Healing the Clan: Alaskan Tigers: Book Ten (3 page)

“Ah, well, I’m glad you’ve persuaded her to come.”

“I just didn’t see the reasoning in me being here.” She tried to push confidence into her words, but they came off more as a question. “I might as well be on my way.”

“What if I told you I might be able to help you find your parents?”

She took a deep breath and swallowed her hope. “Do you know where they are?”

“No, but I might be able to find them.”

She shook her head and shoved a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, which the wind had tossed into her face. “If they’re smart, they’ll live off the grid like I was, making it nearly impossible for you to find them unless someone stumbled upon them.”

“That’s why I knew where you were.” David’s lips curled up into a coy smile. “You can find anyone if you know where to look.”

“If you knew…” Once again, she shook her head and refused to believe it. “That’s not possible. If you knew, Frank would have sent someone after me, either to drag me back home or eliminate me. He wouldn’t have allowed me to be free. Not after what I did to him.”

“He ordered me to search for you, and I did. I followed you all the way to Alabama, to your little cabin.” He nodded to the bench a short walk through the grass, and without asking her if she’d like to sit, he began to stroll toward it, leaving her no choice but to follow if she wanted to hear what he said. “I searched the area for possible threats to you and then called Frank. I told him I lost your scent.”

“You’d have risked your life for me if you’d have done that.” She couldn’t place her finger on it but she believed him. He had risked his own life for her.

“Frank was beginning to trust me. At that time, it wasn’t clan knowledge that my father had me working under Frank but I was.” He sat down on the bench and looked up at her. “I counted on the fact that Frank would take my word for it and wouldn’t send anyone else after you. Otherwise, he’d have killed us both.”

“I’d have been dead if I had stayed.” She sank down next to him. “His final demands were more than I could suffer through. I’d have rather been killed than do what he asked.”

You shall be my mate and produce a proper son for me who will lead this clan.
He held her against the wall, sliding his hands down her arms.
A proper son. Not like that piece of shit one I have now. His mother spoiled him, and by the time, I killed her it was too late. He’ll never lead this clan like I do. Our son will.

Even now, as his words played through her thoughts, the vile memory made her ill. He’d have raped her every night, and in his disillusion, he’d have believed they could produce a son, but she couldn’t stand by and allow that to happen. They were not like humans; she would never conceive a child with him because she wasn’t his mate. Instead she had suffered immense pain from every touch and she couldn’t live with that.

“Are you listening to me?”

“Huh?” She shook her memories away.

“I said that I know what was happening between you two.”

“Not here.” The panic rose in her voice. “Too many could hear.” The only one she could see was Ryder, who was still standing on the sidewalk where they had left him, but that didn’t mean there weren’t others lurking about somewhere. She had learned long ago that the walls had ears and there was always someone watching. The lessons she’d learned while living here were quickly awakened, and even with the new Alpha before her, she couldn’t help but worry that there was someone waiting in the shadows ready to report back and gain a few points in their favor. Old habits died hard.

“Come with me. We’ll go back to my quarters and discuss things further.” He rose from the bench and waited for her. “No one will overhear us there.”

Those words sounded too much like what Frank had said to get her back to his quarters alone. When she looked up at David, she could almost see Frank standing before her. It was crazy because neither of them looked anything like the other one.
My mind is playing tricks on me. Frank is dead. He’s not coming back for me.

“What about Ryder?” She didn’t know him very well, but she wanted someone else there, a witness perhaps to keep David in line. But would it even matter? It hadn’t when Frank was Alpha. Clan members had witnessed his behavior to her, and no one tried to stop him. No one dared to go up against him. Would things be different with David, or were the remaining clan members so broken they’d let it happen again as long as they weren’t on the receiving end?

“Ryder, with us,” he ordered and began walking toward the building before them.

Unless things had changed since she’d been away, the Alpha’s quarters were on the second floor of the building. The first floor had been the stadium where Frank had gathered the clan for meetings, torture sessions, and anything else. The dining hall where everyone took their meals was next to it, and beyond that were the one-room apartments each family had. It almost reminded her of a boarding school, except they were adults, families, and a few mated couples. There were some children when she had left, but their numbers were dwindling because Frank refused to allow the members to seek mates outside of those within the compound.

One thing that stood out to her as different was the people who were moving about the grounds, coming and going as they pleased. A group of women sat around a table in the dining hall chatting, while a child played quietly with her doll on the floor. It almost seemed like a normal clan compound instead of the hellish one Frank had them living in all these years.

