Healing the Clan: Alaskan Tigers: Book Ten (6 page)

Somewhere along the way, Ryder and Carran fell into formation with them as they made their way to the only place a helicopter could land. Just beyond the building, a clear spot that David could see from his quarters, and one they had used for training since Carran and the others arrived. Right now, the grounds only had room for this, but the new plans laid out a landing strip for private planes. It would take a few months before they removed the trees from that area and got things in order, but eventually they’d have it. No longer would there be the risk from having to use the small private airport a few miles away.

“Here they come.” David’s voice broke through her jumbled thoughts.

She tipped her head back to look up. The bright blue sky and big fluffy white clouds that been there earlier were now replaced with dark storm clouds. The last few days, the weather had seemed to be a tumble of emotions, between sunny and rainy, matching her up and down mood. She squeezed his hand, reassuring him that everything was going to be okay.

Reece stepped to her side, and when she turned to look at him, she noticed the guards David had selected and the ones who were here to train them had gathered around, spaced out, ready to deal with whatever might come up. They had their backs if any of the clan members got out of hand at Styx’s arrival.

She shook her head as the rush of doubt flowed through her. She’d have said it was David influencing her, but without the mating official, she knew it was just her.

Uneasy, she watched the helicopter approach. Her hair whipped around her face, but she didn’t bother to pull the strands away. She peered into the cockpit, expecting to see Mira in the passenger seat and Styx at the controls. She didn’t know what he looked like, but there was a man flying and at least two in the cabin. Someone had come with them. Would all of them be staying?

“That’s Adam. He’s an Elder guard. Actually, he’s the second in command of the Lieutenant’s mate’s guards,” Carran explained.

“Surely they didn’t take a helicopter from Alaska.” She didn’t take her eyes off the landing helicopter.

“One of the Kodiak Bears, Theodore, flew them to Ohio to assistant the Alpha there. Once they were done, they borrowed the helicopter to come here. Theodore was supposed to wait in Ohio for them, but it seems he joined them.” He nodded as the cabin door slid open.

A deeply toned man with dark hair stepped out of the helicopter and scanned the area. As if satisfied, he held out his hand. Mira took it before hopping out. The rotors were beginning to die down when David slipped his hand from hers and stepped forward. His stared at his sister but she only scanned the crowd.

“What the hell where you thinking?”

“David…” Victoria tried, but he didn’t even look at her.

“Let’s do this inside.” Ryder’s voice was tight as he glanced behind the line of guards to a growing crowd.

“He’s right. Do you have somewhere we can talk?” The man who stepped out first asked.

“This way,
Styx
.” The venom in the way David spoke made it clear he wasn’t happy Styx allowed Mira to come.

“Adam,” Styx called to the pilot, who stepped out and joined them on the other side of Mira.

“What is he doing here? Why is he with Mira? Mira, are you in trouble?” Question after question came from the crowd as they made their way into the dining hall.

David paused by the door and took Victoria’s hands into his. “Go with them. I’ll be there in a minute. I need to address these questions before things get out of hand.”

“I’ll stay with you.”

He shook his head. “I want you inside where you’re safe. Ryder will stay with you until I come in.”

“With respect, sir, I should stay with you,” Ryder reasoned.

“You protect my mate. Reece and Carran will stay. Now go.” He gently pushed her toward Ryder, who forced her to continue through the door.

“No, I need to be there with him.”

“You heard him. Let’s get everyone settled. When he joins us in a few minutes, he can discuss things with them.”

It was logical, but she hated it. Her tigress wanted to be with her mate, and the accelerated danger only made that need grow.
Be an Alpha’s mate.
She nodded and made herself walk toward the others. “Okay, everyone…”

D
avid waited
until the door closed behind his mate before he turned back toward the crowd. The guards remained there, keeping the clan members back from the doorway and therefore keeping him out of harm’s way. At the moment, that didn’t concern him as much as what Mira’s and Styx’s arrival had done to his clan. Over the past few weeks, he had worked his ass off to rebuild this clan and make it safe again. In a brief moment, a helicopter could destroy everything he had worked for. Not today. He’d fight to keep this clan heading in the right direction, even if that meant he had to burn a bridge with his sister and send her back where she had come from.

David squared his shoulders and prepared to calm his members. “I need everyone to listen up.”

“I thought you were different! Bringing Styx here to kill us—”

“What’s Mira doing with him? Has she turned against us?”

“Why are you doing this?”

Questions flew at him, but he was ready. “Quiet for a moment, and I’ll explain everything to you.”

