“That’s where you’re wrong, Bethany. Without you we could never do what the future holds for us.” Tabitha gave her an encouraging smile.
“What?”
“After I came back to the clan, the book you’ve already seen told us Raja had to find his mate before we could start the process of bringing the tigers together. You’re part of this destiny as much as the rest of us. You’ll play a key part in this. Don’t doubt you’re meant to be here or that Raja would give his life for you.” Tabitha squeezed her leg.
“That’s the problem. I don’t want him to give his life for me. I don’t want to live without him.”
Shadow walked from the window, coming around the sofa to squat near Bethany. “I’m sure Raja has told you of my gift. That I know things, mates, the future, pasts. I can tell you there’s nothing to worry about. Nothing is going to happen to Raja. You’ll be together for many years. One way to protect your mates…don’t fight them on your guards. They want to keep you safe. You are their top priority, but they also have other things they must worry about. If they know you’ll listen to your guards, and we’ll keep you safe, it will allow them to focus on whatever task is at hand.”
As expected, Tora fought Raja. She didn’t want to leave her cabin, until Marcus returned from the briefing and put his foot down. “I agree with Raja that it’s a precaution we should take. Now go pack what you need for yourself and Scarlet. You have twenty minutes. I won’t have you and Scarlet alone as a target when I’m needed to defend the compound. At least in the main building you’ll be safe. There will be more guards there.”
After Tora stormed out of the room, leaving them alone, Marcus turned to Raja. “Taber will be landing in ten minutes. Ty’s meeting him at the landing field. I’m sure you would rather be there. Also, Adam’s team will move in on Victor within the hour.”
“Appreciated. Get her moving. I want her in the main building long before Victor is detained.”
After leaving Tora’s cabin, he pulled out his cell phone to text Shadow. Moving to the landing strip. Taber’s due in. Adam moves on Victor within the hour.
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Taber, this is my mate Bethany and Ty’s mate Tabitha. Ladies, Taber is a Kodiak bear shifter. He’s been generous enough to come look intimidating while we interrogate Victor.”
“Wow,” Tabitha and Bethany both quietly whispered.
“I know my size can be daunting, but I promise you unless provoked, I’m a big teddy bear. Ty, Raja, and I go back many years. I’m only here to help.” Taber stood almost seven-foot-three; every part of his body was toned and tight. His massive frame made people shy away at first glance but not Tabitha and Bethany rather they stared at him with open mouths.
“I’m sorry.” Bethany blinked a few times. She looked as if she wanted to pinch herself to make sure she was truly awake. “I just never…”
“Don’t worry, Bethany, I get that reaction a lot.”
“I didn’t mean to be impolite.”
“I understand. Raja tells me shifters are new to you. I hope you won’t hold my size against me.”
“I should apologize as well,” Tabitha said, shaking her head like a cat would to shed water.
“Now that we have the stares and apologies out of the way, maybe we can move on.” Raja laughed, amused by their reaction. “Bethany, Taber is going to bunk in our guest room since the main guest accommodations are full. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, that’s fine. I hope you’ll find it suitable.”
“Where’s Ty?” Tabitha looked to the door as if expecting him to be only moments behind Raja and Taber.
“He went with Milo and Thomas to check on the cabin we’ll be using. He’ll be back shortly. When he gets back, we’re going to have some downtime. Anyone who wants to catch some sleep before shit hits the fan better do it. Adam’s team is taking down Victor within the hour. If all goes well, they should be here within the next six hours.” Fatigue began to overtake Raja as he dropped to the sofa like a ton of bricks. Too much stress, long hours, and not enough sleep was catching up with him.
“You want some coffee?” Tabitha asked.
