Ty shook his head. “You don’t know what’s on the other side of the door.”
“That’s why you need to go. I won’t risk your safety.” Adam pointed toward the other door. “You have to leave now so we can get out of here before that horrific smell penetrates the whole house.”
“You’re not doing it alone.”
Adam rose from where he was squatting by the trap door. “Ty, this is my job. I was your guard before you mated and I was assigned to your mate. I can’t forget to keep you safe. Now please, we’re wasting time.”
“I’ll stay with him. Styx, get the Alpha out of here.” Taber ordered.
“Wait a second, I don’t take orders, I give them. Now get out of the way.” Ty stepped around Adam and tugged open the door.
It squeaked, but nothing happened. No one jumped out, and no guns or bombs exploded, just an eerie silence.
Adam shook his head at his Alpha’s actions. “At least let me go in first.” Adam pushed in front of his Alpha not giving him a chance to argue. If someone waited for them down the hall, Adam wouldn’t let Ty be the first injured. It was his job and he wasn’t going to let a stubborn Elder be the reason he let Ty get hurt, or the reason he had to go home and explain it to Tabitha.
“Damn guards,” Ty mumbled.
“Bitch all you want, but we’re here to keep you alive,” Adam said. “I’m on strict orders from Tabitha to bring you back in one piece. I am not going to be the one to tell her you were hurt being the lead.” Adam pointed his gun as he moved down the narrow hallway. Ty wanting to be part of the action is the reason most Elders did not go on missions with the team. They were too valuable to the clans to risk on missions.
“You two stay here, keep watch and make sure this door stays open,” Taber ordered the twins.
Moving down three steps, the area turned to a concrete floor with dirt walls. It had to be an addition after the house was built. If Adam’s coordinates were right, the hidden room would be under the back deck. He could smell something at the end of the narrow space. He took a deep breath, trying to distinguish the scent. A musty smell overwhelmed his senses. But deep in the space there was a tigress, her fear coming toward them in waves.
“Who’s there? Come out, now!” Adam called, continuing to move down the dark space.
“Wait.” Ty touched Adam’s shoulder, forcing him to halt. “It’s Daisy.”
“Who?”
“Daisy’s father left clan life a few months before we moved to Alaska. His job forced him overseas for a few years. Daisy didn’t want to go. She said something bad would happen if they went. Being underage, she had no choice but to go with her father.” Ty tipped his head back, taking a deep breath before opening his eyes again. “I’d know her scent anywhere. The lemony taste that it leaves in your mouth is unmistakably hers. I’ve never met anyone with the same effect.”
“I remember that.” Adam nodded, unhooking his flashlight from his belt as he continued down the space. “Daisy, are you alone? We’re here to help you.”
The narrow hallway led to a dark open space, and in the middle of the room laid a filthy mattress. A girl huddled in the center, her arms holding her legs to her chest, with her head resting on the top.
Ty lowered his gun while Adam scanned the rest of the space with his flashlight. When Adam nodded that all was clear, Ty stepped toward the girl. “Daisy, do you remember me. It’s Ty, Alpha of the Alaskan Tigers. You and your dad were part of my clan until the move.” The girl’s gaze followed Ty as he moved. She still remained silent.
“How long do you think she’s been down here?” Adam wasn’t sure how she could have survived being in this room and still have her sanity.
“Too long from the looks of it.” Ty holstered his gun, holding out his hands as he stepped closer. Adam and the other guards kept their guns out, not that anyone would want to shoot in such a confined space, but they would if one of their lives depended on it.
“One hundred and twelve days.” Daisy’s voice was parched. Those simple words set her into a coughing fit. “He made a point of telling me every time he came down.”
“Let’s get you out of here and somewhere safe.” Ty held a hand out to her.
She didn’t move. “I’d rather you kill me. I can’t face people if they know what happened here. Nor do I want him to find me again.”
“Pierce is dead, and no one outside of this room knows how we found you.” Ty knelt in front of her. “Come home. Things are changing, for the better, come be part of it. You have so much to live for, so many changes to see.”
