Alaskan Tigers Box Set 1

by Marissa Dobson

  She leaned against the armrest of the sofa, watching Felix. Tabitha and Bethany had gone in the other room to get a little more sleep, leaving her alone with Felix, the guards still at the door. “With all the threats I wonder if I’m more of a hindrance as a human instead of truly helping.”

  “When there’s time I’ll take you to the gym, if you’d like. You’ll see the changes there better than anywhere. Being mated to a shifter, even though you’re human, you will age slower. You’ll see changes in your speed and strength. It’s not as considerable as shifters, but it’s still remarkable.”

  She gazed past him to the window, thinking about what he said. “If the compound was compromised could I hold my own if something happened?”

  “I suspect with a little training you could until help arrived. It’s hard for mates to work together in training, especially in your case. Adam would be easier on you, unwilling to push you because he wants to protect you. If you want to learn, I’ll work with you.” He slid his hand into the pocket of his jeans. “We don’t know how long the danger will last before the clan is once again safe, so the more people who can protect themselves, the better. We have guards patrolling the compound at all hours. If you travel off our land it’s better to know how to shoot a gun to protect yourself. Knowledge of hand-to-hand combat would be helpful as well.”

  She could shoot, maybe not as well as she would like, but she hadn’t shot a gun since she was a child. Robin didn’t have any skills in hand-to-hand combat. If someone attacked her she had very little chance of defending herself adequately. “I would appreciate the training.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  The moon was full, forcing Adam and the others to the shadows of the trees in case Pierce looked out his window. Adam and Ty moved together, almost as one, getting to the spot where they could view the house while the second team got into place. The Kodiak Bears divided through both teams, giving them added strength.

  Adam’s heart raced, beating frantically against his chest. He brushed a hand against his gun in its holster, reassuring himself it was there. No one planned to shift unless the situation got out of hand. The goal was to get in and out within twenty minutes. While Adam’s team searched for Pierce, the other teams would divide and conquer. Jinx, with the assistance of Turi and Trey, would search for the hidden room, while Marcus and the other guards would search the house for any information that might help find the other rogues.

  “Don’t get eager, this is my kill if possible. I will gain justice for my mate, for Bethany, and everyone else who has been effected by Pierce.” Ty slid his gun from his holster.

  “We’ll honor that if we can, but your safety is more important than who gets the kill. I promised Tabitha I would bring you back without a scratch.” Adam pulled his gun from his hip holster and clicked the safety off. “Let’s do this.”

  Scurrying through the shadows, they made their way to the front of the house. Adam stayed in front of Ty. If a trap waited for them inside, Adam wanted to make sure his Alpha wasn’t in the direct line of fire. Styx squeezed in beside him, working his talent on the lock and within seconds it popped open. The fact Styx knew how to pick a lock surprised no one, after all Styx had been an assassin at one time, working for a former Alpha as his personal executioner.

  Easing into the entryway, Adam spotted a tripwire. The fail-safe would alert Pierce if anyone made it past the door. Adam signaled the others, and then carefully stepped over it as he went right and Styx went left. With a clean sweep of the living quarters, Adam and Styx headed for the stairs. Taber aimed his gun at the overhead railing, guarding the team as the rest made their way up the steps.

  Scanning the hall with his gaze and gun, Adam took in a deep breath. He tried to sense which room Pierce was in, and if there were any other human or shifter scents coming from the other rooms. He waited for Taber to join them before stepping aside so everyone was in a tight group. “Pierce is at the end of the hall, asleep.” His whispered tone could only be heard by those next to him. “This feels too easy. We been after him too long, it should be a harder fight.”

  “Maybe he’s tired of the fight?” The group of men looked at Styx, who shrugged his shoulders. “I spent longer than I care to remember as an assassin. You eventually tire of the chase. It should never be routine to kill someone. Sociopaths do it for the sport, but the rest of us do it to keep innocents safe.”

  “Or it could be a trap,” Taber pointed out.

