Tiger Tracks (Alaskan Tigers Book 9)

by Dobson, Marissa

  She took her time climbing each step so she could enjoy the warmth for as long as possible before she had to face the cold again. If she could have rented a room without using a credit card, she would have. One with a view of the bench. Hotels, especially nice ones like this one, always wanted credit cards, so she was out of luck. Instead, she was stuck with the roof access. At least this time of year no one would be up there, and if she managed to stay out of sight of the security cameras, she might be able to remain there without getting caught.

  She climbed without pause until she reached the roof. There, she waited outside the door and listened. She used her shifter hearing to ensure no one was waiting on the rooftop terrace. Detecting nothing, she pushed the door opened a couple inches and glanced around, while also taking a deep breath of air to see if she could smell if any shifters had been there. Nothing.

  She stepped out into the cold. While she moved toward the chest-high railing, she stayed close to the building and out of the range of the camera. She had already scoped out the location earlier in the day, while others were about and she could blend in like the average hotel guest just out to observe the view. She knew the best spot to watch the location while staying out of view of security.

  She crept into place and settled in for a long night. She’d stay until the moon had moved on and the sun would be peaking over the horizon, because by then it would be too late for them to come. If they don’t come…

  She tried to push the idea from her thoughts because it would mean another day on her own, scared of her own shadow. She’d never been a fierce tigress, but she wasn’t the type to be pushed around, either. Now, everything seemed sinister. Where had her backbone gone?

  You had enough backbone to leave your clan. Her inner voice had been with her all her life, and it was the same one she’d heard in her visions. It was comforting. She wasn’t alone, even though it felt like she was. The voice returned again, and she relaxed. You can get through this. Have faith.

  Chapter Two

  Due to the late hour, D.C. traffic was light, which was good for Styx as he stood in the middle of the street trying to catch the scent of the tigress. There were so many different smells all demanding his attention. To the left, he could smell a woman who had been there earlier, her strawberry shampoo mixing sweetly with her honey scent. A masculine scent was there as well, overpowered by booze and stress. So far, everything he could smell was human. Where was the tigress? It hadn’t been long enough for the trace of her to vanish. A hint of her had to be there somewhere. He let his eyelids fall shut and focused.

  Each scent was like a calling card back to their owner, a direct path to them if only he’d follow one. He would follow one if he found the right one, though so far he was having no luck. Then it hit him. It was faint but unmistakable. It wasn’t just the fact it was the only tigress scent there, but it was also laced with terror and trace rays of hope. There was something oddly arousing about the scent that had his tiger within sitting up and taking notice.

  “Styx.” Theodore pulled him from his concentration, making his tiger growl at the interruption.

  “Not now.”

  “It’s Ty. He tried your cell but you didn’t answer, and he says it’s important.” He leaned against the side of the SUV, holding out the phone.

  He couldn’t deny a call from his Alpha even if he wanted to. He might have a translation to the code at the bottom of the tigress’s transmission. He took the offered phone and nodded for him to get back into the SUV. As he climbed in himself, he switched on the speaker phone, so Theodore could be updated as well. “I’m here, go ahead. You’re on speaker. What do you got for me?”

  “The code is being translated, but what we have so far is there’s a spot directly across the Potomac River from Arlington Cemetery. Somewhere along the river there will be something waiting for you on a bench.”

  “That’s all you’ve got?” he snapped, as the excitement of a break shattered. “Do you realize how big that section is or how many benches there will be? It will take hours for us to search them. What about a location for this woman? Anything useful?”

  “Tabitha has about half the message translated, but I wanted to get you heading in the right direction first.” Ty sighed, and there was a pause. “I’m afraid this won’t be the quick trip we were hoping for. Whatever you find waiting on that bench won’t be her. It might be another message we’ll have to decode. We won’t know until you find it.”

  “There’s something else, isn’t there?” Styx started up the SUV, kicking on the heat to chase away the chill that hung in the air.

  “Jinx received a call.” Through the phone, Styx could hear his Alpha moving farther away from the voices that had been in the background. A door clicked shut before he continued. “The Washington D.C. Tigers know there’s a shifter in their area. They don’t know it’s a woman yet, but you need to find her and get the hell out of there before shit heads south.”

  “Fuck!” Theodore cursed, summing up what Styx and everyone else was thinking. They knew it wasn’t just the woman who’d be in trouble if the Washington D.C. Tigers learned too much, but all of them. Since they hadn’t devoted themselves to Tabitha as the Queen of the Tigers, it meant they were as big of an enemy as a group of rouges, only these shifters were a dangerous bunch. Styx and Theodore alone stood no chance again the whole clan.

  “Garth and Red are on their way to back up your mission. They’ll call when they get to the area. In the meantime, you’ve got Quinn’s cell number. He’s in D.C., so call him if you run into any trouble before back-up arrives.”

  Quinn Evans might be local, but there’d have to be a major issue for Styx to call the United States Marshal. The Marshal would demand they play it by the book, and even though Styx’s life had straightened out since he had been an assassin, it didn’t mean he could play by the book with a woman’s life hanging in the balance. He’d go to any lengths to find her and protect her. He’d made mistakes in his past, and it cost him the life of someone he was supposed to protect, but not this time.

