Healing the Clan: Alaskan Tigers: Book Ten

by Marissa Dobson

  “Tell me what?” David demanded.

  “About the unapproved visitors.” Ryder tipped his head, giving her the floor.

  “Nice.” She shook her head at his lack of grace. “David, it’s Mira. She’s on her way—”

  “What?” He pushed back with such force the table jarred and his coffee sloshed over the rim of his mug. “I told her to stay put. I’d call her when it was safe.”

  “She didn’t listen. She and Styx will be landing in less than twenty minutes.”

  “Landing? How the hell was she expecting to get from the airport without letting me know?” He turned toward the large window behind the table and mumbled, “What the hell was she thinking?”

  “That’s another thing. They’re not flying into the airport. They’ve got a helicopter and will be landing on the compound. Everything was arranged with Carran, so I’m not sure of the other details, but there has to be a good reason they’ve done this.”

  “How did you find out?”

  “I told her after Carran let it slip,” Ryder added. “I thought having your mate here…the two of you could make plans on how to deal with this. I’ll handle whatever you need done.”

  “Plans. That might be an understatement. How the hell am I supposed to get them out of here before someone sees them? Seeing Styx isn’t going to help keep the peace we’ve finally been able to get.”

  “Maybe Mira can convince them,” Ryder offered.

  “Oh, because no one blames her for what happened, for the lives lost.” David shook his head. “She’s in just as much danger. Why would she risk herself like this?”

  “Home means a lot to people.” She tried to reason with her mate. “We’re willing to risk a lot to be able to go there again and to see people we care about. She wants to see you and Tim. You can’t blame her for that. She won’t believe you’re truly alive until she can see you again.”

  “She’s seen me.” He spun around to look at her, his eyes wide. Anger had his tiger close to the surface, turning his eyes a warm honey color. “We’ve video conference, and as for our father, he isn’t even here so she’s going to be out of luck.”

  “It’s not the same thing,” she pressed. “But why doesn’t matter right now. We need to get ready because she’s going to be here. These plans and the meeting, can it wait?”

  “Is it something I can handle?” Ryder offered.

  “Yeah.” He scooted the papers toward Ryder. “Tell them I approve the plans for the cabins. The new Elder quarters and the rest I haven’t looked at yet. We’ll reconvene as soon as I get Mira back on that helicopter and out of here.”

  “Ryder, can you give us a few minutes?” Victoria asked.

  “Sure. I’ll wait downstairs, because I’m going to the helicopter with you. If things go to Hell, you’re going to need the back up. Once I know you’re safe, I’ll deal with Carran and Larry.” Without waiting to see if anyone argued with him, he strolled out of the room.

  Now that they were alone, she pushed back her chair and went to him. “You’re worried about your sister and I understand that, but this is going to be okay. Eventually she was going to come here, and you’d have had the same reservations. It’s better to do it now and get it over with than to prolong it. Styx wouldn’t place his mate in danger.”

  “We’re not set up. There are no guards, no protection to offer her. Hell, I can’t even offer my own mate guards yet.”

  She laid her hand on his chest. “I’m not worried about guards. I’m more worried about getting this clan on the right footing. Until a few days ago, I only cared about myself, just living through the day, and now so much has changed. You came into my life and showed me how much I’ve missed everything.”

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her closer. “I’m worried about guards. Maybe until you have guards assigned to you that I know can protect you, I’ll just keep you by my side.”

  “Or you could just claim me and you’ll always know if I’m in trouble. Not to mention everything else.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him and let her hand tease up his chest.

  “You make it sound like I don’t want you. When the truth is, I want to carry you to that bed right now and make love to you until you scream my name in ecstasy. But this mating…and the clan…”

  “I know you have a lot on your plate. I’m not completely sure where I fit into it all, but we’ll make it work. We have to.” She smiled up at him. “We’ll deal with your sister, figure out what we’re going to do with everything else, but tonight, there is no working until you pass out. We’re going to have a little time to work on us. No pressure, but our beasts won’t wait too much longer and tomorrow we’re making announcements to the clan after breakfast, so the timing is perfect.”

  “I thought you said no pressure.” He leaned his head down until his forehead was pressed against hers.

  “Well, maybe just a little pressure.” She smirked as the tigress within her purred. It wanted more than just the sweet touches or the promises of what would come. It wanted to mate.

  “I want to kiss you.” His lips came closer to her until they hovered just above, not quite touching. His warm breath brushed across her face, and she wanted to close the distance between them. “But if I do, I won’t be able to stop myself.”

  The first sounds of helicopter blades cutting through the sky echoed toward them.

  “There’s not enough time for more than a kiss.” It pained her to utter those words, but they had to meet the ’copter and deal with any frightened clan members. This had to come first, even if, at the moment, it was at the cost of their mating. It wasn’t just Alpha duties but also his duty to his sister, and that mattered to her as well. “Come on. The sooner we see this through, the sooner we can be alone.” That wasn’t just a promise to him but also to her beast.

  With a sigh, he stepped back but took her hand into his. “What’re the chances I can get Mira to stay on the helicopter and they take off again?”

