Trusting A Tiger (Alaskan Tigers) (12 page)

“Felix,
I was just coming to find you.” Ty’s voice traveled down the hall toward Felix,
pulling him from his thoughts with a jerk.

“Harmony’s
having coffee with Robin and Tex, so I was catching up on things. I stopped by
and talked to Connor. He brought me up to speed. When are we heading out? If
you haven’t appointed someone else, I’d like to command the team.”

“You
were our first choice. Taber and Styx are standing by. If there are others
you’d like, get them ready. Adam has asked to accompany you as well.”

Felix
cocked his head to the side. “Is that wise? I wouldn’t want to take Tabitha’s
best guards from her. I hope the mission will be a success without any outfall,
but as you’re aware, things can go wrong. Adam should stay to keep Tabitha safe
in case…” The words
something should happen
died on his tongue. He knew
the risks—they all did—but that didn’t keep them in the safety of the compound
waiting for trouble to find them.

“That ‘in
case’ is exactly why Adam should go with you. The two of you are an excellent
team. To have him protecting your back will ensure you both come back safely.
Besides, Carran has been proving himself under Adam and Tad, so Tabby will
still have three guards while you and Adam are gone. Theodore will be arriving
within the hour. After the latest threat from Avery, we wanted any extra hands
on board we could get. Jinx is standing by, along with a few members of his
clan if we need them as well. If I feel the threat has increased, there are
always Bethany’s guards. We’ll keep the women together if we have to. We’ll
make it work. Adam needs to go.” Ty hooked his thumbs through his belt loops
and watched Felix.

“‘Needs
to go’… as in another of Tabitha’s messages from the book?” He was well aware
of the book that had guided Tabitha along the path so far and would continue to
do so, helping her unite the tiger shifters. If the book told Tabitha that Adam
needed to go, then no one would argue. You didn’t go against the book if you
wanted to survive whatever threat they were facing.

Ty
nodded. “I’m sending Galen as well. You have fifteen minutes until the team is
ready. I’ve sent them to gear up, if you’re going be out in front of the main
compound then.”

“I’ll
be there. I need to tell Harmony something.” He took a quick look at his cell
phone, checking the time.

Ty’s
jaw tightened with unsaid words. His body was ridged, screaming just how
displeased he was about the situation involving Harmony. “Let her know you’re
going after Henry, but that’s all. I’m going to have her guarded until you
return. I don’t want any unfortunate incidents like before. Without the connection
between her and the clan and with the bond between her and Robin dimmed from your
mating, I can’t risk her leaving the compound. Jayden will take the first watch.,
I’ll send him to find her shortly. Go to your mate. Hopefully when this is over,
we can put this behind us, and she can do what needs to be done.”

“Yes,
sir.” Felix spun around, heading directly to his room. Going after Henry, Felix
needed more than just the firearm in his shoulder holster. He wanted to be
fully loaded. Taking no chances when it came to Henry would bring him and his
team home. Brother, you brought this upon yourself.

Long
after the others had left, Harmony sat there. At some point, Harmony had wrapped
her hands around her mug of coffee, giving her something to hold onto. The
coffee inside had grown cold, not that she had any desire to drink it now. She
tried not to think, just to be there unattached. Thinking would only lead her
to the conclusion that Robin and Tex were right.
Damn it!

“There
you are,” Felix called as he strode toward her.

Her
gaze met his, taking him in. His jeans and T-shirt were now replaced with black
cargo pants and a black long-sleeve shirt. Completing the outfit was a
bulletproof vest pulled tight over his broad chest. No longer did he wear his
shoulder holster, instead there was an assault rifle slung over his chest and
an additional handgun in a thigh holster and a knife on his belt.

“What’s
happening?” She pushed the coffee away and rose.

“I
only have a few minutes, but I wanted you to know I’m going after Henry.” He
closed the distance and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his body.

“No,
you can’t. Let someone else.” The rough material of his bulletproof vest
against her body brought home the direness of the situation.

“I
can’t. He’s my brother, which makes it my responsibility. I’ll be back.” His
hands caressed her back, and he buried his face in her hair.

There
was that word ‘responsibilities’ again, reminding her she now had them as well.
Why were things so difficult when all she really wanted was for things to be
simple? She wanted an uncomplicated life with her mate. “You’d choose finding
Henry over me?” Even as the words left her mouth, she knew they were selfish
and stupid.