She stretched out her legs, revealing her naked body. “They’ll know. Look what he did to me!”
Adam’s flashlight spilled over her body, revealing claw marks down each side of her ribs, along with a scar from a deep claw cut down the side of her neck, and bruises covered most of her body. The worst mark was the large P branding her right hip.
“He tried to mate me! Nearly four months every day. How am I supposed to go on with my life after that?”
Adam tugged his shirt out of his jeans and up over his head. He stepped next to Ty, holding out his shirt. “Here. We had no idea, Daisy.”
She took the shirt, holding it in her hands as if it was a foreign object, before bringing it to her nose to smell the fresh crisp linen mixed with Adam’s scent. “I haven’t had clothes since he brought me here.” She tugged it over her head and wrapped her arms around her body.
“Let’s get you out of here. You can shower, and we’ll find you fresh clothes. We’ll keep you safe.” Adam tried to hide the sympathy from his tone, but it was nearly impossible. If being raped by a man who kept her prisoner wasn’t bad enough, add in the fact that when a shifter had sex with someone who wasn’t their mate it was extremely painful. Pierce had no idea how the mating worked for shifters and in turn caused harm to Daisy.
She stood. “My Dad, do you know what happened to him?”
“No, but we’ll find out. I’ll get my men on it once we’re somewhere safe.” Ty rolled his shoulders. “Daisy, I know this isn’t easy. I need to know why Pierce forced himself on you.”
“He wanted a child to take over for him when the time came.” She stepped off the mattress, still keeping her distance.
“Let me go first,” Adam said. “There are two more shifters at the end of the hall. They’re Taber’s brothers, and are on our side.”
Daisy glanced at Taber. “He’s a bear?”
“Kodiak Bears, their sleuth is a partner of our clan. They mean you no harm. I just want you prepared when you see two large men at the end of the hallway,” Adam explained, taking the lead down the hallway. Daisy walked behind him with Ty next, and Styx and Taber at the rear.
She let out a deep sigh. “I just want to get out of here and find my dad.”
“There’s a little motel not far from here. We’ll stop to get a room so you can have a shower and change. We’ll have Galen check your wounds and then we’ll fly out.” Ty’s cell rang.
“Instead of a motel couldn’t I take five minutes to shower here? I’m filthy.”
They entered the end of the hallway when Ty called out from behind him. “I’ve got to take this call from Raja. The team can finish going through the house, but I want Adam to stay with Daisy. Have one of the other guards find her something to wear until we get to Alaska.”
“Taber, you stay with Ty.” Adam then turned to Daisy. “Come on, we’ll find a shower for you.”
Stepping past the twins, Adam holstered his gun. Soon he’d be back with Robin. Mission complete. No injuries to rack this one in the books.
Chapter Eighteen
Adam stood with Daisy, at the bottom of the plane steps, waiting for everyone to board. She wanted a moment to enjoy the fresh air and the sun on her face—a few of the everyday pleasures she had missed while being held captive. Ty stepped out of the SUV, coming toward them. “Everything okay, Ty?”
Ty dragged his fingers through his shoulder length, black hair,
tugging it out of this face. “Jinx won’t be flying out with us. He’ll be traveling to Ohio to meet with Korbin to act as a mediator as Korbin prepares to take over the Ohio Tigers. Once things are settled in Ohio, Jinx will return.”
“Korbin?” Adam’s surprise sprang from his tone. Korbin was a good guard and had the potential to make a strong leader, but he had no experience. He didn’t even have the experience of working closely with the Elders. Korbin was one of the guards, but wasn’t included in the Elder meetings concerning the clan.
“Raja’s first choices wouldn’t have accepted, unless you’ve changed your mind about leading a clan of your own?”
Adam shook his head. “No, my loyalty lies with protecting you, Tabitha, and the Alaskan clan. I want to be on the ground floor of building our future. Running a clan of my own doesn’t appeal to me as much. I do appreciate you thinking that I’m ready for such a step.”
“Then Korbin is our best hope.” Ty gazed off to the distance.
