Free The Tiger's Heart by Marissa Dobson

before turning his attention to Ty. “I’d like to
ask Connor to search for her uncle. It’s possible he’s in
danger.”
    Ty nodded. “Go ahead. There’s one more
thing we would like to discuss with Bethany before she
goes.”
    “ I’ll wait. Connor can get
started once you’re done here.”
    No one argued with him, but she could
feel the tension level slowly rising. Behind her, Raja went still,
and Ty started to speak.
    “ We’d like to have your
family bodies sent here…”
    “ You what?” Bethany
hollered. If she could have stood, she would have jumped out of her
seat with anger.
    “ Please hear him out,”
Tabitha begged.
    “ I thought I wasn’t a
prisoner here. I told you I wouldn’t share your secret. What more
do you want from me?”
    “ We haven’t lied to you.
Ty’s suggesting this to protect you.”
    She glared at Tabitha with hatred in
her eyes.
    “ Bethany, hear me out.
Pierce is expecting you to return home, grief-stricken and injured.
You would be easy prey. We can’t guarantee your safety in Virginia.
We can give your family the proper ceremony here and still keep you
safe.”
    Bethany sat in shock, shaking her
head. “You knew about this?” she asked Raja in a
whisper.
    He moved to the side of her chair,
knelt beside her. “Tabitha briefly mentioned it. I wasn’t aware of
details. I know it’s a shock, but think about it. It would keep you
safe here with me to protect you. You’re in no condition to go up
against him,” Raja whispered.
    “ What about family and
friends? How would I explain it?”
    “ You could explain your
parents didn’t want a memorial service. The one here would be kept
quiet. An announcement in the papers would need to be made for your
family, and loose ends would need to be dealt with, but we can help
you,” Ty explained.
    “ My family wanted to be
cremated, my parents’ ashes buried together once they passed,” her
voice full of unshed tears.
    “ Whatever arrangements you
want can be arranged here. You can save your family ashes until you
find the spot you wish to bury them. We’re not doing this to punish
you for knowing our secret—we’re trying to protect you. Your
parents wouldn’t want you to die in the same way they were killed.”
Ty leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
    “ I understand. This is
just all too much. I’ll need my cell phone in order for the police
to reach me. Only my family was aware I was in Alaska, and even if
they found out where I was, they would expect me to be at the
hotel, not here. I want to rest now, if that is all.”
    “ I have it.” Raja patted
his pocket. “She’ll be in my quarters if there is anything else.
I’ll let you know when the call comes through.”
    “ Very well. I’ll let you
know when we hear from the West Virginia’s Alpha,” Ty said as Raja
wheeled her toward the door.

Chapter Sixteen
    “ Are you comfortable?”
Raja asked as he pulled the blanket up from the bottom of the
bed.
    “ This is your room, isn’t
it?” She nodded.
    “ Yes. The guest bed isn’t
made, and I wanted to get you comfortable.” He brushed hair away
from her face. “You need to get some sleep.”
    “ I’m not tired.” She
yawned. “Maybe if I give myself up to Pierce, he would kill me
quickly and you could trap him. Then he wouldn’t be able to kill
anyone else.”
    “ Don’t even speak like
that.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “You won’t sacrifice
yourself. We will catch him.”
    “ But…”
    “ He wouldn’t do it
quickly.”
    “ You don’t know that.” She
twirled her finger around the sheet.
    “ Trust me, I know,” he
growled.
    She watched him closely. “How do you
know?”
    He pushed off the bed to pace the room
that seemed to be closing in around him.
    “ Answer me,
Raja.”
    “ There was nothing quick
about what he did to your sister,” he barked. “I don’t want to see
the same thing happen to you.”
    He watched her cringe and sink deep
into the mattress. The