Trusting A Tiger (Alaskan Tigers) (5 page)

Felix
stepped around the coffee table to the sofa, reaching out for her hand as he
sat down next to her. “There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

Ty
smirked, leaning forward. “Actually, our clan is a bit different than others.
We realize that keeping secrets from your mate is difficult, causing strain
within the mating. Mates of the guards are allowed to attend most meetings. In
most cases, things are not kept completely confidential between mates, but
outside of the mating, nothing can be shared. Now, there are exceptions to
this, but this is normally the case. With your commitment to the clan, it would
allow you to attend things with Felix, to know what is happening within the
clan as well as concerning the clans and its members. Without it you won’t be
able to attend, nor will he be able to speak about it. This includes some
developments on Henry.”

Developments
on Henry—but that’s concerning me.
“That’s a little close to
blackmail for my tastes.”

Ty
shook his head, a clump of his dark hair coming loose from behind his ear. “Not
blackmail, I’m just stating the facts. There could be developments on the
search for Henry that affect things beyond you. He might be after you, but he
also has history with Felix and the clan. After the earlier phone call, I
believe part of his fascination with you is because you’re to be Felix’s mate.”

She
couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Ty was using her desire to know what was
happening when it came to Henry to get her commitment to the clan. It reminded
her a little too much of the Ohio Alpha and his deceiving techniques to get
someone to do what he wanted. Was Ty the same way? Or was he truly just trying
to let her know what would happen?

She
dug her nails into the palm of her hand, trying not to show that she was
disappointed. “The other reason I asked to speak with you was because I wanted
to help Connor and Lukas go through the information they’ve found. I know Robin
has been doing it, but she’s doing too much. I guess based on your last comment
that wouldn’t be possible.”

Once
again Ty shook his head, confirming her original thought. “I’m afraid not.
They’re working on more than just Henry, and some information they find might
pertain to something else as well. Robin has been helping Connor because of her
computer skills.”

“I’m
tech savvy. I might be able to help.” This time she wasn’t able to keep the disappointment
and anger from her voice.

“Harmony,
I understand how you feel, but without your commitment, I can’t risk our other endeavors.
If things change in the future, I know Connor would be honored to have your assistance.
Connor and Lukas are overworked, but at this time, there’s no one else to help
them besides Robin.” Ty rose. “If that’s all, I should check in with Robin
before I find my mate.”

She
rose, remembering that he could possibly be her Alpha in the future, but even
if he wasn’t, he was still Felix’s and he deserved respect. “Thank you. I
appreciate you coming, I’ll let you know my decision soon.”

“Felix,
if I could have a moment of your time before I leave…outside.” Ty strolled to
the door, expecting Felix to follow.

Seeing
him out, she realize she had a number of decisions to make. Either she wanted
to be a part of this clan—Felix’s family—or she didn’t. If she didn’t, how
would that affect her mating with him? If she did commit to the clan, how would
it affect Robin? She hated that she had more than just herself to think about.
Her decisions now affected not only her, but also Felix and Robin. A human
caught up in the shifter world because she mated with Adam.

Felix
quietly followed Ty out and across a small patch of grass until they were out
of hearing range even for a shifter. “Everything okay, Ty?”

“Harmony
is still questioning her loyalties. I know it’s going to make you claiming her
more difficult, but you have to watch what you tell her. Any confidential
information that you share with her could be used against her if she chooses to
leave us.” Ty looked around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear
them. “You can’t mention Tabitha coming out as Queen of the Tigers. We can’t
let that get beyond the Elders yet. Not even to the clan, not yet. That also
means until we know where she stands I don’t want her in the main building.
She’s too much of a loose cannon right now.”

He
wasn’t sure he liked the term ‘loose cannon’ describing his mate. “Loose
cannon?”

“When
someone has gone through substantial abuse and then they feel safe, they will
sometimes fall apart. Harmony went through months of torture and abuse, now she
finally has people that will catch her if she falls. It could only be a matter
of time before she has a major meltdown.” Ty dragged his hand through his hair,
tugging the strands away from his face. “To be honest, I’m surprised she’s
accepted you like she has.”

