Darkness had fallen and there was still no sign of Korbin or the others. With every passing minute, Layla became more unnerved. Sitting around doing nothing while he was out there, facing Donald and saving Mr. and Mrs. Hillbrand was killing her. This had all happened because of her—since Donald couldn’t get to her, he was going after someone else to draw her out. Mella was safe, or she’d have been his first choice.

Donald knew her well enough to figure out she couldn’t sit by if her sister was in danger. She had put up with all the shit he’d dished at her just to keep Mella safe.

She didn’t know Mr. and Mrs. Hillbrand very well but they had always treated her like family. When her father died, they had been there. Their support had helped get her through the darkness that had threatened to overtake her. They had become her only support, while Donald had done nothing but poke at her grief. Then again, he was the one that murdered her father so why would he have comforted her while she mourned the man?

Donald’s statements circled through her thoughts, stealing the light from within her again. Get off your ass. He’s dead and unless you want to join him, you’ll do as I say. You’ve seen what I’m capable of. Don’t think I won’t put you in the ground like I did my parents and your old man. Once you’re dead, who’s going to protect Mella?

“Layla,” Zaz said in a low voice as he came up to stand close to her. “Pacing isn’t going to make the time pass any quicker. Come sit down and eat something. Rachel made your favorite—honey roasted chicken.”

“How did she know?” She stopped in her tracks.

“We overheard you saying it once when Donald pulled you out of the store. You came into town for honey and he…well, you know.” Sparks’ gaze shifted uncomfortably as he placed the contents of the grocery bags Rachel had brought in on the kitchen bar. “She wanted to make something you’d likely eat. You need to keep your strength up. A healing tends to take a lot out of someone. With us, we’re starving after being healed; humans, I’ve heard, tend to be more tired than anything. Your body was rushed through the healing process, so you need to take care of yourself for a few days, let your body recover.”

“I just…” She glanced back at the window. How could she think of eating when Korbin was out there in danger?

“Sparks, make her a plate and put it in the oven on warm. She’ll eat in a bit.” Zaz tipped his head. “Come with me.”

“Where?” She rubbed her hand up her arm, trying to keep her nerves from showing. Through the bond, she could feel the trust between Korbin and Zaz, yet, he made her uneasy. Part of it was the fact that he’d stood in her way when she wanted to go to Korbin on the first day she was there. The rest was his size. He could easily break her in two but he hadn’t so much as stepped a toe out of bounds, not with his words or his actions. He had been nothing but nice to her, yet, she couldn’t move past her uneasiness.

“Korbin’s office.” He stepped back out of the way and held his arm out, motioning for her to lead the way. “This way we don’t disturb your sister.”

Moving away from the window, she glanced over at Mella who had dozed off on the sofa. Since she’d arrived, Mella’s attitude had changed. She was more understanding and the anger that filled her before had disappeared. Layla wasn’t sure if it was because of whatever Korbin had said or the fact Mella had realized they were safer there than out in the world with Donald on their tail. Either way, she was grateful.

“She’ll be fine.” Zaz mistook the attention she was giving her sister as concern.

“I know.” Her gaze slid over Sparks and Neil before moving forward toward the office.

“So, you have confidence in them but not in me.” Zaz let out a light chuckle. “It figures.”

Stepping into the office, she turned around to face him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I figured, that’s all.” With the door shut, he remained standing there, blocking her path for retreat. If she wanted out, she had to go through him.

“You want me to have faith in you; then why don’t you start by answering the question, instead of sidestepping it?” Anger pumped through her veins, leaving her confused. His attitude annoyed her, but there was no reason for her to get angry.

“Right there, trust that. Trust the connection you have with Korbin. Trust the emotions flowing through you.” He took a step toward her, his hand wrapped around her bicep. “I’m Lieutenant here but you’re Alpha Female. You outrank me.”

“I—”

“Don’t.” He shook his head. “Trust the connection, focus on that. Close your eyes and focus.”

