Dad Panther (Alien Guardians of Earth Book 3)

by Donna McDonald

  “The Lyrans weren’t here yet. Seventy-two different alien species originally seeded your planet. They each created beings in their own image. Pleiadians were just one group. You could say it came down to a genetic fight. Pleiadians won—from a certain point of view. Our version of humanity survived the Ice Age and the Great Flood.”

  The Creator paced as Gina removed the frequencies and closed down the image. The recording eventually turned back into a golden plate with symbols.

  “So it was Pleiadians who created what today we call humans?” Sugar asked.

  The Creator spread her hands. “Pleiadians created the humans that the Earth favored back then. Several other forms of humans evolved alongside ours. They created animal-human shifters who survived as well.”

  Rodu huffed. “I have no illusions left. All creatures on this planet are alien experiments.”

  Shaking her head, the Creator smiled at Rodu. “No. Pleiadians viewed humans differently. We allowed the humans we created—humans that looked like us—to take the form their bodies wanted most. We honored the development of their genetic code. What you call Homo Erectus quickly rose to the top of the humanoid food chain because of its superior brain.”

  “The giant leap forward is now explained,” Sugar said dryly. “Only I can’t tell anyone.”

  “We were like proud parents. Some of us were like proud siblings. A few of us saw a creature purity in what the Earth had chosen as its penultimate form,” Reva the Creator said softly. “That was my reaction. I fell so in love with humanity that I put the essence of my favorite human in the second Protector Blade. And the essence of the fiercest warrior who ever defended my humans is in Rodu.”

  “What about my blade? What’s in it?” Sugar asked.

  The Creator smiled as she met Sugar’s curious gaze. “It devastated me to learn that there had been a galactic vote to start the seeding process on Earth over. When I found out, I had a scant six hundred years left to do what I could to save as many humans as possible. Some fellow Pleiadians built arks for them. Some built underground cities where they would be safe from the ice. I used that time to make the sentient blades so I could hopefully prevent the whole cycle from repeating in the future.”

  “So we were created to make sure the Earth never got destroyed again,” Sugar said, summing up the Creator’s story.

  “Not exactly, Sugar. Over the hundreds of years I spent on the blades, I changed my mind many times about their purpose. When I made the first sentient blade, I was determined to create an undefeatable champion—a Protector like no other—a warrior that no other warrior could defeat. The only weakness I built into that blade was that the chosen host’s mind needed to be pure and strong because symbiosis with that blade is primarily cybernetic.”

  “Axel was right. I have a freaking computer in me,” Sugar exclaimed with a head shake.

  “Computer is a limited term for the self-aware bio-mechanical intelligence you host, but the short answer is yes. However, it is self-learning and nothing like you imagine.” The Creator lifted a hand to point at Lake. “When I made the second Protector Blade several centuries later, I had moved into a grudging acceptance of Earth’s fateful future. I wanted that blade to be a healer as well as a fighter. I wanted the second Protector to feel empathy for humankind’s plight. Lake is the perfect host for that blade.”

  “I get it. I get everything now. The alleged missing link—the giant leap in human evolution—was because the Pleiadians tinkered with primitive man,” Sugar said, coming to conclusions. “And what we call The Event that destroyed the dinosaurs was caused by some group of aliens bringing on the Ice Age with a meteor strike.”

  “They discussed the matter of the Ice Age for centuries before the plan was enacted. If you apply a systems thinking model, you can appreciate that it was the simplest and most humane solution for getting rid of millions and billions of creatures the Earth could never have supported long term. The Ice Age also allowed all alien species to go home to their planets for at least ten thousand years. I stayed because I knew all of them would one day return to start over. My plan was always to return, as well. In the end, I just never left.”

  Sugar snorted. “I guess we should be grateful the right aliens considered the dinosaurs inferior to humans.”

  Reva the Creator nodded. “They were large, always hungry, and took a toll on the foliage of the planet. Jungle animals were created to be a fraction of their size.”

  Sugar made several bomb exploding sounds as she threw open both her hands. “I’m done. Consider me mind blown.”

  Rodu blew out a breath. “I can validate that the number of visiting species has increased over the last five hundred years. Nyomi stops them from getting too entrenched on Earth and warns them to leave all creatures as they are.” He turned to the Creator. “I think you are right. They are coming back—all the aliens who seeded the Earth.”

  The Creator nodded. “Yes. Evidence is in the sudden rise in genetic manipulation. Shifters have always existed, but now normal humans are being converted without their consent. Experiments to create abominations have begun again. This is like what happened before. We can’t allow it to continue.”

  “My blade converted one abomination back to human, but it took a lot of my energy to do so. What can we do about any of that stuff on a large scale?” Lake asked.

  Reva the Creator shrugged. “Keep the balance as best we can. Perhaps in time, we can convince humans to band together to protect themselves and the creatures the Earth needs.”

  Gina cleared her throat. “At the risk of everyone laughing at me, I have to admit this is too much information for one discussion. Can we please retire for the evening and perhaps revisit this discussion later?”

