The Tiger's Heart (10 page)

“
This is Bethany
Thompson’s phone. Who is this?” Raja moved to the edge of the bed,
as he hoped it was enough distance to avoid Bethany hearing any of
the details about their murders.

“
Detective Davis, I’m
sorry. She is unavailable at the moment. I’m Bethany’s fiancé,
Raja. What can I do for you?” Out of the corner of his eye he could
see surprise on her face when he said fiancé.

“
She’s in Alaska with me.
I’m not sure what this has to do with anything. What is the nature
of your call?”

He stood from the bed,
moving to the window as Detective Davis told him of her parents’
and sister’s murders. They knew it was coming yet hearing the words
from the detective made it seem real. It left a sick feeling in his
stomach.
Will more people die at Pierce’s
hands before we can take him out?

“
There must be a mistake.
Why would anyone want to do that to the Thompsons? Did you catch
whoever did this?” Raja was silent, listening. “Find the person
responsible. We’ll discuss arrangements and call you back. But
since her family wanted to be cremated and the services held here,
I don’t see any reason that Bethany would need to return. Any
paperwork that needs signed can be faxed, or dealt with through my
lawyer.”

The detective apologized
again.

“
Thank you. We will be in
touch shortly with arrangements.”

He ended the call and went to his now
weeping mate.

“
It just seems real now. I
kept hoping it was a nightmare,” she blubbered on his chest as he
held her close.

“
I’m sorry, my love. I’d
take away your pain if I could.” He wrapped his arms around
her.

“
I’m alone now. I have no
one.”

He leaned back, prying her from his
chest. “You have me. I’m not going anywhere.”

“
You only feel sympathy
for me because I’m injured and my family was murdered. I don’t need
your pity.”

“
Now listen here. I’m in
love with you. Sure, I have empathy for what happened to your
family but I was falling in love with you since I first laid eyes
on you,” he bellowed at her, annoyance filling his voice. He ran
his thumbs under her eyes, whiping away the tears. “You’re the
woman I love.”

This only made her cry harder, sobs
shaking her body.

“
What’s wrong? What did I
say?”

“
Why now? The timing is
all wrong,” she sobbed.

“
I know the timing could
have been better but I have you now, and I’m not going to let you
go.”

* * *

“
Raja!”

“
In here,” he called to
his sister Tora from the kitchen. Earlier when Doc came to check on
Bethany, he mentioned Tora would be stopping by later in the day to
meet Bethany.

Tora breezed into the kitchen with
Scarlet happily bouncing on her hip. “Here, go visit Uncle Raja for
a bit.” She passed the bundle of joy off.

“
How’s my favorite girl?”
he asked Scarlet, kissing her check.

She snuggled her small body against
his chest. When Scarlet started to purr, Bethany inhaled deeply,
reminding him she wasn’t used to shifter children.

“
Don’t mind her. Shifter
children tend to allow their animal nature to come through. They
don’t understand yet that it’s unsafe. That’s why the children
rarely, if ever, leave the compound. We have a certified teacher
here to educate the children as well,” Tora said, sitting down at
the table across from Bethany in Raja’s empty chair.

“
Tora, did you stop by for
a reason or just to pawn your daughter off on someone?” He reached
into the fridge for the root beer his sister favored.
I never understood how she could drink this crap.
She had better be glad I love her, or I wouldn’t keep it on hand
for times like this.

“
I came to see the woman
my big brother mated. I never thought I’d see the day…” She stopped
mid-sentence when Raja turned, shooting her an angry
look.

“
The woman he mated
with?”

“
Umm…you
didn’t…”

“
Not yet, Tora. I thought
she went through enough in the last few days,” Raja growled, making
Scarlet become alert and her body stiff. He rubbed Scarlet’s back
to soothe her again.

“
I’m sorry,” Tora
explained as she cracked the tab of her root beer.

“
Someone just tell me what
the heck is going on? What do you mean mated?”

“
I think I should make my
exit now. Come on, sweetie, we will leave Uncle Raja alone.” She
reached for Scarlet. “Welcome to the family. I’m sure we’re going
to be great friends when you forgive me for the bomb I just
dropped.”

Tora strolled out of the kitchen
before Raja could wrap his mind around how his sister always did
it. She took a simple situation and made it a disaster. Bethany sat
there glaring at him, waiting for him to explain.

“
More to drink?” he asked.
She wasn’t going to forget what Tora said, but still he gave it a
shot.

“
Don’t even try it.
Mated?”

“
It’s a term shifters
use.” Raja plopped down in the kitchen chair. Defeated, he let out
a sigh. “Shifters don’t date like ordinary people. We have mates.
Our tigers know who they are, even when we don’t want to admit it.
Unusual things happen when we find our mate.”

“
Unusual
things?”

“
Things like this.” He
reached forward, touching her hand, focusing on relieving her
pain.

“
My pain…” she said,
touching her knee.

“
Is gone…I know. My touch
will relieve your pain. As your mate I can feel your emotions and
pain as if it was my own.”

“
But mating isn’t that
supposed to be sexual? It sounds sexual.”

“
Oh it will be.” He
chuckled. “With everything you have gone through and your injuries,
I won’t rush you. I desire to make you mine, the tiger in me wants
to claim you completely, but I’m trying to give you the time you
need.”

“
Could someone else claim
me as a mate in the meantime?”

He shook his head. “We believe
shifters only have one mate. Plus my scent is on you. No one in
their right mind would try to claim you. It would be seen as a
direct challenge to my authority.”

“
Your authority? Over
me?”