“I see you expected things to remain the same,” David remarked when she stopped to watch the women.

“I guess I thought that since you worked under Frank, you’d be the same.”

“Don’t take it personally. She jumps to conclusions a lot.” Following behind them, Ryder chuckled.

“You’d think since I followed you once you left here but never told Frank you would realize I wasn’t such an evil person.” He stopped at the landing that led to his quarters and opened the door.

She noted that it hadn’t been locked and there was no guard outside his door, yet another change. Frank had been so paranoid it was always locked and a guard would alert him if any of the members got the nerve to venture upstairs. “That was three years ago. A lot could change in that time.”

“A lot has.” He gestured her inside.

“I see.” She tried to take in the changes just within his quarters. The space was open, and unlike everyone else’s quarters, there was a kitchen just off the living area. The bed was off to the far side, and just beyond that was a sliding glass door that opened onto a balcony that overlooked the grounds. Where it was once dark and a fearful place, it was now full of light and seemed welcoming. The family photos were spaced out around the area, inviting a homey feeling. “But are the changes only on the surface? How are you going to run this clan? Like Frank did?”

“A woman who cuts straight to the heart of things. I like that.” David went to the kitchen and poured three mugs from the coffee pot. “It’s fresh, but if you’d prefer me to make another one for you so you can witness I’m not poisoning you, I will.”

“That thought hadn’t crossed my mind, but you’re avoiding my question.”

“Here, Ryder.” He held out a mug to him. “Take a seat. I think we might be here a while.”

“You only have about fifteen minutes before Reece and thirty minutes before the call.” Ryder took the mug and went to the small dining table.

“What call?” She took her own mug and joined Ryder at the opposite side of the table.

“You asked before if I was going to rule this clan like Frank did. The answer is no.” David sidestepped her question as he came to sit between them at the head of the table. “I have my own hopes for the clan, and there will be many changes coming soon. I don’t expect you to believe me without seeing it, but you’re more than welcome to stay here as long as you’d like. You left once, but this is still your home and I’m sure you’re tired of living away from our kind. Rejoin us.”

“There are too many unknowns to join you. Too many questions left unanswered, too many you’ve sidestepped.”

“Let me see if I can answer some of your questions.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Here’s one you asked and one you haven’t yet but I’m sure you’re wondering. The call is with Ty and Tabitha of the Alaskan Tigers. I will be vowing my commitment to their cause, and they will be sending guards to assist in turning this clan around. The guards will train Ryder, Reece, and the others to protect the community from the threats that surround us. Once we have things under control here, we will do what we can to support Tabitha in her quest to free our kind. The second part is Ryder’s role in all of this. A few minutes before you arrived, I made him my Lieutenant.”

“That sounds too good to be true.” She wrapped her hands around the coffee mug but didn’t bring it to her lips. She tried to consider what she knew, instead of just jumping in with both feet because she wanted to believe him. Hadn’t David’s family been supports of Frank for as long as she could remember? Even now, Tim’s anger implied he wanted this clan led as Frank would have. Would David go against his father after working so hard to please him? “You worked under Frank for years, and now you’re willing to lead the clan through a complete turnaround. What changed? Are the Alaskan Tigers threatening you? If you don’t commit to them, will they eliminate you and put someone else in your place who will submit to them?”

“Nothing like that. I’m doing this of my own free will. It’s for the clan, for me, and for our future. Alphas like Frank need to be eliminated. We need to stop hiding and living in fear that humans will find out what we are. Our future generations deserve to live in a world where they don’t have to hide away such a big part of themselves. They deserve to live freely and be allowed to pursue whatever opportunities interest them. The future Tabitha is trying to create will do just that.”

“Frank had all of us so scared of our own shadows that so many of the clan members never ventured from this compound. There’s a big world out there that everyone deserves to see,” Ryder added. “A world of beauty, with so much to offer.”

“Mates.” The wistful hint in David’s voice had her turning to look at him, and he smiled at her. “Don’t look so surprised.”

“It is surprising.”

“I’m the Alpha of this clan, and that means I want it to survive. We need mates and children. Fifteen of our members survived the fight that brought down Frank, and out of those, there’s only one mated couple. Three widowed mates and the rest are single tigers and tigresses. Go to any other flourishing clan, and you’ll see they have more mated couples than singles. Mates. That’s what each of us long for.”

“This is all such a change…”

“What did you expect?” David asked.