Every instinct in her told her not to close her eyes, not even blink, with him invading her personal space. Yet, a lone voice inside her encouraged her to trust him. Sucking in a deep breath, she forced herself to relax and closed her eyelids. The moment she wasn’t looking at him, the tension within her eased. It was as though a switch had been flicked, allowing her to see clearly—even though she couldn’t actually see anything.

“As Alpha Female, you have a part of Korbin’s beast within you. It allows you to connect to the clan even though you’re human. The Elders of the clan are the strongest because they’re the roots keeping the clan together.”

“I feel you standing there. So confident and sure of everything.”

“Rather than trust that and the connection, you’re angry.”

“I’m angry but logically, it doesn’t make sense. The anger is centered on you. You kept me away from Korbin when I thought he was going to be eaten by Merrie. Instead of allowing me to run out there, you stood in the doorway, blocking my path. Now you order me into the office…making decisions for me when I’m in charge. Not you.”

“Embrace that. You’re Alpha Female here, not me. Focus on that, push past your anger and dig deeper into the connection.” He stepped closer to her until she could feel him inches from her. “I’m going to place my hand on your arm. The contact will help you focus on me. When I do, I want you to concentrate and tell me what you learn.”

She barely had time to brace herself before his fingers wrapped around her wrist, strengthening the connection. Even with her eyes closed she could see him, except it was like a split image of him. She could see him standing there in human form, but she could also see his tiger. Perhaps seeing him in both forms meant that one without the other would only be seeing half of him. Each side completed him.

“What do you feel?”

“Your tiger. He’s…” The soft fur brushed along her fingers as though she was touching the beast, yet she knew it was impossible. “So soft. He’s so close but I’m not afraid. I’m…”

“You’re what?” Zaz encouraged.

“Safe. Protected. But it can’t be…”

“What can’t be?” He wrapped his free hand around her other wrist. “Keep your attention on the tiger. Ignore your human side. You’re more than human now; you’re one of us.”

“I can’t shift,” she argued, unconvinced.

“Doesn’t matter. You have a tiger within you now, making you part of our family.”

“You were here under the former Alpha, before Korbin took over. You’ve done so much for this clan. Devoted not only to the clan members but to Korbin and…” She shook her head and started to pull back from him.

“Don’t break the connection. We’re not done.” His grip tightened, keeping her in place. “You can feel my commitment to you, too.”

“You don’t know me.”

“Just as you know me through the connection, I know you. The members don’t have the same link with you, meaning they don’t know you like I do; but as an Elder of the clan, we’re connected on a deeper level. Even if we weren’t, you’re my Alpha Female. I’d lay down my life to protect you. I’d never hurt you.”

“I don’t want that. I just want this to be over.”

“I know, which is why I bought you in here. I’m going to remove my hands, but I need you to stay focused.”

“I don’t understand.” As his hands pulled back from her, the connection to his tiger eased back until she could no longer see them in her mind. His presence was still there, just not at the forefront.

“I told you before you have a part of Korbin’s tiger within you. Use it to know he’s safe.”

“I can’t.” Her voice broke. She wanted to know he was okay but it wasn’t like when he was there. She couldn’t feel him. Where the connection between them had been bright before, now it seemed to be replaced by an empty, black void.

“You can. Right now, you’re so full of emotions and fear that you’re blocking him. You need to relax and picture him standing in front of you.”

“Is he okay? If he’s not…” She let out a deep breath and tried not to think of the worst.

“He is,” he reassured her. “My tiger is used to the connections so my emotions don’t get in way, like yours are. He’s also my Alpha, so even though I could block another clan member, I can’t block him.”

“I’m scared.” As much as she wanted to know without a doubt that he was fine, she was also afraid of what she’d learn through the connection. Had he killed Donald? What about the Hillbrands—were they okay?