His
body went stiff under her touch. “I’m not doing that. I’m going after him to
protect you and to protect this clan and other shifters and humans.”

“Go
then!” She pulled away from him, taking a step back.

“Harmony…”

“Just
go.” She continued to step back away from him, doing her best to distance
herself from him physically and emotionally. The hurt and anger was clear on
his face, but she couldn’t let herself go to him, knowing there was a real
possibility he wouldn’t be returning to her. If Henry killed him, she’d be
forced from the clan unless she was willing to commit to them, leaving her
alone in the world again. She wasn’t sure she could handle that.

“No, I
won’t just go. Damn it, Harmony, I’m doing this for you—for us. Don’t be so
callous that you can’t see that. If he’s eliminated, maybe you can put your
past behind you.”

“Why? So
I commit to your clan? Is that the reason behind all of this?” Anger heated her
words.

He
closed the distance she put between them in a blink of an eye, wrapping his
hands around her arms. Her body stiffened under his grip, and anger vibrated
through him. “Shit, woman, how can you even think that? Maybe when this is done,
you can look at me and see me, not Henry. Every time you look at me, I can see
you waiting for me to hurt you, to do the things he did to you. My words won’t
change your mind that I’m not him, but maybe this will. Maybe you will finally be
able to put Henry to rest—to accept our mating without wondering when I’ll do
something that he did to you.”

Heavy soled
boots thumped as someone entered the cafeteria. “Felix, you’re needed.”

With
one last look, he let his hands fall away and turned to face the doorway. As
Jayden came toward them, Felix nodded. “The team’s ready?”

“A
package arrived that you need to see. I’ll see that Harmony is returned to her
room safely.”

Clearing
her throat, she brought the attention back to her. “I can make it there
myself.”

“No. Until
I return, Jayden or another guard will be with you. I won’t have a repeat of
last time.” For the first time since they mated, there was a coldness to his
voice.

“What?”
Her eyes went wide, unable to believe what she was hearing.

“You
heard me. I want you safe while I’m gone, and this is the only way. If Henry
gets around the team and me, he’ll head for you. Ty doesn’t have the connection
with you to insure you’re safe.” He stepped toward her, but when she stepped
back away from him, sadness filled his gaze before he turned and left.

The
tigress within her demanded she go after him, to tell him she loved him, to
feel his arms around her again, but the human side of her was too angry. How
dare he assign her a babysitter? Did he think he could control her as Henry
once did? If so, he had another thing coming. It was time she stood up for
herself.

* * *

A
group gathered around a small table near the main gate to the compound, a local
delivery service truck parked just beyond the gate with two guards and Raja
questioning him. Felix jogged to the table, coming to stand next to Ty. “What’s
happening?”

“A package
for Harmony was delivered by him.” Ty tipped his head in the direction of the person
Raja questioned. “It’s already been cleared of any danger.”

“I can
smell the metallic taste of blood seeping into the cardboard.” Felix bit out
the words while trying not to breath in the horrid air.

“Human
blood and fresh.” Ty leaned forward, slicing through the clear packaging tape
as he spoke. “Looks like Henry took it to a drop-off center forty minutes ago
and paid an outrageous fee to have the delivery guy bring it out even though
they were closing when he entered.”

Carefully
they tugged back the folds of the cardboard box, sending the stench of blood
through the air. Felix’s beast rose in him as the scent of blood hit him full
force. There on top laid a torn piece of notebook paper, the blood already
staining it red in several places.

Harmony,

You
lured me to this frozen piece of land my twin calls home hours before you
claimed him as a mate. Come to me within the hour at this man’s home or your
mate’s blood will be on your hands, and then I’ll hunt you down and make you
pay.

Dearest
twin,

I’m
sure you will read this as well. You always pitied me because I couldn’t shift,
but my beast has given me things yours never will. Come with your mate. It’s
long past when we should have settled this between us.

Careful
to avoid the wet blood, Felix handed the paper to Ty and looked inside the box.
Pushing aside the newspaper, Felix found the cause of the blood.

“Shit!”
Felix hissed. The head of the town’s vet laid surrounded by the newspaper, the
blood still fresh, the eyes staring but not seeing. Even though the clan never
used a veterinarian, it was a small town and everyone knew who Doctor James
was. When the residents found out he was murdered, it would shake the sleepy
town to its core.

“Fuck!”
Ty exclaimed. “You know where he lives—get the team and go. I’ll deal with
this. Once Henry has been neutralized, we’ll send in a team to deal with his
body.”