“I don’t know…a leader like Frank, perhaps.”

“I’d say I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not.” He leaned forward, interlacing his fingers on top of the table. “If you want an Alpha like that, you’ve come to the wrong place. I’m bringing my people out of hell, and we will live again. If you’ve come home for that, you might want to get back into your car and be on your way because you’ll only be more disappointed the longer you stay.” He pushed his chair back from the table and stood.

“Wait,” she called to him before he could move away. “That’s not what I meant. I’m happy for the clan and to be honest a little envious. I miss clan life, and I’m tired of living alone in hiding. I guess that’s what brought me home—the need to be around my own kind again. You’re right about having to hide what you are. I never realized it before, but these last several years have taught me a lot. I’ve missed my clan, my parents, and maybe more than anything, I’ve missed being able to shift. For three years, the only time I’ve felt safe enough to shift is within the walls of my cabin and let me tell you that does nothing to please the beast.”

“Then come home.”

Before she could answer, there was a knock at the door. It was like the ringing of a bell, saving her from the knockout punch. She was reeling from everything and had almost said yes. She wanted to be around her own clan again, so much that she’d do or say almost anything. She had to be careful. If she got stuck in a bad situation again, she might not make it out alive this time.

B
y the time
David took care of the business with Reece, committed the clan to the Alaskan Tigers, and worked out the details on the guards’ arrival, the sun had made its way over the horizon and would be disappearing in the next few hours. He was exhausted, but his work wasn’t over yet. Ryder was out looking for Victoria, and he’d escort her back so they could finish their chat from before. He hoped that spending the last several hours among the clan had brought her up to date on what had happened since she’d left and what was happening now that he had taken over. Maybe it would give her a better understanding of what he was doing, and she’d rejoin their clan.

He wasn’t sure why he couldn’t get her off of his mind. His sisters had been close to her, more Shelly than Mira, so she had been around the family since they were very young. Now, though, she was different. He didn’t see her as the same girl who’d left here. She’d matured into a beautiful woman, but her trust had been damaged by Frank’s persistent desire for her. While she had grown more confident, there was still a lack of trust not only of him but of everyone it seemed.

Footsteps clicked off the steps that led to his quarters, and a moment later, Victoria strolled toward him. “Escorted back to your quarters twice in one day. I’m starting to feel like a prisoner.”

“I didn’t drag you back here kicking or screaming. I just asked if you’d come with me because he wished to speak with you.” Ryder shook his head as he strolled in behind her. “Prisoners wouldn’t have the run of the compound.”

“I wouldn’t say that. Frank kept us all captives even if it wasn’t under lock and key.” She sank down on the sofa. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“We didn’t quite finish things before.”

“It’s getting late, and I’ve been on the road for the last two days,” she reminded him.

“Ryder can show you to the guest’s quarters if you’d like to stay the night. We can continue our discussion in the morning or—”

“You want me to stay here?” Her mouth dropped open, and she glared at him.

David came around the sofa and sat down. “Sure. There are dangers out there, and being an unprotected female—”

Once again, she cut him off before he could finish. “I haven’t survived all this time without knowing how to stay under the radar and out of trouble. If I could do it when I thought Frank was after me, I can do it now.”

“There’s a key difference. Frank wasn’t hunting for you, but there are people out there watching the clan’s movements ready to swoop in and take over this clan. If you leave here unprotected, you’ll be a target. They’ll see you as an extra prize, one they can claim early. Now, trust me when I say you don’t want that. There are things worse than Frank out there.”

“Are you trying to frighten me?” Fear peeked through her eyes.

He wanted to go to her and comfort her. She wasn’t a clan member, so he couldn’t force her to stay, but he’d be damned if he’d have her blood on his hands because she chose to leave. “No. I just want you to understand the consequences if you leave.”

“Frank lied about some things, but one thing was true, and that’s how vicious the Washington D.C. Tigers are.” Ryder looked to David. When he received a nod, he continued. “I’ve seen a couple of their members lurking, watching.”

“How do you know it’s them?”

“Their leather jackets with the image of a tiger sewn on the right hand side and a big one on the back are pretty unmistakable. Not to mention their head-to-toe leather biker outfits,” Ryder explained.

“They are as dangerous as Frank said, if not worse. Even the residences of D.C. know to stay out of their way. Even though the citizens didn’t realize they were shifters, they knew the biker gang was dangerous, and they do their best to avoid them.” David placed his elbows on his thighs. “Mira had a run in with them, and if help hadn’t arrived on time, she wouldn’t have wanted to live through the encounter.”

