Alaskan Tigers Box Set 3

by Marissa Dobson

  “I understand now.” She pressed herself closer to him. “They’ve been through so much, and now I’ve brought more problems upon all of you.”

  “Bullshit.” He hooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “You brought life and hope back into this clan. They worked twice as hard to get this building ready for you so we could move forward. You’re the Alpha Female, my mate, and we’ll lead this clan into a brighter future.”

  One that will include Merrie.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Daybreak brought insanity as the clan moved into the new building. What Layla hadn’t expected was the change in the members, especially the bright smile they gave her as they moved past with their boxes. Do they know? She wondered how much they could sense as she scanned the lobby, looking for Korbin. Where was he? Had something changed about her scent, allowing them to smell Korbin had officially claimed her?

  “Layla.” Mella jogged across the room, her phone clutched in her hand.

  Placing the box she was carrying on the end table, she weaved her way across the lobby toward her sister. “What’s wrong?”

  “Where’s Korbin? Ted? Someone?”

  “Mel—”

  “It’s Donald.” Mella held out the phone toward Layla so she could read the text message still displayed on the screen.

  Get this message to your sister and Ted: a trade. Layla for them. Deadline, midnight.

  Below the message was an image—Ted’s parents tied up. Instead of rope, they were bound in thick metal chains. Layla snatched the phone out of Mella’s hands and studied the picture, searching for any clue that it was fake. Fear overcame her as she stared into Mrs. Hillbrand’s eyes. The pain and anger in her eyes had brought her cougar close to the surface, allowing the pupils to shrink to pinpoints and the greenish-yellow hues to come forward.

  “How can he…” Her throat tightened, stealing her words from her.

  “Layla,” Korbin called out to her as he ran toward her. “What’s wrong, baby?”

  Before she could say anything, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against his body. The fear subsided a little under his touch but as she spotted Ted helping another member carry a large sofa, the walls holding back her tears broke. “It’s all my fault. They’re going to die because of me. I’ve got to go.”

  “What are you talking about? Who, baby?”

  “The Hillbrands.” Mella grabbed the phone from Layla’s hand and gave it to Korbin.

  “What’s happening? I heard my name.” Ted suddenly appeared next to them, the sofa sitting in the middle of the room, forgotten. His gaze landed on the phone Korbin was still holding. “I’ll fucking kill him!”

  “Oh Ted…” Layla reached out to take his hand but at the last minute, she pulled back. He’ll blame me. He has every right. This is my fault.

  “Ted.” Korbin handed the phone to Zaz, who joined them. “Let’s put a plan together and we’ll deal with this. Together.”

  She surveyed the room, most of the people in view were openly watching her. Even as Sparks and some of the other guards gathered around them, blocking their view, some craned their necks trying to see what was happening. “I can’t. I have to get out of here.”

  Without removing his arm from around her waist, Korbin led her back toward their quarters. “Come on.”

  “It’s my fault.”

  “Shh, baby, we’ll handle this.” He pressed his lips to her temple and his arm tightened around her, offering her what comfort he could.

  The seconds it took for them to make their way into the Elders’ quarters seemed too long. She wanted to scream they needed to be heading in the other direction—not farther into the building but outside to the vehicles. They needed to get to the Hillbrands. She wanted to glance back at Ted, to see his reaction, but fear kept her looking anywhere but at him. She didn’t want to see the anger and hatred in his eyes. He had every reason to hate her already. Add in this and there was no doubt he’d despise her.

  In the living room, Korbin led her over to one of the chairs and helped her sit before turning to the rest of the guards who followed them. “Ted, I need you to focus. We’ll get your parents back but if you let your beast go wild, you’re not going to be able to help us.”

  “I’m focused.” Ted growled, his pupils small as his animal fought to be released. “I’ll fucking kill him for this. They took him in and this is how he repays them.”

  “I’m sorry, so sorry.” She couldn’t hold back the tears. “Let me go to—”

  “No,” Ted snarled before Korbin could even react.

  “It’s my fault he has them.”

  “Baby.” Korbin squeezed her shoulder. “We’re going to get them back.”

  “I suggest you double the guards on her. This could be a trick to get some of us away before he comes after her.” Ted eyed Korbin. “I’m going after him and I’m not going to trade one for another. I want her protected. He’s put her through enough.”

  “He went after them because of me. This is my fault and it should be my responsibility to help get them back.” Layla shook off Korbin’s embrace and rose from the chair. “I can’t sit here and do nothing.”

  “He’s right.” Korbin spun her around to look at him. “You’ve gone through enough. He’s already shot you. Fuck, Layla, you barely survived last time. We’re not going to let you go and get yourself killed. We’ll get the Hillbrands back.”

  “Layla, please, listen to them,” Mella begged. “Let them handle this.”

  “We don’t have time to argue this,” Korbin said firmly. “You’re going to stay here, under protection.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “You can’t…I can’t lose you.”

  “You’re not going to lose me.” He pulled her against him. “Zaz and Sparks are going to be in charge of protecting you while I’m gone. Whatever they order you to do, I want you to follow. Understand?”

  “Korbin…”

  “Understand?” he asked again, his voice hard.

