She nodded, turning to grab the picture of her parents from the bedside table. If she didn’t make it back to her apartment, she wanted to have the memento. Tossing it into her purse, she headed for the window. He already had his duffle bag slung across his chest, and he held his car keys out to her while motioning for her to go.
“Not without you,” she hissed.
Ty kept his attention on the door. “I’ll be right behind you, I won’t leave you. Now go.”
As they ran down the fire escape, her apartment door slammed to the floor, slowing her for a moment.
“Come on, we’ve got to go.” He urged her on.
As they reached his car, which was right by the steps, someone leaned out the window and shouted, “You can’t protect her forever. We’ll find you!”
Adrenaline coupled with fright caused all the blood to rush to her head. Her breath caught in her throat.
Ty said nothing, just got into the car and sped away. Once they were out of immediate danger, outside the city, she turned in her seat. “Who were those men? What did they want?” She placed a hand over her still rapidly beating heart.
He didn’t take his eyes off the road, giving her no sign he was listening. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the speed they were traveling or because he couldn’t look at her. “That was Pierce and his gang. Pierce is the tiger who killed your parents.”
“What? You mean that’s him? He looks…like he’s…like he’s only in his twenties.” She could barely find her voice. She wanted to vomit, but she held back.
He briefly looked away from the road and raised an eyebrow at her. “I tell you he’s the one who killed your parents, and all you can think about is how old he looks? I thought you might want to go back and kill him yourself.”
“Well, trust me, I’d love to, but I don’t think I could do much harm to him. After all, he killed my parents. I haven’t even gone through the change yet, so I’m still basically human. Still he couldn’t have been around when my father was alive.” She shook her head in confusion. “That’s impossible.”
He reached for her hand, bringing it to his lips. “I’m glad you have some common sense and you don’t let your emotions get in the way. Pierce isn’t as young as he looks. Shifters age a lot slower than humans, he’s really in his forties. Just so you know, the clan has been after him since he killed your father. The clan claimed their right to demand Pierce’s death for killing one of our kind. He knows we want him dead, and he’s been in hiding. I was on the original team sent to find him. We were on his trail for a while, only a day or two behind him when he disappeared. We’ve sent men out every time we get a hit, but this is the first real proof we’ve had that he’s alive. I promise he’ll pay for what he did to your father, but it wasn’t worth it today. I couldn’t put your life in danger to settle a debt.”
“Once I go through the change, I want to go after him.”
He gave her a look letting her know he wasn’t fond of the idea. “We’ll see after the change is complete.” His tone told her he would fight her on the subject.
There was nothing she could do at the moment to change his mind, and it didn’t really matter now. They had more important issues to deal with. She let it go and moved on to another subject.
“How old are you?”
He let out a slight laugh before answering. “The better question is how old do you think I am? How old do I look?”
“Ty, don’t play games. Just tell me.” She leaned back in the seat and let out a sigh.
He rubbed her hand. “Come on, babe. I want to know what you think. I promise to answer after you tell me how old you think I am.”
“Okay fine.” She looked him over, trying to guess the right age. He said tiger shifters looked younger, but she didn’t want to guess too old. She took her time, looking at his features, searching his face for wrinkles, gray hair, mannerisms that would make him older than he appeared. “Umm…twenty-four?”
“Are you saying I look twenty-four, or that’s how old you think I am?”
She turned even farther, rested her back on the car door, and propped her left leg on the seat, giving her a better view of him. Also, in turn, allowing him a clear view of the nasty look she was giving him. “I think you look younger than twenty-four, but you knew my father. I’m going through the change at nineteen. I would guess you went through the change when you were my age, which means you’re a lot older than that, but if I guessed too high, it would be an insult. So please just tell me.”
“Did anyone ever tell you you’re cute when you’re frustrated? Because you are.” He grinned and looked back at the road. “I was one of the few people who went through the change at a very young age. Normally, the change happens in your mid-teens to early twenties. I went through it when I was nine. I believe the youngest person ever to go through the change and live was eight. That person was your father. I don’t believe anyone has beat that record since. To answer your question, I am twenty-eight. Does that bother you?”
Relief flooded through her. “No, not at all. I was worried you would have said ninety or something.” She settled back in the car seat. “Where are we going?”
“I thought it would be a good idea to get you out of here. I know this little place about an hour outside of the city. Once we’re somewhere safe, I need to call Raja. I think it might be best for us to find a quiet place to stay until your change, before returning to Alaska.”
She stared out the window as the guilt ate away at her. She didn’t want to mess up Ty’s life because people were after her. Plus, didn’t the clan need their Alpha? “Ty, I would understand if you wanted someone else to stay with me until I go through the transition so you can go back to your clan. I’m sure you have someone you trust who can keep me safe. The clan needs their Alpha.”
He pulled the car to the side of the road and after putting the vehicle in park, turned his body to face her. The look on his face wasn’t friendly. “First of all, no one can keep you as safe as I can. I’m one of the best. Second, you’re my mate, and it’s my number one priority to keep you safe. The clan has Raja, and just because I’m not there in person at the moment doesn’t mean they don’t have their Alpha. I will be in direct contact with Raja at all times. If I’m needed, we can be there in a matter of hours. The clan will understand.”