  “I’m all for calling it a night,” Sugar said with relief. “The cage is supposedly fixed again. This is the third prototype we’ve tried. Maybe this one will actually keep the babies in their bed for one night. I’m exhausted.”

  Rodu snickered. “So you agreed to the cage? That surprises me, Sugar.”

  “What choice do I have, Rodu? The cage is better than the cubs roaming the palace by themselves. I understand panthers are nocturnal, but my children are not old enough to be doing that.” Sugar slid from stool and inclined her head to the door. “Come see it. Axel was testing the lock when I left earlier. We’re thinking about using two just in case they get through the first one.”

  Rodu laughed and put an arm around his tired daughter-in-law. They watched Reva the Creator bend forward. When her body was upright again, Reva Hunter looked around the lab. “I heard all of what was said, but I can’t think about it tonight either. Gina is right. It’s too much for one discussion.”

  “Precisely. Do you like sports, Reva Hunter?” Gina asked.

  “Sure,” Reva answered with a shrug.

  Gina handed her a communication device that was large enough for viewing. “I made this for Lake, but he will not need it this evening. You can use it until I can program one for you. Make me a list of what you like.”

  “Thanks,” Reva said. “Now, how do I get back to my room?”

  Sugar inclined her head to the door. “Follow us. You’re two doors down from our quarters.”

  “Got it,” Reva said, tucking the tablet under her arm as she hurried after Sugar and Rodu.

  After everyone else had gone, Lake crossed his arms and cleared his throat. “Well, that was some quick work there, Gina of Rodu. You got rid of everyone in like five minutes flat.”

  “I was trained in human manners and charm,” Gina said. “I just don’t like to use those skills. Being that nice feels unnatural.”

  Chuckling at the confession, Lake looped an arm around Gina’s shoulders. “You gave my sports away. Now, what am I going to do to keep from being bored tonight?”

  “We will think of something together,” Gina said, putting an arm around his waist.

  Lake bent and scooped her up into his arms. “My place or yours?”

  �
�As long as we are both present in the area and it has a bed, it doesn’t matter to me.”

  “How very logical of you,” Lake said, carrying her out of the lab. “When are we going on that date you still owe me?”

  “How do I owe you a date? It was your blade that interrupted us before. That was not my fault. That was yours.”

  Laughing when Gina sighed and leaned into him for a hard, possessive kiss, Lake decided it was the best idea ever to let their lips do the rest of their talking.

  Lake laughed at her defense. “I only meant that I want to do more social engaging than just sleeping with you. I want to see those humans you hang out with when you leave this place. They’re not good-looking guys, are they?”

  “Some are, but I’m not interested. Tomorrow we could try our date again. I will fly us, which means I have to convert my airship back to my voice commands. That will take me several hours of work so you will have to borrow back your sports device from Reva Hunter. Do not come visit and delay my tasks getting done.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Princess Bossy Pants, ma’am. I can’t bloody believe I’m falling for a Geeky Girl,” Lake said.

  “What is a geek to you?” Gina demanded. “I don’t like the way it sounds.”

  “It means goddess with long dark hair,” Lake declared.

  “No, it doesn’t. Are you sure? That sounds like a lie, Lake Allen Wright. We agreed to be honest with each other.”

  Lake smiled at the guard, who opened the door to his quarters for them. “We did agree to that, so I’m honestly not answering your question until the door is closed and locked behind me.”

  “I think you are just trying to keep me from leaving when I learn the truth.”

  Lake slid into bed with her in his arms. “What truth? That I’m in love with a Geeky Girl?”

  “Love? When did we start speaking in those terms?”

  “Just now. Are you having trouble keeping up?” Lake chuckled when she softly punched his shoulder.

  Gina shook her head against Lake’s pillow. “I do not think I will ever understand you.”

  “Keep trying. I’ll help you get there,” Lake said softly.

  When Gina grumbled in Lyran and rose to plant a hard, possessive kiss on his lips, Lake decided the best idea was to let their lips do the rest of their talking.

  — THE END —

  KEEP READING in this ebook to check out excerpts from other similar series that you might enjoy.

  Note From the Author

  Hi. I hope you enjoyed reading Dad Panther, Book 3 in the Alien Guardians of Earth series.

  If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a positive review or rating on the site where you purchased it. Reader reviews help my books continue to be valued by resellers and help new readers make decisions about reading them.

  You are the reason I write these stories and I sincerely appreciate each of you!

  ~ Donna McDonald

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  Excerpt: Ariel

  Nano Wolves 1

  Book Description

  Being a living experiment wasn’t part of the scientific career she’d planned for herself.

  Despite her sharp scientific mind and her degree in bio-molecular genetics, Dr. Ariel Jones hasn’t figured out how her life changed so much in a single day. Before she can blink and ask about what is going on, she is injected with a billion nanos and some very potent wolf blood.

