Alaskan Tigers Box Set 1

by Marissa Dobson

  The memory came floating back. “I killed a man.”

  “You saved yourself.”

  “I killed someone who suffered as I had. He can’t be blamed because he went insane from being held captive. It was Hell being Wesley’s pet. I can’t blame Brian because he didn’t know any other life.”

  “Brian was anything but a victim. He chose to live like that.”

  “No, you’re wrong Thorben.” She shook her head, unable to believe what he was saying. “It’s not possible. I was there. He had a collar just like I did.”

  “Love, I’m not doubting you.” He pulled her to him and led them to the sofa. “While you were talking to Mom on the porch, Ty called with some interesting news. Brian was Wesley’s assistant. He’s the one who modified the collars.”

  “It can’t be true.” She didn’t want to believe the man she felt sorry for was responsible for her years of torture.

  “He preferred to be a tiger most of the time and he only wore the collar to make you think he was like you, to gain your trust.” He slid his hand down her arm. “Taber didn’t want to bring your past back to light for you when you had everything else to deal with, but the laptop Raja brought home from the scene had all the information on it. How to modify the collars and so much more.”

  “I thought he was my friend. All those years we gave each other comfort, huddled together after Wesley tortured me. It was all a lie.”

  “I’m sorry, Kallie. Taber was going to tell you once we were settled here. He didn’t want you to blame yourself for killing Brian because he wasn’t innocent like you believed.”

  “Does that mean this is all over?”

  “I don’t know. There’s still John. We don’t know where he stands and until we do, we can’t rule out that he means you harm. But Brian and Wesley are dead. You don’t have to worry about them anymore.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and hit a few buttons. “Wesley came to the states searching for you. That’s why Brian was here. He put the bounty on your head that Travis wanted so bad.” He turned the phone toward her. “It made the front page paper. Wesley was brutally killed, hacked to pieces not even a shifter could survive.” He set the phone on the cushion beside him. “Brian had pictures from the scene on his computer. His diary bragged about what he did. Victor Senior paid him to do it, but I don’t think he ever thought he’d have a monster on his hands with Wesley dead. I suspect he believed as you did that Wesley had kept Brian prisoner and this was freeing him.”

  She laid her head in the crook of his arm, breathing in his spicy smell trying to suppress the anxiety that prickled at the back of her neck. “How did Travis get wrapped up in all of this?”

  “The human I saw him with is bad news. He’s into a lot of shady dealings and has been known to act as a hired gun if the money is right. He was one of the guys who attacked the cabin that night. He’s also dead. It was him who guided Travis down the wrong path.”

  “I’m sorry. He lost his life because of me.” She blinked the tears that threatened to fall.

  He pressed tighter against her body. “Don’t you dare blame yourself. Travis chose his path. He knew you were mated to Taber and he didn’t care. Money was more important than family.” A deep sadness stung his voice.

  Wishing she could ease his grief, she clung to him, her eyelids falling shut.

  “We should go to bed. You’ve had a long few days,” he whispered against the top of her head.

  “Just hold me.” She closed her eyes as the long tentacles of sleep began to wrap around her, drawing her into their warm embrace.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Taber sat at Raja’s kitchen table with Raja, Bethany, Ty, and Tabitha. The women’s guards were in the living room, close enough if needed.

  “Do you think Thorben is trustworthy?” Ty frowned.

  “I do. I’ve unjustly doubted him in the past because he wasn’t following the road I wanted him to take. He has never betrayed us and he’s always been there when we’ve needed him. With the urgency of the situation and the loose rogues, we need the extra help.” Taber squeezed honey from the bottle he was holding into his mouth. “If you doubt my instincts, know Kallie can feel his emotions as well as my own since she’s mated to us both. She’ll sense any type of betrayal.”

  Ty looked to Raja before nodding. “Okay. But if he betrays us, it will be your hide on the line as well.”

  “Not to mention my mate’s life,” Taber muttered. “I wouldn’t risk her or anyone here at the compound if I wasn’t completely sure.”