“No thanks.” He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger before squeezing the bridge of his nose. “I’m going to try to catch a few winks once Ty’s back. Tabitha, while Ty and I are questioning Victor, Felix and Thomas will be guarding you. Shadow and Styx will be with you, Bethany. If anything changes, the guards will bring Bethany here, unless this area is compromised. We decided this since Ty’s quarters overlook the main area of the compound, giving the guards a chance to see out, and because it’s more protected. Marcus will remain with Tora unless he’s needed. They’re just down the hall in one of the guest rooms.”
He went over the strategy while they waited for Ty. They agreed to keep the women and the guards abreast on the situations. Being informed allowed them to be ready if and when something happened.
Raja’s cell vibrated as he looked up to see Ty and Thomas entering. Moving on him. Will contact once he’s in custody.
Raja lay on top of the covers next to Bethany, dozing. She slept deeply, but even in sleep she held onto him. He could feel her uneasiness and knew she was fearful of losing him. She’d lost so much already.
It pained him to think of how frightened she was. He wondered how he could alleviate her concerns, but he didn’t think there was a way. It was his job to protect Ty and Tabitha. He was on the front lines, which was why he’d avoided mating in the first place. He never wanted to be in this position, with a lover always terrified he’d never come home.
Oh Bethany, I wish I could take your fears away, to promise I’ll always be here for you.
He brushed a stray hair from her face, when all of a sudden his phone vibrated.
He’s in custody. Little worse for wear, but he’ll live. Boarding plane now.
The news he’d been waiting for. Call when you’re an hour out. Great job.
He quickly typed a message to Ty before closing his eyes again: Team’s on the way with Victor. They’ll call an hour out.
“I thought you were supposed to be sleeping?” She peered at him through half-shut eyes.
“The phone woke me,” he lied.
“About Victor?”
“They’re on their way.” He cuddled against her. “Should be here in roughly six hours.”
They couldn’t have timed Victor’s arrival better if they tried. In the early morning hours, the compound was quiet and only the guards patrolled the grounds. They’d doubled the number of guards on each shift, as well as adding extra guards to watch Victor. A makeshift cell was installed in the cabin, allowing them to hold him without concerns.
The lights lined the runway as everyone turned to the plane coming into view. The apprehension and the energy in the air was almost palpable. Ty and Raja stood surrounded by a few chosen guards, all anxious to deal with Victor. Despite their eagerness, they knew the likelihood of discovering something useful about Pierce was doubtful. If Victor had any honor or loyalty, he wouldn’t betray Pierce.
“If he is badly injured, Galen should be here,” Doc said, coming to stand next to Raja.
“You’re not here to heal him, unless he’s dying. You’re here to make sure his wounds won’t kill him before we have a chance to question him. If he’s suffering from injuries from his attempt to avoid capture, then so be it. He deserves them.”
The plane landed before Doc could argue further, but he had no doubt he would hear Doc’s complaints in time. “Let’s break this bastard,” Raja announced, jogging toward the plane that stopped a few yards in front of them.
Raja’s life was fuller than he’d ever expected. He’d found his mate, and Bethany somehow changed his heart. She’d gone through Hell, but came out stronger. She lost everything yet remained willing to love again. She gave him back his reason for living.
He was no longer just the Lieutenant of the Alaskan Tigers, he was also her mate. With more determinati
on than ever to keep his mate and the clan safe, he opened the plane door, and dragged Victor onto the ground, where he hung limply from the drugs in his system. Anger invigorated Raja, and he wouldn’t stop until he dismantled Pierce and the entire gang—for Ty, Tabitha, and Bethany.
“Time to play, Victor.”
The war is on…
Tigress for Two
Alaskan Tigers Book Three
A life lived in fear…
Kallie lived her life hiding from everyone and everything except selected members of her clan, fearing someone would discover who she was and what she had fled. She would not be tortured again, no matter if the cost was her life. When Taber enters her life, she isn’t sure if she should trust him or run as fast and as far as she can. His presence changes everything, and to let him in means she must remove the walls keeping her safe since her escape.