  “Not a chance.” She might hope for it so she could have him alone, but realistically she knew that wasn’t happening. Mira was as strong-willed as they came from this clan, and she wouldn’t just jump onto the helicopter and leave until she got what she had come for. There was only one way, and she knew David wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t pull rank and force them to leave. Not unless they were unsafe and he had no other choice.

  He nodded and headed toward the door. With her hand in his, she fell into step beside him. The last time she had seen his sister had been the morning before she’d left. Mira confronted her before they made it to the dining hall. Your time is running out with him. You’ll have a choice to make. Trust yourself. At the time, she didn’t think much of it. Anyone who had witnessed how things had progressed would realize Frank was losing his patience with her and soon she wouldn’t be able to put him off. Now she wondered if Mira had known something more. Had she known Victoria would run? Had she seen it in one of her visions of the future?

  Somewhere along the way, Ryder and Carran fell into formation with them as they made their way to the only place a helicopter could land. Just beyond the building, a clear spot that David could see from his quarters, and one they had used for training since Carran and the others arrived. Right now, the grounds only had room for this, but the new plans laid out a landing strip for private planes. It would take a few months before they removed the trees from that area and got things in order, but eventually they’d have it. No longer would there be the risk from having to use the small private airport a few miles away.

  “Here they come.” David’s voice broke through her jumbled thoughts.

  She tipped her head back to look up. The bright blue sky and big fluffy white clouds that been there earlier were now replaced with dark storm clouds. The last few days, the weather had seemed to be a tumble of emotions, between sunny and rainy, matching her up and down mood. She squeezed his hand, reassuring him that everything was going to be okay.

  Reece stepped to her sid
e, and when she turned to look at him, she noticed the guards David had selected and the ones who were here to train them had gathered around, spaced out, ready to deal with whatever might come up. They had their backs if any of the clan members got out of hand at Styx’s arrival.

  She shook her head as the rush of doubt flowed through her. She’d have said it was David influencing her, but without the mating official, she knew it was just her.

  Uneasy, she watched the helicopter approach. Her hair whipped around her face, but she didn’t bother to pull the strands away. She peered into the cockpit, expecting to see Mira in the passenger seat and Styx at the controls. She didn’t know what he looked like, but there was a man flying and at least two in the cabin. Someone had come with them. Would all of them be staying?

  “That’s Adam. He’s an Elder guard. Actually, he’s the second in command of the Lieutenant’s mate’s guards,” Carran explained.

  “Surely they didn’t take a helicopter from Alaska.” She didn’t take her eyes off the landing helicopter.

  “One of the Kodiak Bears, Theodore, flew them to Ohio to assistant the Alpha there. Once they were done, they borrowed the helicopter to come here. Theodore was supposed to wait in Ohio for them, but it seems he joined them.” He nodded as the cabin door slid open.

  A deeply toned man with dark hair stepped out of the helicopter and scanned the area. As if satisfied, he held out his hand. Mira took it before hopping out. The rotors were beginning to die down when David slipped his hand from hers and stepped forward. His stared at his sister but she only scanned the crowd.

  “What the hell where you thinking?”

  “David…” Victoria tried, but he didn’t even look at her.

  “Let’s do this inside.” Ryder’s voice was tight as he glanced behind the line of guards to a growing crowd.

  “He’s right. Do you have somewhere we can talk?” The man who stepped out first asked.

  “This way, Styx.” The venom in the way David spoke made it clear he wasn’t happy Styx allowed Mira to come.

  “Adam,” Styx called to the pilot, who stepped out and joined them on the other side of Mira.

  “What is he doing here? Why is he with Mira? Mira, are you in trouble?” Question after question came from the crowd as they made their way into the dining hall.

  David paused by the door and took Victoria’s hands into his. “Go with them. I’ll be there in a minute. I need to address these questions before things get out of hand.”

  “I’ll stay with you.”

  He shook his head. “I want you inside where you’re safe. Ryder will stay with you until I come in.”

  “With respect, sir, I should stay with you,” Ryder reasoned.

  “You protect my mate. Reece and Carran will stay. Now go.” He gently pushed her toward Ryder, who forced her to continue through the door.

  “No, I need to be there with him.”

  “You heard him. Let’s get everyone settled. When he joins us in a few minutes, he can discuss things with them.”

  It was logical, but she hated it. Her tigress wanted to be with her mate, and the accelerated danger only made that need grow. Be an Alpha’s mate. She nodded and made herself walk toward the others. “Okay, everyone…”

  * * *

  David waited until the door closed behind his mate before he turned back toward the crowd. The guards remained there, keeping the clan members back from the doorway and therefore keeping him out of harm’s way. At the moment, that didn’t concern him as much as what Mira’s and Styx’s arrival had done to his clan. Over the past few weeks, he had worked his ass off to rebuild this clan and make it safe again. In a brief moment, a helicopter could destroy everything he had worked for. Not today. He’d fight to keep this clan heading in the right direction, even if that meant he had to burn a bridge with his sister and send her back where she had come from.

  David squared his shoulders and prepared to calm his members. “I need everyone to listen up.”