  “Very well, bring him up to speed on everything,” Raja said. “Any news from your father if we should be concerned with John?”

  “Not yet. I expect to hear from him soon, and when I do I’ll let you know. He’s family, but if he’s a threat, I want him eliminated. My mate is more important than a cousin who would betray his family. Every threat to Kallie except Victor Senior has been eliminated and it sounds as though the Russian shifters might take care of him in due time.”

  “He’s with your sleuth. Devon can deliver whatever punishment he finds suitable.” Ty stood. “Knowing your father, I believe John will get what’s coming to him if there’s even the slightest belief he was involved. For now, return to your mate, bring your brother up to date on everything, and get some rest. We’ll alert you if anything changes.”

  Taber grabbed a second bottle of honey and stood. Bethany placed her hand on his arm before he left. “We’ve put more in your cabin.”

  Tabitha laughed. “A lot more. We’re taking stock in the honey trade now that we have two bears at the compound.”

  He smiled. She might be the Queen of the Alaskan Tigers, but Tabitha was one of the most down to Earth people he had met. “Good, because we bears like our honey. Another stock market tip? The fish market, especially salmon.”

  Back at the cabin, Taber found Thorben dozing with Kallie in his arms. “I leave you with the simple task of getting her into bed and I find you both on the sofa.”

  “I told her about Brian.” Thorben whispered to not wake her up.

  “She didn’t need that right now.”

  “I know. It just came out. I mentioned she had more courage than any woman I knew and one thing led to another. She never suspected Brian wasn’t anything but another captive. I think once she gets over the shock it will help her move on. She’s burying the pain of killing someone, but sooner or later it will rear its ugly head. We have to be there for her.”

  “I still remember my first kill.” Taber leaned against the arm of the sofa. “It never gets easy, but that first kill will always stick with you. She did it to save her life and in time she’ll accept that, we’ll see to it. Right now, she needs to rest—in bed.”

  “I’ll carry her.” Thorben adjusted to slip his arms under Kallie.

  “Very well. When you’re done, I need to speak with you.” He watched Thorben carry their mate down the hall to the bedroom. He longed to be able to go to bed, wrap his body against her soft, warm skin, and sleep. First, he had to bring Thorben up to speed and then sleep before the mating desire hit again.

  Kallie woke, sandwiched between her two strong men. Both in a deep peaceful sleep while still maintaining her firmly in their grasp. Were they worried she might disappear while they slept? She wiggled, trying to gain a little more room without waking them up.

  Sleep still clung to her, threatening to pull her back under, but a noise disturbed her continued slumber. She was safe here—at the compound—between her men, with no concerned of the threats lurking in the shadows. She listened closer. A vibration? Taber’s cell phone was vibrating on the nightstand. She rubbed Taber’s arm. “Your phone.”

  He rolled over and snatched the phone. Barely cracking his eyelids, he read the display. “Damn, I’ve got to take this call. It’s Dad.” He slipped out of bed and walked across the room to lean on the dresser.

  She missed the warmth of Taber’s body against hers, but Thorben stirred and quickly filled her lo
nging by pulling her to his body. “What’s going on?”

  “Your Dad called. It must be about John.” Worry saturated her tone. She hoped John meant her no harm. The family couldn’t take the grief of another family member right now.

  “Don’t worry. John’s a follower, but he isn’t an idiot.” He kissed below her ear, working his way down her neck, biting softly where her shoulder met her neck, and then running his tongue up the length again.

  Desire fluttered and she turned to face him. She ran her fingers over his chest, caressing gently through his chest hair. Her lips pressed to his. She wanted him inside her.

  Taber cleared his throat. Thorben leaned to the side so she could see Taber too.

  “Dad says John didn’t know where they were going. When he learned what they were up to, he took off, wanting no part in it. I need to inform the Elders. Stay in bed, I’ll be back shortly. I need more sleep.”