  “I don’t smell any explosives, or other shifters around us.” Adam’s pulse beat frantically on the side of his neck. “If it’s a trap, it’s just Pierce. We’ve got enough manpower to take him down even with a fight.”

  “We’re doing this. Let’s go,” Ty ordered.

  “Stay behind us,” Adam whispered, moving down the hall with Styx at his side. Ty was next and Taber brought up the rear watching their ass.

  Since arriving, Adam felt a connection to Robin, almost as if she was standing next to him, guiding him. They were as one when her voice called to him. Be safe. He would be, and if all went well, in a matter of hours he’d be in her arms again.

  Adam pushed the door open, resting his finger above the trigger of his gun. He scanned the room and ended at the bed. Adam took a step back. The horrific smell surrounding the room caught in his throat, making it hard to breathe. A clearly poisoned Pierce lay in the middle of the bed, his limbs stretched out and tied to the bedpost corners.

  “What the hell?” Styx blinked from the stench.

  Adam held his breath in the sickening air. He stepped forward, noticing a piece of paper. Pierce was still alive. There was no telling how long before the poison would kill him. If Ty wanted the kill, he’d have to do it soon. Either way this lacked the real fight that Adam and the rest of the team were looking forward to.

  Adam snatched the paper from Pierce’s chest. He read the note.

  Pierce has been growing more and more desperate to kill your clan. His insanity has begun to jeopardize Bratva and I will not stand for it. Instead, I offer him to you on a golden platter with the knowledge that if you come after us we will be forced to kill you. To eliminate your problem further, I’ve taken care of Pierce’s rogues that were no use to me and Bratva. Enjoy your kill. Keith, US Bratva leader.

  Adam had hoped Bratva wouldn’t be an issue after they had killed Victor. Obviously someone else had stepped in to lead the Bratva. They would have to completely disband the organization if they were going to protect their kind.

  Ty stepped up beside him, with Styx close by. Adam handed the note to Ty. Ty might be their Alpha and have to prove he was able to take care of himself and the clan, but there was a reason Elders had guards and it wasn’t because they were weak. In a direct challenge a guard could do nothing to help the Alpha, but when it came to rogues they would protect their Alpha to the death. Whatever they were going to do, they needed to get it done quickly because the smell of the room was getting stronger by the minute.

  Pierce moaned and struggled against the chains, his eyes still closed. His movement sent new waves of putrid odor through the room.

  “Whatever you’re going to do needs to be done now.” Adam stepped to the side, giving Ty direct access to Pierce.

  “I wanted him to put up a fight, to beg for his life. At the very least the bastard will know what’s coming.” Ty looked down at the gun in his hand. “Pierce took the life of my mate’s family, which left her an orphan, and I had to watch the video of him killing Bethany’s parents and sister. I’m doing this for all the lives he destroyed in his wake. He’ll know I’m the one who took his life. I only wish I was less civilized, that I could torture him as he had done to Bethany and countless others.”

  Adam wanted to torture the bastard too for the Hell he put Robin through, but the Alaskan clan were better than that. They wouldn’t stoop to Pierce’s level. It’s not who they were. His fingers began to tighten around the gun until he was afraid he might break the handle. He forced his shoulders to relax.<
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  Pierce’s eyes opened, fear made them glow, bringing his weretiger close to the surface. As a bitten were he wouldn’t be able to shift without a full moon, therefore he couldn’t heal himself or break free from the chains.

  “How did you get in here?” Pain filled Pierce’s voice.

  Ty stepped next to the bed, keeping his gun aimed on Pierce. “Where can I find Keith?”

  “I don’t know.” Pierce’s eyes closed and his face clenched in pain.

  “Open your eyes, damn it. Do you know why I’m here?”

  Pierce opened his eyes, just barely. He pulled against the chains again. “To kill me.”

  “Damn right. You killed the families of people I care for. You tortured and killed more people than I care to remember while we were chasing you. Now it all ends. Do you have anything to say?”

