A soft growl answered him and her eyelids popped open. “Fine, but I need some strong coffee first.”
“I’m sure Theodore has some made and waiting for us.” To keep himself from claiming her again, he forced himself out of bed and began dressing.
“I’ve been thinking…” She leaned back on the pillows. “I think I should go alone.”
“What?” There was no doubt she meant to Connecticut, and he wasn’t letting that happen.
“Frank instilled fear in the members when it came to you. If you show up, they’re going to think you’re there to kill them,” she reasoned.
“It won’t be the first time someone thought that, and I suspect it won’t be the last either.” He slipped his shirt over his head. “The fear they have when it comes to me will keep you safe.”
“I don’t want them to be scared of me. Some of them are my family…my friends.”
“And some of them are your enemies. They might seek to kill you because of what happened and in revenge for the people who died. I’m not letting that happen.” Now dressed, he grabbed her clothes from the floor where they were tossed hours before and held them out to her. “We haven’t even decided it’s safe for you to go. We need to call David and see where things stand first.”
“If my brother asks me to come, I can’t deny him.”
“He took over the clan, but he’s not your Alpha. No matter the status of the clan, or where he stands on supporting Tabitha, he can’t be your Alpha. You must return to Alaska with me.”
She snatched her clothes from him. “Controlling me, just like Frank did.”
“Catnip…” He raised an eyebrow at her as if letting her know she wasn’t thinking clearly.
“Don’t Catnip me!” she snapped.
“I’m only telling you what must happen. You knew it when you agreed to this mating. My duty lies in Alaska, and to the Elders of the clan. I must return and you will be at my side.” He had thought she would have wanted to go to Alaska. After all, she called them to rescue her, and it seemed like the ultimate outcome of the whole situation.
“You think you’ve got it all figured out, and that I’ll just follow you. Maybe David needs me. Maybe I can help my clan.”
“They’re not your clan any longer.” He took a deep breath and tried not to give into his tiger’s irritation. “David couldn’t protect you from the clan members. It should be seen as showing favoritism. If they’d challenge you, you’d have no choice but to accept, and David could do nothing. It would be their right because of the role you played in the demise of the clan. If you commit to David as your Alpha, it could mean your death. You must see that.”
“So, returning to Alaska with you is my only way of surviving.” She fastened her bra and pulled the sweater over her head before moving to the edge of the bed to finish dressing.
“It must have been what you wanted.” He reached down and touched her shoulder. “You can commit to Ty, serve the clan to make sure that Tabitha can complete her destiny, and be with me. What’s holding you back from that?” He waited, even as his tiger fought against her emotions.
“In truth…fear.” Her lips curled down into a frown and her shoulders sank. “Fear of the unknown.”
He took hold of her hand and pulled her up into his arms. “It’s normal but I’m going to be there every step of the way. I promise you’re going to fit into the clan and in no time it will be your home.”
“What if it’s not? Then I’m stuck.”
“You have my word that it’s going to be fine.” There was nothing that could be said or done to relieve her apprehension. “The sooner we get to Alaska, the sooner you’ll realize this. The longer we take here, or in Connecticut, will only increase your uneasiness.”
“I know you’re not lying. I can feel the truth between our beasts, but it doesn’t eliminate my nervousness.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’ve never been away from the clan. I can count on one hand how many times I left the compound. One of those rare times was the trip to Washington D.C. It’s why I went there, thinking the crowd would help keep me safe. Frank controlled every aspect of our lives. This freedom is…unnerving.”
“I know, Catnip, but things will be okay. You’re going to enjoy this new freedom. I’ve no doubt that Tabitha, Bethany, Kallie, Robin, Courtney, and the other females of the clan will look out for you, and have you enjoying life in no time. Now, get dressed and we can find out what we’re going to do.”
“As much as I’m nervous about going to Alaska, I’m excited. I believe in what Tabitha and all of you are doing. I want to be a part of that, but I’m not sure what I can do that will be helpful.”
“We’ll work it out.” He kissed her forehead before she stepped back to dress.
What was happening between them was quicker than he might be comfortable with, but he didn’t have time to give into his own unease. He needed to be strong and reassuring for her. They’d get this over with quickly, and get her back to his clan to help ease the doubt. It would also give them time to get to know each other better, to connect on another level. Their time alone wouldn’t just be getting to know each other’s personalities, but also he had plans to explore more of her body.
* * *
Mira’s heart beat frantically against her ribcage, in such a way she wouldn’t have been surprised if there were bruises to match its pattern. Thump, thump, over and over again. Her vision swam before her eyes, as her anxiety level flew off the chart.
“It’s okay. He can’t hurt you.” Styx rubbed a hand along her back.
“I’ve never been afraid of David, even as he grew in power to be Frank’s…I guess assistant is the best word. Frank would have never trusted anyone for the position of Lieutenant. He was Frank’s toy, someone who did what Frank didn’t want to do himself, and was used as an extra set of eyes watching the clan. But it was never a position of a trusted advisor or anything like that. There wasn’t even a true friendship bond between them, now that I really think of it.”
