Tigress for Two (15 page)

“I won’t share my mate.” Taber stalked toward the railing.

Kallie wanted to go to him, to wrap her arms around him, and let him know that he wouldn’t have to share her. But fate didn’t work that way. What choice did they have? She already sensed the claws of the painful longing for Taber, and it was not something she wanted to endure again.

“Son, you don’t have a choice. You might be willing to accept the pain of denying your mate, but would you put Kallie through that as well?” She turned from Taber to Thorben. “Would you, Thorben?”

When neither man said anything, Kallie broke the silence. “I’ve already mated with Taber.”

“Child, that doesn’t matter. He claimed you and that would make the mating desire clear to all of you. Thorben didn’t sense it until he touched you. Now that the connection has been made it will only be a matter of time until the longing sets in.” She rose from the chair. “You three need to figure things out. Take the time and then join the family for dinner. It would be nice to spend time getting to know you.”

“Mom wait.” Thorben stopped his mother before she went inside. “Where is Dad, and the rest?”

“Dad returned while we were talking. I heard him at the back door. I suspect he’s having a shower. Your brothers will be back later. Why?”

“I’ll get him.” Taber walked to the door and pulled it open.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kallie sat at the kitchen table with Taber, Thorben, and their parents. The brothers’ grief ravaged her. She could barely tell what feelings and sensations were theirs and what were hers. She tightened her grip on the mug of hot tea with honey. Ava swore the tea would help her discomfort, but she still felt like a ship lost in the turbulence of a stormy sea. Making her nerves worse, she sat between Taber and Thorben, while their parents sat across the table, waiting the news that would devastate them.

Taber began. “There’s no easy way to tell you this. Travis led a group of men to the cabins tonight, to kidnap Kallie. Mom, I’m sorry, but we were left with no option. He was killed during the attack.”

Kallie noticed his explanation left out the fact that Travis tried to kill Taber.

“What?” Tears fell from Ava’s eyes as she stared at her sons. “Why would he do that? He didn’t even know Kallie. Are you sure it was Travis?” Their father wrapped his arm around Ava’s shoulders as she wept.

“I was there, and it was him. Travis had been hanging out with bad people. We haven’t figured out all the details yet, but the Elders of Kallie’s clan were able to trace money that was transferred from one of Pierce’s accounts to Travis. He was paid good money to kidnap her.” Taber retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and hit a couple of buttons before sliding it across the table. “Twenty thousand dollars was delivered into his account an hour after I called home to let everyone know I’d be at the cabin for a few days along with a couple of the Alaskan Tigers.”

Taber’s father, Devlin, glanced at the screen and read the information before looking back at Taber. “What would he need that money for?”

“He said he wanted to get away from Alaska, away from the family. There was nothing we could do. Travis attacked.” Taber lowered his head. “We tried to detain him, but…”

Ava’s sobs cut off Taber’s words. “I need to see him. Where is he?” Ava begged.

“We brought him home.” Thorben rose from the chair. “I can bring him in.”

“No, sit down,” Devlin’s ordered. “We’ll need to tell your brothers first. They deserve to know before they see you carrying his body.” He turned to his mate, his hand gently caressing her arm. “Love, why don’t you lie down? I’ll tell the boys. Kallie, will you see that she rests, while we talk to the rest of the family?”

Kallie rose from her chair, thankful for something to do. “Yes, sir.” She walked around the table and took the larger woman’s hand. “Come, Ava.”

* * *

In the early morning hour, Thorben sat on the porch with a beer in hand. His head rested against the back of the rocker, eyes closed. Someone passing by might think him asleep, but his thoughts wouldn’t allow him rest. His mind reeled from events that happened in the last twenty-four hours.

He was supposed to be grieving for Travis and instead all he could think about was Kallie naked. The demand to mate had invaded his rational thinking. What kind of man thinks about sex when they’re grieving a sibling? “No wonder Taber doesn’t want me anywhere near his mate. Hell, when she has the golden child of the family, the one that can do no wrong, why would she want me? She deserves better.”

He stopped mumbling when he heard the screen door swing open, but he kept his eyes shut, hoping whoever it was would think he was sleeping and leave him alone. Bare feet padded quietly on the porch and eased into the chair beside him. The fresh scent drifting through the cool breeze could only be—Kallie.
Shit.
He debated keeping his eyes shut, ignore her, and maybe she’d go back inside.

“Thorben,” she whispered and laid her hand on his arm.

Her voice was like a caress against his shaft, making it instantly hard. He opened his eyes, meeting her gaze.

“I think we need to talk.”

“What’s there to say? You have Taber. You don’t want another mate, right?” He pulled his arm from under her hand, not able to stand her touch any longer.

“Thorben, give me a chance. I never expected this to happen. I rejected Taber at first too. I need some time to adjust to everything that’s happened.”

“You think I expected this? I’d have stayed away if I did. I’d rather not be mated then have to put any of us in this situation, especially you.” He set the half-empty beer bottle on the armrest of the chair.

