She was tired of being the victim and the only way out was to leave town. If she stayed, 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 a pine 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 is this place? And why is security so tight here? Questions whirled in her mind but still, this had to be the only place he wouldn’t come to looking 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 prepared 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 leaked their 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 beasts were denied an escape for too long, the next time they shifted it would be harder to control their animals.
A human seeing tigers roaming the area would have the government agencies swarming their location. Discovery had to be avoided at all costs. They’d be hauled off and even though everyone had their suspicions about what would happen, they 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 of a 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 must have a life that is important to her, but so do we. 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 just 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 around 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 shifted 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 only to release a soft moan, the scent of her pain filled the air and cut 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 carefully swept her into his arms. Electricity sizzled through them, confirming what he had already suspected from his tiger’s reaction. 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 her anxiety rise, permeating the air, so he snuggled her tighter against his chest. “Don’t worry, Layla. 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 Korbin 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, 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 compound 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 her ex, 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. But still, 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 weren’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 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.” His never slowed his pace until he reached in 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 is 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, waiting for him to strike out. “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.”
“Impossible.” She lifted her hand from her stomach and stared at the blood coating her fingers. “I’m bleeding too much.”
“It’s not impossible.” He turned to the long dresser behind him and pulled out the supplies Doc had sent him to keep on hand. “He’s a healer, better than any doctor on this planet. Let him help you and you won’t even know you were shot. If you’re trying to leave, that’s the best option.”
His tiger snarled within him. Mine. Claws dragged along inside his skin, warning him his tiger wasn’t happy with even the suggestion of her leaving. She was his and whatever danger she was in, they’d face it together. He wasn’t going to allow her to run off alone.
“I’m bleeding.”
“I know.” The scent of her blood kept his beast just under the surface, demanding freedom. “I can patch you up enough to slow the bleeding. You’ll be fine until he gets here, though I’d still like to give you something to help with the pain.”
“No!”
“Assuming you wouldn’t want to anything stronger, I meant an aspirin.” Supplies in hand, he turned back to her. “Though I can offer you—”
“No, thank you. I can’t stay. I need to keep moving.”
“Then, which will it be? Patch you up and wait for my friend or stitch your wounds?” He’d rather wait than put her through the pain, but he wasn’t sure how he would explain Galen’s healing abilities. One problem at a time.
Chapter Three
Always a wimp when it came to pain, the idea of being stitched up without local anesthetic turned Layla’s stomach, but not as much as the idea of Donald finding her. She’d come here because she had no choice and now she realized what a horrible decision it had been. These people had no idea the trouble she brought with her. They kept to themselves, only coming into town occasionally for supplies. They didn’t deserve to be tangled up in her mess.
“There you go.” Korbin pressed another piece of medical tape to her stomach to keep his makeshift bandage in place. “That will cut down on the bleeding until you decide whether to be stitched or allow the healer—”
A growl echoed through the air, cutting Korbin off mid-sentence. His fingers stilled over her bandage, the tension tightening every muscle within him. Glancing up at him, she found his jaw set but it was the change in his eyes that stole her breath. She could have sworn his eyes were a light hazel color b
efore, but as their gazes met, they appeared a warm amber.
“What is that?” Her voice was low, barely above a whisper.
“Stay here.” He rose from where he knelt beside her. “Don’t leave this room. Understand?”
“I don’t understand. What’s happening?”
“I’ve trusted you, even though you haven’t told me anything. Now I ask that you return the favor.” He brushed a finger along her cheek and jaw, caressing her skin. “We’ll both explain things when I get back. Feel free to lie on the bed and rest. I’ll be back soon. You’re safe here.”
“But that—”
“Trust me, Layla. Nothing will happen to you here.”
Before she could argue, he strolled out of the bedroom, leaving her alone with her thoughts. It was strange but she did trust him. Just as she had trusted Rachel and Sparks, almost from the moment they’d walked into the store in town. Something about them comforted her, telling her everything would be okay if they were around. How weird, since she didn’t really know them. Their only connection was the two times a month she’d see them when they came in for supplies. Still, she was sure they would help her. For that reason, she’d decided to come to this place. She believed they’d help her instead of calling the police. She needed to keep faith in that and continue to have conviction in them now.
The growl weighed on her mind. It wasn’t like anything she’d heard before. The woods were home to bears and other creatures but this noise had been different. The soft rumble hidden within the menacing growl reminded her of the small orange tabby kitten she’d had as a child. Only this was much louder, as if it was on steroids.
“The zoo.” She shook her head, trying her best to shake away the outrageous thoughts running wild within her. An animal escaping the zoo was rare and while it did happen, the chances one making it this far without being caught had to be slim to none. The nearest zoo was located over two hours away.
Alpha Claimed (Alaskan Tigers Book 13) Page 2
