Tangling with the Tiger: Lone Pine Pride, Book 5 (11 page)

Chapter Seventeen

Morning came entirely too early.

Grace was usually good at mornings—charging into the day with determination—but when her alarm went off, she groaned and buried her face in her pillow to avoid the sunlight streaming through the drapes she’d forgotten to shut the night before when she collapsed face down on her bed.

But the alarm kept beeping, gaining volume by the second, each shrill repetition reminding her that she had too much to do today to laze in bed.

Packing, first and foremost. Then telling her parents she was leaving so they didn’t have a fit after the fact. And then a last minute pow-wow with Roman before she hit the road headed north with the lion who was trying to court her and the tiger who…

She wasn’t sure what Dominec wanted from her. Or what she wanted from him. Whatever it was, she’d put a pin in it until they got back. Their mission was too important for distractions.

And too important for her to laze abed.

Grace rolled to her feet, turned off the alarm and immediately reached for her large hiking backpack. She hadn’t used it since the first failed incursion against the Organization, when they’d hiked in to the facility where Adrian had been held.

The gear she shoved in it now was remarkably similar to what she’d carried then.

A few changes of clothes. Basic toiletries. A tarp. A body heat blanket. Her expanded first aid kit.

The basics.

She felt naked going without a gun. Even a tranq gun would have made her feel better, but this was a diplomatic mission and they would be crossing the Canadian border as everyday civilians. So no weaponry.

She grabbed a few extra pairs of warm socks and tossed in gloves, hats and an extra thermal shell. She’d pulled her winter jacket from the closet and tossed it on her bed beside the pack, considering tucking a hunting knife into her pack when a knock came at her door.

She opened the door, frowning as Roman mumbled good morning and slipped inside.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, rather than return his greeting. He could not be here to tell her he’d decided to send someone else. Fate could not be that cruel.

“Not wrong, necessarily. The Three Rocks lions want to come with you.”

“What? Why?”

He began to move around the room, his restlessness doing nothing to ease hers. “They’d heard about Black Lake from some of the wolves in the south. Apparently they were planning to head up that way anyway, because none of the wolves will do anything without their say-so. I spoke with the Three Rocks Alpha this morning and he’s agreed to see reason about not coming out to the humans until we can free as many shifters from Organization captivity as possible. He actually seemed much more cautious than the pair he sent.”

“What about them working with Mateo to help us contact all the shifters they’ve met in the last few months?”

“They’re with him now and they’ll give him as much information as they can before you go, but I think it’s wise for them to accompany you. Since our goal is shifter unity, sending emissaries from multiple prides is good for our message.”

Grace nodded, albeit grudgingly. She hadn’t wanted them in on her mission, but apparently hoping they were desperately needed at Lone Pine to share information was only wishful thinking. “They know I’m in charge?”

“You’re still the boss.”

Tell that to Zoe King
. “Then I’m glad to have them along,” Grace said with false good cheer.

Roman didn’t pretend to buy her happy act. “Who knows? Maybe they’ll be useful.” Task complete, he turned toward the door. “See you at departure.”

At least she wouldn’t be alone for two days with only Kelly and Dominec. She could almost tolerate the Three Rocks brat if it meant she had built in chaperones.

Grace glanced at her cell to check the time after the Alpha left. Forty-five minutes until they needed to leave. Just enough time to get out to her parents’ place and back.

“You’re going to miss Thanksgiving!”

Grace ground her molars and tried to remind herself that her mother was trying to be loving in her own way. In her mother’s world,
my daughter might miss a family holiday
trumped
my daughter is going on a vital mission that might be the salvation of our entire species.

She’d found her mom at home alone. If she’d been thinking clearly—less focused on the mission and less sleep-deprived—she would have remembered that her siblings would all be at the pride school at this hour and her father would be at work. Leaving only the happy house-lioness.

“I’m only supposed to be gone a week, Mom. I’ll be back before Thanksgiving.” Unless they inadvertently started an interspecies territorial war, but Grace was trying to think positively.

“Your sister has her Thanksgiving play on Friday.”

“And it won’t be the first school play I’ve missed because of my job.”

“Exactly my point, Grace,” her mother exclaimed. “You could at least make an effort to be part of this family.”

Grace’s patience snapped. “Mom, do you have any idea what’s going on in the pride right now? Have you even heard of the Organization? Did you wonder why we had a riot a couple days ago? Did the All Pride Meeting the old Alpha called to talk about the threat to the south mean nothing to you?”