“If they’re as bad as Frank said, she wouldn’t have.”

He shook his head. “An unprotected female shifter…let’s just say are rare enough that they’d put off the killing until they had some fun with her. That’s not to say there wouldn’t have been plenty of blood before they got to that point though.”

“So, what, I’m supposed to stay here for how long? Weeks? Months? Or forever? What is your plan?” Heat spilled off her words, flowing toward him like lava.

“As I said before, you can stay as long as you’d like. It’s not my plan that matters; it’s yours. If you leave here, are you planning to go back to your little cabin? Do you think your tigress will be stuffed back deep within you again so you can live in hiding? There’s no reason for you to live like that any longer. Frank is no longer a threat to you, but there are plenty of other threats out there. I’m offering you a chance to live again. If you don’t want to stay here, there are plenty of other clans you can commit to, but I would choose wisely because those who stand against Tabitha will soon realize what they’re up against. The battle for our freedom from Alphas like Frank and from the shadows is just beginning. Which side are you on?”

She sat there in silence, wringing her hands. “I know of the legacy, but I don’t know what Tabitha’s actually trying to do. I mean, I’ve heard a little here and there, but not enough for me to be able to judge.”

“You need somewhere safe to stay until you figure it out. It’s dangerous out there, and no matter what you think about me or this clan, I don’t want to see you getting hurt. Stay here for a few days, and figure it out for yourself. Talk to the other members, ask questions you might have, whatever it takes. The guards from the Alaskan Tigers will arrive tomorrow morning, and I’m sure any of them will answer whatever questions you have. That is, when they’re not training my men. That needs to come first. You could even call Mira and talk to her.”

“She’s not coming home?”

“Home…” He couldn’t stop his lips from curling down in a frown. “Alaska’s her home, with her mate, and they’ve got a bigger destiny than even she could have seen. I’m happy for her. I just wish she could be a part of the new future for our clan.”

“You two were always close. Shelly never felt like she fit in with you. I think that’s why we became so close. She felt alone and I was alone, so we came together to ease the loneliness.”

“Shelly was younger than us, and by the time I realized how much she wanted to be a part of what I had with Mira, it was too late. She was acting up, getting into trouble, and pushing Frank at every turn. I warned her that my threat wouldn’t protect her much longer and Frank would retaliate. He’d do it in front of the clan because he would have to show that it didn’t matter who it was that overstepped, that he would take action regardless. Only I didn’t realize it would be so disastrous. I lost my whole family that night, mated couples torn apart by death…” Images of Heidi and her mate floated through his memory. “The past is a screwed-up mess, but I’m going to make the future brighter.”

“Tell me how. Why should I trust that things will be different with you in charge?”

He smirked and tipped his head to Ryder. “You might as well have a seat. I have a feeling this is going to get interesting.” As Ryder joined them, David turned back to her. “I’ve already begun some of the changes. Ryder is my Lieutenant, and I just met with Reece this afternoon about being the Captain of my guards. Many Alphas don’t have guards until they are mated, and even then, they’re more for their mates than themselves, but some have them for protection when leaving the compound to deal with business. I’ve promoted Reece to his position because of the threats that surround this clan right now. He’ll be trained by the Alaskan Tiger guards and will continue on the training with the guards here after they leave. He will be in charge of more than just my protection and will work closely with Ryder and myself to select other guards for the compound perimeter. His duties will grow as things with the clan progress.”

“With selecting guards for yourself, are you concerned with members of the clan seeking retaliation for Frank’s death?”

He smirked. “You always got straight to the meat of things. But to answer your question, no, I’m not concerned. There’s only one person who has voiced his displeasure as to how I’m running things, and he’s not going to challenge me because he knows he won’t win. If there is a challenge to take over this clan, it will come from an outside source.”

The only person he worried about trying to challenge him was his very own father, and the thought made his stomach turn. He’d told Heidi that he’d lost his family in the fight. In truth, it had only been half of them, but the other two were still gone to him. Mira was in Alaska, and his father wasn’t the same. It wasn’t just grief that had him acting as he was, it was also anger that David wasn’t doing things Frank’s way. Eventually the time would come when he’d have to make a decision to release him from the clan or kill him. Allowing him to take over wasn’t an option.

“Some of the clan women were talking saying they saw Heidi coming out of your quarters. How does she play into all of this?”

