Eyes on the Pride (Awakening Pride Book 8) by Lacey Thorn Read Free Book Online Page B

on the second ring, and the subtle echo gave witness to the fact the call was on speaker. “What do you need?”
    It was funny how well the other male seemed to know him when their time together had been so long ago. Some situations promoted camaraderie, and those labs had been one of them. The more the scientists there had tried to pit them against one another, the more they’d stuck together when not under the influence of drugs.
    “Calloway?” Gideon’s voice grew terse, his tone deepening as if trying to scent through the phone whether or not Calloway was in danger.
    “Still eager to have me join you?” Calloway asked, getting straight to the point.
    “Yes,” Gideon answered with no hesitation. “You’re not afraid of the drugs anymore.”
    Calloway blew out a frustrated breath, unwilling to lie. Not that it would work anyway. Gideon knew all too well that fear of what those drugs could bring out still gripped Calloway. “I’m still not sure how well I’ll do with a mix of other people.”
    “But you’re ready to give it a try?”
    Calloway almost heard the wheels spinning in Gideon’s brain. He was also aware someone else was there, listening. Obviously, it was someone Gideon trusted.
    “I’ve mated,” Calloway admitted.
    “You’ve mated,” Gideon said at the same time.
    “You must be worried about her safety,” Gideon continued. “I promise you we’ll do everything we can to help provide safety for both of you. As for your worry about the drugs they used on us, we have a lab here. Top of the line equipment. We’ll be able to run some tests on you. Track what’s in your system and know if anything spikes. I can honestly tell you I’ve had no problems—well…that’s not exactly true.”
    “Did you hurt anyone?” Calloway asked immediately. It was his greatest fear and why he kept away from most of his kind. They’d been drugged and forced to fight one another in that lab. He’d never been willing to risk the chance there might be some implanted suggestion that would trigger a reaction like that again or a latent reaction to the combination of drugs they’d injected into them. At least, he hadn’t been willing to risk it until Darby.
    “No. I had a few issues when my mate and I first met. We were convinced we weren’t mates, that it was just a physical itch we’d scratch and move on from. I almost attacked one of the pride when he thought to step between us.”
    “What stopped you?”
    “My mate,” Gideon answered with a chuckle. “Vic put a stop to it. My woman doesn’t take any shit. She’s fierce and strong. She made me focus on her, and I calmed pretty easily after that. I should have known she was mine. I just…never expected to find a mate. Didn’t think I deserved one.”
    After what they’d done, what they’d survived, Calloway understood the sentiment well.
    “Yeah, I met Darby four years ago. I knew she was mine but held back. I told her it was because her dad asked me to.”
    “Was it?”
    Calloway snorted. “Not likely. She was young, and that kept me in check, but it was my head that made me wait. She deserves so much better than a male like me.”
    “I’m guessing she wouldn’t agree with that,” Gideon challenged. “I wouldn’t, either. I’ve seen you at your worst just as you’ve seen me. I know the type of male you are. It’s why I came to speak with you, why I asked you to join us. You’re a man we can rely on to help protect the pride, a man we can trust.”
    Calloway swallowed then cleared his throat. “Thank you. Now, I’ll be honest. If it wasn’t for my mate, I wouldn’t be calling.”
    “I understand,” Gideon said. “Tell me what you need? Is she being hunted?”
    “Not yet, but it’s only a matter of time,” Calloway stated. “There are things you should know about my mate, things your pride leader should know.”
    “Okay.”
    “My mate is Darby Kline, daughter of Andrew Kline. They’re watchers.”
    “Holy shit!”