Adam understood what Ty wasn’t saying. If Korbin couldn’t get the clan under control, they’d turn on him, and kill him before moving on to wreak havoc elsewhere. Even with Jinx there to consult, Korbin will have to go in strong and gain control immediately if he expects to survive. “He’ll be fine.”
Ty let out a heavy sigh. “If not, our only backup plan is to combine Jinx’s clan with the Ohio Tigers. As it is, Jinx is going to take some of his members with him as guards to protect him and Korbin. There are only twenty members in the Ohio Tigers, but with the state of things, havoc is a strong possibility.”
Jinx walked down the plane steps bag in hand, and his cowboy hat firmly in place. “I’m set.”
Adam shook his head to stop from laughing. “You’re going to stick out in Ohio with your cowboy hat.”
“I never go anywhere without it.” Jinx pulled the hat down a little further before looking back to Ty. “If anything changes and you need backup, don’t hesitate to call. I’ll have my plane and can be there in a matter of hours.”
“Thank you, and the same goes for you. Stay safe.” Ty shook Jinx’s hand. “We’ll see you soon.”
Taber stood in the doorway of the plane. “We should be going.”
“Daisy, go on in, we’ll follow in a minute,” Ty said. As she climbed the stairs and went inside the plane, Ty turned back to Jinx. “We need you to find out everything you can about the Ohio Tigers and a man named Randolph. He’s a lone shifter. He’s been seen frequently with the clan, especially with the former Alpha and Henry.”
“I’ll be in touch once we gather some information.” Jinx nodded.
As Jinx walked to the SUV, Ty glanced to Adam. “That could have been your position.”
“I know, but Alaska is my home.” Adam climbed the steps to the airplane, anxious to get back to his mate. He brought the connection with Robin forward. I’m coming home.
Darkness had fallen on the compound hours before, but Robin couldn’t sleep. She lay curled at the end of the sofa, waiting as the minutes slowly dragged. Her mate would be landing soon.
There had been so many changes in her life since Adam had found her, even more in the last forty-eight hours. The biggest was the progress she had made with Tex. He seemed calm and more assured nothing bad would happen as long as he was in Alaska. The abuse he suffered in Texas would always leave a lasting wound. If he kept the memories under control, it wouldn’t be what controlled him. Now he was putting forth the effort to move on. Robin was glad to be a part of his journey.
If only she could have the same luck with Harmony. For now, Robin was trying to give Harmony the time she needed to adjust to the clan and for her leg to heal while they waited to find out more about Henry’s whereabouts. Connor and Lukas were busy searching for his location. So far they were drawing up blanks. Robin knew they would find Henry. It would take time—time Harmony hopefully had.
“We’ve got Harmony settled back in her room with a guard at the door. I want you to have this.” Raja handed Robin a small earpiece. “All the guards wear one. If Harmony has any other issues, the guards can contact you through this. It will also keep you informed as to what’s happening. Understand it’s a privilege and anything you learn should be held in strict confidence. We do not speak of Elder business to anyone outside the group without consent of an Elder.”
“Thank you.” Robin slipped the earpiece into her ear. It would take her time to get used to the feel and the constant chatter.
“The plane is landing in five minutes. I’m taking Tabitha to the landing strip, would you like to join us?” Raja asked.
Felix and Tabitha arrived before she could answer.
“Yes, if you don’t mind.” Robin straightened, stretching her legs before running her fingers through her hair, fluffing her curls. Her heartbeat raced with the thought of having Adam’s arms wrapped around her body again, and to feel the caresses of his lips on hers. He had been gone too long. Her body ached for his touch. She wanted to share the excitement of how much her life had changed in the short time he was gone.
As he marched down the steps of the plane, Adam was surprised to find Robin standing with Raja and Tabitha. His body called to her, his shaft instantly hardening. The tiger inside of him wanted to reclaim her as his mate, to mark her scent all over his body, and to bury his shaft deep within her warmth.