“We vowed ourselves to you, and now you turn on us.”

David waited until they were done. “I understand you’re all scared and the sight of Styx terrifies you, but I ensure you he’s not here for you.”

“How can you be so sure?”

He couldn’t tell who’d asked, but it didn’t matter. “Because he’s not an assassin for hire any longer. Now before you let your fears get ahold of you, he’s here with Mira because she’s his mate. When she went on the run, he saved her, and since then, she’s been with him in Alaska.”

“Why are they here?” Heidi’s timid voice cut through, but her question wasn’t out of fear of Styx. She knew David had ordered Mira to stay away.

“Mira’s hardheaded and wanted to come help us. She’s been a valued member of this clan her whole life, and just because she’s mated and committed to another Alpha doesn’t mean she won’t still be welcome here. As you all know with mating, it will be unlikely she’d be away from him. I’ll do what I can to help you accept his presence. I know everyone has questions, but I need to meet with them. The clan meeting will still be held in the morning, and I’ll answer everyone’s questions then.”

“Are they staying here?”

“I’m not sure at this moment, but I suspect so. Now, please, go back to whatever you were doing. Everything will be fine, and if you have any problems, feel free to bring them to my attention after I’m done in there.” Without waiting for more questions to flood him, he turned and opened the door.
One problem delayed. Another one up to bat.

D
avid entered
the dining hall and strolled toward where everyone had gathered in the center of the room. The fear and doubt of having Mira at the compound lingered, but seeing her back home again brought a joy he’d been missing. She wouldn’t be there long, maybe only a few hours, but he wanted to make them count. He didn’t want to have to fight with her. As he neared, he took a deep breath and prepared himself for what he hoped would be an adult conversation about the danger she’d put herself in.

“Where’s Dad?” Mira asked as he came to stand before the table.

“Adam, Theodore, why don’t we cover the inside door and give them a little privacy?” Ryder suggested, nodding toward to door on the far side of the room. “Reece and Carran will guard the other door.”

“I can help if you’d like a few minutes alone with your brother,” Styx offered.

“Stay.” Mira patted her mate’s hand. “David, tell me what’s going on. Where’s Dad? Why didn’t you tell me you’ve mated? We’re family. You shouldn’t keep me in the dark.”

He pulled out the chair, sat down next to Victoria, and took her hand in his. “The mating isn’t official yet, so we haven’t said anything. I didn’t just keep it from you; we haven’t told anyone. Ryder knows and I’m sure some of the clan suspect it, but the official announcement hasn’t been made yet.”

“Does Dad know? I’m sure he’s having a hard time accepting that you’re mated with the woman Frank wanted.”

David couldn’t figure out a way to sugarcoat it, so he just came right out and said it. “Dad disappeared a few days ago.”

“What?” Mira started to stand up, but Styx held onto her hand.

“It was right after I arrived.” Victoria glanced at David. “I’m sorry.”

“This isn’t your fault.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and turned back to Mira. “Dad was supposed to be guarding the gate with Reece. We’re still working on figuring out what happened.”

“Did someone kidnap him?”

“I was on my way to talk to Reece when Ryder stopped me with news that you were arriving.” Victoria tipped her head to look at him. “It would seem that he never made it back inside. Reece drove my car in, and when he turned around, Tim was gone.”

“I know.” He rubbed his hand down her arm. “Ryder told me what information he was able to gather.”

“Gone as in kidnapped? You’ve got all these threats lurking in the area. Do you think one of them took him?” Mira questioned.

“No. He wasn’t happy with how I’ve been running the clan, and he wasn’t keeping it a secret. Ryder noticed, and I’m sure others did as well. It was something we would have had to deal with if he stayed. I believe he realized that and left of his own free will.”

“But you’re not sure.” Mira looked at Styx.

Styx tipped his head back, motioning for Adam to come to him. “I’ll have Adam check the surrounding area to see if he can find any trace. When we’re done here, I’ll also call Turi, and they’ll search online and see what they can find out from our contacts. But if he’s against how David’s running the clan, he’s either with one of the clans who haven’t joined Tabitha or on his own. We might not find anything.”

“Whatever we can do, I need to know he’s okay. I’ve lost…”

“I know, Catnip. We’ll do everything we can.” Styx squeezed his mate’s hand as he gave orders to Adam.

“Mira, we were handling it,” David began. “I would have had people out there searching again if you hadn’t shown up unannounced. Do you even realize the kind of danger you’ve put yourself in?” His body vibrated with frustration. “I’m not sure who I’m more upset with, you or him. What kind of mate puts you in danger when it’s avoidable?”