  “Styx?” Ty’s voice held a hint of sadness as if his thoughts were also turning back to Styx’s past.

  “I’m here.” He clipped his phone to the visor so he could talk and drive at the same time without violating the new hands-free driving laws. Police were the last thing they needed, because there was little doubt the local clan had connections there. “We’re heading to the location now.”

  “We’ll be in touch when we have the rest of it translated.”

  “During my…” He searched for the right phrase before finally settling on one. “My…time in the field, I’ve studied nearly every code. Is this a new one?”

  “No. Ancient. We were only able to translate it because of the book. When you find her, you’re going to need to find out how she knew the code before you can bring her back here. It’s so old that it’s highly unlikely anyone alive would know it. The only conclusion I can arrive at is that it might’ve been passed down from generations ago.”

  The way he said the book made it clear that once again Tabitha’s special abilities were being utilized. The book was kept in a safe place most of the time, but when she needed it, it was there for her. Other times, when she didn’t even realize she needed it, the book would call to her. It had been their map on this journey of uniting all tigers.

  “I’ll see to it.” He reached up to end the call when Ty’s voice stopped him.

  “It wasn’t your fault.” The parting words were soft enough that he almost questioned his Alpha had even said them.

  “What wasn’t?” Theodore glanced at him as they traveled toward their new destination.

  “Long story, bear.” Scenery flew by as they raced toward the river. “This is more than you signed up for, so I understand if you want to head out.” Part of him wanted Theodore to pack it in and go to the West Virginia Tigers. The youngest of the Brown brothers might have seen his fair share of fighting, but he wasn’t ready to stand up
against the Washington D.C. Tigers if things came to that. And he sure as hell didn’t want to have to bring news to the Brown brothers that the youngest was killed.

  “You sound like Taber and Thorben. Just because they are the oldest, they feel they know what’s best. I’ve been on missions before, and I’m not backing down. Don’t go trying to protect me, because you know my brothers will be pissed if I so much as stub my toe.”

  Styx couldn’t keep the smile off his face. When they got stuck at a traffic light, he glanced across the front seat. “Bear, I only meant this was more than you signed up for. Back-up is going to take a while to arrive. We’re going to be on our own for at least a couple hours, longer if they drove.”

  “I’m here until the end. We’ll find your tigress, and then all of us can get out of the city and back to the safety of a compound.” He tipped his head toward the now green light. “Let’s not waste time. Maybe we can find her before they even arrive, and they can turn around.”

  “Optimistic, but I like it.” He was used to working these types of situation on his own. Until he became a part of Bethany’s guard, he always worked alone. Now he was Shadow’s second, her right hand man. Shadow had earned her position, even though it was unusual to have a woman as a guard member, not to mention the fact she was still young. Nevertheless, she was fierce and would keep the Lieutenant’s mate safe at all costs.

  What surprised him was that Shadow had chosen him as her second. He never suspected he’d get a position like this because of his past. Even though the Alaskan Tigers had opened their home and ranks to him, there were still many among his kind who saw him as an assassin and refused to trust him. Even the Lieutenant’s sister, Tora, had seen him that way at first. She had only warmed to him after she witnessed his devotion to Bethany, Shadow, and the clan as a whole.

  This was another chance to prove that he was more than an assassin, but even that wasn’t his priority. It was getting the tigress to safety that was most important. He had earned his reputation as a stone cold killer because of his devotion and skills. It might not be what he wanted to be known for, but it didn’t change the fact that people who didn’t know him were scared of him. It had benefits. Shifters backed away when they saw him, and that helped keep the Alaskan Tigers’ Elders safe. Not just Bethany, but all of them, because it was his duty to protect them. The clan that opened themselves to him was now his family, and he’d die for them. On the flip of the coin, he’d live for them, too. He was fiercely protective of what was his.

  Ten minutes later, they pulled up in front of the start of the park area by the Potomac River. The land they had to cover and the number of benches they had to search were numerous but they couldn’t separate. Not with the newest threat hanging overhead. They’d have to do this quickly and together. Hopefully, their guess was correct: that she’d have stayed in West Potomac Park instead of heading farther East.

  The wind blew, sending the same scent he had smelled at the first location drifting right toward him. This time, his tiger jumped to life, charging forward. He might have doubted that it was the woman he was looking for at the first location, but this time there was no questioning what he smelled. The tigress had been here, weaving in and out of the park. She had looped back so many times it made it hard to know where to start. Each time he thought the path was new and just beginning, the scent leaped around before continuing on. Paranoid. But that was understandable with her Alpha’s men after her and the Washington D.C. Tigers being a possible danger.

  “Don’t worry, Catnip, I’m coming for you.”

  “Huh?” Theodore went to the first bench, checking it over for any signs that she had been there.

  “Nothing.” He followed the scent around like a puppy dog trying to find his owner. Round and round he went, but his thoughts were on the nickname he had just given her. Catnip, because of the way the smell aroused his tiger, bringing the beast forward like a cat searching for a treat. He hadn’t even met this woman, and already her smell had his beast on edge.