Her heart fluttered. She’d never had someone care for her like he did, so much he was willing to change his life for her. “I’m sorry. This is all new to me. I feel bad you’re making this sacrifice. I’m no one special.”
“Let me care for you. You’re someone special to me and the whole clan. Not only are you my mate, but you’re Queen of the Tigers, our Alpha female. After you have changed, you will take your rightful place beside me. They’ll respect you and love you the same as I do. Okay, maybe less than I do since I’m your mate. I don’t want to hear you say you’re no one special again.” He leaned over in the seat to kiss her. “You’re going to be fine. I promise.”
Chapter Seven
The rest of the car ride was quiet. Tabitha was lost in her thoughts, and Ty was giving her the time she needed to understand everything that had happened. Before long, she noticed they were driving in the middle of nowhere. On both sides of the car, all she saw were trees, trees, and more trees. No houses as far as the eye could see. “Where are we going?”
“Not much farther. When the clan was in Pittsburgh, Raja purchased a cabin in Wind Ridge, Pennsylvania, he’s kept it because of the great location. It’s right on the other side of Ryerson Station National Park, so when he shifts, he has a lot of free area to run and not draw attention to himself. He loves to come back here whenever he gets a chance. He gave me a key before I left, in case I needed it.”
“Why are they trying to kill me?” Could Alice’s murder tie into this too? There’s no way. How could it? She tried to shake the thoughts but they refused to go. They stayed in the back of her mind, nagging her.
Ty never flinched as if he were waiting
for her to ask. “It’s a long story, Tabby, but in short, your father’s line of tigers have been given special gifts. No one knows why, but some say your father’s line was among the first tigers, and you were royalty. You’re the last tiger from any of the lines of royalty. You have to be protected at all costs.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “Without trying to be too insensitive, you must carry on the line. We’re unsure what will happen if you don’t. Some believe the tiger shifters will die off, never being able to have more children, and others believe that if you do not carry on the line, we’ll die with you. Most tigers will do anything to protect you. Pierce is not one of them, he wants to see all tigers dead.”
Thinking the whole tiger population depended on her was too much to handle right then. She put it in the back of her mind to think on later. “You said he was a tiger shifter. If what you say is true, then why would he want to kill me? He would die if I die.”
“Even if the tigers didn’t die off with your death, he would be killed. I would not take it lightly he killed my mate. Second, he’s not a born tiger like you and me. He was bitten and therefore he cannot fully become a tiger. He can only change on the night of the full moon, and then he’s a cross between a man and tiger. It’s against everything we believe to bite a human, but once in a while, we have a rogue shifter who will bite a human. That’s what happened to Pierce.”
“You said he becomes a cross between a man and a tiger. What happens to us when we change?”
“You, my dear, will most likely be one of the rarest tigers alive. He looked at her with amazement in his eyes. “Your father’s line was Golden Tabby tigers, also known as the Strawberry tigers. Seeing your beautiful strawberry-blonde hair makes me think you’ll be a gorgeous tiger. When you change, you’ll take the body of a tiger completely.”
Tabitha had never seen a tiger in real life, only in pictures. It would be amazing to see what she looked like when she was a tiger. “You said I would be a Golden Tabby, but what do you look like? Are you also a Golden Tabby?” Trying to picture Ty as any type of tiger was hard. He was such a handsome man with black hair and bright blue eyes.
“No, I’m not a Tabby. I was a born tiger like you, so I change into a full tiger, a Bengal tiger.”
She leaned back into the car seat, picturing Ty as a Bengal tiger. It made her wonder. “Can we only change during the full moon?”
“Since we were born tigers, once we go through the change, we can change forms any time. However, most less dominate shifters have to stay in their animal form for a number of hours before they can shift back and once they shift back, they sleep for ten to twelve hours.” Ty took his gaze away from the road to look at her. “You’re taking this very well. When your father told me what was going on, I freaked. I thought he was crazy and wanted nothing to do with him. I thought he’d escaped the loony bin.”
She looked down at her hands, wringing them, because she was scared to ask but wanted to know what it was like. “Ty, I hate to ask but…” She paused, figuring it was worth a shot. “Will you shift for me?”
His eyes widened slightly with shock. “I don’t know, Tabby. If you get freaked out about what you see, it could scare you and make your shift harder. If you fight the change, it will hurt. You need to just go with it and let the tiger take over your body.”
“I need to see it, I need to know what’s going to happen to my body. Will I still be me inside of a tiger body or will the tiger take over and make me uncontrollable? You’re the only one I can ask. Please.” She reached a hand out and laid it on his well-muscled arm.
As she waited for him to answer her, they pulled onto what looked like a small, hidden side road. He sighed. “Okay. You need to remember it might look scary, but it’s not as bad as it looks. Tomorrow night I will, okay?”
She leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Thank you. Just one question: how long until you think I will go through the change? Not before tomorrow night, I hope.”
