Stepping out into the open air Robin tipped her head back, letting the cool evening air caress her face, and blow her hair away from her face, tangling it. Aurora Borealis lit up the sky—the blues, greens, and pinks mixing together formed a beautiful sky.
“They’re impressive aren’t they?” Tabitha stood beside Robin watching the sky, while Raja, Felix, and Korbin kept guard, watching the grounds for anything unusual.
“I’ve never seen anything like that. It’s amazing.” No words could describe what Robin saw in the sky. It seemed perfect. She knew there was a scientific reason for the lights, serving to remind her that she was a mere small piece of the whole picture. Maybe her puzzle piece fit into the Alaskan Tigers’ clan.
Raja cleared his throat, drawing her attention. “Ladies, I’d like to get back to the main compound before the team lands in Virginia, so if we could carry on.”
Nodding, Robin followed his lead. Her thoughts turned to the change in her attitude since she arrived. When Adam first landed the helicopter and Ty and Raja waited for them, she was intimidated. Her heart raced in her ears and she wanted to scream for Adam to fly away. Now that she had spent time with the Elders, she realized they meant no harm to her.
Would the world know about the Alaskan Tigers and shifters in general one day? She wasn’t sure the world was ready, but each day slowly moving forward and within a few years maybe they could live side by side without fearing the unknown. For now, she was honored to be a part of their close-knit clan.
Harmony stayed in one of the studio apartments some of the single members and guards lived in. The only difference, she had a guard at her door to guarantee no one bothered her and that she didn’t run off before she was healed.
“Evening, Lance,” Raja called to the guard stationed outside the door. “Take a twenty minute break, go get something to eat or a coffee.”
“Yes, Sir.” Lance nodded and strolled off.
“Ready?” Raja asked Robin and Tabitha and opened the door. Felix and Korbin took their post on each side of the door. If something should happen, they were close enough to defend their Lieutenant and get the women to safety. When Raja and the women entered, Harmony jumped off the bed, scurrying to the side out of direct view.
“Harmony, I brought a friend with me, her name is Robin.” Tabitha moved closer to the bed so she could see the tigress, still keeping Raja a step in front of her. The rules were clear, they were to get no closer than Raja.
“Can she understand us in her animal form?” Robin asked, coming to stand on the other side of Tabitha.
“She hears you, she just can’t talk in that form. I can hear her thoughts.”
“Harmony, I’m sure you’ve smelled that I’m human. I joined the clan recently, so I know you’re scared. The Elders and this situation can be intimidating.” Robin paused, trying to figure out the best way to approach the woman. It would have been easier if she could get a feel for Harmony, but in her tigress form Robin couldn’t get a read on Harmony’s emotions. She wasn’t growling, did that mean she wasn’t angry? Or was she waiting to pounce?
Biting the bullet, Robin met the gaze of the tigress. “I know what you went through in Ohio. I can help you work through it. I’ve been in a similar circumstance. The fear you hold inside is like water on the stove boiling over.”
“Keep going, you’re getting through to her,” Tabitha whispered.
“You have two choices, let it control you or you control it. I chose to grab it by the reins and get my life back. You can too. I can help if you shift. The person you fear won’t get to you as long as you remain here. The Elders and guards will see to that. Shift back and let us help you. At least give it a try and we’ll go from there.” Robin prayed she was getting through to the young woman.
The tigress rose and Robin thought she might attack. The
reddish-orange and black hair
slowly
sank into Harmony’s skin. Bones seemed to break and morph into different shapes as she stood on two feet. In a matter of seconds, she went from being seven feet long from head to tail and over three hundred pounds, to standing naked and no more than ninety pounds. Her skin was unhealthy pale—almost translucent. Her ruby red hair and freckles only enhanced to her pastiness.
Raja stepped forward, reaching for a blanket. Harmony pressed up against the wall. “Here.” He handed her the blanket without moving closer to her. A timid hand reached out, taking the blanket from his outstretched hand.
“Why don’t you get dressed before we talk?” Tabitha motioned toward the small hallway and opened bathroom door. “The clothes from your bag were washed and are hanging in the closet.” Tabitha and Robin went to sit on the couch and chair in the sitting area.
The studio apartments were small, with everything to make it homey. Eventually, each member of the clan would receive their own cabin. The priority went to married members, then the top Elder guards, before moving down to the rest of the clan members.
Tabitha offered Robin to take the corner seat, closer to the chair where Harmony would sit when she joined them. “I knew you would be great at this. You were able to get through to her, when the rest of us couldn’t.”
“I’m not sure it was me. Maybe she was just tired of feeling trapped. Either way, I’m glad she did. I’ll work with her as much as she wants, but I’m not a licensed councilor. She might need more help than I can give her.”
“I know you were one semester away from your master’s degree in psychology.” Tabitha nudged her. “You’re the best we have. She can’t talk to someone who doesn’t know that shifters exist. Have you thought about going back for your last semester? It could be beneficial to have a licensed therapist on our team.”
“I took the college classes because I was working with so many people who needed support, as well as the abused spouses group. Bobby hated my studies and tried to force me to quit. It was my first real rebellion from his rule when I continued in school. If he wouldn’t have been killed, I’d have graduated next month.” Sadness coated her voice. So much lost at the time, yet now she was on the road to recovering her life and adding to it. She no longer wanted the life she once had. Robin wanted the life she was being offered now—Adam, the clan, the job, all of it. If she could come up with the money for the tuition, she could attend her last semester online and have her degree in a few months.