  Now she can suddenly turn into a giant white wolf with the bloodlust of a starving animal. And she’s an alpha…or so she is told by the even larger, very male, black wolf who was used to create her. Hallucination? She wishes. Whether human or wolf, Reed talks in her head and tells her how to handle things…or rather how to kill them…starting with the men who hold them all captive. Too bad he can’t tell her how to put her life back like it was.

  Admittedly, there are perks to being a werewolf, such as meeting sexy werewolf guys like Matthew Gray Wolf. Science labs aren't overrun with sexy men in white coats. She also doesn’t mind learning about a side of herself she never knew existed. It's great changing into a real wolf whenever she wants, but being a living experiment wasn’t part of the scientific career she’d planned for herself. Neither was falling for the local werewolf alpha, but what else is a newbie werewolf caught in her burning time going to do?

  1

  Dr. Ariel Jones blinked at the bright lights overhead as she woke. Finding herself naked and strapped to some sort of gurney, she turned her head and saw two women similarly strapped to gurneys beside her. One was weeping steadily. The other was glaring at a fixed spot on the ceiling.

  Her scientist brain got busy immediately, trying to figure out what had happened since she’d come to work that morning. Her typical day at Feldspar Research always started at five in the morning to accommodate the light limitations of living and working just outside Anchorage, Alaska.

  She had processed the new set of blood samples waiting for her in the lab and instantly reported the unusually rapid cell mutation she had seen happening under the lens of her microscope. Then at about ten o’clock, she’d gone for a direct meeting with Dr. Crane, who had asked to speak with her in person about what she’d found.

  One minute she had been drinking coffee and talking with a colleague. The next she was waking up naked in…where was she anyway? Looking around more, she finally recognized the place. It was where they had brought the giant wolf.

  Sniffing the air, she could indeed smell the pungency of the trapped animal. It was what had bothered her most. From what she knew, he’d been here longer than she had worked for Crane. The one and only time she’d seen the wolf in person had been more than enough. He was the biggest animal she’d ever seen and bigger than any she could have ever imagined.

  Now she was here—in the same room where they had kept him. The discovery brought her back to her own pressing problem of waking up naked and restrained without knowing why. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind, none of them pleasant.

  “So good of you to join us at last, Dr. Jones. I’ve been delaying things and waiting for you to wake up. I didn’t want to start the injections while you were still under the effects of the mild sedative we gave you earlier.”

  “You put drugs in my coffee this morning,” Ariel stated, somehow sure of it even before her bastard employer nodded and smiled.

  “The sedative was the fastest way to obtain your physical cooperation. Time is critical. We don’t know how long the window of opportunity from your findings will remain open. You told me several weeks ago you had come to Alaska because you craved more out of life than sitting in a lab doing research. Well, I’m about to make your dreams come true in a way you have never imagined.”

  Ignoring her accelerating heartbeat, Ariel decided she wasn’t going to get emotionally alarmed until there was a greater reason to do so than simply being naked and unable to free herself. She was used to thinking her way out of bad situations. She just needed to remain calm, ask questions, and figure out what was really going on.

  “I would like to know the purpose of your actions. Are you planning to take physical advantage of my helpless condition? Who are the two women next to me? What role do they play?”

  Dr. Crane smiled. “So many questions. Of course, I expected someone like you would have them. You’re going on a scientific adventure or at least your body is. The three of you are about to become the next step in the evolution of our species. But I guess it’s rather bold of me to theorize such a result without any proof yet. Part of the excitement is considering all the possibilities. Now I know your circumstances are a bit alarming at the moment, but if this experiment works, you’ll become an extremely valuable asset to our military. Even the most highly trained K-9 units won’t be able to compete with your animal skills. Alaskan wolves are quite superior to canines in nearly all areas. Everyone studies their predatory actions for just this re
ason.”

  “I still don’t understand, Dr. Crane. I thought Feldspar was testing wolf fortitude to glean survival information for living in extremely harsh environments,” Ariel said, discreetly testing the restraints around her wrists again.

  “Oh come now, Dr. Jones. That sort of work is barely fit for a second year university student. You are here because you personally possess several strands of DNA in common with our latest Feldspar wolf acquisition. He’s been rather solemn since we informed him of your findings. He’s glaring at us steadily which I take as the highest compliment about your discovery. It’s as if he senses what we are about to do to the three of you.”

  “Dr. Crane, are you saying you’re communicating with a wolf? Don’t you think that assumption is a bit odd?” Ariel asked.

  “Not at all. I sincerely wish we could be communicating with his human side, but we’ve purposely kept him from shifting back to his human form by the silver collar around his neck. I think it helped greatly to leave the six silver bullets someone put into him too. He was initially impossible to capture in his wolf form. If his pack had been nearby, I doubt we would have. In fact, I don’t know who exactly did capture him. I found him both shot and tranquilized with a note pinned to his collar when someone activated the alarm on the back door of the lab.”

  “I’m sorry Dr. Crane, but you sound like some crazy mad scientist out of a movie. What are you going to do to us? Seriously? You don’t have to make up such wild stories. I assure you I won’t be reduced to hysterics by hearing the truth,” Ariel demanded.