“Why did he take the position, then?” Theodore stood on the other side of the small kitchen counter, coffee mug in hand.
“Frank ordered it. He wanted it, and even though David was happy with his position within the clan, it was either he did it or it would have been his death. He did it to protect the family and stay alive. Dad’s health was starting to fail, and he felt it was his duty to keep us safe. He told Frank he’d do it if he left our family alone.”
“Your Alpha agreed to that?” Theodore set the mug aside and stepped closer to them. “It doesn’t sound like Frank would be willing to just look the other way. Not when he had your family to use as leverage to get David to do what he wanted.”
“Not everyone is like your family, bear. All sane and normal. Some are vindictive and will agree to something only to make things worse in another way.”
“What?” She turned to Styx. “How’s his family different than others?”
“The Browns are close-knit. They live on an island outside of Nome. I doubt any of them would have left if Taber and Thorben hadn’t mated with Kallie, and Thaddeus with Milo and Courtney. Kallie was kept prisoner for years and only began to come out of her shell since she came to the compound. She needs the security of where she is, and since the oldest Brown twins were already traveling back and forth between our land and the Brown Island, it made sense for them to stay with Kallie and travel to Nome occasionally. Thaddeus joined us because Milo is also an Elder guard for the clan.”
“Wait, you mean they have more than one mate?”
“Twins Taber and Thorben were the first of my brothers to mate. They’re the oldest and that’s when the rest of us learned that our twins will have the same mate. My mother, Ava, explained that she had two fathers. Twins.”
“But how?”
“Identical twins have the same DNA, which is why they normally end up with the same mate. It’s rare for bear shifters to have twins, but my mother had two sets.”
“
Did the others mate together?”
Theodore nodded. “Not long ago they mated with Ivy. They’ve stayed on the island to help our father rule the sleuth. I’m the last of my siblings to mate, but it’s worked down from the eldest and Mom believes mine will be soon.”
“I don’t understand. You said Milo was an Elder guard, is he a bear as well? If so, why is he guarding the Alaskan Tigers’ Elders?”
“Tad—Thaddeus—is a bear, Milo is a tiger, and Courtney is human. They were destined to be together but we have no idea why when they’re so different. Somehow they work,” Styx answered. “I’ve never seen Milo as happy as he is now. His mates complete him.”
“Frank said it was an abomination to have more than one mate.” She wrapped her hands around the coffee mug that sat before her. “When I was eleven, I remember one of the tigresses of the clan had permission to visit a friend somewhere, and when she came back she was mated. Two tigers, I think. Frank had a fit.”
“What did he do?” Styx pressed when she trailed off.
“I’m not sure. Those under the age of eighteen were sent back to our apartments. Back then I always thought they were just able to leave and carry on with their lives. Happily mated.” She pushed the coffee away and glanced at Styx. “Now…”
“It’s okay, Catnip, we don’t need to relive these memories.” He wiped a tear that had rolled down her cheek.
“He killed them.” The words came out barely above a whisper, but it was like a weight was lifted from her chest. “Now I know that when the young children were ushered away, it’s because a blood bath was about to erupt. If he had just killed them, everyone would have witnessed it. But he tortured them before he killed them. All because she was destined to be with more than one. She had no say in that, she didn’t choose it, or plan to disobey him, and she still ended up dead.”
“If David’s the Alpha of the clan, it means Frank is dead and he can’t hurt anyone else any longer.”
“He did so much damage to everyone. Everyone was touched by his madness. What kind of long-term damage has that done to them? What mess will David have to clean up because of all the years under Frank’s control?”
“Why don’t we call him and find out?” Theodore suggested.
“One last question first. What about you? If all your brothers have mated with two, will you as well?”
“Only time will tell.” Theodore brought the mug of coffee to his lips, but didn’t take a sip. “I’ll be happy either way. My only hope is that I can find someone I can bring home to the island. My woodshop is all set up there…no it’s not even that because I can work anywhere but the island is my home. I might not do as much as Turi and Trey, but I don’t want to leave them as the only ones running our family’s sleuth.”
“The bear just wants to find his mate.”
“It’s hard to know that you’re next, and just stuck waiting.” He set the mug aside. “Enough chatter about me. Let’s make the call.”
Unable to put it off any longer, she touched the mouse pad of the laptop in front of her. Ty had sent them the secure number where they could contact David once they made plans for their travel. Instead, she was contacting him before they even decided to go there. While the idea of seeing her brother on the screen and knowing that he was okay excited her, it also terrified her. Dread chilled her veins at the possibility she’d find out something she didn’t want to know. Something that would keep her from ever stepping foot on the clan’s land again, and possibly from ever seeing her brother again.
“You’re not going to find out the answers you need by just staring at the computer screen. You actually have to connect the call,” Styx teased. “Come on, Catnip, whatever we find out, we’ll deal with it. But we can’t go to Connecticut blind.”
“I know.” She slid her finger up to the connect button. “Here goes nothing.”
Styx rubbed his hand over her back. “Have faith.”
Chapter Ten
It rang over and over until Mira was ready to hang up because she doubted David was around to answer it. Just as she slid the mouse to the disconnect button, his face filled the screen.
