by Aubrey Rose
Snarling, I clutched the rifle's tip again, bringing it square to the middle of my chest.
“Do it then, big grizzly. Kill me so you can lead the suicide charge against the tigers.”
It seemed like an hour passed. Really, it was only a couple of seconds.
Greg flinched, jerked the gun away, and pointed it at a loud growl coming toward us. I followed everyone's gaze just in time to see the black SUVs rolling in with Shane and the tigers.
Great. Perfect fucking timing.
“Roark? What's the meaning of this?” Shane popped the door and drew his gun.
All the bears instantly trained their rifles on the invaders, just like they'd been taught. Suddenly, Jacob and I weren't so menacing up against these outsiders armed to the teeth.
Well trained tiger soldiers hopped out of their vehicles and took their positions. One of the SUV tops folded down at the click of a switch. A big cat stood up in the canopy clutching a machine gun.
“You promised there wouldn't be an armed presence here, bear.”
I stepped forward. “Funny. You promised me to bring no more than a couple men yourself. See you're packing a hell of a lot more heat than that.”
I pointed to the machine nest on wheels, and Shane smiled. Behind me, Greg cleared his throat.
“You tigers don't deal with him! Your business is with the Elder council. This man has forfeit his position here in Denali and–“
“Shut up!” I whipped my head around and snarled. “The rest of you, keep them in your sights, but nobody move a fucking finger unless I say to.”
The half-shifted rage on my face was enough to make him drop his gun. My other boys held firm, following my orders – as expected.
“You're dealing with me, Shane, just like I promised. We'll go to the Elders together and tell them what's up. They'll listen to me.”
The aristocrat sneered, raising one eyebrow. “You sure about that? You're making me regret this whole enterprise, Roark. Looks like liberating our land would've been a cakewalk with your clan in disarray.”
My fists tensed. I'll give you a fucking cakewalk, I thought.
“This building next to us is a clinic. Your daughter's in there. I need you to come and help her if she's going to live.”
Shane studied my face, asking himself if this was a trick, a trap, or something else. The cold light in my eyes told him everything he needed to know.
“Bastard bear! What's happened to my daughter?” He grabbed me by my cloak.
I growled, muscling my arms around him, mirroring my bear's desire to hold him like this, bite into his neck, and taste his blood.
Heavy weapons clicked behind him, loading and charging up. The tigers were definitely better armed than we were. If it weren't for my lock on their dear leader, they'd mow us to shreds.
“Are you mad? I'm not your blasted hostage. Get your hands off me this instant if you want to avoid a firefight! Last chance!” His words terminated in a tiger's raspy thunder.
“Don't be an idiot, Shane. Laura needs you. If I take you in there and anything happens, you won't even have a fight.” I turned around, spinning him with me. “Boys! Lay down your guns.”
Anger flashed across their faces, but they listened. Greg hesitated, looking through me at the dangerous tiger troops beyond, and then finally complied.
Orders from the council or no orders, they knew who was really in charge.
“There. Let's go, straight up the stairs, just you and I.” I kept my death grip around his neck and we walked like two old friends.
Make that two old friends whose idea of a good time is a fucking death match.
Jacob nodded as we passed, and then we were inside. Doctor Reed looked up from his seat next to Laura.
Shane broke my grip and ran to the table when he saw her. No sense in keeping him prisoner now that his own eyes told him the truth.
“Great Gods! So, it's true!” He clasped her hand, growling when he felt it. “She's ice cold. What the hell is this? What's happened to my daughter?”
Reed opened his mouth, but I held up a hand to stop him.
“She needs a blood transfusion. Much as I love her, bear blood's no good. Has to be a tiger's. That's why I was willing to risk war to haul your stubborn ass in here.”
Shane gave me a glare hot enough to start a forest fire. “I don't know what's happened here. But I'm sure it's your fault, bear. You did this...”
My bear didn't like what he was saying. Too bad I couldn't shift and rip him apart without any more bullshit. Too bad Laura seriously needed him.
