Night With A Tiger

by Dobson, Marissa

  “Robin, Doc is going through your father’s notes now, and Connor is searching the addresses in Bobby’s book. Did Bobby ever mention anything particular about any of the places? Maybe Pierce’s favorite stops on his travels, something that might narrow the search down?” Ty sat next to his mate, watching Robin. To Ty’s credit he tried to sound less intimidating, but as the Alpha, it was nearly impossible for him to sound less authoritative than what he was.

  Adam sensed ripples of fear running through Robin. Even with his arms around her it wasn’t enough to get her past the panic that hung in the balance He kissed her temple and nuzzled his body against hers. “It’s okay, Love.”

  “Adam’s right, there’s nothing to fear. We mean you no harm, Robin. Our goal is to take Pierce and his gang of rogues down. His demise will keep you, our mates, and our clan safe. Once we learn more, you and Adam can go back to his cabin. We’ll do our best to give you the time you need to adjust to your mate, and this whole situation.” Ty leaned forward, placing his hand on the table. Tabitha then laid her hand over his.

  Robin shook her head. “I don’t want to see anyone else get hurt. If I tell you where Pierce might be, someone else could be killed.”

  “Shapeshifters are a little more resistant than weres that were bitten like Pierce,” Tabitha said. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt, especially from my clan, but if we don’t stop him he will kill again. We have to remove Pierce and his gang before more innocent people die.”

  “We’d rather take the fight to him, than risk our women and children,” Ty added. “Connor and Lukas are very good at what they do. They’ll narrow the search even without you. However the time you could save us, might prevent another death.”

  Adam understood his Alpha’s persistence. Robin’s delay could cost a life. Shifters had benefits over bitten weres. Humans had nothing. They were easy prey. Pierce had already proven he had no quarrels about killing anyone in his way. “Love, we need to know more about Pierce’s location in order to keep you and our clan safe. The longer the delay, the higher the risk is for all of us. We left Pierce’s men back in Texas, but it won’t take long before they realize I brought you to Alaska. Pierce will come up with a plan, sending the rogues here after you and the clan. That will give us some time. I’d rather take him down before he can devise a plan of attack on the compound.”

  Adam wasn’t completely sure Pierce wouldn’t risk his men without a plan. Adam kept that thought to himself to keep Robin from being more on edge. He’d protect his mate from the evil of Pierce and the dangers of shifter life as long as he could. She was fragile, never having any experience with shifters until Pierce dragged her into it. Robin had spirit, but everything she had gone through the last few months had taken its toll. She was probably inches away from a complete breakdown. Shifter life wasn’t for the weak. If Robin gained enough confidence, it would make her a stronger woman and a stronger mate.

  She let out a deep sigh, and nodded. “I accompanied Bobby to Boston on a business trip, to visit a friend who lived there. The address in Boston is for a warehouse. I had to wait outside for him, so I can’t give you the layout. It’s on the outskirts of town and there’s nothing around. They knew we were coming before we arrived because they called Bobby’s cell to tell me I had to wait in the car at the gate while he went it. The gate was maybe a hundred and fifty feet from the building. They’ll see you first. It will be a death trap. Please, there’s got to be another way.”

  “I didn’t say we would attack there, we just need to know about the location. We’ll figure out something that will swing the favor in our direction. I won’t risk my people unless I believe we can kill Pierce.” Ty turned in his chair. “Felix, get Connor on the phone.”

  While Felix called Connor on the conference room phone, Raja stepped away from Bethany’s chair. “Was there a set schedule when Pierce would be in Boston over the place in Virginia?”

  “Bobby’s travels were the same sometimes. Maybe if you look in his calendar. We didn’t talk about Pierce often. I didn’t even know about him until Bobby got in trouble and went to Pierce to bail him out.” Robin’s body stiffened under Adam’s hands. “There’s a house in Virginia. I believe Bobby said he was there a lot, always alone. That area might be your best course of action if you’re going to attack before Pierce does. It might give you an advantage you won’t have in Boston, but I don’t know if he’s there.”

