The Liger's Mark

by Lacey Thorn

  “What?”

  Diane shrugged. “I saw him once when he didn’t realize anyone was around. He was angry, almost enraged. It was just after his dad had upset Abby and threatened her. Tah was ready to rip Isaac’s throat out. I expected Daniel to step forward, protect his dad, intervene, something. Instead, it was Logan who did.”

  “You think Daniel was mad at Tah?” Kenzie asked.

  “No, that wasn’t the impression I got,” Diane countered.

  “What then? You think Daniel was angry with his dad? That he wanted Tah to hurt him?” Kenzie asked.

  Diane shrugged again. “I don’t know. It wouldn’t surprise me. Zane talked to Gabriel’s friend Adrian and said he got the impression Daniel and Gabriel didn’t have the best of childhoods after their mom was killed.”

  “Gabriel said they were fed on a steady diet of hate and vengeance. Isaac pushed him to become the Angel. He warned me his dad wouldn’t be happy with our mating.”

  “He doesn’t get a say,” Diane said, voice ripe with anger again.

  “No, he doesn’t,” Kenzie agreed. “Are you okay?” she asked as she watched Diane shaking. The other woman burst into tears and hugged her again.

  “I’m just so happy you’re back,” she sobbed. “You look happy. I want you to be happy.”

  “I am,” Kenzie tried to reassure her friend, patting Diane’s back gingerly.

  Diane sniffled then pulled back. She took Kenzie’s hands and squeezed them, a smile making her face almost glow. “I’m so happy you’re back.”

  Wow, was all Kenzie could think as she watched Diane’s mood change again.

  “We should probably head downstairs. They’ve been waiting on you to wake up so they could call everyone together and discuss what’s going on,” Diane said.

  “Oh,” Kenzie said, rising to her feet. “You should have said something. I didn’t mean to keep them all waiting on me.”

  “I’m sorry,” Diane said and burst into tears again. “I just wanted to talk to you. I was so worried about you.”

  Kenzie lifted a brow. “Pregnancy hormones, huh?”

  Diane growled, face darkening with anger. “Hormones suck.”

  Kenzie didn’t say anything, making a noncommittal sound as she urged Diane toward the door and down the stairs. She was afraid, too. Just in the short time they’d been together, Diane had bounced between happy, sad and angry. She was in total agreement though. Diane’s hormones appeared to suck.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gabriel was still tense. He’d forced himself to leave his bed and mate, knowing they had a lot to do before the day ended. He’d unloaded the SUV, brought their stuff up to the room then had forced himself to leave again. He’d taken the box Kenzie had been given to the office and left it before going to check on Laura. He’d finally let her know her brother was part of the pride now residing with them, and she’d run off to hide out with Adrian and his family. It hadn’t been his intention to say anything to Logan, but he’d ended up doing just that.

  Daniel had been the one to figure it out and let him know. Daniel had also told him Logan was a good guy and that there must be more to the story than Laura knew. So he’d been willing to give the other man the benefit of the doubt. It’d helped that Kenzie thought so highly of all of them. Gabriel had seen the look in Logan’s eyes when he’d told him what their parents had done to her. Devastation and anger. Gabriel didn’t get a chance to tell Logan she was gone before the other man was slamming out to find her.

  “He’s not going to find her is he?” Tah asked.

  “No,” Gabriel admitted. “She’s not ready to see him.”

  “When he realizes that, he’s going to come back, demanding to know where she is,” Reno warned.

  “I can’t do that,” Gabriel said. “When she’s ready, she’ll come to him. He’ll have to respect that.”

  “I’d do the same,” Tah said.

  “Logan’s searched for his sister for years,” Reno stated quietly. “It’s how we spent our time after leaving the Marines before we came to find you,” he said, glancing at Tah. “He won’t wait patiently.”

  “She’ll come around,” Gabriel said. “She believes he abandoned her and never looked back.”

  “He wrote letters,” Reno said. “He still has them. They were all returned to him.”