“One who knows he can protect her,” Styx replied before Mira could answer. “You’ll find out soon enough that there’s very little one wouldn’t do for their mate. She needed to come here, so I made it happen. I’m not going to let anything happen to her, and to make sure of that, I brought two of the people I trust more than anything to ensure her safety if I can’t.”

“Stop this, both of you. This isn’t a pissing contest.” Victoria looked between both men.

“Oh, brother.” Mira smirked. “She’s feisty.”

“I stand up for you, and that’s what I get.” Victoria shook her head.

“Mira, I’m only concerned for your safety.” David tried to get them back on topic.

“Don’t you understand that I needed to come? I needed to see for myself the damage that’s been done. Dad hasn’t spoken to me, and I hoped I could…” Tears welled in Mira’s eyes. “Now I’ll never be able to.”

“Once we find him, you’ll be able to. Dad’s stubborn just like you, and I wasn’t following what he wanted. He left to teach me a lesson, and when he’s ready, he’ll come back. Or he’ll at least be in contact with one of us. He’s a strong man, and his pride is too great to stand by while I change everything he ever wanted for me and this clan.” David glanced toward the windows that lined the wall of the dining hall. “This clan might not be as big as the one Dad grew up in, and it’s surely not the size it was when you left, but it’s mine. We’re pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps and making changes. This is like a new world for all of us, and I won’t let the past dictate how I rule or what our future will be.”

“I want to see the clan. To visit with them…I don’t know. I need reassurance that everyone is okay. Please, David.” Mira’s voice quivered slightly. “I know we shouldn’t have come here like we did, but we can help. Styx is the best there is, and he can get your guards ready in just a few sessions.”

“Absolutely not.” David couldn’t believe what she was asking. Visiting was one thing, but this was a whole different idea. “He’s why everyone here is terrified. There’s no way I’m going to force them to work with him. One injury and they’ll not only come after him but all of us.”

“No physical training unless they want it, but let me supervise them with another trainer. Either Adam or Carran. I can still help you, and you’ll have the protection you might need in the coming days,” Styx added.

“Coming days? Is there something we don’t know?” Victoria demanded.

David glanced at her.

She added, “Over the years, I learned a lot about the way people say things. The subtle ways they drop accidental hints. There was nothing subtle about that.”

“Mira had a vision. There will be more Washington D.C. Tigers joining the others outside. They want to claim this clan as their own and expand their territory. You need to be ready.”

“He’s right, David.” Mira took her hand from Styx’s and leaned forward. “You’re Alpha here, so it’s going to be your fight if they make a direct challenge. I don’t want to lose you, too. I don’t want to lose anyone. That means your guards need to be trained. Ryder and Reece. Think this through before you tell us to leave.”

“I can’t guarantee your safety here.” He hated to admit it, but sometimes the truth was a bitter pill to swallow. He might need Styx’s help, but he wouldn’t take it if the cost put his sister in danger.

“She’ll always be guarded, and if there’s any threat, both her and my guys know what to do. I wouldn’t have allowed her to come if I wasn’t sure she’d be safe. If things get precarious, I’ll have Adam and Theodore fly her out of here. Let me worry about my mate. You worry about this clan.”

“But where are you going to stay? There are no guest quarters, and mine aren’t big enough. Anywhere else and you’re too close to the rest of the clan and in danger.”

Mira adjusted in her chair. “Lorraine’s.”

“What?”

“It’s perfect because her parents’ room is directly attached. Styx and I can have one, and Adam and Theodore can share the other. They’ll be close in case we have any issues, and it’s close enough to your quarters that if we need you, we can call you.”

“They were killed before I even left. Hasn’t anyone moved into their rooms yet? Theirs is the only place with a window.” Victoria glanced at David.

“No. Frank considered it off-limits. It’s going to take some time to clean it. I’ll get Heidi to start, and maybe she can get some of the others to help.” He took his arm from his mate’s shoulders and stood. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.”

“You know it’s for the best.” Mira rose from the table and went to him. “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed everyone.”

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. His little sister was all grown up and mated. Seeing her before him brought back the pain of losing Shelly. She’d never grow out of her rebellious stage, never mate, or have cubs of her own. Their family had been denied so much by Frank’s rule. Now they had the chance to move past all of it, and Shelly and their mother weren’t there to witness it.