  “Don’t worry, we have scouts to find him and then we’ll get a plan in place,” Ty said, as Felix scooted the phone across the table to him. “Connor, you there?”

  “I’m here. I was going through Bobby’s calendar. I think I found a pattern.” The wolf shifter’s voice was rattled from the background noise of computers. Connor’s fingers could be heard speeding across the keyboard. Their geek wolf shifter was always busy on his computer unless he was asleep.

  “Good. See if you can figure out if Pierce is in Virginia. If not, then where he might be.” Ty turned to Tabitha when she placed her hand on his.

  “Connor, the address in Virginia is Victor’s house. Find out everything you can about it. There was work done. It has a hidden room, and I think there’s someone living in it.” Tabitha frowned.

  “Someone is hiding out in that room?” The sound of Connor’s fingers typing on the keyboard stopped, leaving an eerie silence over the phone.

  “I saw it in Victor’s thoughts. It didn’t make sense then. Hurry, Connor, I can’t explain why, but I know urgency is a must.” Tabitha squeezed her eyes shut.

  “I will. I’ll get Lukas in here to look into Boston so I can focus on the house in Virginia. I’ll contact you as soon as I find anything.” Connor ended the call.

  “Tabby, what is it?” Ty wrapped his arm around the back of his mate.

  “I can’t put my finger on it. I just know we have to hurry. I need time to put all the pieces together. Everything I saw in Victor’s head is a jumbled mess in my head now.” She leaned her head against Ty’s shoulder.

  “I’m going to take Tabitha back to our quarters.” Ty rose, holding Tabitha’s hand. “Robin, if you think of anything, please let us know. Adam, meet me in my quarters eight tonight. If Connor finds information before then, we’ll contact you.” Ty and Tabitha left the room, Felix falling into step behind them.

  Bethany rose from her chair and walked to Robin and Adam. “I’m not sure if you remember me or not. I’m Bethany Thompson, now Bethany Harrison. I was a few years ahead of you in school. I knew Bobby. I’m sorry for your loss and for everything you’re dealing with. I know you’re scared to be here, surrounded by so many shifters, but it is the safest place for you.”

  “I remember seeing you around school. How did you end up here? Are you…?”

  “No, I’m not a shifter. Raja rescued me from the clutches of one of Pierce’s men. I’m mated to Raja and this is my home now.” Bethany slid her arm around Raja’s waist, avoiding the gun sitting in his shoulder holster.

  “What about your family? Surely they don’t approve of you being with a shifter. Or aren’t they allowed to know about his second nature?” The astonishment was clear in Robin’s voice.

  “Pierce killed my parents and my younger sister, Jamie. If they were alive, they would want me happy, and Raja makes me happy. Being a shifter isn’t something to be ashamed of, or for others to think less of them. I’m proud to have a shifter mate. He stands up for those who can’t. It doesn’t matter if they are shifters or human, Raja and the rest of the Alaskan Tigers will fight for them. I couldn’t have asked for a better man to have by my side.” Bethany smiled at her mate. The love they shared was clear.

  Adam had told her that Bethany’s family was one of Pierce’s victims, her words had been heartless. If Robin could get Bethany to see through whatever spell it was that Raja had on her, maybe it wasn’t too late to save her. “What about your future? You’re willing to give up children? A normal life? Everything?”

  With Robin’s questions, Adam’s body
tensed. He quickly realized she wasn’t accepting their mating as he had hoped. She might only be accepting his touch because of the comfort it brought her, not because she was acknowledging their mating. “You don’t have to give up anything just because you’re mated to a shifter,” Adam explained. “You can still have children. With only one shifter parent, they’d have a fifty-fifty shot of being a shifter. Being mated to a shifter doesn’t mean you can’t have a normal life, or even better than what you consider normal.”

  Robin turned to face Adam, anger coloring her green eyes. “Normal? How can you consider your world anywhere near normal? Normal isn’t living in a compound with fences and barbwire around the top, guards on patrol at all times, and you sure as hell don’t have meetings to discuss murdering someone.”