“Gossip at its finest,” Ryder complained.

“Heidi’s mate was killed, and her brother demanded to come and retrieve her. I had her here to find out what she wanted and thankfully so, because she wants to stay. I left a message for her brother, and hopefully we can stop him before he comes after her. Either way, she’s vowed to this clan and won’t be leaving. She’ll be playing a key role in this clan’s future. You can also be a part of it, if you choose to commit yourself to me.”

“And what would that be?” Suspicion coated each of her words.

“To be out there among the clan.” He leaned back against the sofa. “You’d be the first to know of problems that might arise, those who aren’t adjusting to the clan’s new lifestyle, and those who might need additional help.”

“You’re placing spies! So you can kill the members before they cause any problems?”

“Was she always so quick to jump to conclusions?” Ryder asked David.

“I’m afraid so.” David chuckled. “But this distrust and fear are new.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“Tell that to your tigress. Your scent is telling me different, and even though you’re trying hard to mask the distress, it’s there.”

Raised voices in the distance caught his attention, and he sat up straight.

“What’s going on? You’ve gone on high alert.” Even she wouldn’t have been able to deny the fear in her voice.

He shot out of the chair and headed for the door. “Stay here.”

“Lock the door behind us and don’t let anyone in but us or Reece,” Ryder told her as he followed David to the door.

“What’s happening? Are we in danger?” She rose to her feet.

Instead of answering, David jogged down the steps. The commotion sounded from near the gate, and he hoped it was Heidi’s brother. The alternative would be much worse. He could deal with the situation with Heidi and her brother. What he couldn’t deal with was the Washington D.C. Tigers or one of the other looming threats. Not now. They weren’t ready yet.

He jogged toward the main gate and the raised voices. At least there was talking and not tiger growls. No one had shifted
yet
, and they hadn’t made it into the compound.

“I have direct orders not to let anyone in,” Reece stated firmly.

“I don’t care what your orders are. I’m coming in, even by force if I have to, to get my sister. Not get out of my way.” A deep voice growled.

David came around the edge of the building and tried to take in the situation. He took note of the fact that his father was nowhere to be seen and Reece was alone at the gate. He’d have to deal with him later. Right now, a tall, well-built man looked ready to pounce on Reece. Anger permeated the air, bringing David’s tiger closer to the surface.

“Let me deal with this,” Ryder offered.

He knew his Lieutenant was concerned about the threats watching them from the hills surrounding the compound, but he couldn’t go back to the safety of his quarters when there was an uproar happening at the gate. He was Alpha here and that meant he had to deal with it. Now that Heidi had vowed herself to him, it was his duty to protect her.

“Heidi’s brother, I assume.” David glared at the man standing before Reece.

“Harry. And you must be the new Alpha.” His lips curled into a snarl. “What have you done to my sister?”

“She’s safe, and she’s not leaving.”

“The hell she isn’t. I told her to be ready, that I was coming for her. Since her mate is dead, she has no reason to be here. I’m taking her home.”

“She’s committed herself to me and is a member of my clan. I left a message telling you that.”

“I don’t give a shit about your message. I want to see my sister.” Harry stepped forward.

Ryder matched the movement, coming just slightly ahead of David, in a move of protection.

“If you calm down, I’ll allow you in to speak with your sister, but it changes nothing.” David wasn’t sure that it was the best decision, but it was the only idea he had at the moment. He nodded to the two goons who were a few paces behind Harry and looking uneasy. “Your buddies will have to wait out here.”

“Fine, but if you hurt my sister, they won’t be the ones you’ll have to worry about. I’ll kill you myself.”

“You will not come here and threaten our Alpha.” Reece growled.

“It’s okay, Reece. He’s just upset. In a few minutes, he’ll see that Heidi is fine and he’ll be on his way.” David turned slightly. His father was still not around, and he needed someone to fetch Heidi so Reece could stay at the gate and watch the two goons. “Hey, Matt.” He called to one of the clan members as he stepped out of the building.

“Yes, sir?” The blond teen strolled toward him.

“Could you go get Heidi and escort her to my quarters? Tell her that her brother is here.”

He nodded and headed back in the direction he’d come from.

David turned to Reece. “Keep an eye on them. No one is allowed in. When you see Tim, tell him I’m looking for him.”

“David, I can see him there if you want to go ahead of us and—”

“What, so he can cover something up? Some tortured victim,” Harry snapped. “This is exactly why I’ve come to collect Heidi.”