Trusting A Tiger (Alaskan Tigers) (13 page)

“You
ordered it, to provoke the tiger enough to force the shift. You might not have
placed the hot pokers to my skin, but you were the one behind it. It was done
on your orders! It’s why I went after Harmony.” Henry raised the gun, pointing
it at Felix seconds before squeezing the trigger.

Felix
dove out of the way as the bang exploded through the room, sending the smell of
gunpowder through the air. His ear bud sprang to life with Taber’s voice.
“Shots fired. We’re coming—friendlies coming in the back door.”

Adam
came out of the shadows to stand just inside the door. “Don’t do anything
stupid, Henry. Felix never ordered what was done to you. He went to visit you
countless times. You never recognized him. He would never do what you’re
accusing him of. If any of us would have known, we would have stopped it.”
While Adam had Henry’s attention, it gave Felix a moment to regain his footing
and get his rifle aimed on Henry again.

“Were
you in on it as well? Felix never came to me, nor did my parents.” Henry
couldn’t decide who was a bigger threat, Felix or Adam, waving the pistol
between the two. “The doctor you had so much trust in kept me drugged until he
could no longer keep upping the dose without risking my death. I barely knew
what was happening unless they were torturing my beast to break through. Oh,
they made sure I was always lucid for that.”

Felix
smelled more than saw Taber and Styx step into the room, their own weapons
raised and ready for whatever they found. “Hold your fire,” Felix ordered, his
attention never leaving Henry. “How was I supposed to know when I never saw any
marks on you when I visited? I thought you were getting the care I couldn’t
provide for you here.”

“Don’t
stand there and try to make me hate you less! Nothing you can say will give me
anything but hatred for you. You stole the life I was meant to have. I was the
first born—I should have been the shifter. Instead, your accident forced the
beast to come years before it should have.” Henry lunged at Felix.

Without
considering the options, Felix fired, shooting his twin dead center in the
chest. If it was coming down to him and Henry, hands down each time he’d win.
“I’m sorry, brother.” Tears clouded his vision as he made his way to his fallen
sibling. He kept his finger resting on the trigger until he could determine it
was safe.

Stepping
around the sofa, he found Henry on his back with the pistol discarded a few
inches from him. Both hands covered the wound as if trying to stop the
squirting blood. Felix slid the rifle to the side and reached to secure Henry’s
gun, knowing that Adam was right behind him with his rifle aimed at Henry’s
head.

“You
shot me.” Henry’s voice crackled as blood oozed out of his mouth.

“You
left me no choice.” He knelt next to him, reaching out to take Henry’s hand.
“Why, Henry? I never wanted it to come to this.” He might have never wanted it,
but in his heart, he knew it would. He knew that one day he’d have to kill
Henry in order to set him free. Henry deserved better than to live inside of a
body that couldn’t shift, his beast driving him insane with need and pain.

Tears
clouded his vision as he wrapped his arm around Henry, drawing his dying
brother against his chest. “This is just the beginning for you. Soon the pain
and suffering will be over.” Unshed tears made his voice tight.

Memories
of the years side by side, until his beast slammed a divider deep between them,
flashed before his eyes. Each year his father would take them camping—a week
with just the men, his father always called it. They explored the trails and
caves during the days while at night they sat around the campfire making
s’mores and telling ghost stories. It was a time for the three of them, one
that had always haunted him as he thought back on their times together. If
things had been different, it could have been Felix lying there on death’s door
instead.

“Randolph
is gathering the rogues…” Henry coughed, spitting blood as he spoke. “Harmony
knows where he is.”

“I’ll
find him.” Felix nodded. The information his twin was sharing was important,
but he wanted there to be more in the final minutes of his life than more
threats hanging over his head.

“Harm…she’s
a fighter. You’ve got a good mate there.” Henry’s fingers caught the ends of
Felix’s collar, dragging him closer. “I see it in your eyes that you didn’t
know what they did to me…I’m sorry for what I did to her.”

He
blinked, pushing the tears back. “As you said, she’s a fighter. She’ll be fine.
I’ll make sure of it.”