“You're wrong! Don't be blinded by your own fool prejudice. You can think I'm the devil all you want, but I'd never hurt your daughter. Never, never, never!” An extra sharp tooth stabbed at my tongue, and I forced myself to settle down so I wouldn't shift all the way.
“Go ahead,” I said clearly. “Think of me as the monster you see. Doesn't change the fact your daughter needs your help, very fucking soon, or we won't have anyone to argue about.”
“All right!” He turned away from me, pushing up his sleeve and holding his arm to Reed. “Do what you need to do. Bear or not, I'll use your damned doctor to save my daughter.”
Reed swallowed and began to draw blood. “Should only be a quick test to confirm compatibility and then we can begin the transfusion.”
“Make it fast! My little girl isn't looking good. I swear, doctor, if she dies on your count, you'll be the first one in front of those guns outside.”
Reed looked at me, aghast at the threat. I nodded seriously.
For once, Shane Hisch and I actually agreed on something.
Reed ordered me out as soon as the test was done. My bear snorted, the urge to protect on full red alert. Had to make him understand the doctor needed all the space in his cramped room to start the procedure.
“This better work,” I gave him one last warning. “I'm gonna come back here pissed off either way after dealing with the Elders. But you haven't seen how mad I can get if she isn't looking a whole lot rosier when I see her again.”
Shane gave me another evil eye, laying on the table with a long needle up his arm.
I turned and got the hell out of there. The tigers instantly trained their guns on me, and then lowered them. Shane gave them the command over walkie-talkie to let me move freely as soon as he saw everything was cool.
“Jacob, Thomas, Cole. You're with me.” I pointed at the three men kneeling on the ground.
They stood, looked past me at the tigers uncertainly. I turned, and the tiger commander nodded, letting us pass without issue.
“Let's go. Town hall. Shouldn't need any weapons to knock some sense into those greedy old fucks.”
Several men laughed. The Elders weren't well liked. It was rare – hell, near unheard of – for an Alpha to openly show them disrespect.
But they'd lost what little I still had left after treating me like a thief and taking Hannah's toxic word. Bastards had no good reason to put my girl in prison and leave her vulnerable, even if they thought she was a tiger spy. Laura couldn't have hurt them if she wanted to.
The first thing we heard after breaking in the back door was Baron's loud snores. Him and his junior councilman, Forest, had private rooms in the old building. The third Elder, Sherry, slept in a cabin just a short walk away.
I headed for Baron's room instantly.
No time to knock. I threw the bear's anger a bone, sending my fist right through the wood. Splinters went everywhere in a violent shower.
The old man nearly tottered out of bed, eyes spinning with fear.
I stuck my head through the hole I'd created and smiled. A good scare didn't even begin to touch what this bastard truly deserved.
“Roark! You have the bile to threaten an old man, your superior?” he growled up at me.
I felt for the knob, gave it a good turn, and stepped inside, heading straight for him.
I stood over the ratty old bastard and folded my arms. Couldn't believe I'd be
en taking orders from him for so long. No more.
Footsteps clattered near the open door. My boys had caught up.
Outside, Jacob stood watching us. I listened to hushed voices, one louder than the rest, probably Forest tottering out of his room to see what was causing all the commotion.
“No. I've got the balls to threaten any man who isn't thinking about bloodshed between Denali and Tiger Tree, starting with the woman I love.”
“Woman you love?” he repeated the words back to me. “What? You mean that overgrown tigress?”
I threw myself at him as soon as the insult left his mouth. Ripped his blanket off. The old man was in his long johns, convenient for pulling him clean out of bed.
“Don't ever insult her again, asshole. You're done listening to Laura, Hannah, or anybody else.” I slammed his old bones up against the nearest wall, and he blinked uncomfortably. “From now on, you listen to me, citizen Baron. Your trio's made too many bullshit decisions around here to take a risk on you making another.”