“Me,
too, but I think you’re underestimating her. Robin thinks she’s making real
progress—she’s even agreed to have lunch with the women tomorrow.”

“She’s
making progress, I can see that, but she’s also having the nightmares still.
She’s living through it night after night in her dreams. I just want you to be
prepared that she could slide back and lash out. Without her commitment to the
clan, I can’t risk what information she could gain.”

“I
understand.” He did, but with his Alpha’s new orders, it was going to make him
claiming her even more difficult. Once the mating had started, he wouldn’t be
able to keep himself away from her, and he couldn’t be in the main building
doing his job and with Harmony at the same time.

As if
Ty read his mind, he added. “Once your mating has started you’ll be responsible
if you bring her to the main building, and I don’t want her there while you’re
guarding Tabitha. Not until we are sure where things stand with her.” Ty
strolled away, leaving Felix standing in the cool night air lost in his
thoughts.

Would
Harmony have a breakdown now that she had people to support her? Would it force
the wedge between them again? Was all the progress they had made for nothing?
The amount of unanswered questions that ran through his mind was annoying, not
the mention the doubt that was now creeping back in.

He
turned on his heels, heading back to her. There was no better time to start
working on making their mating official. Stepping inside, he found Harmony
pouring a glass of iced tea. Slipping up behind her, he slid his arms around her
waist. He had been dying to do that since he walked in, now there was nothing
stopping him. Nuzzling against the base of her neck, he took a moment just to
breathe in her essence, the strawberry cream shampoo had him pressing his nose
further into her hair. “I don’t want you binding yourself to the clan because
of me.”

“It’s
not just you, there’s Robin as well. More importantly, you know what happens
with solitary shifters if they don’t go true rogue—they are easy prey to
others. I don’t want to be without a clan completely, and I’m not strong enough
to handle being prey and winning in a fight against others.” She rested her
head against his and laid her hands over his.

“You
won’t be alone. I’ll be by your side.”

Wriggling
around in his arms, she turned to face him. “Felix, you can’t honestly stand
there and say that if I left your clan you’d leave with me.”

“You’re
my mate.” He hated to think of the idea of leaving his clan—they were his
family. He had worked too long and too hard to earn the position he did to give
it all up, but what choice would he have? His beast would choice their mate
over his clan.

Leaving
out a deep sigh, she looked into his eyes. “Fine, let’s put it this way, you
can’t say you would follow me without hating me for it.”

“Harmony,
why are we having this discussion? Do you want to leave Alaska?” His heart beat
a little faster at just the thought. Would she really leave the sanctuary she
found?

“No. I
mean, I don’t know. Can this ever really be my home? They know what happened
with Henry. Plus, being here is only bringing danger to your clan. Damn it—I
don’t want to be under another Alpha like my last.”

“Ty is
nothing like that. I’ve been with him since he took over the clan, working closely
with him. He’s the one that gave me the opportunity to prove myself by guarding
him. When he mated, he asked me to be the Captain of Tabitha’s guards. There’s
no higher honor than that, besides Raja’s position as Lieutenant.” He ran his
hand up her back. “No one knows except Robin, Ty, Raja and their mates. It’s
not like everyone knows your past. Not that it’s important—everyone has a past—but
this can be your family if you just allow us in.”

He
wanted her to commit to the clan so he wouldn’t have to choose between the two
things that meant the most to him. Maybe taking Henry out of the equation would
help her feel a little less hesitant. Ty’s words begin to replay in his mind.
Did he suspect that Harmony might try to leave the clan? Is that why he didn’t
want her helping Connor when they desperately needed the assistance?

He
took a deep breath and asked the question looming on his mind. “If we weren’t
mates, would you leave the clan?”

“I
don’t know. I like it here. Robin, Tabitha, Bethany, and Kallie are quickly
becoming friends, and I’ve never had someone I’ve considered a friend. I’ve
never heard of another clan where the Alpha Female and Lieutenant’s mate
actually mingle with the clan members. So many other clans have this great
divided between the Elders and the clan members. There’s no true family as the
one I’ve witnessed here. Ty is accepting enough to allow bears and a wolf into
the compound, which is almost unheard of.”