  “The barbwire and guards are not to keep us in, but to keep people out who would like to see us dead. There are humans who have discovered our kind and they would rather see us dead than to breathe the same air they do. As for murdering Pierce, that is no different than what your government would do. Would you prefer we let him live? How much longer do you think you could have survived if I didn’t find you in Texas?” Adam’s own anger rose to match hers.

  “The clan is allowed to leave as they see fit.” Raja explained. “Most prefer to stay on our land for the safety, but there are others who travel outside our gates daily. We’re not so different from humans. We just choose to live in the safety of the compound. We are not here because we are a danger to you or anyone else.” Raja glanced at Bethany. “Come love, Tora is expecting us.” He led Bethany to the door before turning back to Adam. “Good luck.” Raja winked.

  When the door closed, and they were alone in the room, Robin stepped away from Adam. “What the hell was that supposed to mean?”

  Robin obviously took offense to Raja’s last comment. Adam thought it best not to get into that conversation, knowing it would only irritate her further. Instead, he moved to the door. “We should get back to my cabin. I have work I need to attend do.” He walked to the door, hoping she’d follow. He wanted to pack a bag just in case word came back that he was one of the men going to Virginia or Boston to take down Pierce. To guarantee he was on the list, he whipped out his cell and sent Ty a quick text message. He didn’t want to mention it to Robin. Her fears were already escalated.

  Chapter Eight

  Robin stood in the doorway of Adam’s bedroom, completely shocked he was stuffing a duffle bag with clothes. “Where are you going?”

  He opened the bedside table and pulled out magazine cartridges for his gun. “I’m heading the team that goes after Pierce. Once his location is confirmed, my orders are to fly out with some of the guards. I need to be ready.”

  “You’re what?” She shook her head. “What about me?”

  Placing his weapons on top of his clothes, he turned to her. “You’re going to stay with Bethany while I’m gone. You’ll be safe with her and her guards, but no more comments about how shifters don’t live up to your standards, or that we are less because we have two forms.”

  “No. I want to be taken to the airport.”

  “Damn it, Robin, I’m trying to protect you. Bethany and Tabitha will have double the guards on them until we’ve taken down Pierce. You’ll be safe with them, safer than on your own. I don’t want to hear anymore about it. If you want to leave when this is over, fine. It’s not happening until then.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, feeling like a child being scolded. “I just want this to be over.”

  He stepped to her, close enough to touch. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”

  “Why does it have to be you?”

  “It’s my job. With Ty going, I need to be there to watch his back, and Felix needs to stay behind to protect Tabitha. Ty is my Alpha, not to mention my Queen’s mate. She needs him to carry on our line. Without them, all tigers will cease to exist. I won’t let Ty go alone. I’m sorry, I just can’t. Please try to understand, these people gave me a home and the opportunity to prove myself as a guard. I won’t let them down, not when I’m needed the most.” Pulling off his shirt, he stepped away from her. “I’m going for a run.”

  Robin stayed where she was as he stripped down and walked out the front door. A large Bengal tiger then ran past the windows. She sank to the floor, cradling her head in her hands and cried. Honestly, she had nothing against shifters, at least not the Alaskan Tigers and especially not Adam. She used her fight as an excuse to avoid getting close to him. She was tired of being hurt and of being abandoned. If Adam went after Pierce he might not come back. She couldn’t run the risk of attaching to him. Everyone she cared about was being picked off one-by-one by Pierce and his gang, leaving her alone and scared. She wasn’t sure she had the will to stay alive if Adam wasn’t by her side. Damn him, for making me care about him.

  * * *

  Adam ran until his lungs begged for oxygen and his paws cried from exhaustion. It still didn’t clear his mind or remove the need to claim Robin. If anything, being in his tiger form added to the mating desire. He wanted Robin with every ounce of his body.