Felix
tore his gaze from the head and forced his attention onto Ty. “Are you
suggesting we cover this up?”

“We
have little choice. Someone could have seen Henry and Doctor James together.
You’re twins. We can’t bring that pressure down on the compound now, not with
all that’s going on. He’ll get justice for his murder, and that’s what matters.
No family will come looking for him. He’s been a widower for over ten years,
and there were no children or other family.” Ty tossed the letter on the table.
“Being the Alpha means protecting the clan from any harm. This scandal will
harm our clan. We’ll give him a proper burial, and justice will be served. That
is all we can do.”

Felix
wanted to argue, but he couldn’t. This wouldn’t have been the first time the
clan had covered something up nor would it be the last, but this close to home—and
someone they knew—it seemed wrong on a whole different scale. Nevertheless, if
they didn’t and someone saw Henry with Doctor James, it would put suspicion on
Felix and the clan. With the coming threats to the clan, they didn’t need that,
nor did they need anyone put in jail. A shifter couldn’t survive there without
being found out. They had to shift or their beast would eventually take over.
There was no way to hide shifting into a massive tiger in a jail cell.

With
no other alternative, Felix nodded. “Very well. I’ll call once we’ve eliminated
Henry.”

“Watch
your back. This shit with you and Henry goes back years. He’s had time to let the
grudge grow, and that makes him more dangerous. Don’t underestimate him just
because he doesn’t change his form,” Ty called as Felix began to walk toward
the area where his team gathered.

Felix
could have told him that things would be fine, but it felt like too much of a
lie. Even if the mission went down without a hitch, there was still the fact he
was about to kill his twin.
To protect my mate…

Harmony
was beyond tired of feeling like a prisoner. Every move she made was watched.
Jayden led her back from the cafeteria only to stand guard outside her door.
Even if there had been another exit, he’d have smelled her tigress escaping. If
she wanted to have the privileges the other clan members had, then she had to
make the commitment to Ty.

She
collapsed on the unmade bed, feeling sorry for herself. The tiredness she was
fighting earlier was nowhere to be found. Her nerves and anger over Felix
hunting down Henry had cleared it away. The thought of Henry made her mentally
kick herself again. She acted like such a bitch to Felix when she should have
told him she loved him. If Henry killed her mate, the last words she would have
said to Felix would have been in anger. How was she supposed to live with that?

For a
brief moment, she thought of calling him, to apologize for her actions, but she
didn’t want to throw off his concentration by reminding him of how childish she
had been. If he returned…no,
when
he returned, she would have to make
her actions up to him.

A
knock echoed within the small room. Expecting it to be Jayden, she hollered,
“Come in.” Sitting up, she tried to hide the irritation at being disturbed.

The
door opened, revealing Tex with his white cowboy hat still firmly in place.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but Doc asked me to give this to you.” He held out a
piece of paper toward her.

Without
moving from the bed, she reached out to take the paper. “Why you? I’m sure you
had more important things to do than play messenger.” With the paper in her hands,
she clenched it, wondering what Doc’s test said. Her mixed feelings about
having Daisy as a cousin turned her stomach. If Felix and the team didn’t
manage to dispel the threat of Henry, it would put Daisy in danger—one more
person that Henry could use to control her.

“I was
about to start my first shift as one of the grounds guards.” He slid his hands
into the pockets of his jeans, his shoulders tight with unease. “Actually,
Robin was asked, but she passed. I believe she needs a little time before
seeing you again. The scene over coffee has her worked up.”

“I
don’t mean to cause any problems. Hell, that’s why I left to go after Henry
myself.” She shook her head, her hair falling into her face. “Oh, I’m making a
mess of things, aren’t I?”

He
remained silent until she looked up at him. “What do you want me to say?”

“Tell
me I’m not screwing everything up. That would be a start.” She longed to hear
someone tell her that things would work out, that she wasn’t throwing
everything she wanted to the wind because of her fears.

“I
can’t do that. You already know how I feel about the situation. Have a good night,
Harmony.” His voice held a touch of coldness to it.

“Tex…”
She called to him as he started to leave. “I appreciate you bringing this to
me. No that’s not it…I’m sorry. Maybe I am making a mess of this, but how do I
let go of the terrors that are controlling my actions? How do I regain the
control again?”

