Free Tiger Tracks (Alaskan Tigers Book 9) by Marissa Dobson Page A

privately, you’d have heard from the bedroom anyway.”
    “I don’t want to intrude. It’s just kind of weird…”
    “What is, Catnip?” Styx pressed when she stopped mid-sentence.
    “Being alone. I don’t think in my whole life I’ve ever been alone. Frank allowed every family an apartment of sorts, but it was just one room and a bathroom. There was no privacy, and nowhere to go to get away from everyone. I feel so alone now.”
    He set his coffee mug aside and crossed the space between them in two quick strides. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his body. “You’re not, Catnip. I’m here. You’re part of something bigger now.”
    “But it’s gone…my connection to the clan. There’s nothing there.”
    If the connection was gone, it could mean one of two things. Either Frank had shunned her and broken the connection between her and the clan, or he was dead. Even if another shifter had taken over the clan, she wouldn’t be connected until she vowed her commitment to the new Alpha. He wasn’t sure which one she was hoping for, but he hoped it meant Frank was dead. They wouldn’t have to deal with eliminating another shifter. It would also be better for the clan if they finally took things into their own hands.
    “I realize it’s a shock, but that could be a good thing.” Theodore spoke before Styx’s glare could silence him.
    “What do you mean?” she snapped. “I’m alone because my whole clan is dead…my family.”
    “Even though he should have kept his mouth shut. That’s not what he meant. What he’s trying to say is that it’s possible Frank is dead. It could mean your clan is free.”
    “They’re free in death,” she snapped before looking up at him. “I know they’re dead.”
    “You’ve seen it in your visions?”
    “No. I just know it.” Her voice broke and she leaned against him. “I close my eyes and I see my whole clan dead, but they’re not visions…more like nightmares. He’d have killed anyone he thought was against him, anyone he thought knew my secret but didn’t tell him, and most importantly he’d have killed my family because he’d blame them. How am I supposed to think anything else?”
    He tried to give her comfort, but he had no idea what she was going through. The family aspect had never been something he’d had to deal with. The closest thing he could compare it to was how he’d feel if something happened to Ty, Tabitha, or one of the other Elders of the Alaskan Tigers. They were his family in a way, but it was more than that because it was his job to protect them. She didn’t have that sense of safety when it came to her family, especially not after her sister betrayed her. They might be human most of the time, but their beast within could never forgive a betrayal like that. Even if her human side wanted to forgive and move on, her beast would never give her the satisfaction. Once they betrayed you, they were the enemy. They wouldn’t get a second chance to turn against the beast.
    “Styx?” Ty’s voice came through the laptop speakers.
    “We’re here, sir.” He pressed his lips to her forehead in a light kiss. “It’s going to be okay, Catnip. I’ll find out what happened to your family and your clan. Trust me.”
    “Is everything okay there?”
    “An emotional roller coaster, that’s all,” Theodore explained. “Styx’s handling it.”
    “Styx…Mira…”
    A woman’s voice called out, and Styx had to glance at the screen to be sure it was Bethany. The voice was softer than normal, but it was the tear stained cheeks that made his beast rise within him. “Is everything okay?” He stepped forward, and since his arm was still around Mira, she moved with him.
    “Please let me handle this.” Raja put his arm around his mate’s shoulder.
    “What’s happened?” Mentally, he calculated how long it would take them to fly back to Alaska.
    “Nothing as bad as you’re thinking,” Raja reassured him.
    “I’m