Chapter 398: Monday. Unknown, South Africa.

COCO STARED AT the back of the den where she and Paxton had taken refuge. The tiny cave, if it could be called that, had a very narrow entrance that a human could barely squeeze through. It was the perfect hideaway for any number of animals to birth young. In fact she could smell fresh musk in the air. There weren't babies here, but it was clear to her a mother-their luck, a predator-was preparing this site.

"Pax? Paxton?"

"Sh," he whispered.

"We have to go."

"It's not safe out there yet," he said over his shoulder.

"It's not safe in here." She didn't want to be squatting when the residents came back.

Best-case scenario this was a serval den. The cats were predators but not much of a threat to humans. Worst-case scenario they were standing in a leopard's den. On a normal day Coco wouldn't be terribly concerned about a leopard, but a pregnant mother about to give birth? That was a creature Coco didn't want to run into.

Coco pushed at Paxton's shoulders. "Now."

"Fine." He glanced