“I wouldn’t ask you to do this if I thought you’d learn anything that upset you. I’d have kept my mouth shut and allowed you to pace the living room until you wore a hole in the floor or Korbin returned.”

“I know.” Moments before, she didn’t trust him but now after seeing his tiger and feeling his commitment to the clan, Korbin, and even her, she trusted him. Korbin had made the right decision when he promoted Zaz to Lieutenant. He wasn’t just committed to the clan; they also respected him, which made him the perfect person to fill the role.

Letting go of her fear, she could feel Korbin’s tiger stir within her. For a brief moment, she wanted to slam the shields back into place, blocking him. Instead, she took a couple of deep breaths and continued to reach out to him. She lifted her hand as if reaching out to the invisible tiger, calling him closer.

The tiger’s head brushed against the palm of her hand, shattering the remaining walls between them and allowing her to feel Korbin as if he were standing there in front of her. In her mind, she could see him in an open space, trees towering behind him. She didn’t recognize the place but it must have been the area surrounding the Hillbrands’ cabin. As they walked, Korbin spoke to Larry. She couldn’t hear what he was saying but she could see his lips move. As the connection flared to life, he stopped mid-sentence and looked away from the other man.

Layla.

Without realizing, she’d raised her hand she felt her fingers cover her lips in surprise. It couldn’t be but she could swear Korbin was speaking to her in her mind. He was miles away yet she could feel him as though he were near her, and the way he said her name it seemed as if he stood in the room with her. How surreal.

What’s wrong?

“It can’t be. You’re not here.” Logically she knew she couldn’t hear him speaking, but she did, which made her wonder if her sanity had snapped in two.

“He can’t hear you if you speak out loud,” Zaz explained. “Think the words. Use the connection to communicate with Korbin. He’ll be able to hear you just as you can hear him.”

This is insane. She hadn’t realized she was doing just as Zaz had directed her until Korbin’s lips curled into a smirk. He was amused as she stumbled her way through this new connection.

It’s the mating bond. I’m coming home.

It took her a moment to allow the words to sink in. Home. That’s where she was and he was coming back to her. As her thoughts started to take control, the connection dimmed and she reached out for it, grabbing it with everything she had. You’re okay? Ted? Mr. and Mrs. Hillbrand? In her mind, she took him in, scanning his clothes for any sign of blood, but there was nothing.

Open your eyes, baby.

Not yet. I need to know you’re okay. She could feel him shutting down the connection and no matter what she did, she couldn’t keep it going.

Open your eyes. His voice drifted toward her, soft as the bond faded.

“Shit! I lost him.” She kept her eyes closed, searching for him. She could still feel him; he felt as though he was nearby but she figured it was through the connection.

“You’ll never lose me.”

At the sound of his voice, she forced herself to open her eyes and found Korbin standing before her. She gave him the once over, searching for any injuries, blood, anything, but there was nothing.

“I’m fine. Ted and his parents are settling into one of the cabins now. They’ll be staying here with us and if you want to see them, we can go over later.”

“You’re really here.” Relief washed through her as she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I’m here, baby.” He circled her waist, drawing her tight to him. “When you saw me talk to Larry, I was just across the compound and was heading this way.”

Wrapped in his embrace, she tipped her head up to look into his eyes. “Donald?”

“It’s over, baby. He can no longer hurt you.”

Over. That one word made her want to rejoice—at least until she remembered the hell he’d put everyone through. “How? Dead? Arrested?”

“Dead.” The soft brush of his tiger teased along her skin, as if his beast wanted to comfort her. “Donald was insane. He shot Mrs. Hillbrand. She’s fine now that she shifted, but it broke whatever restraint Mr. Hillbrand had and he broke through the chains, securing him. Donald was shot and killed as Mr. Hillbrand protected his mate.”

She didn’t know what to say. Part of her heart broke, not for Donald but for the Hillbrands. They lost a man they considered their son. Korbin might have thought it was all over but in some ways, it was just beginning.