Her desires pulled him. He read her thoughts of how she wanted to run to him and wrap her arms around his body, but she waited, following the other’s lead. The space between the plane and where Robin waited was only twenty feet. It felt like the longest trek of Adam’s journey. Nearing Robin, he dropped his bag and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her tight against his chest. He lifted her up so he could press his lips to hers.
Her warm lips, with the hint of lingering coffee, rejuvenated him. The weariness of the trip and the tight muscles slid away. All that went through his mind was having Robin naked and beneath him. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered against her lips.
“Oh, Adam!” She tightened her grip around his body.
Ty cleared his throat behind Adam. “Go, be with your mate. I’ll brief Raja and Felix.”
Adam didn’t have to be told twice. He grabbed his bag and then lifted Robin into his arms. “You’re mine now.” He jogged away from the gathering, heading straight to his cabin.
“It took me a while to realize it, but I’ve always been yours.” She kissed his neck. “I can walk you know?”
“We’ll get to the cabin faster this way, unless you want me to take you right here.”
“Inside is better.” Her tongue licked down his neck, gently nibbling his collarbone.
He raced to the cabin, desperate to have her now. His tiger wasn’t willing to wait any longer. Standing in front of the cabin, he released her so he could open the door. Nudging her through the doorway, he growled. “I want you naked now. If those clothes aren’t off you soon, I’ll rip them off.”
“Right to the point type of guy, I like that.” She teased him and ran toward the bedroom, stripping her clothes off and letting them fall to the floor in a trail of desire.
Her bra dropped to the floor as Adam slid his arm around her waist, catching her before she made it to the bed. Pulling her against his body, he ran his free hand through her hair. Pressing his lips to her neck, his control was gone. His tiger wanted her hard and fast. There would be time for gentle lovemaking later, right now was about claiming his mate again. “This won’t be slow.”
“I don’t care, as long as I have you.” She pulled his shirt from his pants, her fingers teasing over his chest. “I need you, Adam.”
He nodded, pushed her against the wall, and he leaned over her, claiming her lips again. He gave in to their desire, reestablishing their mating bond. His finger teased over her nipple until it was hard. Lowering his head, he drew it into his mouth and flicked his tongue over it.
“I want you naked and on the bed.” Her voice was full of need as she arched her back bringing her nipple dee
per in his mouth. Giving it one last flick of his tongue, he let it go. He slipped his gun from its holster and placed it on the nightstand. He then unhooked his belt, letting his jeans fall to the floor.
Gliding her to the bed, he watched the way her body moved. A few scars from Bobby’s abuse were visible, but didn’t detract from the beauty he saw in her. A beam of moonlight from the window reflected off her silky skin.
“You’re beautiful.” he said. “Every single inch of you. Let me show you.”
She laid back, exposing her body to him. He wanted to kiss his way from her toes to the top of her head, to show her how much he loved her. Not tonight, he couldn’t hold his beast any longer. He slid on top of her, kissing his way up from her stomach. His tongue glided over the scar on her side. A growl escaped his throat, and she tensed under him.
“What was that for?” She leaned up on her elbows, looking down at him.
“Remembering how you got this.” His tongue drew lazy circles around the scar.
“How do you know how I got it?”
“Mates know these things. It’s a special bond between mates. However, the vision of the scars origin only happens once, meaning I can touch you without seeing the images in my head again.” He balanced on his arms above her. “I thought you were supposed to be lying back, letting me show you how beautiful you are.” His fingers teased along the side of her body.
“We can explore later. Right now, I want you inside me.”
Craving her touch, he pulled her closer, trailing a path of hot, wet kisses on her breasts, pausing to nip and suck each one. His body cried out for more of her as his hands stroked and teased until he found her special central core. His fingers delved inside her. While he worked his fingers in her heat and wetness, her body moved with the motion.
“Please, I need you,” she moaned, clawing her nails into his shoulders.
“As you command, mate.” He slid between her thighs and filled her with a powerful thrust. Plunging his shaft in and out of her, they found a rhythm as passion vibrated through them. She dug her fingers in his back, pulling him closer.
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