  “I thought you were different! Bringing Styx here to kill us—”

  “What’s Mira doing with him? Has she turned against us?”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  Questions flew at him, but he was ready. “Quiet for a moment, and I’ll explain everything to you.”

  “We vowed ourselves to you, and now you turn on us.”

  David waited until they were done. “I understand you’re all scared and the sight of Styx terrifies you, but I ensure you he’s not here for you.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  He couldn’t tell who’d asked, but it didn’t matter. “Because he’s not an assassin for hire any longer. Now before you let your fears get ahold of you, he’s here with Mira because she’s his mate. When she went on the run, he saved her, and since then, she’s been with him in Alaska.”

  “Why are they here?” Heidi’s timid voice cut through, but her question wasn’t out of fear of Styx. She knew David had ordered Mira to stay away.

  “Mira’s hardheaded and wanted to come help us. She’s been a valued member of this clan her whole life, and just because she’s mated and committed to another Alpha doesn’t mean she won’t still be welcome here. As you all know with mating, it will be unlikely she’d be away from him. I’ll do what I can to help you accept his presence. I know everyone has questions, but I need to meet with them. The clan meeting will still be held in the morning, and I’ll answer everyone’s questions then.”

  “Are they staying here?”

  “I’m not sure at this moment, but I suspect so. Now, please, go back to whatever you were doing. Everything will be fine, and if you have any problems, feel free to bring them to my attention after I’m done in there.” Without waiting for more questions to flood him, he turned and opened the door. One problem delayed. Another one up to bat.

  6

  Chapter Six

  David entered the dining hall and strolled toward where everyone had gathered in the center of the room. The fear and doubt of having Mira at the compound lingered, but seeing her back home again brought a joy he’d been missing. She wouldn’t be there long, maybe only a few hours, but he wanted to make them count. He didn’t want to have to fight with her. As he neared, he took a deep breath and prepared himself for what he hoped would be an adult conversation about the danger she’d put herself in.

  “Where’s Dad?” Mira asked as he came to stand before the table.

  “Adam, Theodore, why don’t we cover the inside door and give them a little privacy?” Ryder suggested, nodding toward to door on the far side of the room. “Reece and Carran will guard the other door.”

  “I can help if you’d like a few minutes alone with your brother,” Styx offered.

  “Stay.” Mira patted her mate’s hand. “David, tell me what’s going on. Where’s Dad? Why didn’t you tell me you’ve mated? We’re family. You shouldn’t keep me in the dark.”

  He pulled out the chair, sat down next to Victoria, and took her hand in his. “The mating isn’t official yet, so we haven’t said anything. I didn’t just keep it from you; we haven’t told anyone. Ryder knows and I’m sure some of the clan suspect it, but the official announcement hasn’t been made yet.”

  “Does Dad know? I’m sure he’s having a hard time accepting that you’re mated with the woman Frank wanted.”

  David couldn’t figure out a way to sugarcoat it, so he just came right out and said it. “Dad disappeared a few days ago.”

  “What?” Mira started to stand up, but Styx held onto her hand.

  “It was right after I arrived.” Victoria glanced at David. “I’m sorry.”

  “This isn’t your fault.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and turned back to Mira. “Dad was supposed to be guarding the gate with Reece. We’re still working on figuring out what happened.”

  “Did someone kidnap him?”

  “I was on my way to talk to Reece when Ryder stopped me with news that you were arriving.” Victoria tipped her
head to look at him. “It would seem that he never made it back inside. Reece drove my car in, and when he turned around, Tim was gone.”

  “I know.” He rubbed his hand down her arm. “Ryder told me what information he was able to gather.”

  “Gone as in kidnapped? You’ve got all these threats lurking in the area. Do you think one of them took him?” Mira questioned.

  “No. He wasn’t happy with how I’ve been running the clan, and he wasn’t keeping it a secret. Ryder noticed, and I’m sure others did as well. It was something we would have had to deal with if he stayed. I believe he realized that and left of his own free will.”

  “But you’re not sure.” Mira looked at Styx.

  Styx tipped his head back, motioning for Adam to come to him. “I’ll have Adam check the surrounding area to see if he can find any trace. When we’re done here, I’ll also call Turi, and they’ll search online and see what they can find out from our contacts. But if he’s against how David’s running the clan, he’s either with one of the clans who haven’t joined Tabitha or on his own. We might not find anything.”

  “Whatever we can do, I need to know he’s okay. I’ve lost…”

  “I know, Catnip. We’ll do everything we can.” Styx squeezed his mate’s hand as he gave orders to Adam.

  “Mira, we were handling it,” David began. “I would have had people out there searching again if you hadn’t shown up unannounced. Do you even realize the kind of danger you’ve put yourself in?” His body vibrated with frustration. “I’m not sure who I’m more upset with, you or him. What kind of mate puts you in danger when it’s avoidable?”

  “One who knows he can protect her,” Styx replied before Mira could answer. “You’ll find out soon enough that there’s very little one wouldn’t do for their mate. She needed to come here, so I made it happen. I’m not going to let anything happen to her, and to make sure of that, I brought two of the people I trust more than anything to ensure her safety if I can’t.”

  “Stop this, both of you. This isn’t a pissing contest.” Victoria looked between both men.