  Gabriel nodded. “We just need to give her time. She’ll come when she’s ready. I’ll have Daniel talk to her.”

  They were quiet for a moment before Tah spoke up again. “You said you needed to tell me something before everyone was gathered.”

  Gabriel reached in his pocket and handed Tah the papers he’d had put together.

  “What’s this?” Tah asked as he unfolded them.

  Gabriel said nothing as he watched Tah skim through them. It was the only way to make things clear to his father. Isaac would never stop as long as he thought he might have a chance of persuading Gabriel to make Tah and the rest of them leave. It was also something he wanted to do for his mate. He could still hear her telling him how much her pride needed this place.

  “I don’t understand,” Tah finally said. “Why would you do this?”

  “Because it’s the right thing to do,” Gabriel said. “Daniel told me about meeting you, all of you. The dynamics of how you interacted with each other, and the overwhelming love you showed. Not to mention how intrigued he was with the council you’ve formed.”

  “We’re far from perfect,” Tah warned. “We argue, fight and clash just like any family.”

  “Which is when his mate threatens to kick all our asses,” Reno advised with a grin.

  “I hear she’s a force to reckon with,” Gabriel said.

  “She’s my everything,” Tah stated.

  Gabriel nodded in understanding. There was no other way to describe the bond that existed between mates. They became everything to each other.

  “Does Kenzie know?” Tah asked.

  “No,” Gabriel admitted. He’d been too worried on the drive here then wrapped up in other things once they’d arrived. He could have woken her to discuss it, but he’d decided against it. She’d been through a lot, some of which was his fault. She needed rest. “She’ll learn when you tell the others, but I know she’ll agree with me.”

  “Thank you,” Tah said. “This means more than I can say.”

  “My father will throw a fit, threaten all sorts of repercussions. Trust me when I say, there is nothing he can do about this. This land and all the property is mine to do with as I see fit,” Gabriel said.

  “What about Daniel?” Tah questioned.

  “His property is in town, but he was the one who suggested this option to me,” Gabriel shared. “Seems he’s a lot smarter than I’ve given him credit for.”

  Laura had tried to point that out to Gabriel several times, but he’d refused to see it. Every time he looked at Daniel, all he saw was the little brother he needed to protect. It was past time he let Daniel be the man he was.

  “Is it his intent to join?” Tah asked.

  “Yes,” Gabriel answered. Daniel had been the first to mention it, assuming Gabriel would join his mate’s pride and wanting to do the same.

  Tah nodded and held his hand out. “Welcome to the pride.”

  Gabriel took the offered hand and shook it, knowing he was doing the right thing. For himself, and his mate. Probably for Daniel and Laura, as well. The only person who would feel hurt and betrayed was his father. Gabriel couldn’t let that worry him. His father had chosen his path in life, and for too long he’d been allowed to manipulate Gabriel’s life. No more. It was time for him to make more personal choices.

  Reno held out his hand next. “I’m sure there’s a lot we can learn from you. Hopefully, we’ll find time soon to discuss these different faces hunters wear and what we can do about it.”

  “I’m going to check on Regan,” Tah said. “Call everyone together and have them meet us in here. Send the council to my room, first. I want to discuss so
mething real quick.”

  “Give my girl cuddles for me,” Reno called as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and began texting. “See if Daniel can join us. The offer will be open to Laura, too, when the time is right for her.”

  Gabriel nodded. Laura would come around. He had faith in her. She was too caring of a person to do otherwise.

  “I’m going to check on Kenzie,” Gabriel said. “I’ll get a hold of Daniel.”

  “Tell him thirty minutes,” Reno said.

  Gabriel nodded and stepped out. He heard Kenzie’s laugh and groaned with a bit of disappointment. He’d been hoping to find his mate still curled up naked in their bed. Probably a good thing she wasn’t because he would have taken a lot longer than thirty minutes to wake her up. He shot Daniel a quick text then followed the sound of Kenzie’s voice. He shouldn’t have been surprised to see her with Holt. As much as it still gave him a jolt, he knew it was also something he’d need to get used to. He trusted his mate, and hard as it was to believe, he found he trusted Holt, too.