“
I’m Ty’s Lieutenant,
second in command. It would be a challenge to my position within
the clan.”

“
What happens when there’s
a challenge?”

“
You fight to the death or
until one submits. With Ty and my positions, it’s a fight to the
death. You can’t have the old Alpha or Lieutenant around if you
want to take over the clan.” To him it was as if she asked about
the weather outside.

“
You could…die?” her voice
full of sorrow.

“
We all die sooner or
later.” He shrugged.

“
How can you sit there as
if it doesn’t matter?”

“
It’s the way of life, but
I have no plans to die anytime soon.” He set his coffee aside and
leaned across the table. “Especially now that I found a
mate.”

“
But…”

“
Love, there’s nothing to
worry about. Someone would only challenge if I appear weak. if I’m
weak then it’s their right. Clan life is survival of the fittest.
I’m around for the long haul.”

“
What happens to your mate
if you are killed?”

“
It depends on the
situation. If the mate is human sometimes they leave, return to
their families. No matter what they decide, women are precious to
us and protected at all costs. The mates can stay within the clan,
protected, or join another clan if they chose.”

“
Wouldn’t the challenger
see the mate as a threat?”

“
It wouldn’t matter. She
would still have to be treated with the same respect that is given
to the woman of the clan. It’s unlikely they would be seen as a
threat. Few women hold positions of power. Shadow is the only
female guard we have within the clan. There are a few others in
different clans.”

Raja’s ear bud clicked to life, and
his ear filled with Ty’s voice. “Raja, a situation has arisen. I’m
heading your way with the team.”

“
Acknowledged.”

Chapter
Eighteen

Raja cleaned the kitchen table off
quickly to allow the team to gather there. With a fresh pot of
coffee already brewing, he placed the last of the dishes in the
dishwasher before facing Bethany again. “I’m not sure how long this
will last. Do you want me to help you into the bedroom and you can
rest, or to the couch and you can watch television?”

“
Is that a nice way of
saying I’m not welcome?”

“
No. It’s a nice way of
saying this isn’t something that would be enjoyable and if I were
you, I would scram.” He snorted. “When situations arise like this,
they’re not for the faint of heart. I’m sure it’s not anything you
need to deal with.”

“
But if I wanted to stay?”
She still sat at the kitchen table, watching him.

“
Then you’re more than
welcome.”

“
Do you think Ty will feel
the same way?”

“
He would have asked me to
his quarters or to the conference room if he was concerned with you
hearing anything. Plus, as the mate of the Lieutenant of the
Alaskan Tigers you are always welcomed at the Elder meetings.” He
went to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. “I wasn’t trying to
get rid of you, as if you were unwanted, but was thinking of
everything you have been through. I was trying to shelter and
protect you.”

He heard the door in the living room
open. Ty hollered, “It’s us.”

“
In the kitchen,” he
called before bending down to kiss her. “It’s up to you,
love.”

Ty entered the kitchen followed by
Tabitha, Felix, Adam and Connor. Each with an expression of gloom.
Tabitha looked as if she struggled the most, Ty holding securely to
her, but still agony was clear on her face.

“
Bethany, you’re more than
welcome to stay for this meeting, but if you wish to rest, Raja can
fill you in later.” Ty took a seat at the end of the table, pulling
Tabitha into his lap before wrapping his arms around
her.

“
I’d like to stay and help
in any way I can.”

Ty nodded while the rest of the men
took their seats at the table. Adam stood close to the doorway,
while Raja took the last seat next to her.

“
What’s going on? Tabitha,
are you all right?” Raja’s gaze was on Tabitha, studying
her.

“
The change is close. I
pleaded for her to stay in bed, rest, but she wouldn’t listen,” Ty
said as Tabitha rested her head against his chest.

“
Your touch makes it
bearable,” she whispered, her eyes closing as her face scrunched
with anguish.

“
I know, babe.” He stroked
her arm with misery in his eyes. “Connor.”

Connor nodded. “We found James
Thompson. He still has the cabin in North Dakota, and it’s his
permanent residence according to the records. Your suspicions are
true—he’s a shifter.”

“
Okay. Send a team there.
Bring him back if possible.”
I hope he has
answers we need.

“
I researched him, and I
think you might have a better chance at getting what you want if
you contact him directly. It’s possible he would come to Bethany if
she asked. It would be received better coming from her than a team
sent to return with him.”

“
I think he’s right. Uncle
James might be more forthcoming if I contacted him. Connor, were
you able to locate a phone number for him?”

“
Yes.” He slid her a
printed paper. “This was all the information I was able to find of
him.”

“
Thank you.”

“
We’ll contact him after
the meeting.” Raja reached back to grab the pot of coffee that
finished brewing. The mugs already sat on the table for anyone who
wanted coffee.

“
Small thing down, bigger
problems still to go. Your turn, Felix.”

“
We received another video
from Pierce…”

Bethany gasped, squeezing Raja’s hand.
He placed his arm around her, pushing his chair closer to
her.

“
It was for Jessica. He
desires to see his sister.” Felix poured himself cup of coffee
before pouring one for Ty, who still had his arms around his
mate.

“
Why?”

“
I’m assuming that he
wishes to gain information from her.”

“
Do you think she would
betray us, especially after the last video?” Raja rubbed his thumb
over the back of Bethany’s hand.

“
I don’t think she would
do it willingly. We all know he has ways to gather information when
he wants it. I’d rather not risk it.”

“
Agreed. What does she
have to say about it?”

“
She believes she could
get him to surrender.” Felix snorted. “She’s still in denial about
what he is.”