“I
love you, brother. I always have.” His eyes fluttered, the time was running
out. Felix could have called for Galen to heal Henry, but what would it have
been for? There was nothing they could do for Henry, as long as he lived, he’d
only suffer. They had the duty to put him down, out of his suffering.

“I
love you, too.” Even as the words left his lips, he knew his brother’s time was
up. He felt Henry’s body go limp as the life left of him, the tears flowing freely
down his face.

Harmony
stood in the doorway, watching the main gate for Felix’s SUV to come back. She
was bubbling with the excitement she wanted to share with her mate. Seeing
lights in the distance, she pushed open the door, letting the cool night air
rush in past her, sending her hair flying back from her face, and stepped
outside.

The
headlights paused at the gate for a moment before the SUV was thrown in reverse
and sped back out. Harmony rushed towards the gate, hoping the guard would know
what happened. Three figures were heading towards her, each of them looking
worn, their shoulders sinking as they made their way forward. Even from the
distance, her night vision allowed her to see it was the team minus Felix
coming toward her. What had happened? Where was her mate?

“Adam?”
Tears clogged her throat, making the words garbled.

Adam
jogged to her while the others peeled off, moving to the main building, except
Galen who headed toward his cabin. Slinging his rifle around his back, Adam came
to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Shhh, he’s okay.”

“Okay?
Where is he? What happened?” As comforting as it was to feel another’s touch,
it wasn’t her mate’s, and that’s what she wanted.

“Henry
is dead, and Felix needed some time before he could face everyone. He’ll be
back soon.”

Shaking
her head, she looked up at him. “No, I have to go to him.”

“Harmony,
I don’t know where he went. Come home with me, Robin’s there and we’ll have
something hot to drink to shake this chill. Come on,” he coaxed, but she wouldn’t
move from the spot she was rooted in, her gaze on the gate watching for him as
if he would change his mind and come back.

She
focused her mind. “Can I get a vehicle? I know where he went. I must go to
him.”

“Come
on, I’ll take you.” He lead her around the building, moving quickly toward the SUVs
the clan had on hand.

Now
that she knew the mission was over, she had her shields open, connecting with
her mate. Felix tried to block her out, but his pain was seeping into her from
every corner. If it was this overwhelming for her, it had to be nearly
consuming for him. “I’m on my way, love,” she whispered under her breath.

“Get
in. I’ll grab the keys inside.” Adam nodded to the first SUV before jogging to
the door just to the side of the SUVs.

Climbing
into the passenger side of the SUV, she wrapped her arms around her body to
ward off the chill of emotions coming from her mate. He was being torn in two
as a consequence of his twin’s death. Felix never should have been put in the
position of having to choose who to protect, his mate or his twin. Her mate was
stubborn—he wouldn’t have anyone else deliver the final blow to Henry. He’d
rather suffer for the action than to have to look into the eyes of his brother’s
killer each day.

Killer?
Is that how Felix sees it? She wasn’t sure, but in her mind, he did the humane
thing. Henry had suffered for years, now finally he was out of the misery.
Either way, she vowed they’d get through it.

The
driver’s door flung open. Expecting Adam, she didn’t turn to look. “Where are
we heading?” A deeper voice asked, startling her.

She
moved toward the door without thinking about it as she met the gaze of the man
who opened the door. “Ty? Where’s Adam?” She should have known Ty was there,
her connection to the clan allowed her to sense him—to feel the draw of him—but
the emotions pouring into her from Felix had her completely unaware of anything
else.

“He’s
coming. Felix is one of my best guards, if he’s in need, the clan will be there
for him in every way we can. Right now you might be the best thing for him, but
if he rejects the comfort you can bring, we’re there as a backup. I told you before,
the clan sticks together.” Ty climbed in behind the wheel.

Adam
pulled open the back passenger door. “All for one and one for all.” With the
back door closed, Ty cranked the engine and put it in reverse.

“It’s
amazing that the clan is that way; not all are. You’re truly his family.” She
adjusted the comfort controls to get the heat just right.

