“She’s been shot and she’s bleeding pretty bad,” Rachel explained before Sparks could speak.
“Fuck!” He rose off the desk. “Let’s go.”
“I can take her to the hospital.” Sparks fell into step with Korbin. “She’s hurt but she’ll live.”
“You’re an asshole,” she snapped. “She’s in pain and you don’t give a shit.”
“It’s not our responsibility to care for every stray human—”
“Enough!” Korbin jogged toward the gatehouse, wishing he would have found time to put together a first aid kit but with shifters’ natural ability to heal, he hadn’t needed one until now. He tried hard not to think about Sparks’ comment. Every stray human. Would she make a habit of this? If it was a possibility, he’d need to put an end to it before she could bring anyone else to the compound. Her bringing humans home wouldn’t only put the clan in danger, but it would be dangerous for the humans, too. Maybe it was time for him to find another team to make the weekly supply trip into town.
Applying pressure to her stomach, Layla Cole fought to keep herself standing. She wasn’t sure how she’d made it through the woods and up the steep incline but there she was. She had nowhere else to go and unless Rachel helped her, she might not make it through the night. How had she ended up like this? Everything had been so perfect and now, she couldn’t even take care of herself.
Exhausted and unable to stay on her feet, she dropped down onto the sofa and sucked in a deep breath of air. Somehow, she had to find a way out of this town. Otherwise, she’d end up dead by his hands. If only she had somewhere to go. Somewhere she could lie low and heal; then, she could proceed with her plans. The hundred and fifty bucks she had tucked away in the lining of her purse weren’t much but it would be enough to get her a bus ticket out of the state. From there, she had no doubt she could find a job waiting tables somewhere. She could make a life for herself, one that didn’t involve getting herself beaten up every night.
Need to find somewhere to hide out until the next bus on Monday, then I can be free. Was that why she had headed to where she knew she could find Rachel? She hadn’t been thinking clearly but this was where she’d come to and her body refused to go any farther. She was surprised she had made it as far as she had. A mile back, her legs had turned to jelly under her, making it nearly impossible for her to continue. How much blood had she lost? Would the gunshot wound be the end of her?
Her eyelids drifted shut and the scene from hours before replayed in her mind. She didn’t want to see it happen again but it was all she could think about. How close to death she had been—but miraculously, she survived. This was her wakeup call. Going back to him would only lead to her death. She’d rather run and die than go back to him and certainly face her death at his hands.
“Stupid bitch! How could you? Fucking my best friend. Whore.” With every word, the rage within him grew and she knew she was in for a worse beating than she’d already received.
“I didn’t.” The world seemed to slow as he pulled his gun from the holster on his belt, bringing it up to aim it at her. “Please, Donald…I didn’t…he stopped by to see you. Not me.”
Unlike what everyone claimed about such situations, she’d faced death without her life flashing before her eyes. There was no one to mourn her, no one to miss her. Part of her longed for this to happen, begging for it all to end, while another part wanted so much more, things she’d never experience as long as she stayed with him. Before she could decide her next move, he pulled the trigger and pain exploded through her stomach. She slid down the wall, blood soaking her white shirt. As she watched the red liquid seep into the light gray carpet, she could only think about what a hassle it would be to get the stain out. Maybe death would finally take her and she wouldn’t have to scrub the carpet.
Not wanting her final thoughts to be about the stupid carpet or Donald’s wrath, she let her eyelids drift shut and waited for death to take her. She had no idea how long she’d leaned against the wall but when her eyes opened again, she was alone. Without a second thought, she grabbed her purse and ran. Well, ran might have been an overstatement, but she hightailed it out of there as fast as her legs would carry her. The brush with death proved enough to force her to wake up and in those minutes as she waited for the end, she’d realized she had to take responsibility for her own life. She couldn’t hope for change; she had to make it happen.
She was tired of being the victim and the only way out was to leave town. Staying there meant he would kill her. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that one day he’d go too far and she’d end up in the pine wood box, six feet under. She couldn’t allow that to happen.
Fight or flight—and her fight response had been beaten out of her years ago. Now, the only option she had was flight. Run as fast and as far as her legs would carry her. She had to put distance between her and this town before he found her.
She glanced back to the high fence that surrounded the property and tried to stop the fear rising within her. What was this place? And why was security so tight here? Questions whirled in her mind but still, this had to be the only place he wouldn’t come to look for her. No one would search for her there. Please, Rachel, I need your help.
Chapter Two
With already too much on his plate, Korbin found himself strolling toward the gatehouse about to take on more problems. Rachel had exposed them to a human and even if this woman hadn’t discovered they were shifters, it would be only a matter of time before she discovered their exact location. There was a reason why most Alphas chose to build their compound somewhere that provided privacy and most importantly, a place located away from the human population. Their animals needed to shift regularly to maintain a strong balance between human and beast sides. If their beast was denied an escape for too long, the next time they shifted it would be harder to control the animal.