  “What’s that got to do with me staying in bed?” Kallie frowned.

  “I like your warm body against mine while I’m sleeping. I’ll be back soon, my love.”

  When the door closed, Thorben pushed her back on the pillow and slipped on top of her. “I told you it would be fine.” His lips claimed hers, and her desire surged.

  Craving his touch, she pulled him closer. He trailed a path of hot, wet kisses to her breasts, pausing to nip and suck each one. Every stroke of his tongue fired the wild craving in her blood. When they spoke of the mating fever, she thought they were exaggerating, but the force of this primal passion consumed her. His kisses found their way back to her lips, his bulky frame hovering over as he gazed down at her, his desire clear in his eyes.

  He stroked every inch of her body. Her body cried out for more. His hands stroked and teased until he found her special central core. His fingers delved inside her. As he worked his fingers, her body moved with the motion, the heat and wetness driving her crazy.

  “Thorben, please I need you.” She moaned, wanting to feel him inside her.

  “Your wish is my command, mate.” He slid between her thighs and filled her with a powerful thrust. His mouth claimed her nipple, his tongue running lazy circles around the hardened bud before sucking gently. Thrusting his shaft in and out of her, she clawed at his back, pulling their bodies together. She tightened her inner muscles around him, forcing him to go harder and faster. The hard, blunt force of his rocking hips drove her mad until her world splintered and she heard him roar her name. He rolled to his side, cuddling against her. Kallie’s smile faded as she floated in the sea of bliss, her cat sated for the time being.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Days later, Kallie cuddled with Thorben in front of the large fireplace, the warm glow danced over the otherwise dark room. They were alone again while Taber attended a meeting with the Elders. Thorben had been invited, but the brothers didn’t want to leave her alone, not even at the compound. The danger to her life had passed, but the clan was still at risk.

  A few shifters continue to guard the grounds from the mountainside, and Mark had taken over her duties at command central until she was ready to return, or until Ty found someone to replace her. Taber and Thorben urged her to quit the position. She wasn’t sure she wanted to. Her men were working with the Elders and she needed something to fill the time when they were away.

  “Mate, you’re a million miles away.”

  She smiled at him. Thorben had already proven to be the more romantic of the two brothers, cuddling by the fire, gentle caresses, sweet words of love, and the list went on. She never deprived him of the little alone time they had together. “Tell me what do you think of the floor plan I picked out?” She steered the conversation away from her real thoughts.

  She had chosen a large one-floor cabin with three master suites and two additional bedrooms. This allowed everyone to have their own space, as well as two extra rooms for children if they chose to have them. Her men had convinced her it would be better to build the extra rooms now than to wait and the season be wrong. Since their children would be interspecies no one, not even Doc, was sure how long her pregnancy would last. They’d have to wait to see which gene was more dominant. If she was to have a typical tigress pregnancy, she’d give birth in three and a half months. If the pregnancy steered toward the Kodiak bears, she’d give birth seven and a half months later. Either way they needed to have the additional rooms in case they were destined to have children.

  The cabin would have the same open floor plan as the one they currently resided in and the kitchen that she had fallen in love with at first sight, but there were added changes to suit her men’s needs. Including an additional fireplace in her bedroom, where the men would be with her.

  “As long as you’re happy, it’s fine with me. I want our home to be the home of your dreams and as long as we’re all there together, that’s all that matters.” He squeezed her close.

  “Theodore has already agreed to make custom beds for the three master bedrooms. It will give us more room in bed.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

  “Oh, I can think of a few ways to break the beds in.” He winked.

  She laughed. “It will be a real home, and I’ll have you and Taber with me.”

  The door suddenly swung open and Taber stepped in, a cool gust of wind following him.

  “Speak of the devil himself.” Thorben teased. “How did the meeting with the Elders go?”