A debt that is owed…
Taber owes the Alaskan Tigers more than he could ever repay. They supported him and his Kodiak bear sleuth when they needed backing the most. He has joined their fight against the rogue tigers in order to repay his debt. Finding his mate among the Alaskan Tigers was unexpected. He always wanted a female bear as his sow mate, and to raise a few cubs of his own. What he didn’t need was a tigress with trust issues.
A love that could destroy them…
Finding his mate should be the best day of Thorben’s life, but when he comes to Taber’s aid and discovers his destined tigress mate is already his brother’s mate, brotherhood must overcome nature, because bears mate for life.
Chapter One
Taber Brown rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand for the umpteenth time in the last twenty minutes. Hour after hour, they scanned every shred of evidence Adam’s team brought back from San Francisco once they seized Victor. They hoped to discover something that would lead them to Pierce, but nothing so far. Everything they discovered reinforced their belief—Victor only teamed with Pierce to further his own agenda.
Could Pierce be so daft he wouldn’t have seen Victor’s true motivation? That was the question haunting not only Taber, but the Elders of the Alaskan Tigers as well. If they could see through Victor, surely Pierce had as well.
The papers cluttering the table detailed Victor’s plans to bring Bratva—the brotherhood, a Russian shifter terrorist group—to the states. Over the years, it appeared Victor had been gathering followers from different shifter groups with like-minded beliefs.
Taber pushed papers aside, searching for his squeeze bottle of honey buried somewhere under the clutter. With hours left, before the day’s end, he needed his honey to see him through. Where did that damn bottle go?
“Bear.” Adam growled when Taber shoved more papers out of the way. “You finished your honey an hour ago.”
“Shit.”
“We stocked some for you in the compound’s kitchen. Go get a refill and then get some damn sleep. You’re grumpy when you’re tired.”
“I’m a bear, damn it.” He rose, stretching his long legs. To him being a bear explained everything, but to the tigers well it might have been another story, especially after Adam raised an eyebrow. At that moment, Taber didn’t care.
He’d swing by the kitchen for another bottle of honey before checking in with the men guarding Victor. He also hoped to find Ty or Raja before hitting the sack, to see if any progress was made gaining information from Victor.
The kitchen was on the far side of the main building, away from the private quarters of the Alpha and Lieutenant, giving them both seclusion and security. He slipped his hand into the front pocket of his sweatshirt, his fingers wrapping around his cell phone. As he turned the last corner, leading to the long hallway toward the kitchen, he collided with a woman.
“Shit,” she said. Coffee covered the front of her shirt.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect anyone to be around here this time of the night.” Being over seven foot, he stared down at her. The white stripes sprinkled through her long, curly brown hair caught his attention. Did she do those on purpose? According to his cousin, they were highlights, but Taber couldn’t fathom why anyone would want such stripes painting their hair.
“You’re a damn shifter. You should have sensed me coming!” She growled at him, blotting the coffee stain with a napkin, but it only served to make matters worse.
“I said I was sorry, what more do you want woman?”
“Obviously nothing.” She snarled, shoving the napkins in her nearly empty coffee cup. She released a heavy sigh and moved to pass him.
He reached out, wrapping his hand around her small arm. She winced as if expecting him to cause her pain. He hated seeing fear resonating from her. What happened to cause her such distress? “You’re right, I should have sensed you, but I wasn’t paying attention. Let me get you another cup.”
A sudden shot of electricity vibrated through their contact. He couldn’t tear his gaze from her.
This can’t be happening. My mate can’t be a tigress. I won’t have it. Especially a tigress with a haunted look in her eyes.
“So you can spill it over me again? I think not.” She pulled her arm free and pushed past him. He turned, his gaze following her as she sauntered down the hallway away from him. The sway of her hips drew his attention to her long, lush legs. The three-inch high heels she wore only served to add more sashay to her swaying hips. He wanted to run after her, to explore the electric jolt he received from their touch, but he instructed his feet to remain where he stood. He didn’t want a tigress as his mate, and he doubted he could help ease the pain within her.
