Tieryn's Fury

by Abigail Owen

  “Call Mac,” George said again.

  The ringing of a cell phone caused everyone to tense. Zac pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked the number. With a frown, he answered. “Corrie?”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Once they were armed with all of Neah’s information, Andie and Jaxon gathered their Commanders and Protectors as well as the other Alphas, and the rest of that day was spent devising a plan…something Tieryn couldn’t help all that much with, but she wanted to ensure she was included in it, so stuck around. Mac, or Daje as Neah and George called him, had been contacted and was on his way, as was Corrie, one of Zac’s polar bears, although the Timik leader didn’t explain why she was coming.

  Neah and George had disappeared to heaven only knew where. She’d watched her mother go with mixed emotions, part of her wanting the woman who’d given birth to her to stay so that she could ask the multitude of questions that had built up inside her with every passing moment. Although, based on those “master” comments, Tieryn was starting to wonder if her mother had abandoned her. Not that she could ask right now anyway.

  Besides which, all her frustration at the moment was reserved for one particular cougar shifter who seemed hell bent on keeping her out of any plans. Rather than argue with Shane like a petulant child in front of her parents, she bided her time and waited until they broke for dinner before she approached Andie directly. She managed to get in line behind her along the buffet table.

  “I know what you want,” Andie said before Tieryn had a chance to say a word. “But I can only take people who don’t need protecting themselves, who can be helpful.”

  Tieryn nodded. “I understand. My gift protects me enough, but that aside, I’m a damn fine shot with a crossbow, and better with a rifle. Though, in this case, the crossbow might be better for stealth.”

  Andie’s eyebrows winged up. “Ever kill anything with it?”

  She tried to hide her grimace at the memory. “A rabbit. When Shane and I were in the cabin in Canada.”

  “And you didn’t like killing?” Andie guessed.

  “Not exactly.” But the rabbit had tasted fine once it was only meat and not some cute furry thing.

  “What makes you think you could do it now?”

  Tieryn’s chin went up. “My father’s in there and other cougar shifters. I know I can help. My gift could potentially save lives, get more out with me. I bring up the crossbow because I can protect myself and others at the same time. It’s worth the risk.”

  Andie gave her a long, hard stare. “Meet me tomorrow in the locker rooms that lead to the training fields. You know where those are? Where we first brought you in?” Her gaze drifted down over Tieryn’s lovely lilac slack suit that she’d selected to travel in and was still wearing. “Wear something else,” Andie added.

  Tieryn nodded.

  “I need to see your skills in action. After that, we’ll talk.”

  Tieryn nodded again. “That’s all I ask.”

  She glanced down and choked back a laugh. Her mind had been on convincing Andie, and she’d somehow managed to fill her plate with a hodgepodge of foods that were completely unappetizing together. Spaghetti noodles with marinara sauce covered a slab of steak. Green beans swam in what appeared to be beef stroganoff. And red jello topped a large hunk of French bread.

  “I’ve never seen jello with bread before. Is it tasty together?”

  Tieryn glanced up into Andie’s laughing eyes and giggled. “I guess my mind was on something more important than food.”

  Andie grinned. “I guess so.”

  ****

  Andie only nodded her approval of Tieryn’s running pants and sports bra, similar to her own, when they met in the locker room this morning. Now, Tieryn’s focus was absolute as she waited on her targets. She held her crossbow—a new one supplied by the Alpha female—at the ready. She was determined to prove her abilities. She would be on this rescue mission, dammit, no matter what one Shane Callahan said about it.

  Today’s demonstration was a method she hadn’t tried before. They moved on foot through a wooded course, following a fairly wide path through the fragrant pines of the Bitterroot Mountains. Shooting targets triggered by motion sensors were set to pop out all over the place, but they only remained visible for a handful of seconds, which required her to act fast. Andie followed behind her as she made her way through the range, evaluating.

  With no warning, a target attached to a frame popped out from a bush to her left. She fired. Bullseye. Another one dropped down from the branch of a tree to her right. Another bullseye. She kept going, firing at any target that appeared. She didn’t hit everything exactly perfect but close enough, and she did hit everything. At the end of the range, she lowered her bow and turned to face her judge and jury of one.

  “Well?”

  Andie crossed her arms. “You’re an excellent shot. Could you do that when it’s a man and not a paper target on the other end?”

  Tieryn clenched her teeth. “If it means saving my father I can.”

  Andie must’ve heard something convincing in Tieryn’s voice this time because she nodded. “All right. You’re in.”

  Tieryn blew out a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Thanks.”

  Andie gave her a sharp nod.

  Tieryn realized that she would never allow someone on a mission who wasn’t ready, which meant a lot. She’d always been treated like a porcelain doll who couldn’t do for herself. Now she had proof otherwise.

  Together they made their way back to the compound through the locker rooms located at the back of the building.

  “Good job,” a male voice said as they entered.

  She glanced behind her to find William, the Protector assigned to guard her on her travels back to Florida yesterday. She tossed a frowning glance Andie’s way. The shifter shrugged. “With the skill of the attacks, and their seeming determination to get to you, you didn’t think we would be out in the woods all alone, do you?”

