More than an hour passed as Layla questioned Korbin about shifters, their lifestyle, and the future they were building. It all seemed so magical. The life they had, while in the shadows, seemed to be welcoming, and the future they planned brimmed with promise. She longed to be part of it but in the back of her thoughts, she could hear her father’s words: The grass is always greener on the other side, until you’re there. Would that be the case? If she were somehow accepted into this world, would she then find out the lingering shadows that darkened her new world?

“Terrified yet?” Korbin’s head tipped slightly toward her as he reclined against the sofa, looking relaxed, if not slightly tired.

“Intrigued.” She tugged her hand through her hair, pushing the blonde strands away from her face. “It sounds wonderful, even if there are frightening aspects to it. It makes me want to be part of it.”

“You will be.” He placed his hand on her thigh, gently squeezing it. “I told you you’re my mate.”

“And what, I’m just supposed to accept that? Don’t I get any say in it?” Her voice was laced with anger that she didn’t feel. She wanted what he talked about, the mating, but she didn’t know him. The whole thing—the way she felt especially—made no sense. He could be worse than Donald for all she knew. Laying claim on her without even knowing her made it feel too much like sexual attraction. She wanted a meaningful relationship when it came to the man she’d spend the rest of her life with. There was more to being a couple than heating up the sheets. At least, she needed more.

“You get more say then some.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Not liking how those words came out, she pulled back, taking her leg out of his reach.

“Baby, I didn’t mean to upset you.” He shifted to get a better view of her. “Shifters feel the connection. It sizzles within them. The longer they wait to make their claim, the stronger it gets. After too long, it starts to hurt. The pain can be unbearable in a matter of hours or days. It all depends on the shifter. When both parties are shifters, there’s no denying the bond; if they don’t accept it, they’ll go rogue. When one is human, he or she might feel parts of the connection and pain but when they decide to reject it, that’s it. The shifter, on the other hand…”

“What?” she inquired when his words trailed off.

“We can still go rogue. Our beast is denied his mate and that’s enough to break even the strongest of us. We need our mate. They’re our other half; without them, we’re not complete.”

“No pressure there.” She let out a light chuckle and shook her head. Damn, if he was going to keep dropping bombs on her like that, she needed stronger liquor. “This connection—is that why your touch eases the stress in me? And why it helped ease the pain from the gunshot wound?”

“A mate’s touch can do so much. It will become strong once the connection between us is complete—that is if you decide to accept me as your mate.”

Not wanting to rush into anything, she tipped the beer bottle back and let the last of the cool liquid slide down her throat. After polishing off her third beer, she leaned forward and set the empty bottle on the table before turning back to him. “Mella should be here soon. What am I going to say to her? We’re going to have to tell her what you are, what this is, otherwise you’re going to have to keep everyone on a tighter leash. I’ve already heard growls and witnessed a tiger strolling past the window since we came back from the landing strip.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll tell her. She’s also going to need to know the truth about Donald. Everything.”

“Why?”

“She’s your sister, she’d want to know; but more than that, if we’re going to expect her to play by the rules, she’ll have to understand the situation and what is at stake.” He ran his hand over her back, rubbing the tight muscles as he went. “Sparks plucked her out of her life to bring her here. She has a right to know why she’s being forced to give up everything until the situation is under control.”

“What if it’s never under control? We can’t hide away here forever. Donald has connections. He’ll tear this place apart. It won’t matter to him what devastation he causes or who he ruins in the meantime; he’ll see it as justice for taking what’s his. He’ll think it’s a bonus that it matters to me.”

“I’m not going up against him blindly. I know the type of man he is, but I also know…” His words trailed off as he reached up to place his thumb on her chin, the soft pad rubbing along the curve as he trailed his fingers along the side of her jaw. “Donald knows what this place is. His adoptive parents and brother are shifters. His brother accepted a position with me as part of the security team. I’ve sent Zaz to inform the family of the situation. You have to trust me. This is all going to work out.”

“How did I not know? I mean, they seem so normal. I’d have never thought Ted or Mr. and Mrs. Hillbrand were shifters.” She shook her head. “Mella’s going to flip when I tell her all this. She’s going to be pissed I didn’t tell her about Donald long before now. She suspected something but how could I tell her what was really going on when…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words. The thought of her sister’s life being in jeopardy because of Donald make her stomach turn to knots. He had already killed her father, but she’d be damned if she was going to lose her little sister the same way. “I can’t lose her…I just can’t!”