“We’re
family—all of us, you included. Now let’s go get your mate.” Ty threw the SUV
in reverse and sped out of the parking spot. “Where are we heading?”

“There’s
a spot above the compound that allows anyone standing there to look over it. If
you go out there and turn right, follow it until…I’m not sure when, but there’s
a dirt road.” She watched out the window, doubting herself. How was she ever going
to find the place again without Felix to guide her? Could she tune into his
feelings enough to know exactly where he is?

“Don’t
worry, I know where you mean. It’s not far from here, so we’ll be there in a
few minutes.” Ty sped around the building, heading to the gate. Someone must
have alerted the gate guards since the automatic sliding gate was open.

While
Ty drove, she tried to figure out what she’d say to Felix to make things
better. There were no words to ease the pain of a loss, especially a loss at
your own hands. All she would be able to offer was the comfort of her body, her
touch and her love.

* * *

The
rear door of the SUV was open, allowing Felix a place to sit, watching out over
the compound. Since his beast sprung free, he had been working his way up the ranks
of the clan. Each step bringing him closer to the top, the knowledge and
understand that came with the position as well as the danger was something he
thrived on.

Now
his family had brought danger to his doorstep. Thankfully, there were no
injuries to his clan family, but it didn’t change the guilt coursing through
him. Henry should have been dealt with years ago, but he had been soft, not
willing to go against his family. Instead, he let his brother suffer under the
hands of the Ohio Alpha. It didn’t matter if he wasn’t aware of the torture, he
still felt responsible.

With
Henry’s death, he avenged Harmony, but that brought him little comfort. His
mate was safe. There would no longer be a threat hanging over her head, but the
anguish she endured under him could never be erased.

Lost
in his own thoughts, he didn’t hear the SUV pull up until the doors slammed
shut. His gaze left the horizon to look back at the intruders. Harmony’s long
legs stepped out of the SUV, her red hair blowing in the wind. The sight of her
sent a new wave of pain through him.

“Felix,”
she called, moving carefully toward him, the heels of her boots and the uneven terrain
making it a slow process. Coming to stand in front of him, she reached out for
him.

“Don’t…”
Against every instinct in his body, he took a step back just out of her grasp.
He wanted to feel her arms around him, to find comfort in his mate’s embrace,
but he was a killer—he didn’t deserve her.

“What?”
Her arms dropped to her side, clearly hurt and disappointed by his reaction.

“I’m a
killer…I’m covered in the blood of my own brother. How can you think of
embracing me?” His voice was tight as he tried to keep a rein on his emotions.

Ty
stepped up beside her. “You did what you had to do. There’s no shame in that.
You protected your mate and your clan.”

“Where
does family fall into it? He was my twin. Am I just supposed to forget him? To
forget the memories we shared?”

“No
one ever claimed it would be easy, but you did the right thing.” Adam came to
the other side of Harmony as he spoke. “Not only to protect the ones you care
about but also by Henry. He didn’t want to live as he was, and you knew that.
You sought this option years ago, when no one would listen to you. You could
have left someone else to do it, but that’s not you. You’re a man who will do
what’s right no matter what it costs you. Henry wouldn’t have stopped until one
of you was dead. How many innocent lives did you save from torture or death
because of your actions tonight? Don’t turn away those who care for you because
you’re hurting. Let us help you. We’re family, all of us.”

“Harmony,
tell him,” Ty whispered.

She
stepped forward, not reaching out for him, but close enough that if he wanted
to touch her, he could have. “Tonight I made my vow to Ty and the clan. I
realized I wasn’t running because I was scared, but because it meant I was
willing to accept the whole situation. There was danger lurking in the shadows,
and it was after me. I didn’t want to bring it to the clan’s door, but it was
already here plus more that I didn’t bring. Committing to the clan, I can help
Connor, it gives me a purpose, one I never had before. It also cements things
between us and eliminates any problems my holding out caused. Felix, I love
you.”