I let go. He stumbled to get his footing and looked up, pointing an ancient finger my way.
“You're crazy! Do you really think the clan's gonna listen to a deranged bear married to a tiger? I mean, really married to her? This is a coup! You're too young to lead, too sick.”
Stomping to the door, I threw it all the way open, and waved my men inside. The Elder instantly crumpled when he saw the smiles on their faces.
“Anybody here eager to fight for these greedy old cave bears?”
My boys shook their heads, still smiling at the old man. They were glad to be free from the Elders' corruption.
Baron turned away from me, humiliated and beaten.
Outside, Forest gawked in awe. He locked his eyes on me when I left the room. I stopped to give him a message.
“Better wake up Sherry and tell her the bad news. Elder council's been disbanded. This is my clan now, and I expect you all to be there when I sign the treaty with Tiger Bay.”
His old eyes were wide, empty, confused.
“Just like that?” Forest whispered. “This is how it ends?”
“For you. For our clan, it's only beginning.”
VII: Reunions (Laura)
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the weakness. Nothing wanted to work. Rolling my head drained what little strength I had like running a marathon.
Where the hell am I?
Something prickly and soft was taped to my arm. I groaned, lifted it up, and saw the spot where someone had bandaged tape and gauze to my skin.
I remembered the lonely cabin, passing out as Hannah and that damned doctor drained the life from me. I jerked up and screamed when I saw his face.
Reed raised his arms, defensive and surprised. Then he was shoved aside with a growl by a bigger silhouette behind him.
“Laura! Thank the Gods. You're awake!”
James scooped me up in his powerful grip. I cooed softly, grateful for his strength. Having him move my body for me was way better than struggling myself.
My curves melded plush against his hard body. He put his chin on my head, inhaling the scent in my hair, rising thunder burbling in his throat.
He sounded relieved, angry, and wickedly intense. All at the same time.
“How long was I out?” I whispered.
“About a day. Good thing this asshole's calculations were right. He saved your life.” James pointed to Reed, who turned away, hiding his face. “If we hadn't gotten you the blood in time...”
I filled in the blank. Everything about the weakness in my body and the fierceness in his voice told me I was lucky to be alive.
“Blood? What blood?” I didn't understand.
I whimpered when I heard another growl at my side, this one unmistakably tiger. My father's lean fingers pinched my shoulder. He forced his way between James and I, taking my lover's place with his arms.
“Daddy? Now I'm really confused.”
“I was a match for you, Laura. We got to you just in time. You're going to be okay, my dear. Really and truly okay!”
I'd never heard such joy in his voice. For a second, I wondered if I'd really died, or if I was still deep in a coma stretched out in the dingy prison room.
“You're here? In Denali?”
He nodded. “Business with the bears. It's almost all over, I hope. There's nothing left to do but etch out the details so I can get you home.”
James snorted angrily behind him. Sparks raced up my spine, angry and fearful.
“No!” I pushed my hand against my father as hard as I could. “I'm staying here.”
Daddy and James locked eyes. Two Alphas in a stark contest, fighting to decide my fate, neither really caring what I had to say.
“Gentleman, I need a moment alone with the lady,” Reed piped up behind them. “Need to check her vitals and brief her on what's happened from a medical point of view. Visiting hours can pick up later.”
My father rose, never taking his eyes off James. He licked his lips and I saw his fingers twitch, a frustrated tiger's mannerism's in a man's body.
“You too, Alpha.” Reed nodded at James.
“One minute alone with her, doc. I already know one of the things you're going to say. Let me be the one to tell her.”
Reed's face twisted reluctantly. Finally, he gave in, and stepped out the door behind Daddy.
“Laura, baby, the doctor told me something I can't get out of my fucking mind while you were out. Big news.”
He had my attention. His arms were around me, pulling my ear close to his lips. He laid a warm kiss on my cheek, so warm and rosy the whole sensation swept through me like a gentle sunbeam.