  She should have known. “I guess not. Who else was out there?”

  “Jaxon’s other Protector Dylan, Shane, and I’m pretty sure I caught Jaxon’s scent, although he’s harder to track, and I didn’t expect him out there.”

  “You didn’t think he’d leave you out in the woods with only a couple of Protectors, did you?” Tieryn quipped.

  “Hey,” William protested.

  Tieryn and Andie grinned.

  Andie pulled a stack of clothes—military style in desert camo, but tighter for hand-to-hand fighting, and fitted for a woman’s build—from a locker and handed them to Tieryn. “I’m shorter than you, but these should fit.”

  And larger in the chest, Tieryn thought with an envious glance. “Thanks.”

  “I’ve got to go see Jaxon about something. I’ll see you out back in an hour.”

  Tieryn resisted the urge to salute—able to see how Andie earned the respect she had from those she led—and kept herself to a nod. She stared after Andie’s departing form, knowing exactly what the woman had in mind for Jaxon right then. She would be doing the same with Shane if—

  No. She shook her head. None of that.

  Instead she stripped off her clothes and started to dress in the skintight pants and vest, which had a built in sports bra. She was bare from the waist up when a sound had her spinning around, covering her chest with the top.

  Her eyes widened when she found Shane leaning in the doorway, arms crossed. What was it with him and doorways anyway? His gaze trailed over her for a long, breathless moment. “That was some good shooting.”

  So he had been out there. She was glad she didn’t know that until after the fact or she would’ve been more nervous. “Thanks.”

  “Andie says you’re cleared to go.”

  “Yes.” She turned her back on him and pulled the vest on over her head.

  “Is there anything I can say to make you stay behind?”

  She sat on one of the benches in front of the lockers
, her back still to him, and started to pull on the socks and boots Andie had included. “Why do you even care?” she asked.

  A lengthy silence greeted that question.

  With a tug, she finished lacing her boots, stood up, and slung the crossbow around her back.

  She went to move past him, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm. “I do care, Tieryn,” he said in a low voice.

  Hope was hard to kill apparently. She searched his eyes. He seemed…almost confused, lost somehow. Something in his gaze shifted, heated. With agonizing slowness, he leaned toward her while pulling her closer. He paused with his mouth hovering above hers, not quite touching.

  With a whimper, she closed the gap between their lips. He groaned as he gathered her up in his arms. Hands under her ass, he lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he pinned her against the wall with his body and devoured her mouth with frantic kisses.

  Tieryn reveled in every stroke of his tongue, every brush of his hands. Then the tone of his kisses changed…slowed, softened to a languorous melding of their mouths and body. He let her slide down until her toes touched the ground, then pulled back to look into her eyes with an intensity that made her catch her breath. He brushed her hair back from her face.

  “Don’t go,” he begged.

  She swallowed. “Why?”

  He shook his head, mouth clenched tight.

  “Do you love me, Shane?” She held her breath. Part of her wondered where the hell that question had come from and if she had any pride at all to ask such a thing. The rest of her hung on to every nuance of his response.

  He didn’t reply for a long moment, just stared down at her. Then his brows furrowed, and the confusion returned to cloud his gaze. “I can’t love anymore.”

  Pain and humiliation tore through her. Hands on his chest, she pushed him back, and he moved.

  She walked through the door without a backward glance.

  “Tieryn.” His call stopped her.

  She didn’t bother to look back. “It’s my father. I have to go.” She kept walking.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Rather than deal with anyone else trying to talk her out of going, because Gage hadn’t even wanted her to reveal her skills with the bow to Andie, she went back to her room. Thank goodness for the female Alpha, otherwise, Tieryn had a feeling she wouldn’t have been going anywhere. She snorted in disgust at the thought as she closed her bedroom door behind her.

  “Tieryn?”

  With a squeal, she jumped and turned only to find her mother standing there.

  She put her hand to her heart. “Neah. You scared me.”

  Neah winced. “Sorry. When you’re trying to hide your presence, it makes it difficult to politely knock on doors.”

  Tieryn wasn’t sure what to say to that. Until now, no one she knew had that problem. She crossed her arms. “Do you need something?”

  “I understand you’ll be going?”

  Tieryn scowled. “If you’ve come to tell me not to go, save your breath.” It was too late for this woman to act maternal in any way.

  Neah shook her head. “No. You should go.”

  “I—” She blinked. “I should?”

  Neah folded her hands before her. “I haven’t been an active part of your life for over twenty years. You’ve grown into a strong, smart, beautiful woman. I’m proud of you. And I trust your judgment.”

  Tieryn didn’t realize how much she needed to hear those words from the woman who’d given birth to her until she said them. Even though she found it difficult to think of this person before her—who looked just as young as she did—as her mother. But she was, Tieryn could feel that. Tears stung the back of her eyes, but she refused to give into the emotion. She hadn’t let go of all the anger yet. Not when she didn’t know why her mother had left her. “Why haven’t you been a part of my life?”

  Sorrow darkened Neah’s golden brown eyes. “I wasn’t allowed.”

  “The master again?”