A human seeing tigers roaming the area would have the government agency swarming their location. That had to be avoided at all costs. They’d be hauled off and even though everyone had their suspicions about what would happen, none of them knew without a doubt what the government would do to them. Korbin believed the worst—some would be treated like lab rats, while the rest would simply be eliminated. Too much threat and the only way to deal with that was to kill them.
If she knew about shifters, he’d have no choice but to keep her at the compound until he could ensure she wouldn’t expose them. What if I can never ensure that? The idea of having to keep her hostage unnerved him but nothing compared to the thought of never being able to allow her to leave. What about her family? Her friends? She had a life that was important to her, but so did they. He had to think of the greater good. He couldn’t risk the safety of his kind if Rachel’s blunder leaked their second nature to a human.
Pausing outside the gatehouse, he glanced back at the siblings. “What is her name?”
“Layla…Layla Cole.” Rachel stepped next to him. “Maybe I should go first. I’m sure she’s terrified.”
“She should be. She has no idea she walked into the tigers’ lair.” He raised an eyebrow in question. “Does she?”
“No, sir. I never—”
He held up his hand, cutting her off. Something in the air teased his tiger. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the scent. At first, the coppery scent of blood lingered on his tongue, but then, another kind of smell hit him. His tiger lunged against his shields, demanding freedom. He wanted to find the source of the aroma but his human side knew it was Layla. Shit!
Without giving it a second thought, he pulled open the door and stepped into the gatehouse. The small building held little comfort, containing only the essentials—a small sofa and a desk—but it did its job. He didn’t bother to glance at the guard, his attention focused on the woman. Her eyes were closed as she leaned back against the sofa, but it was the paleness of her face that alarmed him. She had lost too much blood, which made her weak. Bruises were already forming and the swelling aroun
d her eye left no doubt she had gone through a hell of a beating before being shot.
“Layla.” He squatted in front of her.
Her eyelids sprang open and fear shined through her emerald green eyes. “I…I shouldn’t be here.”
“You’re safe here.” Rachel stepped around Korbin and sat next to Layla on the sofa. “He can help. Trust him.”
“Rachel.” Sparks voice held a warning, as if reminding her not to get her hopes up.
Frozen in place, Korbin’s gaze stayed on the woman. His tiger had fought through the scent of blood and found something that sparked his interest. The sweet aroma of raspberries and vanilla tickled his tiger’s senses, exciting him.
“Sir?” Sparks stood behind them, waiting for his orders.
“Clear the way to the main building. Make sure everyone is gone.” Korbin glanced back at the man. “Understand?”
“Yes, sir.” Sparks spun toward the door.
“Rachel, go with him.” He focused his attention on her, waiting for her to question him, and feeling somewhat surprised when she rose without comment to aid her brother.
“I should go.” Layla leaned forward, clearly fighting not to cry out in pain. Even though she managed to only let out a soft moan, the scent of her pain filled the air and sliced through him.
“You’re not going anywhere. You came here for help and help is what you’ll get.” He rose to stand before her. “You’re in too much pain to walk.”
“I’m fine.” As she forced herself to her feet, she hissed through gritted teeth. “Shit!”
“See what I mean? I’m carrying you.” Without giving her the chance to argue, he leaned down and swooped her carefully into his arms. Electricity sizzled through them, confirming what he had already suspected from his tiger’s reaction. Within him, his beast came to terms with the fact this human was his mate. Human. Fuck me.
“Holy Hell, what was that?”
“Static electricity.” He adjusted her in his arms, doing his best not to cause her any additional pain.
“Bullshit.” She wasn’t buying it but at least she wasn’t fighting against him. “Where are you taking me?”
Home. His tiger roared in agreement. That’s where she belonged, in his quarters and in his bed. She was his, even if his human side wasn’t convinced her kind was right for him. Rather than voice his desires and scaring her further, though, he kept it to himself. “To get patched up, and after that, you can explain to me what happened.” Then, I’m going to hunt down the bastard and gut him with my bare hands. Only an asshole would put his hands on a woman, let alone shoot her. He wasn’t sure if the bastard’s aim sucked or if he had only wanted to cause her agony and not kill her.
He sensed anxiety rise within her, permeating the air, so he snuggled her tighter against his chest. “Don’t worry, Rachel and Sparks will be there.” Not for long, if he had anything to say about it, but they’d be there.
The guard grabbed the door as he carried her out of the gatehouse and headed toward the main building, back to his quarters. The original plan of getting her away from the compound as quickly as possible had vanished from his thoughts and now he was looking for ways to keep her close. A human mate. That was the last thing he needed, especially when he could barely guarantee his own safety, let alone the safety of his mate. He needed to promote a Lieutenant and get more guards capable of protecting her. Everything kept compiling, making him wonder if he’d ever have the clan to a spot where they were safe. With every problem he handled, two more presented themselves. He was only one person and without the help of people he trusted, he was quickly becoming overwhelmed.
“Who are you?”
“Korbin.” He glanced around the compound, searching for anyone in their animal form missed by Sparks and Rachel. Everything appeared clear but he was a long way from his quarters. “You could say I kind of run things here.”