  “Killing me won’t end the threat. If it’s not me, it will be someone else. Keith is a cold-blooded murderer. He’ll find Tabitha and kill her. It won’t be as quick as I would have done. Her death will be on your hands.” He took a deep breath. “If you expect me to beg for my life it won’t happen. This poison will kill me before long, so either way I’m dead.”

  “Begging would have done no good,” Ty said.

  Adam stood next to Ty, his gun pointed at Pierce. Styx mirrored Adam’s stance at the end of the bed. Ty holstered his gun and took out a syringe from his pocket. Before they had left Alaska, Doc had mixed up a deadly batch of drugs that would kill even the strongest shifter. It was humane and would appear as if Pierce had a heart attack.

  “Tell me what you had on the Ohio Tigers to get them to do your business?” Ty twisted the cap off the syringe.

  “You haven’t figured it out yet?” Pierce laughed, yet in too much pain to be heartfelt. “Keith was the Ohio Alpha, he abandoned his clan to lead a stronger group, Bratva.”

  Adam was thankful for the connection he kept active with Robin. He wasn’t sure if Ty had a link to Tabitha opened, so Adam passed the information to his mate. Get this news to Raja and Tabitha. Ohio’s Alpha was Keith and he’s leading the US Bratva. No other information yet. Get Connor on it.

  “You’ll go to your grave knowing we found you because Robin Zimmer came to us.” Ty told Pierce. “You screwed up messing with her. She’s got fight and helped to bring you down.”

  Pierce once again struggled against the chains. “If Keith has no interest in Robin, know Randolph has been my second for years and he will pick up where I left off. Your problems are not over. Randolph will revenge my name and see your clan dead.”

  “I’ll take them all down. My clan is my family, mess with one of us and you’re messing with all of us. Your rogues are no match for us.” Ty shoved the needle into Pierce’s arm and pushed down the plunger.

  Watching him squirm as the drugs hit his system seemed unsatisfying. For years they had sought Pierce, always finding the lead a little too late and being a few steps behind him. Tonight Pierce’s life would finally end, but Adam was spoiling for a good fight, to put all those hours he had spent in the gym to work. His tiger paced within him. This was a disappointment to both of them.

  Adam watched as the stare of death took over Pierce’s eyes.

  “Is everything all right up there? It’s eerie quiet.” Jinx’s voice sprang live through Adam’s earpiece.

  “Subject had been terminated. How is the situation on your end?” Adam asked.

  “We’ve found something. It might be the room.”

  Adam looked at Ty for instructions before making a move.

  Ty raised his hand to his eyepiece. “Marcus, when you’re done search the upstairs rooms. We’re going to join Jinx.” Ty moved to the door, and everyone fell in place. “Jinx, we’re on our way, wait for us.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  After Robin passed the information about Keith to Raja and Tabitha, everyone’s exhaustion seemed to slip away. Now they had a purpose, they weren’t just sitting around waiting for the other tiger paw to drop. Connor and Lukas were in the make-shift computer center down the hall with everything they needed to find on Keith.

  Now that the Ohio Tigers no longer had an Alpha, with no leadership it could be disastrous for all involved. If that clan wasn’t careful they could expose their kind. They were abused shifters which left their actions in question. Without leadership it wasn’t surprising Henry escaped.

  “What are we going to do about Ohio’s Tigers?” Tabitha brought a tray full of coffee and cookies into the living room.

  “We’re going to send someone who can take control of the clan.” Raja took a mug from the tray and sat next to Bethany on the sofa.

  “Who?” Robin asked.

  “The first few who spring to mind are Adam, Felix, Shadow, and Styx. Unfortunately, those who qualified don’t want to leave the clan. They’re content with their positions here as Elder Guards. It would also make us weaker to send any of them away when Tabitha will be announcing she’s Queen of the Tigers.” Raja took a sip of his coffee.

  “So you’ve decided to announce your status?” Robin grabbed a cup of coffee and looked to Tabitha.

  “Not yet. The book said the time is nearing, but not until Ty is home.” Tabitha pulled her legs under her. “It will be before we have to deal with the Texas Tigers.”

