Free Healing the Clan: Alaskan Tigers: Book Ten by Marissa Dobson

free from Frank and not having to share the room with her parents, she had taken to sleeping naked. Nudity provided the freedom she needed as she tossed and turned in her sleep. Tonight, though, nudity wouldn’t do.
    She grabbed her clothes and headed toward the bathroom. As she pushed the bathroom door shut behind her, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her shoulder-length blonde hair looked windblown and wild. The dark circles under her eyes showed her sleep deprivation. If mating was like dating in the human world, she’d have worried more about her physical appearance, but for shifters, their connection was so much deeper than just skin level. Destiny mated them with their perfect match, and as far as she knew, there was never an unhappy couple. At least not those who hadn’t gone rogue or insane like Frank had. Those were exceptions to the rule.
    Changing out of her clothes and into her sleepwear, she thought about how David was trying to make changes in the clan, ones that would be for the better for everyone involved. The Alaskan Tigers were taking things even further by trying to unite their species. What a difference three years could make. Soon, Alphas like Frank would be a thing of the past, and clan members who had been suppressed like they had would be able to live freely. When she made the journey home, she never expected to find this, and just like how she was willing to risk everything including her life to be reunited with her family, she’d take those same risks to see freedom come to other clans like hers. Here’s to a better future for all, one without suffering and needless death. I’ll fight for it with everything I have.

5
    Chapter Five
    T wo days had passed since Victoria arrived at the compound, and she was doing whatever she could to make the transition smoother for everyone and helping David get things done. The guards from the Alaskan Tigers had arrived, and training had begun. She had learned some martial arts skills and self-defense tactics while she was on her own, so she participated in the training sessions whenever she had time. Even though she was the only female taking part in them, no one went any easier on her. Maybe that was because the new and visiting guards knew she was his mate and a time might come when she needed to be able to protect herself. Either way, she was thankful she didn’t have to prove herself just for them to take her seriously.
    They had yet to announce that she was David’s mate to the rest of the members of the clan. It was better to wait until he had claimed her. Her tigress paced within, letting her know the time was nearing. Her body ached for his touch, to feel his fingers on her skin, exploring every curve.
    She had hoped they could have spent some of the last few days getting reacquainted, but they had been so busy they hadn’t had more than a handful of minutes together at any given time except when they fell into bed exhausted. Or in his case, the sofa, as he had been the perfect gentleman, holding off until she was ready.
    One thing kept weighing on her mind. Where was Tim? He hadn’t been seen, and even though David hadn’t said anything about it, she knew it was pressing on his thoughts, too. They had searched the compound for him. There was no sign of him. If he’d left under his own free will, then so be it, but if something happened to him…she took a deep breath and tried not to think of the worst. Hadn’t he followed them back in when she was being escorted to David? Did Reece see him once he drove her car though the gate? It was time to hunt down Reece and see if he knew anything. It was the least she could do, considering all David had done for her. Plus, she wanted her mate to have some closure.
    Once she stepped outside, she shut her eyelids as the cool breeze whipped past her. Her tigress sprang forward, wanting to enjoy the cool air and the sun on her fur. Instead of giving into the desire, she strolled toward to gate.