Dad might have been against everything he stood for now, but Mom would have appreciated the changes he was making. She had joined the clan when she mated with his father, so she knew what a normal clan was like. Instead of making a fuss or demanding a change, she had kept her head low to avoid any problems. He realized now that she wasn’t avoiding the problems that might arise with Frank, but those that might have come from her mate. She had sacrificed so much for her mate, but David suspected she never lost her will. There had to have been something different about her, because she had three cubs when the other clan females were lucky if they had one.
Mom, you didn’t die in vain. I’ll turn this clan around.

I
t had been
hours since Mira had arrived, and everyone had been busy. While some of the clan members were cleaning the rooms they’d use, Victoria and Mira sat in the dining hall catching up on the last few years. The tigress clawed within Victoria, demanding she find her mate. She needed to feel his hands on hers. They needed to cement this mating before her beast gave up on being patient, and there wasn’t just a twinge of pain every now and then but full-blown agony.

Mira sat a mug of her favorite spicy chia tea in front of her. “This may be a little forward, but why have you not allowed him to claim you?”

“You mean you haven’t seen it?” Victoria snapped before she reined in her claws. “Sorry, I’m a little moody.”

“I wonder why.” Mira shook her head, sending her long dark brown hair that was pulled back into a ponytail swaying. “It would seem you both want it, so I don’t get why you’ve delayed it. He told me you arrived here days ago. What’s the hold up?”

“I’m not sure this is any of your business.” She tried to be nice but what was happening between her and David was between them, no one else.

“You’re putting yourself at great risk. You’re putting him at risk, too. This clan needs their Alpha as strong as possible, and that means mated. Dividing his attention like this could get someone killed.”

She wrapped her hands around the mug in front of her and leaned in closer. “This is between David and I. We’ll work it out at our own speed. Don’t think you can just drop in for a visit and run things, especially not my mating.”

“I’m only trying to warn you that if this isn’t complete by the time the Washington D.C. Tigers advance, someone will die. I don’t think you want that any more than I do.” Mira rose from the table and headed toward Theodore, who stood near one of the doors. He was her guard while Styx and Adam got the lay of the compound.

“You knew all of this, didn’t you? You knew I was his mate.”

Mira turned back to her but stayed where she was. “Yes. I knew you’d leave the clan, but eventually you’d come back and when you did, you’d find David. It’s why I knew you could do it if you trusted yourself. If you didn’t run, Frank…” She shook her head.

“Frank what? Would have killed me?” She expected that. Actually, she always wondered why she had lived as long as she had. What Frank wanted, he always got. At least until her.

“Let’s not bring up unpleasant memories.”

“Memories.” She couldn’t stop the deep chuckle. “Memories are something you can shove into a box and forget about it, like pictures from a long forgotten day. What Frank did to me, what he wanted me for, and all the suffering he caused…none of it can ever be forgotten. It’s the demon in the closet. There’s only so long you can hold him off before it haunts you again. Something you see might spark a memory, or a familiar smell might bring it all back. Or worse, those nights when it haunts your dreams until you’d rather stay awake and die from exhaustion than sleep for even one more second. Now, whatever you were going to say couldn’t be worse than the nightmares that haunt me, so why don’t you just say what you were going to and we can get it out in the open?”

Mira glanced toward where Reece stood at the other door across the room before she nodded and strolled back to the table. “Very well.”

Victoria waited as Mira sat back down across from her but even after that, the silence stretched on until it became slightly uncomfortable. Part of her wanted to demand that she just come out with whatever she was going to say, while another part screamed for her to forget it. Frank was dead, so what did it matter?

“Inside David’s closet, behind the back wall, there’s a hidden door.”

“So?” She wasn’t surprised that there was a hidey hole they didn’t know about. Frank had been a secretive person, so maybe it was his escape or a better place for him to watch the clan. Whatever it was, she didn’t understand why it mattered now.

“Didn’t you ever wonder where Frank kept his mate before he killed her?” Before she could answer, Mira continued. “Hidden away from all of us because she wouldn’t listen to him. She wasn’t submissive enough, and so he
punished
her. Though, his version of punishment was much different than most. His was torture. He wanted to put you there and do the same things to you. If you wouldn’t have ran, you’d have found yourself there.”

“My family wouldn’t have…” She wanted to say
allow it,
but that wasn’t the truth. Her parents had been submissive enough they’d have let him do what they wanted as long as he didn’t come after them.

“He had plans to deal with your family before any issues could arise.” Mira pushed her own tea mug aside and leaned in closer. “He had planned to make it look like you and your family left when actually you were hidden away and your parents were dead.”