  Even as her thoughts circled around the possibilities, she nodded.

  “You too, Mella.” Korbin glanced past Layla. “Understand?”

  “I’ll make sure she stays here.” Mella came to stand behind Layla.

  “Zaz, take Ted and gather whatever guards you can. We’ll take some with us and I want the rest on patrol. Ten minutes, and whatever guards are going with us I want in the conference room with their gear.” He slid his hand in hers. “I need a minute alone with my mate.”

  “I’m fine,” Layla argued when he started to take her back toward the bedroom.

  “Maybe I’m not.” He pulled her into the bedroom and pushed the door shut behind them. “What do you think it does to me when you want to run off and risk yourself? Fuck, Layla. He could have killed you when he shot you. Do you think I want you anywhere near him?”

  “What? I’m supposed to stand by and allow him to kill Ted’s parents instead?” She pulled out of his embrace and stepped away. “How did this even happen? Shifters are faster and stronger than him.”

  “After his parents died, these people raised him as if he was their son. They wouldn’t have suspected him. He’d have had the upper hand. In the picture they appear unharmed, but their eyes are glossy. He must have tranquilized them. It’s the only way he could have gotten them chained up without them freeing their beast.”

  “Didn’t they know what happened? They should have had their guard up after they learned he shot me.” Her eyes widened. “No one ever told them, did they?”

  “No.” Korbin leaned back against the wall. “Ted didn’t want them to know what Donald had turned into. He was trying to shield his parents. We thought we had the situation under control so it didn’t matter. We never considered him going after them.”

  “He did it because he couldn’t get to me. I’m too well protected here. He knows storming the gates would be suicide.” She sank down onto the cedar chest at the foot of the bed and stared down at her hands.
“It’s happening all over again.”

  “What is?”

  “Everyone mentions when Donald’s parents died. Does no one know that they didn’t just die? The fire didn’t kill them, they were murdered. He murdered them and then set the fire.” Admitting this aloud was like a weight lifted off her shoulders. “Shit! You’ve got to get to them. He’ll do it again.”

  “I’m going.” He stalked toward her, took her hand, and pulled her to her feet. “The reports stated they died in the fire. I don’t know how you learned he murdered them but we’ll discuss this later.”

  “Later.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Promise me you’ll be safe and you’ll come back to me.”

  “I promise.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was sweet and too short. “I love you.”

  She clung tighter to him. “Don’t say that like you’re not coming back.”

  “Oh baby, I’m coming back and when I do, this is going to be over for good.” He stepped out of her embrace. “Listen to Zaz and Sparks.”

  “Korbin…” As he neared the door, she took a step toward him. “Come back to me.”

  His lips curled into a smile. “I’ll be back soon.”

  Watching him leave felt like a knife to her heart. She wanted to go after him, to fight alongside him. They were doing this because of her. She’d brought this danger to the clan and now they fought to keep her safe. It should have made her feel protected. Instead, it made her angry she’d become a liability. She didn’t want anyone else to get hurt because of her—not the Hillbrands, Korbin, or any of the guards. In a short time, they had become her family. Please let them be in time to save the Hillbrands and let them come back unharmed.

  The Hillbrands’ cabin stood a few miles south of the compound, deeper in the woods. The only way in or out was an old logging road. Anyone inside the house would be alerted to a vehicle the moment they hit the property, more than a mile from the house. The only option which allowed them to sneak upon the Hillbrands unnoticed was for Korbin to take the team through the woods. As they neared, Ted’s parents would smell them but they’d know enough not to alert Donald. They might not understand why this was happening but they’d realize Donald had lost his grip on sanity.

  Korbin balled his fingers into a fist and lifted his arm, stopping the team at the top of the hill. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with air and searching for the scent that attracted his tiger. Something was wrong. They stood five hundred feet from the cabin but instead of the scent of fear, anger, or rage saturating the air, his senses picked something else. Gunpowder.

  “That’s Dad’s rifle,” Ted whispered, creeping closer so he was standing next to Korbin. “I can smell the cleaning solution he uses on it. It’s an old gun and he cleans it regularly. Anytime it’s fired, the smell is unmistakable.”

  “If we’re going, we need to go.” Larry tipped his head toward the rear of the house.

  Flames licked the sides of the cabin, spreading toward the front door, but it was the black smoke billowing out of the house that alerted them. Korbin took a deep breath again and noticed the underlying stench of gasoline in the air. It would only be a matter of minutes before the fire spread throughout the house, making a rescue impossible.

  “Let’s go.” Without waiting for the team to follow, he headed down the hill, using the agility of his tiger to keep himself upright through the rough terrain. He scanned the area near the cabin, looking for Mr. and Mrs. Hillbrand, but saw nothing. He could only hope they were around the back of the cabin. Otherwise, by the time they made it there, it likely would be too late. The fire was spreading through the house at such a pace that it would be a complete loss in a matter of minutes.

  “Mom!” Ted shouted as he fought his way down the hill. “Dad!”