“Then
why doubt Ty? You trust Robin, and she’s committed to the clan. Why do you want
to run from it when it can give you so much more than you’ve had in the past?
I’d like to think you know I wouldn’t lead you into anything dangerous, yet you
run from the people I consider my family.” Felix’s fingers played along the
edge of her tank top. He wanted to let his hands explore her body, but the conversation
they were having was more important so he forced his beast to wait again.

She
ran her hands along the front of his chest. “Because it scares me. Everything
I’ve ever known is so different. My past proves Alphas aren’t like Ty. To trust
another and put myself in that situation again is daunting. Don’t you think I
wish I could just make the commitment—to take the doubt of the whole situation
out of your eyes and to be able to give back to the clan and help find Henry? I
would if I could, but the unknown is terrifying.”

His
fingers eased up the tank top revealing a little more skin, teasing along the
bare flesh. “Let me claim you as my mate, and you will feel my connection to
the clan. You’ll know what I’ve gone through in the past with them and the love
that we share. There will no longer be any doubt when it comes to committing.”

“You’re
using that to mate me?”

He
pressed his head closer to her neck, nibbling along the tender flesh where her
neck and shoulder meet. “You know we’re going to mate. Why push it off when it
can help you gain more confidence in the clan and give you everything you’ve
searched for?”

“How
do you know what I’ve searched for?”

He
drew his tongue along the spots he just nibbled at before answering her. “I
know what we all want. We all want to find our mate because it completes us.
Can you honestly say you don’t want this mating? A clan to call home—one that
is nothing like what you know but is a true family?” When she remained silent,
he continued. “I thought so.”

“I
can’t—not yet, I need more time.” Even as she said it, her body betrayed her,
her fingers pulling his T-shirt from his jeans until she had enough room to
slide her hands under the thin material.

It was
no surprise that she was going to fight the mating at every turn. He only hoped
he could convince her before the mating desire set in, bringing the painful
longing for their mate’s touch with it.

* * *

With
the covers drawn tightly around Harmony, she laid there mentally kicking
herself for not giving in to her beast. The tigress wanted Felix and was
growing more and more impatient with her delays. Her heated body felt like
someone took a flame and glided it over her skin, warming her, it was the
beginning of the mating desire she’d heard so much about and would only grow
worse the longer she refused Felix. She couldn’t complete the mating until she
was certain things were going to turn out.

Having
the connection to Henry through his bite mark on her thigh, could she work it
so he knew where she was? She absently ran her hand over the scar. If she knew
he left Ohio, it might be possible for him to know she left the compound.
Slipping off the bed, she formed the plan to go after Henry herself. This
wasn’t the Alaskan Tigers’ fight; it was hers. If she was going to be a clan
member then she needed to take responsibility and not bring problems to the
clan gates.

Pulling
on her jeans again, she grabbed the hip holster that Felix brought earlier,
sliding the gun into it. One magazine is all she had, but she’d make each
bullet count. If she died before she could eliminate Henry, she could only hope
that he left the clan alone.

Gathering
a few things, she stuffed them in the small duffle bag. Sneaking off the compound
wasn’t going to be easy, but she’d give it her best shot. She hooked her
fingers in the thick curtain material, easing it back to not cause attention
and still allow her room to peer out. Not surprisingly, she found guards
circling the perimeter, securing the compound. Day and night, they always
seemed to be on duty, and there never seemed to be less, even in the middle of
the night.

The
ground was lighted with the evening lights, making it easy for the members to
see as they went about their evening activities, many of them out for their
nightly runs. Later, the lights would be dimmed while most of the clan slept, with
only the guards moving about the grounds. She’d wait a little longer until it
was at its darkest. Then she could use the night to conceal her as she made her
way across the compound and up the fence to the other side.

Once
she was beyond the walls of the compound, she’d figure out a way to get a
message to Henry. She’d find him if he didn’t find her first. It was time to
take her life back into her own hands. She couldn’t commit to a mate and a clan
while she worried about placing everyone around her in danger.