“Your mom explained to me, even if you wouldn’t have come to us now we’d have begun to suffer from the longing for each other, until Taber’s touch became too painful for me because I was longing for you as well. We couldn’t have changed this, and fighting it now isn’t going to make the situation any easier.”

He wasn’t sure what to say to her, and he didn’t have to because his Aunt Bev stormed up the deck heading straight for them, anger pouring off her in waves. She rushed towards them, screaming. “You bitch! You killed my baby!”

He jumped to his feet, and not thinking of the consequences of touching Kallie, he reached for her and pulled her behind him. “Aunt Bev, she’s not responsible.” He wanted to be reasonable and respectable to the woman who was like a second mother to him and his siblings.

She rushed toward them, her claws drawn as she reached around Thorben. Determination filled her eyes, to see Kallie pay.

“You’d protect the woman who killed two of your family members?” Rage was thick in her voice.

“Stop! I won’t let you harm her. You don’t know what happened.”

“I didn’t…” Kallie’s words were lost in Bev’s screams.

“Don’t deny it, bitch.
He
was with Travis.”

Taber and his father stepped out of the house, each grabbing one of Bev’s arms and dragging her away from Thorben and Kallie. Taber turned his aunt around to face him. “Aunt Bev, we don’t know if John was with Travis yesterday or if he was killed.”

“How dare you protect your cousin’s killer?” She glared at Taber and then her brother. “I can’t believe you allowed your sons to bring her here. She got your son and nephew killed, Devlin.”

“Damn it, Bev, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Come inside and I’ll tell you what happened.” Devlin looked to his sons as he opened the door for Bev. “Why don’t you three go to the cabin next door. Get some rest and we’ll deal with everything in the morning.”

Thorben stood, legs braced and arms flexed, still protecting Kallie until Bev went into the house. Only then did he relax his muscles. “Let’s go next door. Dad and Aunt Bev need privacy.”

“What is she talking about? Who’s John? Was he at the cabins?” She stepped around Thorben and stared at Taber.

“Come here.” Taber held out his hand and as soon as she was in reach, he slid an arm around her waist and dragged her against his body. Ignoring Thorben, he guided her down the steps.

Thorben followed.

Taber hugged Kallie close. “John is our cousin. He left with Travis shortly after I called home. They haven’t seen him since. I spoke to Raja and sent him a picture of John to determine if he was there yesterday. Raja said he didn’t see anyone matching John’s description. They’re still checking.”

“If he was there, then it was his choice. Aunt Bev should have never have come after you.” Thorben walked next to Kallie, longing to touch her.

“Her son might be dead. No one can imagine what she’s going through, and we have no right to judge her. She’s hurting and lashed out at me because she feels I’m responsible. Most people would do the same in her position.”

“Kal, you have more compassion and understanding for people than anyone I’ve ever known.” Taber kissed the top of her head. “I’m going to grab our bags. We’ll spend the night and decide what to do tomorrow. Adam and Korbin are already set up in one of the other cabins.”

Taber’s lips on Kallie flared Thorben’s irritation.
How do I stand by and watch him embrace my mate?
A moment after the question passed his thoughts, a sense of calm found him. It didn’t matter that she was Taber’s mate or that he had already claimed her. Kallie was now Thorben mate as well.

“If anything happens to her while I’m gone, I’ll hold you personally responsible.” Taber scowled at Thorben as he headed toward the helicopter.

“She’ll be safe with me.” Thorben nodded and turned to Kallie. “Let’s go inside. It’s too cold out here for you. I’ll get a fire started.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Kallie stood behind the sofa watching Thorben stroke the fire until it was raging and heating the coolness of the cabin. She wasn’t sure what to say or how to make the situation easier for any of them. Taber seemed to be cold, his embrace contained a chill she hadn’t known before, while Thorben acted like she had the plague whenever she reached toward him.

“Make yourself feel at home. Do you want a blanket? The house should warm soon.”

“We can’t go on like this. We need to talk. Sit down.” When he stood by the fireplace, unmoving, she smiled. “Please, Thorben.”

Sinking onto the sofa, she pulled her legs under her and waited for him to sit. He chose the chair next to the sofa. She turned to face him. “As I tried to tell you earlier, I never expected this. It’s like being tossed in the middle of the ocean and not knowing how to swim. Being trapped between Taber’s emotions and yours has the waves slamming into me, and I’m already barely keeping my head above water. I realize neither of you are doing this on purpose, nor is it out of spite, but it doesn’t make it any less difficult for me.”

“I know you have a lot to deal with, that’s why I wanted to keep my distance. You need time to adjust and when you have a clear head we’ll figure this out.” Thorben leaned back in the chair, the firelight highlighting his strong face.

Frustration ate at Kallie.
“There’s nothing to figure out. Your mother has experience with this and says there’s nothing we can do. In order to make
us
work, you and Taber need to work out whatever is going on because this war between you two is becoming unbearable for me.”

“I don’t want to make things any more difficult for you.”