  She inclined her head. “I was never supposed to have a child at all. I fell in love and was allowed to marry him with the…stipulation that I not have a child.”

  Ouch. So she was just an accident? Her disappointment must’ve shown on her face because Neah moved across the room and took her hands. “You’re a miracle and a blessing. I’ve never been happier before or since. My…master allowed me to bear you and even gave me a few years to get you settled. Leaving you was never my choice and was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but I’ve never stopped watching over you.”

  The tears choked her now. “You have?”

  “I saw when you learned to ride a bike, your first shift, your first kiss…” She paused and seemed to gather herself. “I love you.”

  The simple words did it. The tears fell in earnest. Man, was she turning into a weeper lately. A pair of comforting arms wrapped around her, and she was sat down on the edge of the bed. She stiffened a little, but a need she’d never known was there—a need to have a mother, one who comforted her and loved her—had her allowing the gesture, even soaking it in. After a long moment, she pulled back.

  Neah tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve missed you. More than you’ll ever know.”

  “I wish I could understand more.”

  Her mother closed her eyes for a long moment. “I wish I could tell you, but it’s better you don’t know.”

  “Will I see you again after this?”

  She grimaced. “I honestly can’t say.”

  “You don’t know? Or can’t say?”

  “A bit of both.”

  Tieryn wanted to growl or throw a fit. She hated being completely in the dark about the person who should be one of the closest in her life.

  Neah gave her a gentle smile. “Now, we don’t have much more time. This is my chance to help you find happiness, and I’m going to take it.”

  She shook her head in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  Neah gave her a steady look. “You need to know that Shane Callahan is your Fated Mate.”

  Oh. She gave her mother a small grimace in return. “I know.”

  “You do?”

  “I figured it out.”

  “Did Sarai tell you?”

  “She tried, but I wouldn’t let her. I’ve known for a while, but I also know that his soul has been scarred by what happened to his wife. He can’t love me back.”

  God, it hurt to say that out loud—to acknowledge that she was knowingly walking away from her Fated Mate, the one person who was supposed to be the center of the world. Apparently, she wasn’t meant to be surrounded by the people who were supposed to love her.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I discovered it when I was healing his ear. He’s hell bent on revenge, not that I blame him, so maybe that’s what’s keeping him damaged, but I tried to heal it and only ended up hurting him.”

  Neah frowned. “That’s not right.”

  “What?”

  “That’s not what I’ve seen.”

  Tieryn blinked. “You’re a Seer too?”

  A distracted nod.

  “Am I going to inherit that, too?”

  Neah’s startled gaze flashed to hers. “I don’t know. You’re the only child one of us has ever had.”

  “You or your brothers?” Realization was starting to dawn.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve met them before, haven’t I?”

  Neah’s eyes widened, and her grip on Tieryn’s hands tightened. “You remember that?”

  “Not really. But I recognized George…and Mac.”

  “You’re their niece. Before I left you with your father, we gathered to perform a blessing over you.”

  Certainty settled over her. “A blessing of protection?” she guessed. “Is that why I leap when I’m in danger?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why do I pass out?”

  “The effort it takes is draining. My brothers and I have reserves of power we can draw on. You
don’t.”

  “That sucks.”

  Neah tossed her head back and laughed. “Yes, it does, but it also keeps you safe.”

  Somehow, the fact that when her mother had left her she’d still done everything she could to protect her did more to heal the hole in her heart than anything else. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “You’re my daughter. I will always watch over you.”

  Before either could say or do more, George suddenly appeared before them. He winced at their tear-stained faces. “Sorry to interrupt, but it’s time.”

  “Okay.”

  They stood, and Tieryn found herself wrapped in a tight embrace. “Be careful. And if you need me, simply call my name,” Neah whispered in her ear.

  Neah and George disappeared before she could even take her next breath. “I will,” she said to thin air.

  In a rush, she braided her long hair and wrapped it into a high bun to get it out of her way. Taking her crossbow and arrows, she hustled to the meeting place at the larger helipad out back.

  Just as she entered the locker rooms, a girl stepped in her path. They hadn’t been introduced yet, but she recognized Corrie, one of Zac’s shifters. Tall and lanky with dark hair and eyes, she was hard to mistake.

  “If you get a chance to talk to the female leader of the lions, take it,” Corrie whispered urgently. She glanced over her shoulder like she was afraid of being heard.

  “What?”

  “Trust me.” Corrie stepped around her and walked out into the hallway.

  Tieryn had to take a second to gather her wits. She was having possibly the strangest day on record.

  “Are you coming? Or are you going to stand there and blink?”

  Shane stood in the doorway leading outside. She tossed a quick glance over her shoulder in the direction Corrie had disappeared then shook her head. “I’m coming.”

  Chapter Thirty

  The dry heat of the Mojave Desert blasted through the door of the helicopter along with sand and debris, made worse by the still-whirling rotor blades. Squinting wasn’t enough. Tieryn shielded her eyes with her hands as she jumped to the ground and followed the other cougar shifters out from under the aircraft. The helicopters were shut off, the dropping whine of the engines slowed and then stopped, leaving silence in their wake.