Turning his head slightly so he could meet her lips yet still keep an eye on the road, he kissed her back. “No, you won’t go through the change before I can shift for you. You’re close, but not that close.”
Chapter Eight
The cabin finally came into sight after what seemed like a two-mile drive on the dirt road. “Once you’re settled, if there’s still cell service here, I’ll call Raja. I’m going to have him send a few of my best guards to protect you. They should be here tomorrow sometime. I’ll have Raja get them on a plane immediately.”
Slowly getting out of the car, Tabitha had to admit she was disappointed he was calling in others to protect her. She enjoyed their time alone together and didn’t want it to come to an end. She had hoped they could pick up what they started back at her apartment once they reached the cabin. Are there other women in the clan fighting for his attention? Will they be jealous because I’m his mate? Will they treat me differently?
“What’s wrong? Your mood changed once we arrived here. I know it’s not perfect, but it’s the safest place right now. Very few people know Raja has this.” Ty opened the cabin door.
It was small and cozy. A little kitchenette to the right of the door provided the basics. The king size bed with a red and black quilt was pushed up against the far wall with a trunk at the foot of the bed leaving the center of the room for the sofa and chair. There wasn’t a television, just a small CD player on the coffee table. Whoever came here wouldn’t be spending much time indoors.
Maybe it’s too small, if he’s in a hurry to get away from me. She eyed the bed and sofa, not sure which one she could make it to first. Her body was exhausted, and she felt downright awful.
She must have made the unconscious decision to lay on the bed, because next thing she knew she was on the mattress. She wanted to rest, but she could feel his gaze on her. Without opening her eyes, she knew he was in front of her. She could feel his presence the same way she could feel the sun on her skin.
“Come here, let me make you feel better.”
“You should call Raja. He needs to know what’s going on, and that way they can start making arrangements for your guards to be sent here.” Her shoulders were slumped and her voice deflated.
“Oh, so that’s why you’re upset?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She tried to make her voice sound sincere and kept her eyes closed, knowing they would deceive her.
“You think I’m calling in my men so I can leave, don’t you?”
“Well, isn’t that it?” She embraced her anger. Being angry was better than crying.
“Tabby, if you’re going to be my Queen, you must learn how to read people better. No, that isn’t why I would like guards for you. I want the added protection so I can concentrate on you. I don’t want to run after someone who comes after you and leave you by yourself for someone else to harm. What if there was another attacker, waiting until I took off after the first one? I would feel better if I had a few more people close by in case we need them.”
Boy, did I read that one wrong. “I’m sorry I doubted you. I thought you were trying to find a way out without being rude. No one has ever stuck around, so why would you? Especially since people are trying to kill me.”
“For this to work, I need you to trust me. I don’t plan on going anywhere, but if I need to go anywhere, I want you to go with me. That means if the clan needs me back in Alaska, that’s where you’re going. Don’t push me away, I’m not like everyone else. I’m your mate, and we’ll be together always. Once I have officially claimed you, you’ll understand. The tigress in you won’t have doubts about me leaving. We fit together.”
She knew he was right, but she couldn’t stop the human part of her from wondering if it was crazy. Her brain was screaming at her that there wasn’t even a small possibility she could really shift into a tiger, but her heart knew everything he told her was the truth. This was who she was and what she was meant to be, so she had to embrace it. She looked up at him and smiled. “I
know you’re right. I’m sorry. Please call Raja, then lay with me.”
He kissed her forehead before taking out his cell phone from the pocket his jeans and stepped away from the bed. A moment later, the cabin was filled with his rich voice, making her heart pitter-patter.
“There has been a small change in plans, Raja. Pierce attacked her apartment this evening.”
A long pause while he listened to Raja. “Yes, we’re at your cabin. I thought it was best to get her out of the city, and this was the first place I thought about. I need you to make arrangements for Leo, Thomas, and Felix to get over to Pittsburgh as soon as possible.” He rubbed his neck as if out of anxiousness.
“Great. Get Felix here right away then. Have the other two fly into Pittsburgh. We’ll pick them up at the airport when I exchange cars—with all of us we’re going to need something much bigger—and then we can head there. Let me know when they’re flying in.”
There was another long pause, and he started pacing the small cabin. There wasn’t much room for him. He was a large man in a small space, which meant he only had to take a few steps in any direction to be at the other side. A low growl came from deep in Ty’s throat. “Keep me informed about the situation there. We can be back in a matter of hours.”
With that, he ended the call and tossed the phone on the bed. “Were you serious when you asked me to shift for you?”
“Yes, have you changed your mind?”
“No, I was going to shift for you now if you still want to see it. It’s a great way to relieve stress and anger. Tomorrow, we’ll be driving, so I won’t be able to.” He unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it on the back of the sofa. “I won’t do it if you’re not ready.”
Butterflies swarmed in her stomach. His muscles were tense with anger, his hands balled into fists. Shifting would help him release whatever made him furious. “No, let’s do it. I need to see what happens. You won’t attack me or anything, will you?”
Alaskan Tigers Box Set 1 Page 5