“You’re not going to, baby. You have my word. You and Mella are safe here. I’m going to handle the situation with Donald and then…”

“Then what? It’s not like we can go back to our lives. We know about shifters and from what I gather, that’s rare information for a human to have. Are you just going to kill us? No, that wouldn’t make sense. Why help me, only to kill me afterwards?” She was rambling but couldn’t help herself. Her nerves were getting the best of her and she couldn’t seem to bring them back under control.

“No one is going to hurt you. Not Donald, and not anyone here. You’re under my protection. I know you don’t understand all of this yet but give me a chance to show you what my world can offer you and you won’t regret it.”

“What happens…” She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and stared at him for a long moment.

“If you tell someone our secret?” he supplied, watching her closely. “Baby, I don’t think you’d do that. You don’t understand what’s happening between us yet but you feel it. I realize you’re scared but you need to give it a chance. Give us a chance.”

“What about Mella? What if she tells someone? Will you kill her?”

“Why is it always about murder with you?” He shook his head. “There are other ways to deal with a threat besides killing people. If our secret gets out, there’s more at jeopardy than just my clan. Though I think your sister will understand that she will need to keep this secret.”

“You mean keep the secret in exchange for your help now? That’s going to sound like blackmail to Mella.”

“Not in exchange for our help.” He slipped his hand up her cheek, cupping the side of her face. “She’ll keep the secret because it will jeopardize your safety if she doesn’t. As my mate, and trust me baby, I will have you as my mate, you’ll be in just as much danger as I am if she tells anyone what we are.”

“You sound so sure of yourself.” Even as the words left her mouth, she knew he’d get what he wanted. He was right; she didn’t understand it but she could feel the draw between them. As much as she fought the connection, it seemed to grow stronger. With every touch and sweet caress, she longed for more. She wanted to feel his arms around her again, to feel the safety she felt in his embrace. It was unlike anything she’d ever felt before. Terrifying and exciting all at once. She only hoped Mella would understand. The last thing she wanted right then was to fight with her sister.

“There’s something else you should know before she arrives.” Removing his hand from her cheek, he leaned back against the sofa.

The moment the connection was lost, she longed to go to him, snuggle against his body, just to have the warmth of his touch on her again. “What’s that?”

“There’s not room enough for you both here. I’ve arranged for Mella to have a room down the hall. It’s right on the other side of the cafeteria. Sparks and Rachel are close by and with the round-the-clock guards on duty, she’ll be safe.”

“It’s fine. I’ll stay with her. We can share a room. You’re being generous enough to put us up and help me with my problem. Neither of us have a right to complain about the sleeping arrangements.”

Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her into his lap. A yelp of surprise slipped past her lips, but as he cradled her against him, she was left with a pure sense of contentment. “I’m glad you feel that way because you’re staying right here. Mella will have her own room and I want you right here. Remember, no complaining. You said so yourself.”

“Wait. What?” She looked up at him. “Stay here? There’s one bedroom. You’re going to make me sleep on the sofa when I could share a room with her?”

“I was more thinking of you sharing my bed.” He pulled her back against him. “But until you’re ready, I’ll sleep on the sofa. Hell, I’ll sleep on the floor if that’s what it takes. I want you right here with me where I can keep you safe. When I can’t be with you, Sparks, Zaz, or one of the others I trust will be here to help protect you.”

“You said I’m safe here, that Donald couldn’t get to me. If that’s true, then why all the precautions?”

“Even though I haven’t claimed you, you’re my mate. Until you officially reject me, then it’s my duty to keep you safe. Elder mates—”

“What? Elder mates?”

“The Elders of a clan are the Alpha and the Lieutenant. That’s me and Zaz, as of a few hours ago—he was promoted as the Lieutenant of the Ohio Tigers.” He slid his hand down her arm, soothing her. “Our mates are part of the Elder team, whether they’re shifters or humans. They’re protected. Every Elder mate has their own guards. The Elders normally do, too, especially after they’re mated.”

Still not sure what to think of his claim she was his mate, let alone supposed to help him rule his clan and have guards, she decided to skip over that to focus on other details. “Zaz…the man who was here when you were out dealing with Merrie—he’s your Lieutenant. He’s an asshole.”

“Why, sugar, because he wouldn’t allow you to leave here?” His lips curled into a smile as he watched her. “He was obeying my orders. Merrie was in a delicate spot and I needed to handle the situation before she turned rogue. You didn’t know about shifters yet. Even if you did, it would have been too dangerous for you. Her beast was too close to taking over. Having you out there would have divided my attention. I’d have wanted to protect you instead of doing my duty to her as one of my members. In here, I knew you’d be safe. Zaz wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

“You claim I’m your mate. Don’t I get a say in what I do? Or is it always going to be like this? You give orders and I’m forced to obey because my guards are there to make sure.” It didn’t sound like anything better than what she had with Donald. If she didn’t obey him, he took his anger out on her with his fists.