  “If they aren’t willing, then we still have a problem,” Bethany said.

  “They’re not the only ones qualified just the most suited for it. Getting the Ohio Tigers under control before all Hell breaks loose is going to be a big job.” Raja checked the computer print-out on the table. “The Ohio Tigers are small, with only twenty members not including Henry or the former Alpha. It was part of the reason he didn’t have a Lieutenant who could take over now. This works in our benefit. We need to temporarily combine the West Virginia and Ohio clans and have Jinx take over as their Alpha. The West Virginia Tigers can help keep Ohio in line—help them adjust to live with a normal Alpha.”

  “Would Jinx agree?” Tabitha set her coffee aside.

  Raja shrugged his shoulders. “It’s worth asking. We need him here, but right now he’s our only choice. I was going to send Korbin along with Jinx, as a Lieutenant. Korbin’s strong enough to take over the clan. He has little experience. This opportunity will give him a chance to prove his ability. Eventually he can take over the Ohio Tigers.”

  Robin leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees and cupping her coffee in her hands. “Instead of combining the clans, why not send Jinx and Korbin, with the understanding Korbin will take over. Jinx will only be there to consult. That way we can get Jinx back quickly and the clan will have an Alpha from the beginning.”

  “Robin, you should have been part of this clan years ago.” Raja smiled. “I’ll get in touch with Jinx and Ty to get their thoughts once they are done at the house. Tabitha, would you like to accompany me to speak with Korbin?”

  “Sure.” Tabitha nodded as Harmony staggered out of the bedroom.

  “Harmony, you should be resting.” Robin set her coffee aside and went to Harmony.

  “I thought of…” Her legs wobbled and she fell to the floor.

  Felix went to help Robin, but Raja held him back. “I’ll get her into bed and she can tell us what she remembered.” Raja walked around the sofa, bent, and scooped Harmony up in his arms in one quick motion.

  Following Raja, Robin turned to Felix. “Henry’s not any closer, is he?”

  “No. I’m not sure where he is. He’s waiting for something.” Felix followed them into the bedroom.

  Raja tucked Harmony in bed, pulling the blankets tight around her. “What did you remember?”

  “Robin…” Harmony reached out, and when Robin’s hand slipped into hers, she held it tight. “Randolph, he’s a friend of Henry and the Alpha. He’s not a member of the clan. He’s a lone shifter. Henry will be with him.”

  Felix nodded. “I know Randolph. He’s a weird guy, one that rubs you the wrong way. He has strange practices, and moved into the wood
s because he doesn’t like the direction the shifters are heading. He believes shifters are at the top of the food chain, therefore we could kill humans when the mood strikes.”

  Robin felt Harmony tense as they listened to how dangerous Randolph was. “Don’t worry Harmony. I want you to get some sleep. We’re right outside if you need anything.” Robin nodded for the men to follow her out. Harmony didn’t need to hear any more news to make her more afraid.

  After closing the door behind her, Robin turned to Raja and Felix. “How can we find Randolph if he has no connection to a clan?”

  “Randolph?” Tabitha looked at them.

  “He’s a lone shifter that Harmony remembered having a connection to Henry. She believes if we locate Randolph we might be able to find Henry before he gets to Alaska,” Felix explained.

  “He’s got to have something in his name, a bill, cell phone, or something. Everyone leaves a trace. I’ll get Connor on it.” Bethany snatched the cell phone from the end table.

  Damn it, will the trouble never cease? Robin was tired of the roller coaster ride that had become her life. One minute she was thankful Adam and the team took down Pierce without any trouble, and then there was a new threat to worry about.

  Adam examined the trap door while Styx and Taber stood back with Jinx and Ty in case there was a trip sensor. The twins Turi and Trey guarded nearby.

  “You’d never even notice this door if you weren’t feeling the wall for something,” Adam said. “It blends in perfectly. From what I can tell there are no wires or anything unusual. I want everyone back in the other room while I open it. Just in case.”