“What is this place?” She turned her head slightly, trying to take in her surroundings, but the wind whipped her hair in front of her eyes.
“Relax. You’ve come to a safe place.” That was the best answer he could give her without lying. This was a haven for shifters but telling her that wasn’t an option. “Our home might not be what you’re used to but it’s safe.”
“Nowhere is safe.” Her words came out barely above a whisper but with his shifter hearing he had no problem hearing her, even over the wind.
He wanted to soothe her, promise her no harm would come to her while she was there, but he didn’t know what baggage she brought with her. Rachel and Sparks had interfered between her and a man, yet they provided no other information. What had the argument been about? The man wasn’t a shifter; otherwise, they’d have smelled his animal. Did he have connections to their kind? Or other kinds of connections that would wreak havoc on the peaceful life he was trying to give the clan? With every unanswered question, the danger level rose. Still he couldn’t turn her away. Even if she wasn’t his mate, he’d have helped her.
“You’re not from here, are you?”
Her question pulled him from his thoughts and he glanced down at her. “Not originally. I came here from Alaska.”
“I could tell.” With her eyes closed, she rested her head against his chest.
“Why? Don’t I sound like a local?”
“Naw, it’s not that. If you knew…” Her eyelids sprang open. “I’m grateful, truly I am. It’s just…”
“Just what?” He pressed when she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and shifted her gaze away. “You can trust me, Layla.”
Sparks stepped out from one of the buildings and strolled toward them. “It’s taken care of. What can I do to help?”
“Find Zaz and send him my way. Thirty minutes and I want you and Rachel in my office.” Giving Sparks his orders, he continued toward his area.
From the outside, it appeared as if the whole building was one, but the inside told a different story. His quarters were accessible through a gate and down a long hallway. There had only been so much he could do to change that but the first thing he did was take down the gate and remove the round-the-clock guards stationed there. He was still on guard in case any interlopers remained, but he had to show he was one of them and he was different from their previous Alpha. Still, nothing could close the divide of the long hallway. In the coming weeks, that would be another thing changed. In the new building, he would be available to his clan.
Before he reached the door, Sparks was there, holding it open for them. With a slight nod, he thanked him and continued inside, out of the brewing storm. “It’s good you arrived when you did. We’re in for more nasty thunderstorms.”
“That’s where he is.” Under his touch, her muscles tightened.
“Who?” At the end of the hallway, his door sat slightly ajar. While the slight opening had his tiger circling within him, searching for any unusual sent, he remembered leaving it ajar. After hearing the news that a human woman was at the gatehouse, the last thing on his mind had been securing the door as he rushed out of there. Now, it made things easier. “I can’t help you if you won’t even tell me who you’re running from.”
“I just need a doctor and I’ll be on my way. If Rachel could give me a ride to the hospital in the next county, I could be out of your hair.”
“Guess I should give you credit for not lying to me.” He kicked the door shut behind him and continued past the living area, toward the master bedroom.
“Lying about what?” She adjusted her position in his arm and took in their surroundings. “Where are we?”
“My place. Now stop moving before you hurt yourself.” He never slowed his pace until he reached the bedroom. “I’m going to sit you here and I don’t want you moving until I get back.”
“Why?”
As he lowered her down to sit on the cedar chest at the end of his bed, her gaze found his. Fear filled her green eyes, making him want to pull her back against his body and comfort her. “We can’t have you bleeding to death
, so I’m going to patch you up.”
“I need a hospital.”
He took her hand in his, rubbing his thumb along her knuckles. “You’ve been shot.”
“Trust me, I’m well aware of that.”
“A gunshot wound has to be reported to the police. From what Sparks told me, that’s not an option. Maybe you’d care to enlighten me before I give the sheriff a call myself.” The color drained from her face and her hand trembled in his. “Layla, are you in some kind of trouble with the police?”
“I…uh…I shouldn’t have come here.” She pulled her hand from his and rose, her legs barely holding her as she swayed on her feet.
“Sit down.” The authority filling his voice froze her and she seemed to lose her remaining strength.
“Please…” Her gaze shifted to his hands, as if waiting for him to strike her. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.” Before he could stop himself, he reached out and took her hands in his. He didn’t know her story but he recognized the signs of abuse when he saw them. How much had she suffered? More importantly, who was the person responsible for putting terror in her eyes? “Don’t look at me with fear. Baby, I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe here, I swear.”
“Not for long.” Her hand trembled in his. “He’ll find me.”
“Who?” He squeezed her hands. “If we’re going to protect you, I need to know who. We can discuss that after I get you patched up. Sit down.”
“This isn’t as simple as putting a bandage on it.” Even as she argued, she sank back down onto the cedar chest.
“The bullet passed through, no internal damage, yet you’re right—it’s more complicated than that.” He let her hand drop from his before stepping away. “Still, you have a couple of options.”
“Those are?”
“Your first option is letting me stitch you up myself. I can give you something for the pain so you won’t be in agony. It’s what the hospital would do for you. Or, I have a friend who will be here soon and he can take care of it without drugs or pain.”
Alaskan Tigers Box Set 3 Page 29