Unwilling to go back to the kitchen for another cup of coffee, Kallie walked across the compound back to her room. The cold night air sent shivers down her spine, thankfully it wasn’t snowing again. At least not yet. She loved winter and all the white, fluffy snow, but they had more than enough the last few days to satisfy her need.
Damn, bear. Who the hell does he think he is, laying a hand on me? A simple touch served to remind her of all the years she suffered at the hands of another. She did her best to block the haunting memories and thanks to Adam’s appearance she managed to keep them at bay again.
“Hey Kallie, what are you doing out at this time of night?” Unlike with Taber, she now had her senses on high alert and smelled Adam before he stepped from the darkness. Heavy circles shadowed under his eyes and his shoulders sagged in defeat. Whatever is going on is taking a toll on the lead guards.
“I was grabbing a cup of coffee before my shift at command central.” When Adam’s gaze fell to her empty hands, she pointed to her stained sweater. “That damn bear wasn’t paying attention and spilled it on me. I’m going to change quickly.”
“Tigers are quiet creatures, unlike bears. He probably didn’t hear you coming.”
“I guess.” She glanced down at one of her favorite green sweaters and hoped the coffee would wash out. “I’ll see you later. I have to change. Mark gets grumpy when I’m late.”
“Be safe. You know we have a prisoner on the grounds.”
She nodded and left to change. Who is this prisoner? Many in the compound assumed because of her job in command central she might have inside information, but in reality she was in the dark as everyone else. The Elders and their guards were tightlipped when it came to security issues, unless they were briefing the whole clan.
Her apartment was a studio at best, with a small kitchenette, sitting area, and a bed that dominated most of the room. Many of the unmarried guards lived in similar styled studios. The small space didn’t bother the male guards since they rarely cooked, but she missed having a house and privacy without neighbors on each side. Every time she opened her door there was someone nearby. Since moving to Alaska, her clan had been building new cabins for the guards, and her name had nearly reached the top of the list. It wouldn’t be much longer until she had a real home to call her own.
The only one benefit to her current living arrangement was that she didn’t have to do the laundry. Twice a
week some of the clan women would come by to pick up her linens and clothes. They’d be returned later that day washed, and folded neatly on her bed. Doing laundry had never been high on Kallie’s enjoyment list.
Slipping the sweater off, she tossed it into the laundry bag, before grabbing another from the drawer. Another favorite sweater, a warm, heather gray with bright white stitching, and rosy pink trimming around the collar, waist, and sleeves.
If that bear came near her again she’d be sure to stay a good distance away, especially if she had anything to drink in her hands. She wouldn’t tolerate him ruining another favorite sweater. This particular sweater gave her a confidence she didn’t normally have, even helped her forget about those damn white streaks in her hair.
Changed, she headed back to command central, where she dreaded seeing Mark who would be irritated for cutting her arrival so close to shift change. She avoided stepping on any slick icy spots along the way. High-heeled, knee-high boots weren’t best for this climate, but since finding the security of the Alaskan Tigers, she favored heels. For the first time, she could embrace being a woman and not just a tigress. She had heels to go with every outfit, for every occasion.
She opened the door and saw Mark pacing the room, his arms crossed over his chest. “Where have you been?”
“You’re never going to find a mate if you keep barking at women. I thought you were a tiger, not one of those idiot wolves.” He continued to glare at her, waiting for an answer to his question. “Come on, Mark, give me a break. That damn bear ran into me. He spilled coffee on my sweater, so I had to change. Plus, I’m on time.” She flashed him a smile, hoping to warm his chilly heart.
“Fine.” He grabbed his coat from the back of the chair, nodding to the bank of computer screens. “You see any unannounced movement in area four, contact Ty or Raja privately about the activity, no matter the time. You understand?”
Alaskan Tigers Box Set 1 Page 30