“You get a say and as Alpha Female of the clan, you won’t be sitting back on the sidelines. Trust me, baby, you’re going to be out there more than my tiger is comfortable with. If I had my way, I’d keep you tucked up in our bed, where I know you’d be safe. But that’s not how this works. This isn’t the olden days when I could keep you locked in my den.” A smile stretched across his face and he shifted uneasily under her, allowing her to feel his hardened manhood.

“You’re turned on by the idea of locking me up?” With her eyes wide, she stared at him. She wasn’t sure why that made her body heat with desire, or maybe that was from his reaction. “Are you…I mean I’ve read about those kinky things…but I’ve never…”

“Don’t worry, Layla. The only thing freaky about me is that I turn into a tiger.”

“In the bedroom?” She shook her head, pulling away from him. That would be too much for her. “I can’t.”

“Woah baby, that’s not what I mean. My beast doesn’t come out in the bedroom, not like that anyways. There might be some growling as I make you mine, but I don’t turn into a tiger and pounce. I’m all man then.” He let out an uneasy chuckle. “When I said the only freaky thing about me is turning into a tiger, I meant in general. Though the idea of having you tied up on my bed, naked and waiting, does turn me on. It doesn’t mean I want you there always. Fuck that, I want you naked and in my bed every night but no whips and chains. I want you there because you want to be there not because I’ve got you tied up.”

“Thank heavens.” She relaxed back against him. “I thought this freaky little tiger village I stumbled into might have been hiding a second secret. I don’t do whips and chains. The idea of being chained to anything….”

Images of being handcuffed to the radiator rushed through her thoughts, making the burn marks on her back itch. She wiggled against him, her arm reaching back to scratch it, but no matter how much she dragged her nails over the spot between her shoulder blades, it wouldn’t end. With her eyes closed, she could see herself there, chained, the scent of her burning skin filling the air and making her gag. Please, Donald. I’m sorry! I didn’t— Before she could finish, he’d reached out and back slapped her with such force, she could taste blood.

“Layla.”

Her body shook but the memory held tight. Donald had pressed her back against the hot radiator, forcing tears to spring to her eyes. The pain burned white in front of her eyes and she begged for unconsciousness. That night, she’d thought her life was going to end.

“Layla, open your eyes. Look at me,” the voice demanded. Part of her recognized the voice and wanted to go to it but she couldn’t.

A prickle of pain seared through the memory, but this was different from the burning skin on her back. This was her neck. Without opening her eyes, she reached up. Her hand met hair and for a moment, she stopped. Donald’s head was shaved—this wasn’t him. For that reason alone, she dragged her hands through his hair, her fingers tangling in the silky strands.

“Come on baby, open your eyes.” The voice was muffled as he pressed soft kisses along her neck. “You’re safe here.”

“Korbin.” His name came out as a whisper and her grip on his hair tightened, not out of fear but out of need. “You bit me.”

“You left me very few options when you didn’t respond to the sound of my voice.” He pulled back, forcing her to lose her grip of his hair. “What happened to you?”

“Too much.” Not knowing what else to say, she pulled her hand away from his hair and relaxed against his chest. “It’s over now, right?”

“It is.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “No one fucks with my woman.”

“You give me hope but at the same time, I’m terrified to lose you. If the outcome is in his favor he’ll make me regret my choices every day of my life. Maybe I could have lived under his thumb if I hadn’t known there was something else out there for me. Something that appears to be so much more than I could have expected, let alone wanted deep in my heart.”

“We’ll get through this and you’ll see there’s so much out there for you. I don’t just mean with me and the clan. You can do anything you ever wanted to. You’ll be protected but it doesn’t mean I’m going to lock you away here. You can have the life you never would have had with him. Most of all, with me, you’ll be loved and cherished.”

“Loved? How can you possibly know that? You only just met me. I could be a crazy lunatic.”

“Not a chance, baby.” His arms tightened around her waist. “Mates are perfectly matched. We’re meant to be together and if you accept this fact, we’ll be happy. I’ll make sure you’re happy.”

“I wish I had your confidence.” Even as her words voiced her doubt, she leaned against his chest and rested her head on his shoulder. It all sounded so picture perfect but that wasn’t how her life worked. Nothing had ever gone according to plan for her. When’s the next shoe going to drop?