gentle hands and forced her to look at him. Look at me, Sienna. Come on, look at me. There’s a good girl. You’re all right.

She stared into his eyes, almost hypnotized at the intensity and firm conviction in his gaze. The reassurance and calm that Warrick had always been so good at giving. He stroked his thumb in a gentle caress down her cheek.

You’re all right, Sienna. Okay, sweetheart? Take a couple deep breaths. You’re fine.

And suddenly she was. His familiar, gentle voice and reassuring words sucked the fear and anxiety right out of her. It was the closest she’d been to a panic attack in years.

Her muscles lost the tension she’d been holding, and with each slow breath she dragged in she became more aware of everything.

The smell of freshly cut grass and the scent of Warrick’s soap. The sound of the suffering creatures inside, mostly muted by the thick brick walls of the building.

Better?

Sienna gave a heavy nod to Warrick’s soft question.

How did you find out about them, Warrick? Those creatures? Are your friends going to hurt them?

Are my friends going to hurt them? The gentleness in his expression vanished, replaced instead with disbelief as he leaned his face closer to hers. "My friends are on a damn rescue mission from whatever the hell kind of evil your employer was behind."

A flush of guilt stole up her neck and she averted her gaze. She couldn’t exactly deny his accusation. But what did Warrick mean by rescue mission? And who were the other guys he was communicating with?

Feeling much calmer now and a little more in control, she asked, "How did you know they were here, Warrick?"

Warrick stared at her, his gaze narrowed with consideration. The intensity of his stare had her squirming and her gaze shifting away from his.

You didn’t answer my question, Sienna.

I’m here for the same reason you and those men are. To set them free.

Her admission was met with silence. A sliver of unease moved through her and she turned her head to glance back at Warrick.

If his gaze had been intense before, it was downright intimidating now. Even though they’d grown up together, and she knew instinctively he’d never hurt her, a shiver of fear ran down her spine.

You don’t want to lie to me, Sienna. The low threat rumbled from his throat.

Was failure to disclose the jump drive between her breasts lying?

Her throat dried up. I’m not lying.

Aren’t you?

Yes. She probably was. The unease inside her tripled. This is ridiculous. You know what? I’m just going to leave. Nice seeing you again, Warrick. Or not. She moved to slip beneath his arm but he wouldn’t let her. What now?

Warrick tilted his head and arched an eyebrow. Say you really were trying to set them free. Then what?

She stared at him. Was this a trick question? What do you mean?

What did you plan to do after you set them free? How were you going to get them off the property?

Well, they’d be free, she blustered, then saw where he was going with this line of questioning. Shoot. Okay, I admit that I…hadn’t exactly planned that far.

His mouth opened, but he didn’t say anything, just continued to stare at her.

Jesus Christ. He shook his head. You’re serious. You could’ve been killed.

She glared at him, feeling more than a little insulted at his genuine shock.

She’d been trying to help. I would’ve been fine, Warrick.

His hands slipped to her shoulders, his strong fingers biting into her flesh as he glowered down at her. No, you wouldn’t have. What the hell were you thinking? You’re so damn impulsive. God help you if your brother knew what you were up to.

Even as her flesh burned where his fingers touched her, it was anger that heated her belly now.

"You know, if those things are friends of yours, you could try being a little grateful that I was attempting to help them."

Grateful? he repeated. Have you seen the state they’re in?

They’re a little…

"They’re damn near feral, Sienna. They have no control over themselves right now. You have no idea what they even are, do you? Never mind what you were getting into."

Oh, she had a decent clue what they were after reading the files earlier today. Accepting it came a little slower. But now having seen them…

I could’ve handled it, she muttered defiantly.

He gave a harsh laugh. The hell you could have. And when we find out what’s been done to them… His grip tightened on her shoulders and his expression darkened. Hold on a minute. You know what’s been going on, don’t you?

Her pulse quickened and she drew her bottom lip between her teeth. For a moment, she wanted to tell him everything. Explain the jump drive and everything she’d seen on it.

Because this was Warrick, the only one she’d trusted to put a bandage on her scraped knee when she was a child. And right now, more than anything, she wanted Warrick to step in and fix things again. Tell her everything would be okay.

But then she remembered the words Leo whispered as he’d