  Just before the slope toward the river, they found the bench. He knew it without even having to look, because that’s where her scent was the strongest. She had been there multiple times, most likely checking to make sure whatever message she’d left was still there. His pace quickened as he crossed the park toward the spot.

  What would he find there? He already knew he wouldn’t find her here, on this bench, but would the next piece of the puzzle lead him to her? Or was it another clue as to where to go next? He had never liked games like this. He’d have rather just hunted her down his own way, instead of skulking around the city, collecting one piece after another.

  “Over here.” He didn’t bother to look back to see if Theodore was coming. Instead, he squatted down next to the bench and felt under the wood planks. There had to be something. He found it taped under the second plank, and he carefully pried it loose and brought it into the light.

  He rose and glanced around once again to make sure they were alone in the park. Something had him on edge, almost as if danger was coming their way. He had never had that type of sixth sense before, but his tiger began to pace within him. He trusted his instincts enough to know something was off. His beast was too agitated. It wasn’t a false alarm.

  “Do you feel that?”

  Theodore raised an eyebrow in question. “Man, first you were talking to yourself and now you feel something. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “You don’t feel that tension?” Before the bear could answer, Styx glanced around. “Someone is watching and they’re in danger.”

  “How do you know this? I’ve seen you in battle before. This isn’t a trait of yours. Why the change? Are your powers growing along with Tabitha’s?”

  “I don’t know.” He hated to admit it, but he didn’t know what was going on. Tabitha and some of the other shifters had noticed changes within them as Tabitha began to grow in power. Everyone was becoming more powerful in order to protect the Queen of the Tigers. However, it was mostly the ones who’d mated that were growing in strength and power. It was as if the book was bringing together mates to make them a more powerful core group. It’s what they needed to ensure Tabitha and Ty’s safety until they could produce an heir, but it also made their enemies more wary of them.

  “It’s eerie to watch all of you change as you have,” Theodore said. “Not just becoming more deadly and powerful, but there’s also some kind of invisible cord connecting all of you. The Elders and their elite guards are acting as if they’re one person, of the same mind. It’s more than just training together because no matter how much training you have, it’s not enough to be able to do what you’ve done. It’s not even just the tigers. I’ve seen Taber, Thorben, and Tad all become a part of this. It hasn’t started with Trey and Turi yet, but Ivy’s human, so it might not. She’s only connected to your clan through the Kodiak Bears.”

  He’d have to be blind not to have seen what Theodore was referring to. Over the last several months, he had witnessed it himself. It started slow at first, but recently it had begun to grow intensely. Was it speeding up because the danger level was going to skyrocket soon? He wasn’t sure, but he didn’t want to spend too much time considering it. “If we’re growing, your sleuth will, too. You are an ally, one we cherish. Everything that’s happening is for the greater good of our kind. Never doubt that.”

  “I’m not doubting anything, only stating what I’ve seen. I don’t spend much time at the Alaskan Tigers compound, but I’ve seen the changes in my brothers when they come to the island. Dad thinks it’s because things are going to get dangerous soon.”

  “How about we focus on one issue at a time?” His cell phone rang, interrupting him just as he had started opening the folded piece of paper in his hand. He unclipped the phone from his belt. The screen read, Garth. This time he wouldn’t be able to put it on speaker because they were out in the open, but if Theodore listened closely, he’d still be able to hear. “Styx.”

  “We’
re just entering the D.C. metro area.”

  He pulled the phone away from his ear for a moment and glanced at the time. Not enough time had passed for them to drive from Snowshoe, West Virginia. They must have flown, and it would have taken some good connections to get them a vehicle to the airstrip they used outside the city limits on such short notice. Either way, he was relieved to hear back-up was on the way. They could separate into two groups and try to determine which direction the tigress headed when she left the park. “We’re at West Potomac Park. Head this way, but be on your guard. Something isn’t right.”

  “We’re on our way.” Garth hung up without another word.

  “Just a little longer and we’ll have back-up.” Styx unfolded the paper in his hand. The same coded message he’d seen at the bottom of the first transmission was etched out on the thick white paper.

  “How is that supposed to help us?” Theodore plopped down on the bench. “If it takes hours to translate, just like the last one, we’ll never find her before the Washington D.C. Tigers know we’re here. There are too many of us to go unnoticed for long. Someone will be out and catch our scent.”

  Styx didn’t answer. Instead, he took a snapshot of the paper and messaged it to Ty. They’d work on it, and in the meantime that meant he’d have to figure out which way she went when she left the park. They would head in that direction, following the scent until it was either a dead-end or they found her. Either way, they’d continue while the Elders worked on the code.

  Help! A woman’s voice screamed at him as if she was right there. He turned, scanning the park, but there was no one around except Theodore who was still seated on the bench, his legs stretched out before him, looking completely unbothered. Had he not heard the woman’s cry? He pinched the bridge of his nose and wondered if he was getting too old for missions like this. Obviously, he was hearing things that weren’t there, and that didn’t bode well.