He
leaned against the wall, his hand still on the door, watching her. “That’s not
something I can tell you—it’s something you have to figure out for yourself. If
you don’t figure it out soon, there’s going to be nothing left of what you
could have had except Felix. He’ll stick by you because he’s your mate. The
bond between you two would be too strong for anything else. But the rest of the
clan, it would be an uphill battle for you to be completely one of them. Burnt
bridges take twice as long to build as new ones.”

With
that, he left, leaving her holding the paper that now seemed to weigh more than
it should. She took a deep breath and unfolded the paper until it lay open in
her hands. Her heart beat against her chest with such speed that she thought it
might break free. “What does it matter if we’re related? She’s safe here. There’s
no way Henry can get to her on the compound.” Even as she reassured herself,
her stomach twisted until she felt like she would be sick.

There’s
no need to go into the technical aspects of the test, only that she is your
cousin.

The
words on the page stole the last remaining control she had on her emotions.
A
cousin.
Daisy was the only family Harmony had left. Would she be able to
move past the fact that Harmony was the reason behind her imprisonment?

Falling
back on the bed, she tried to take it all in, to wrap her mind around
everything that had happened over the last few weeks. She went from it being
her against the world to having a mate, a cousin and possibly a clan if she
could just move past her reservations. The clan would become an extended family
if only she’d allow them.

Throwing
caution to the wind, she rose up on her elbows. “Jayden,” she called, knowing
he could hear her without any problems.

The
door swung open, and Jayden’s bulky frame stood in the doorway. “You called?”
His voice held a touch of amusement, and she could guess why. She complained
about him guarding her the whole time he escorted her back, and now she was
calling him in. It either meant she wanted to bitch more or she needed him.

“Can
you get word to Ty? I need to see him immediately.”

He
nodded, the smile still curving his lips. “He’s busy dealing with other things,
but I’ll let him know that, when he’s done, you’ve requested to see him.” He
turned to leave before turning back to her again. “I suspect it will take some
time before Ty can tear himself away from the issue he’s dealing with, so why
don’t you get some sleep while you wait?”

“Is
that a nice way of saying I look exhausted?” She teased, and for the first time
since she’d arrived, she felt lighthearted.

“I
know better than to say ‘yes’ to that question. Rest.” He shut the door before
she had time to reply.

“Men—they
always want you to look your best.” Exhaustion tugged at her as she laid back
down, tugging the blanket over her. Snuggling against the pillow, Felix’s scent
wrapped around her like a well-loved blanket. Everything was going to work out.

* * *

Sliding
the SUV into park, Felix turned in his seat to look at the team. They were less
than a half a mile from Doctor James’ land. His home and office were together, sitting
just far enough back the private drive that if you weren’t a local you’d have
continued past. How did Henry ever find the town’s vet?

“Adam
and I will take point. Taber and Styx, I want you to go around back. We’ll hit
the house at the same time. Meanwhile, Galen, I want you to stay in the SUV. When
things are secure and if we need you, you can drive up.” He tossed an earpiece
to Galen. “Channel four, you’ll hear everything that happens. If you need us,
use it. Otherwise, we’ll contact you when it’s safe.”

“Let’s
do this,” Taber said, slipping his assault rifle over his head.

Felix
nodded. “Remember, if possible, this is my kill.”

After
Taber and Styx slid out of the SUV, Adam turned to Felix. “Are you sure? You
don’t have to do this.”

“I’m
fine. Brother or not, he’ll pay for what he did to my mate, and for what he did
to others under the Ohio Alpha’s command.” Felix opened the door, moving
slightly so that his black boots hit the ground before taking his gaze from
Adam and stepping out. “Let’s end this. We have other threats we need to deal
with. Once we eliminate this one, we can focus on the others.”

His
words were callous and heartless, but inside, a little piece of him ached.
Would killing his twin kill something inside of him? He suspected so, but
having someone else do it would make things worse for him.

Hopping
out of the SUV, Felix slung his rifle over his chest again, getting a good grip
on it. The assault rifles were a new addition to the guards for missions, but
they were beneficial when no one was sure what they would encounter. “Let’s
avoid the drive. Take the woods and stay downwind of him.”

“Can
he smell us?” Styx scanned the woods with determination.

“No.
He doesn’t have the same sense of smell we do, but I don’t want us to walk into
an ambush.” Felix strolled toward the woods, his senses opened, scanning things
as he went. Adam fell in sync with Felix’s steps.