  “Hey,” she said, moving toward him as soon as she saw him. “I was looking for you.”

  “I delayed her,” Holt said.

  “Holt was catching me up on what he’d found out today while I was playing sleeping beauty upstairs,” Kenzie said.

  “I was hoping you’d still be up there,” Gabriel said, pulling her against his chest and dropping a kiss on her lips. “I had plans on how to wake you up.”

  She blushed. “There’s always tomorrow.”

  He dropped another kiss on her lips then another. When he glanced back up, Holt was gone.

  “He probably headed to the office for the meeting Tah called,” Kenzie said. “I’m a little nervous about it.”

  “Why?”

  “Telling everyone what I found out, what we still don’t know. The fact I was an experiment that hunters want to get their hands back on,” she said.

  “The only thing they’ll care about is that you’re safe,” he stated.

  She nodded. “You’re right. I just wish I had more to share.”

  “There’s something you should know about the meeting,” Gabriel began. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you before.”

  “Okay,” she said. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, I—”

  “I was hoping to find you before going in,” Daniel said as he walked up and joined them. He must have been close to get to the house so fast.

  “Good to see you,” Gabriel said, accepting the embrace Daniel gave him then surprising them both by holding tight and squeezing back. “I’m glad you made it.”

  Daniel gave him a look as if trying to figure out what was going on with him then turned his attention to Kenzie.

  “You must be Kenzie.”

  She nodded. “You must be Daniel.”

  His younger brother grinned and offered Kenzie a hug.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Daniel said. “I’ve heard a lot about you from everyone. All good things,” he assured her.

  “I’ve heard the same about you,” Kenzie told him, and Daniel gave Gabriel another puzzled look.

  “Well, welcome to the family, little sister,” Daniel said then turned his attention to Gabriel again. “Did you get the papers?”

  “It’s done,” Gabriel told him, and Daniel nodded.

  “What’s done?” Kenzie asked.

  “I was trying to tell you—” Gabriel began but was cut off again when more people arrived.

  Zane was the first to reach them, pulling Kenzie in for a hug then offering Gabriel his hand. They moved toward the office with him and the moment to tell her was lost. Zane informed them Diane was lying down and wouldn’t be joining them. Gabriel could tell the other man was worried about his mate.

  He stood at the back of the room with Kenzie and his brother while she pointed out everyone who entered the room. Holt was already there along with Reed and Dusty. Finn, who shared the same red hair as his brother Murphy, was the next to enter, followed a few minutes later by Gideon, who was joined by two others, a man and a woman. The woman with them was talking a mile a minute, which Gideon seemed to find amusing. Without missing a beat, Finn reached out and pulled her beside him.

  “I see how it is,” he teased her. “Gideon gets back and you forget all about me.”

  She rolled her eyes. “No one could forget you.”

  “Is that Vic’s sister?” Gabriel asked. The two women looked a lot alike.

  “No,” Kenzie said. “Vic doesn’t have a sister.”

  “That’s Ariel,” Daniel said. “Griffin is the one with the short brown hair with them. From what I gathered, they showed up in Colorado with Gideon.”

  “How do you know so much?” Kenzie asked.

  “I listen,” Daniel offered with a shrug.

  Two women walked in who Kenzie pointed out as Amia and Clara, the mates of Reno and Logan. Kenzie told him that was everyone who wasn’t on the council then asked if Laura would be joining them. Shit! Another thing he didn’t have time to tell her.

  “She’s not here,” he said.

  “She knows, doesn’t she?” Kenzie asked, and Gabriel lifted his brow in question. “That Logan’s here. He’s her brother.”

  “When did you figure that out?” Gabriel asked.

  “When we were talking in the car. She reminded me of him. It just took me a bit to realize it. I thought about telling her, but I was afraid she’d take off.”

  His mate’s instinct had been correct.