  Sneaking in the backdoor, by the master bedroom, he hoped to avoid her. Seeing her while being naked from a run would do little to keep his remaining control in check, especially with his beast so close to the surface. He, like most shifters, had very little problem with being naked, but nudity led to only one thing when the mating desire was fully upon a shifter. He stepped into the master bathroom without considering the possibility Robin could have been there.

  “Ahhh!” She slid under the water, covering herself with bubbles before surfacing. “I’m sorry. You were gone so long and the garden tub called to me. I thought it would be okay.”

  “It’s fine. I’ll shower in the guest bath.” He longed for the mating to be complete—to slip in the tub next to her.

  “Wait. I’m sorry about before. I’m just tired of seeing everyone I care for die. I don’t want you to be next. Will you reconsider?”

  He tried to stop staring, because in that moment to claim her body, he would have sold his soul. The mating desire rode him hard, leaving his body aching for her touch. “For you, I’d do almost anything, but not this. I’ll be back, I promise.”

  “You can’t keep a promise like that. I’ll sit around here waiting for you to come back with no way of knowing if you’re okay or not.”

  He couldn’t keep his gaze adverted any longer. Her head rested against the back of the tub, her long brown hair lay in wet strands surrounding her shoulders, the curls were gone from the weight of the water, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “There is a way for you to know.” He shook his head. No, he wouldn’t use the benefits of mating to claim her before she was ready. “Never mind. I need to shower.”

  She sat up straight, bubbles cascaded down her body, making him want to lick each drop. “Tell me.”

  “Mating allows you to feel your mate, to know what they are going through even when miles separate you. If our mating was consummated, you would be able to sense me, to know if I was okay or uninjured. It would also make it impossible for you to leave at the end, if you choose this life isn’t for you.” He held onto the door handle, denting the metal in his hand while forcing his feet to stay put.

  “Why impossible?”

  “The yearnings you feel from mating would be uncontrollable without your mate to sustain them. If you were a shifter, you would already feel them to some extent, but once we mate, you will have the connection even as a human. It’s a give and take when it comes to mating. There are advantages to it. The tradeoff is, you must deal with the demands of your body as well.” He glanced down to find the door handle in his hand. Adam stepped toward her and held up the door handle. “I need a cold shower before I can’t keep my desire in check anymore. My tiger wants you and it’s tired of waiting.”

  “What happens to these yearnings if you die?”

  “They would cease. When one mate dies, the mating is no longer active.
The Elders say you will eventually find another mate. I prefer not to test their findings. Mating is an honor, we cherish and protect each other. Our numbers are lower, so mated couples are very important in order for our line to continue.”

  She stood from the tub. Water flowed over her naked body and back down into the tub. “It’s not very romantic, but we don’t have a lot of time. Mate me. Make me yours.”

  “Do you know what you’re asking?” He took a deep breath, breathing in her scent to see if her words were truly what she wanted. “I have control that many wish they had, and even I don’t know if I can stop once we start. There is no going back. You need to be sure this is what you want.”

  She stepped out of the tub, not bothering to grab a towel. His shaft instantly hardened and he fought every instinct not to go to her, to bury his shaft deep within her until she screamed his name.

  Robin smiled. “I’ve ignored my desire for you since you found me in Texas because I don’t want to lose someone else I care about. I’m tired of running and living in fear. I want to enjoy life and being with you while I have you. I want you, this mating, and everything that goes with it…as long as you come back. Please don’t go dying on me.”

  “Oh, I’ll return to you.” He scooped her up into his arms, his beast growling with anticipation as he turned to the bedroom. His beast craved her touch, as did he. Adam wanted to take advantage of each moment they had together before he had to leave. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her wet body to his chest.

  Laying her on the bed, he leaned over her, pressing his lips to hers. The warmth of her lips and the sweet scent of lavender from her bath mixed together to draw his tiger closer to the surface. He dragged his mouth from hers and kissed a path down her neck, breathing in her scent, imprinting it in his mind. Sensations collided and threatened to overwhelm him, but he pushed his beast away, savoring the moment—to have it last longer for her.