  “Very well. They believed they have pinpointed Robin’s location and Adam is preparing to leave now.” Taber shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on the hook. He joined them on the floor and planted a kiss on her forehead before pulling her legs onto his lap. “Robin is in a small town, Royalwood, Texas where too many shifters arriving would cause suspicion. He’ll go, gain her trust, and then bring her back here. Hopefully quickly, so we can find out what she knows about Pierce.”

  “If it’s a small town won’t it raise questions if he arrives in a helicopter?” She slid her hand down Taber’s arm, enjoying the touch of his skin under her fingertips.

  “He’ll fly to Dallas where there will be a rental car waiting for him at a private landing strip. Royalwood is a little over thirty minutes outside of Dallas. Connor speculates that the area is a whole different world.”

  “Poor Adam.” Thorben chuckled and when she frowned with confusion, he added. “He leaves the chilly rainy weather to go to Texas, the heat capital of the states.”

  “I hope Robin has some information that will bring Pierce down.”

  “Don’t worry, Kal. I don’t think Pierce has any desire to kidnap you or help Victor Senior. The tiger has taken over within him and is driving him insane. He’s losing control of his gang of rogues and soon he’ll be alone. We’ve already taken out the rogues he sent after us. We’re diminishing his numbers.” Taber ran his hand up her jean cloaked leg.

  “I’m not worried. Worrying gets you nowhere. Instead, I’m going to enjoy every moment with my two mates and live life to the fullest. We’ll find Pierce.”

  “We’re hot on his trail. It’s only a matter of time.” Taber tickled her calf.

  “We won’t rest until we do, and as long as any danger is out there, you know we’ll protect you.” Thorben pressed a kiss against her temple. “My mate, you’re a lucky woman having two mates for the price of one.”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more.” She smiled at her men. “I never expected my life to end up so happy and satisfying. I love you both.”

  Night with a Tiger

  Alaskan Tigers Book Four

  For Adam Merks the Alaskan Tigers have always come first, but when he finds Robin, his loyalty is divided. His tiger demands he stay home to guard his mate while his duty to his clan pushes him toward danger.

  When a rogue shifter murders her husband, Robin Zimmer, is sent running for her life. Looking over her shoulder with every turn, she’s tired and nearing the end. When Adam finds her, she has a choice—trust a shifter or continue running on her own.

  Will Adam be a
ble to show Robin the benefits of their mating and living within a shifter clan before the unknown scares her away?

  Chapter One

  With the precision of years of experience behind the helm, Adam Merks landed the helicopter. The private landing strip, just south of Dallas, Texas, was quiet. The only sound he heard as he stepped onto the grass was the rustle of leaves and the chirps of birds in the distance. His rented four-by-four pickup truck was parked twenty feet ahead, shining like a black diamond in the evening sun. It seemed too clean and new for where he was going. It would make him stand out, but this vehicle was the best Connor could do on such short notice.

  Anxious to begin his search for Robin Zimmer, he tugged his small duffle bag from the helicopter and headed to the truck. With a little luck on his side, he’d be able to seek out Robin before night fell on the sleepy little town she was holed up in this week.

  Slinging his duffle bag over his shoulder, he jogged toward the truck desperate to get out of the sweltering sun. After living in Alaska for years, he wasn’t used to the heat, especially not this type in April. He held no desire to spend any unnecessary time here. The sooner he found Robin and convinced her he only wanted to help, the quicker he could return to Alaska and the cool spring weather.

  Opening the driver’s door, he found a pair of black cowboy boots and matching hat. Just the right outfit he needed to fit in at Royalwood. Tossing his bag onto the passenger’s seat, he leaned against the truck and unlaced his black steel-toe boots. All Alaskan Tigers guards wore these boots for traction in the Alaskan snow. He slipped on the cowboy boots and wiggled his toes inside, trying to get used to the feel of the pointed toe. He then reached in the cab for the cowboy hat before a quick glance in the side mirror at his reflection. Adam was stunned. The hat made him look the part, but now he had to blend in and appear to be just another southern boy passing through. In a small town like Royalwood, he would also have to act the part for people to look passed him.