  The only answer was the crackle of fire over the wood, kicking Ted’s rage up a notch until it nearly overtook the scent of the flames. Korbin let his tiger rise within him until it was hovering below the surface of his skin. While Ted was focused on his parents, Korbin worked on searching for Donald’s scent. He could catch a trace of it in the air but he couldn’t locate the source.

  “Larry and Luca take left, Neil and Isaac go right. Ted, check round back for your parents. I’ll check inside.” Before anyone could argue, Korbin set off in a quick jog, keeping low on the off-chance Donald was still inside, waiting to ambush. He wasn’t going to risk one of his members when this mess was brought to the clan because of him. He was their Alpha and it was his duty to protect them.

  “You can’t go in there alone.” Larry fell into step beside him.

  “I need you around the left.”

  “Luca can handle it.” He glanced at Korbin. “The fire is bad enough, but if Donald is in there, you’re going to need help.”

  He wanted to argue with him but he was right. Donald would have the upper hand and having two of them in there might even out the odds. “Let’s do this.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Darkness had fallen and there was still no sign of Korbin or the others. With every passing minute, Layla became more unnerved. Sitting around doing nothing while he was out there, facing Donald and saving the Hillbrands was killing her. This had all happened because of her—since Donald couldn’t get to her, he was going after someone else to draw her out. Mella was safe, or she’d have been his first choice.

  Donald knew her well enough to figure out she couldn’t sit by if her sister was in danger. She had put up with all the shit he’d dished at her to keep Mella safe.

  She didn’t know Mr. and Mrs. Hillbrand very well but they had always treated her like family. When her father died, they had been there. Their support had helped get her through the darkness that had threatened to overtake her. They had become her only support, while Donald had done nothing but poke at her grief. Then again, he was the one that murdered her father so why would he have comforted her while she mourned the man?

  Donald’s statements circled through her thoughts, stealing the light from within her again. Get off your ass. He’s dead and unless you want to join him, you’ll do as I say. You’ve seen what I’m capable of. Don’t think I won’t put you in the ground like I did my parents and your old man. Once you’re dead, who’s going to protect Mella?

  “Layla,” Zaz said in a low voice as he came up to stand close to her. “Pacing isn’t going to make the time pass any quicker. Come sit down and eat something. Rachel made your favorite—honey roasted chicken.”

  “How did she know?” She stopped in her tracks.

  “We overheard you saying it once when Donald pulled you out of the store. You came into town for honey and he…well, you know.” Sparks’ gaze shifted uncomfortably as he placed the contents of the grocery bags Rachel had brought in on the kitchen bar. “She wanted to make something you’d likely eat. You need to keep your strength up. A healing tends to take a lot out of someone. With us, we’re starving after being healed; humans, tend to be more tired than anything. Your body was rushed through the healing process, so you need to take care of yourself for a few days, let your body recover.”

  “I just…” She glanced back at the window. How could she think of eating when Korbin was out there in danger?

  “Sparks, make her a plate and put it in the oven on warm. She’ll eat in a bit.” Zaz tipped his head. “Come with me.”

  “Where?” She rubbed her hand up her arm, trying to keep her nerves from showing. Through the bond she could feel the trust between Korbin and Zaz, yet, he made her uneasy. Part of it was the fact that he’d stood in her way when she wanted to go to Korbin on the first day she was there. The rest was his size. He could easily break her in two but he hadn’t so much as stepped a toe out of bounds, not with his words or his actions. He had been nothing but nice to her, yet, she couldn’t move past her uneasiness.

  “Korbin’s office.” He stepped back out of the way and held his arm out, motioning for her to lead the way. “This way we don’t disturb your sister.”<
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  Moving away from the window, she glanced over at Mella who had dozed off on the sofa. Since she’d arrived, Mella’s attitude had changed. She was more understanding and the anger that filled her before had disappeared. Layla wasn’t sure if it was because of whatever Korbin had said or the fact Mella had realized they were safer there than out in the world with Donald on their tail. Either way, she was grateful.

  “She’ll be fine.” Zaz mistook the attention she was giving her sister as concern.

  “I know.” Her gaze slid over Sparks and Neil before moving forward toward the office.

  “So, you have confidence in them but not in me.” Zaz let out a light chuckle. “It figures.”

  Stepping into the office, she turned around to face him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I figured, that’s all.” With the door shut, he remained standing there, blocking her path for retreat. If she wanted out, she had to go through him.

  “You want me to have faith in you, then why don’t you start by answering the question, instead of sidestepping it?” Anger pumped through her veins, leaving her confused. His attitude annoyed her, but there was no reason for her to get angry.

  “Right there, trust that. Trust the connection you have with Korbin. Trust the emotions flowing through you.” He took a step toward her. “I’m Lieutenant here but you’re Alpha Female. You outrank me.”

  “I—”

  “Don’t.” He shook his head. “Trust the connection, focus on that. Close your eyes and focus.”

  Every instinct in her told her not to close her eyes, not even blink, with him invading her personal space. Yet, a lone voice inside her encouraged her to trust him. Sucking in a deep breath, she forced herself to relax and closed her eyelids. The moment she wasn’t looking at him, the tension within her eased. It was as though a switch had been flicked, allowing her to see clearly—even though she couldn’t actually see anything.