“Oh, Harmony.”
Forgetting the blood, he reached for her, wrapping his arms around her until he
could pull her tight against his chest. “I love you, too.”

The
feel of her snug against his body with her arms tightly around his torso made
it worth his pain to have her safe. With no further threat to her from his
twin, the scars that lay beneath her clothes were the only ones she’d ever have
from anyone’s hands—he’d see to that.

He
stood there, his face buried in her head, completely wrapping his body and mind
in her. The tiger within him relaxed, taking comfort from his mate the way only
the beast knew how…by touch. If he hadn’t already mated, he wasn’t sure how
he’d handle the flood of emotions coursing through him.

“We’ll
get through this.” She ran her hands up the length of his back, her face
pressed into his chest, her forehead resting against his collarbone.

“I
know.” With her in his arms, he had no doubt they’d overcome whatever lay before
them. Minutes ticked by while they stood there embracing. Sometime in the
middle of all of it, Ty and Adam had driven away, leaving them alone. “I should
get you home and warm.”

“Let’s
stay here for a while. You must have a blanket in the back of the SUV with the
emergency kit.” She leaned back just enough to look at him. “We need some time
alone. Let me take your mind off things for a while.”

Tempting
as the offer was, he shook his head. “We can’t. I’m still covered in blood—not
just my clothes but my body, too.”

“I’ve
got that covered.” She nodded forward to the red duffle bag that lay on the
crest twenty feet away where Ty’s SUV was parked. “Adam grabbed a few supplies
for you, including a change of clothes.”

“Ever-prepared
Adam.” He was always surprised that Adam remembered to cover all options. If
the time ever came to being an Alpha of his own clan, he’d give anything to
have Adam as his Lieutenant.

“Clean
up, but don’t worry about the new clothes. You can have them later.” She winked
at him, making it clear that she wanted to do more than just cuddle. “I’ll lay
out the blanket.”

He did
as she told him, a bottle of wine and two glasses laid on top of the clothes.
“Why wine?” What did he have to celebrate after killing his brother? Nothing.
It wasn’t something to celebrate. Pushing them aside, he dug in further until
he found the baby wipes, bottles of water, washrag and hand towel.

In
quick time he took advantage of the supplies, cleaning his brother’s blood from
his hands and arms. Even in the dim light of the moon he could see that his
shirt clung to his body from the blood, creating a wet, sticky suction between
the fabric and his skin. Pulling it off, he found the blood had tainted his
skin a pale pink. His jeans had splatters of blood, but they didn’t cling to
him the same way. He used the baby wipes to clean away the blood before using
the bottle of water and wash rag to go over his skin, cleaning away all the
remains of his brothers blood.
He slipped into the boxer and jeans.

“Come
on, it’s getting chilly without you.”

He
spun around to see her laid out on the blanket in only her bra and panties, her
pale skin nearly glowing in the moonlight. His gaze traveling down her body,
taking her in completely, and his breath caught in his throat. Without further
hesitation, he tossed the towel on the ground, grabbing the wine and glasses and
making his way to her. In that instant, he realized they had something to
celebrate—they had their mating, their lives and her commitment to the clan.

“What’s
the wine for?”

“For
us. Adam added it. Would you like a glass?” He lowered himself to kneel on the
blanket next to her.

“After.”
Rising up onto her knees, she brought their faces close. Her breath heated his
cheeks, and she met his gaze with full force. “Right now I want to take the
look of pain from your eyes. I can never replace him or make you forget, but
for now I can help ease the pain.”

“To
keep you safe, I’d travel through hell and make it back to you. I love you,
Harmony.”

“Felix…”
she caught his hand in hers, their gaze locking. “I understand if you’re not in
the mood for this. I just want to feel your body against mine, in whatever way
you want.”

Slowly
he drew her hand to the front of his jeans. “Does this seem like I’m not
interested?” Under their touch, his shaft was hard, straining against the
constricting material. He pressed his lips to hers before she could stop him,
using the motion to push her back against the blanket. His fingers unhooked her
bra and tugged it off seconds before they collapsed back onto the ground.