  “She’ll be back,” Gabriel assured her then pulled her so she rested against his chest when the members of the council joined them.

  It wasn’t hard to sort out who was who from the people he didn’t know. The woman holding the baby, with Tah’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, had to be Abby. Next came a shorter man with glasses who had to be the professor. Reno and Logan walked over to join their mates. Murphy went to stand next to his brother and Vic joined Gideon.

  “Diane?” Tah asked.

  “She’s resting,” Zane said.

  “I’ll check on her,” the professor said, and there was worry in his eyes.

  “Later,” Zane ordered. “Let her rest.”

  The professor glared for a moment then seemed to give in and walked over to sit in one of the chairs.

  “Nix?” Tah turned to ask Gideon.

  “Waiting in the corridor outside,” Gideon said, and Tah nodded.

  “We’ve got a lot to go over tonight,” Tah said. “First things first. We’re glad to have Kenzie, Holt, Reed, Dusty and Vic back with us. Our pack is growing. Not only has Gideon decided to join us, but Gabriel and his brother Daniel have, as well. Welcome to the pride.”

  Kenzie peeked up at Gabriel in surprise, and he dropped a kiss on her lips. She glanced over at Daniel beside them, and he nodded.

  “Vic and Gideon have some information to share with everyone as do Kenzie and Gabriel. I want to make two announcements before they do.” Tah held up the papers Gabriel had given him. “As of a little bit ago, we are no longer guests here. This has officially become our home. In joining our pride, Gabriel has signed all the property over to us to do with as we see fit. The only condition is that any decisions regarding this land be made by the council with a majority vote rule.”

  Kenzie jerked around and launched herself at him. Gabriel caught her easily and didn’t resist when his mate stole his breath with her kiss. He’d known she’d be supportive of his decision, but believing and seeing were totally different.

  “Get a room,” Daniel whispered.

  Gabriel liked that idea, but it would be hours before he could escape back to bed with his mate. Kenzie grinned up at him and mouthed a thank you.

  Tah cleared his throat while several chuckles filled the room. “In accepting this gift, the council has voted unanimously to add one more member. Gabriel, we’d like you to join us from now on.”

  His gaze flew from Kenzie’s face to Tah’s. A member of the council?

&nb
sp; “You’ve only just met me,” Gabriel said. “Are you sure this is a step you want to take? It’s not required in the agreement.”

  “We know that,” Tah said. “We also know we wouldn’t have this opportunity, this home, without you. It’s your knowledge we want on the council, though. You’ve experienced things we haven’t. The only way we get stronger as a pride, as a community, is to grow and learn. This is a chance to build something lasting. Not just for ourselves, but for our children and future generations. Join the council, Gabriel.”

  Tah’s words echoed what Adrian had said when Gabriel had returned home with Kenzie. This was an opportunity to build something lasting.

  “Yes,” Kenzie agreed, beseeching him.

  “I…thank you,” he said. “I’d like that.”

  “Good,” Tah continued. “Now that we have that settled, let’s get started.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kenzie stood wrapped in her mate’s arms still processing what had just happened. Gabriel had given the pride all the land and buildings around them. She knew without asking that he’d done it for her, for them. She was a little choked up on emotion at the moment. Plus, her mate would now sit on the council. Whether he realized it yet or not, the group had just shown his status within the pride. He was one of them.

  Gideon stepped forward, Vic at his side. “I told you I had some things to take care of when we left Colorado. Several stops to make. One of which was to speak with a friend. That’s where we came across Nix, who asked if Vic and I had room for him to go with us. He said he needed to get away, start fresh. He was in the lab when I was there. I thought he’d been killed,” Gideon said.

  “Do you trust him?” Tah asked.

  Kenzie knew from her conversations with Vic that there weren’t a lot of people Gideon trusted. Vic still seemed surprised her mate had agreed to come to Oklahoma and join the pride.

  “I don’t know,” Gideon admitted. “There’s something there, holding me back.”

  Which Kenzie imagined was why Nix wasn’t in the meeting with them.