“We're gonna have a baby together. Two cubs. They're in your pretty belly right now.” He laid his hand gently on my lower stomach.
I froze. In my heart, it was the happiest thing I'd ever heard. But finding out like this, after all I'd just been through...
I started to cry. James moved his hands to both cheeks, holding my head still to face him, brushing away each tear.
“What is it, baby? Don't tell me you aren't as happy as I am?”
“It's just that we're never going to be safe. Hannah almost killed me and our babies. I still don't know what the hell Daddy's doing here on your land. Doesn't sound too friendly. How can I bring cubs into a world where fear and violence are constantly hanging over us?”
“They're not!” he growled. “You're still weak and thinking in a fog, baby. I'm sorting out our fucking problems, one by one. All I've been doing since I got back from Tiger Bay.”
“No, no...” I refused to believe it, shaking my head.
“Laura, look at me. If Shane and I were really that close to war, we'd already be shooting at each other. The tiger troops outside he brought to Denali haven't hurt anybody. As for Hannah...” He paused, another growl rending his throat, sharper and angrier than the others. “I'll find the traitorous bitch. She'll pay for what she's done to you.”
“It's more than just her. What about those men who dragged me away to prison? The ones who gave the orders? Gods! Can I even have a hybrid baby?”
James laid one strong finger across my lips. I sighed around it, shuddering in his embrace.
“Quiet, baby. I've got everything under control. Trust me. All the things you mentioned are neutralized and then some. That last thing...I'll hold Reed's fur to the fire if it's the last thing I do. We will have our cubs.”
He was so sure, so bold. I wished his confidence was transferable. I began trembling and the waterworks switched on all over again.
James held me sweetly, touching his lips to mine. I was too weak to throw the feeling into the kiss I wanted, but I savored his warmth on mine. In his lips, our fates conspired, but his energy just reassured me over and over.
Stop doubting. Heal. Live. I've got this, baby.
Another knock at the door. James tore himself away with a sour look on his face.
“Got to go, baby. I'll check up on you in a f
ew hours.” He stopped at the door and looked at me. “Soon as I find the idiot who did this to you, you'll be the first to know.”
A solid day made everything much better. I was barely conscious and aware when James returned, but I do remember him holding me. The rest of the time, there was a brief visit with Daddy, holding my hand the whole time.
Mostly, Reed came and did his job, efficiently and quietly.
I couldn't hold back the next morning. When I asked him about our cubs, he faced me, his lips like thin leaves pressed together.
“I'll be very honest with you, Laura. There's no biological reason a bear, a tiger, and most any other skinwalker can't produce healthy offspring. It's just that it's rare and complicated. The medical literature is so sparse I'll be winging it.”
My eyes narrowed. At least he was being honest, but everything coming out of his mouth wasn't what I wanted to hear. On the other hand, it was nice to feel something again at all, even if it was anger.
“I can't lose them. Please, you have to help.”
He came to my side, looking down at me very seriously. “You won't. I promise you this. I'll be on call to help you through everything, and not just because I'm a doctor or because I'm following the Alpha's orders. I need to do this to make up for what I did. I'm not a bad man...”
I wasn't ready to accept it. I looked away, doubly sickened by the uncertainty in Reed's voice. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself, rather than me.
“Just keep my cubs safe,” I said coldly.
Reed nodded. If he'd been looking for sympathy, I wasn't giving him any.
True, he'd taken good care of me when I needed it most. But he'd helped Hannah with her scheme in the first place, and only protested when it went too far.
What had he said? Something about blackmail? If he was willing to hold me down and help her take my blood, he must have a seriously fucked up secret.
Daddy came into the room not long after Reed left. For the first time I noticed the tiny imprints of scratches fading on his cheeks and forehead.
“Who'd you get into a fight with?” I asked.
“It isn't important.” He pulled up the chair next to me and took my hand. “Listen, Laura...the treaty's coming soon. As soon as it's signed, my men and I are heading out.”