“David…” She couldn’t keep the tears from sliding down her face. He’s alive. Seeing him on the screen in front of her was the confirmation. She had never expected to see him again, or to enjoy the warmth of his smile. Only now there were lines around his eyes and no smile to be had. “I can’t believe it…you’re alive.”
“You too, little sister. Where are you?”
“She’s safe, that’s what matters.” Styx kept his hand on her back, rubbing small circle to ease the tension within her.
David’s gaze slid over to him. “Who are you?”
“David.” She drew her brother’s attention back to her, not because she was ashamed of Styx, but because she didn’t want him to have the same reaction as she did when she heard his name for the first time.
“Answer my question. Who are you with?”
“I was able to send a message to the Alaskan Tigers, and they sent me help. Theodore is from the Kodiak Bears.” She tipped her head to the other side of her as he came around the counter and into view.
David barely looked at Theodore. “Who’s the one next to you?”
“Styx—”
“Get away from my sister!” David hollered. Fear and anger had his eyes shifting to the warm orange fire of his tiger. “She did nothing. Frank is dead. I’m the new Alpha of this clan and—”
“Stop this.” She raised her voice. “Just listen to me for a minute before you start screaming at him.”
“Don’t be naïve, Mira. You must have seen that he’s dangerous.” There was no doubt he meant through her visions.
“Dangerous, no doubt.” Styx snarled. “But not to her. I would never hurt my—”
“Stop.” She cut him off before he could say mate. That was the last thing she needed at the moment. “David, he came to my rescue and saved me from some assholes in D.C. He’s not here to hurt me, and he didn’t come after me on Frank’s orders. He came because Ty and Tabitha sent him.”
“He’s there to kill you. Can you get away from him? Or tell me where you are, and I’ll send someone to help you.”
“If you could just be quiet for a moment, I’ll explain,” she snapped as her own annoyance began to seep through. “As you’ve put it, I’ve seen things, and Styx isn’t here to kill me.”
“How do you know that? Have you had another vision?” David cut her off again.
“Tell him the whole thing,” Styx whispered.
“She can speak for herself. Don’t encourage her to lie for you.”
Out of view of the screen, she placed her hand on Styx’s leg and tried to soak up his comfort. When she made this call, all she could think about was the outcome of what happened to her family and clan. She hadn’t considered his reaction to Styx. Maybe that was because she had already accepted him. “He’s my mate.” She just wanted to move past this so they could get to the reason she’d called.
“What?” David rose from the chair he was sitting in. “Tell me you didn’t!”
“The mating is complete,” Styx answered. “Now do you believe I mean her no harm?”
“She’ll be in more danger than she was under Frank’s rule.”
“No.” Styx wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “She’ll be protected. I will keep her safe, because people know what I’m capable of.”
“Stop it, both of you. Now, this isn’t the reason I called. Tell me what happened after I left.”
“I don’t like this, Mira.” David glanced between her and Styx for a moment before finally shaking his head. “Shelly was killed and all hell broke loose.”
“Shel.” The grief she’d been holding back since she’d run from Connecticut rushed forward. She couldn’t hold onto a ray of hope that things hadn’t gone as bad as she feared, and that everyone was still alive.
“She got what was coming to her.” David’s tone was ha
rsh, but his eyes held a hint of sadness. “She had been pressing the boundaries with Frank for months, and the little punishments he handed down to her were no longer working. Even my agreement with him wasn’t stopping him any longer. I warned her there would be nothing I could do for her if she continued to disobey him, but she didn’t listen. That night she realized how much trouble she was in. The simple act of sneaking out had been the final straw, and Frank was going to be sure she paid for everything she had done the last few months. It’s why she betrayed your trust.”
“Was anyone else killed besides her and Frank?”
David nodded. “A number of clan members including Mom. She tried to save Shelly, and Frank killed her. That’s when things really started to get out of hand. Dad is taking it hard, blames himself since he wasn’t there when things happened. He was out on some errand for Frank.”
“Both Shelly and Mom…all because of me.”
“No.” David sat back down. “Shelly made her own choice, and the consequences most likely would have been the same. Frank had grown tired of her disobedience. You saw what he did to her last time. She barely survived the whipping, but she didn’t learn. Mom always tried to protect Shelly because she was the youngest, and she knew what could happen if she got in the way when Frank was like that.”
“How did you survive?” Styx questioned.
“I had been in what you might consider a leadership role over the land for nearly a year now. Many were used to having orders handed down from me. After…” He glanced at her as if he realized whatever he was about to say needed to be rephrased. He finally settled on the word he wanted to use. “Everything. I stepped up to regain control and I’ve taken over the clan. It’s small now, and needed someone to step into command.”
“Small? We were small before, but the way you say that makes me believe it’s worse.”
“Fifteen.” David squeezed the bridge of his nose and let out a deep sigh. “That includes Dad and I. It’s why I had hoped you’d return home, but I see that’s not an option now. I don’t believe visiting would be wise.” He glanced at Styx.
Tiger Tracks (Alaskan Tigers Book 9) Page 10