“You should finish your degree. You have so much to offer people,” Tabitha said.
The bathroom door creaked open and Harmony stepped out wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, revealing a haunted look in her eyes. She limped on her mangled leg.
“If you’re calm enough, I’ll have Bethany heal your leg.” Raja pulled out his cell to call his mate.
“I mean your people no harm, and I do appreciate you taking me in. I’m sorry I’ve been…uneasy.” Harmony sank onto the chair, releasing a sigh.
Raja put the phone to his ear. “Love, have Shadow bring you over. Harmony has shifted and we need you to heal her.”
Tabitha leaned forward, resting her arms on her thighs. “Harmony, beside Henry, are you running from anyone else? We need to know, not only for your safety, but for my clan as well, so please be truthful.”
“Just the clan in Ohio. I couldn’t return and I was scared another clan would force me to return. It was a miracle I escaped. I’d rather be alone than to go through the violence again.” Harmony’s gaze fell to the floor.
Robin could feel the torment surging from Harmony.
“We won’t send you to Ohio. The situation there will need to be dealt with. They can’t continue to discard the unworthy to Henry.” Tabitha looked to Raja who put away his cell.
“Tabitha is right,” he said. “Once we’ve dealt with another situation on our plate, we will contact the Ohio clan.”
“They will see me dead for violating their trust.” Harmony cried.
“We won’t let that happen,” Tabitha tried to reassure her. “You’re safe here.”
“First we need to care for your leg. Bethany’s on her way. Felix will need to come in to hold you while she’s healing your leg. Could I take a look at it now?” Once Harmony nodded Raja strolled toward her.
“I’m not going to attack anyone.” Harmony pulled the leg of her jeans up, allowing him to see the wound on her leg.
“It’s mainly for precaution.” He knelt in front of her, examining the damage. “Healing of a wound this extensive is extremely painful. It will help Bethany if you are completely still while she’s working on your leg. Robin will help me hold your arms while Felix will keep your leg straight.”
“Me?” Robin raised an eyebrow.
“Harmony connected with you, so your presence might keep her calm. Others have been trying to get her to shift for days with no results. She seems to trust you.” Raja smiled.
Harmony appeared much younger than twenty. “I won’t be any trouble,” she said.
“I know you won’t.” Robin scooted forward on the couch to lay her hand over Harmony’s. “Don’t worry, it will be fine. I’ll be by your side. Healing will take a lot from you so I’ll doubt you’ll be up to talking. How about I come over after breakfast and we can talk then?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Harmony flinched under Raja’s touch on her leg.
“We’re going to need information about what happened to prevent further suffering.” Raja moved her leg to view the other side. “This is a nasty wound. Even after Bethany heals it, you’re going to have some internal healing. You’re going to need to take it easy for a bit. That means staying here.”
“Fine, but does the guard have to be at the door? I feel like a prisoner.”
“For the next few days, yes. It’s possible your leg could turn septic. A guard outside will be able to smell if your condition worsens and can alert Bethany or Doc.” Tabitha looked around the apartment. “Your meals will be delivered, and unlike the last few days you need to eat. You’re malnourished and your wound won’t heal completely until you start taking care of your body.”
Shadow opened the door, peaking inside before allowing Bethany to enter. “It’s nice to see you’ve shifted. I’ve been waiting to heal your wound.” She walked toward Harmony.
Raja straightened from his kneeling position, laying his hand on Bethany’s shoulder to stop her. “Shadow, please ask Felix to come in.”
Bethany leaned to her mate, keeping her voice a whisper. “Is that wise?”
“Harmony knows and is fine. Right, Harmony?” Raja turned to the injured tigress.
Harmony nodded. “Yes, sir…” The rest of her words died on her tongue.
The tension surging through Harmony’s body flowed through Robin’s until she thought she was drowning in terror. She’d pull her hand away if the young tigress didn’t have a death grip on it. She placed her other hand on top, rubbing her thumb over Harmony’s knuckles. “Adam mentioned I’d feel some of the emotions from the clan members, especially when touching, because of his connection to you and his level within the clan. Harmony has no connection to the Alaskan Tigers clan, so why do I feel it with her?” Robin asked Raja.
“You should only feel a prickle, but now that you mention the sensation, I have it as well.” Raja frowned. “Tabitha?”
Tabitha nodded. “I sense it too. I’m so use to feeling everyone’s emotions that I didn’t pay attention. Harmony has no connections to our clan.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense.”
Raja glanced at Shadow, and then at Felix. They each nodded. He ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. “She hasn’t found her mate yet, so that’s not it.”
“Could it be through Henry?” Tabitha looked to Felix. “Technically he’s connected by being his twin. That’s why twin shifters are rarely in different clans. Their emotions are tied together and to have them dedicated to two different leads would cause conflicting feelings in each of them.”
“It’s possible I guess. Henry gave no oath to the Ohio clan. They don’t consider him one of us because of his condition.” Felix’s hands balled into fists. “He’s only there because their doctor works with mentally ill patients. If Henry bit Harmony, she’d have a connection to me. Body fluids would bring the bond to life.”