Creeping
through the woods, the teams automatically separated. Felix and Adam took the
direct path to the house while Taber and Styx circle around the house, keeping
the points of escape in sight.

“There
appears to be one door and three windows lining the back.” Taber’s voice
crackled through the earpiece.

“Received.”
Felix crouched by a fallen tree, using it for cover. “Once you get as close as
you can, we’ll go in. Ready when you are.”

Quickly
surveying the land, Felix opened his shields and tried to focus enough to know
where Henry was in the house. Breathing deeply, he picked up on the evergreen
trees surrounding him and the wet leaves crunching under his feet before
finally settling on the house. Only one person sought shelter within the walls.
His tiger picked up on the body of Doctor James lying discarded in the garage
where the man died.

Felix’s
lips curved up in a restrained growl. Henry killing then leaving the towns’
veterinarian out in the garage had taken this fight to another level. “It’s
time. I’ll end this here and now.” Without turning to face Adam, Felix hit the
ear bud. “Taber, guard the back entrance. Make sure he doesn’t escape. Give me
ten minutes with him before you come in. There’s a few things that Henry and I
have to discuss first.”

“Take
Adam.” Taber voice was low and muffled, laced with the crack of branches and
crunch of leaves under their boots.

“Let’s
go.” Without waiting for an answer, Felix crept towards the front of the house.
Nearing it, he drew this weapon, bringing it in front of his chest and aiming
it as he went. His finger hovering just above the trigger, ready to shoot if
Henry attacked as they entered. Without looking behind him, he knew Adam was
doing the same. They worked together like two pieces of a whole. No orders were
necessary. Felix would take right while Adam took left. It would be a fluid
motion, each covering the other while searching the building. When they found
Henry, Adam would then fall back, letting Felix take the lead while still covering
him.

Felix
paused at the edge of the house, still in the cover of the woods. “Ready?”

“Let’s
do this,” Adam whispered.

Without
further pause, he turned around the side of the house, moving quickly up the
steps. With his left hand that was steadying the assault rifle, he reached
forward and twisted the doorknob. He was surprised to find it unlocked.
Swinging the door open, he scanned the dark entryway, the gun moving in time
with his gaze. His night vision gave him an advantage over Henry. With that knowledge,
he knew Henry would be in the room ahead with the light on.

Adam
must have come to the same conclusion. He nodded forward to the same room. Even
knowing where he was, they eased forward, scanning each room as they went, staying
alert for any traps that were waiting for them to spring.

“Brother…oh,
brother, what’s taking you so long? You must be looking forward to this reunion
as much as I am.” Henry’s voice carried through the hallway on the edge of a
laugh that sent a chill through Felix. It was truly an evil laugh. After years
of his tiger clawing at his mind without being able to shift, Henry had finally
gone truly insane.

He
held up a hand, pausing Adam in his track, giving the clear message he wanted
Adam to stay hidden in the hallway. Still hidden in the darkness, Felix called
to his brother. “Why, Henry, why?”

“I’m
not very different than you, dear twin. I fought for what I believed in.”

Stepping
forward, Felix left Adam in the hall. “What is that, Henry?”

Henry
sat on the recliner at the far side of the room, close to the television. It
had obviously been turned to face the door while Henry waited for Felix to come
after him. A pistol laid in his lap, the safety was off and Henry’s finger rested
close to the trigger. “To destroy you. You were always the perfect one in Mom’s
eyes, but no longer. You’ll lose this fight, and then I’ll kill your mate.”

“This
comes down to our parent’s treatment of us? We did everything we could for you,
and this is how you repay us?” He didn’t so much lower the rifle as point it
slightly to the left of Henry.

“You
call leaving me under the Ohio Alpha helping me?” Henry clenched the pistol
tightly. If he had been a shifter, he’d have shattered the stock of the gun.

“I
thought the clan’s doctor was helping you…”

Henry
shot to his feet, pulling his shirt off as he went. “Helping me! Does this look
like helping?”

Angry red
welts ran the length of his chest, claw marks mingled in with them, but Felix’s
gaze barely saw them. “What happened?”

“Don’t
act stupid brother…it never suited you.” Henry’s gaze was on him full force.

“I
know nothing of what happened to you. Tell me who did it, and I’ll see that
they pay. We’re family. I’ll avenge you.” A moment of regret for leaving him in
Ohio made Felix wanted to lower the rifle. Then he remembered what happened to
Harmony at the hands of his brother.