Her mother’s face grew defensive and closed off—as it always did when Grace tried to broaden her rather narrow world view. “The best thing we can do is go on with our lives. If we let them change us because of our fear, then they win.”

Grace went still, surprised by the words. She could almost appreciate them. Except… “If we let them imprison us, experiment on us and
kill
us, then they win too, Mom. Not everyone can defeat the bad guy by pretending he isn’t there. Sometimes the monster really is under the bed.”

Her mother looked away, fidgeting with her coffee cup. “At least Kelly is going with you. I’ll sleep easier knowing he has your back.”

“Kelly is a barely passable fighter, Mom. You should be glad Dominec is guarding my back. Or better yet, be glad that I’m guarding theirs.”

Her mother frowned. “I don’t know any Dominec. Is he another one of the lieutenant lions?”

The fact that her mother didn’t even know who the pride lieutenants were was more than a little disturbing to Grace. “He’s a tiger,” she said simply. “He’s had firsthand experience with the Organization. Kelly is the diplomat and I’m the one authorized to speak for Roman.”

“You are?” Her mother’s eyes lit with the avaricious gleam of a woman with something to lord over her knitting circle. “That’s wonderful, sweetie.”

Biting her lip on all the biting things she was tempted to say, Grace flicked a glance at the grandfather clock, wondering if her mother still set it five minutes fast. “I should go. I just wanted to let you know in person that I’ll be gone for a few days.”

Her mother pursed her lips as if trying to contain words that wanted to burst out. Grace stood and the words erupted. “Be careful. I know you’re strong and tough and don’t need me fretting over you, but just be careful. That’s all I ask.”

Guilt washed up like a wave rushing up the shore. Her mother had never understood Grace, but she did love her, and she did try. “I will be, Mom.” She caught her mother’s hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “It’s just a diplomatic mission. We’ll be fine.” Her lips twisted in a sideways grin. “And home for Thanksgiving.” If at all possible.

Chapter Eighteen

By the time she arrived at the garage at quarter to ten, there was already a crowd around the dark SUV that was gassed up and waiting out front.

The Three Rocks pair huddled in intense conversation with Roman. Kelly lazed against the side of the SUV, his pack resting against one ankle as he chatted amiably with Patch and Hugo. Dominec, true to form, was lurking in the shadows of the building across the way, his own pack slung over one shoulder. She had a feeling his was mostly weapons—as it had been on their previous strikes. She’d have to have a word with him before they crossed the border—make sure the Mounties weren’t going to find anything objectionable in his pack.

“Y’all better have your passports current,” Grace called as she approached, eyeing the Three Rocks pair particularly. She could handle Dominec and Kelly, but she didn’t know these two. Didn’t know how they would react if things went sideways. “I take it Roman briefed you on how we’re going to approach the wolves?” she said, letting the words lift into a question to feel them out.

The woman—Zoe—stiffened. “We’ve been doing this for months. I think we know how to approach foreign packs.”

“And I think I’m in charge.” Grace smiled sweetly. “So are you going to familiarize yourselves with the plan and get on board or will we have two extra seats in this big ole hunk of machinery?” She gave the black SUV an affectionate pat.

She saw Patch’s eyebrows lift in obvious amusement. The Alpha’s mate was a cougar, but she’d lived with the pride long enough to recognize lion dominance games when she saw them. Grace was establishing herself as Queen Bitch before they got in the car or they were not getting in the car. End of story.

Tyler lifted his hand and cupped the nape of his mate’s neck, rubbing this thumb along the column of her throat soothingly. “We’re all on the same side,” he murmured to Zoe, so low Grace could barely hear him even though she was only three feet away. “We’ve read the plan,” he assured her, at a normal volume. “It looks good.”

When Zoe didn’t contradict her mate, Grace beamed. “Super.” She waved to the front wheel well where Kelly lounged. “This is Kelly Mather. He’s coming along to play diplomat and smooth all the fur we’re undoubtedly going to rub the wrong way.” She gave Zoe a pointed look—just to be sure the brat knew who was included in that
we
.

Zoe and Tyler nodded to Kelly, acknowledging the introduction. “So we’re just waiting for the other one?” the lioness said.

“Nah. He’s here.” Grace nodded toward the shadows as Dominec detached himself from them and ambled over to join the group.

He jerked his chin at Zoe and Tyler in greeting. “Dominec Giroux. Visual aid.”

He angled his head so the morning light hit his scars full on. Grace was close enough to hear Zoe’s indrawn breath. His face had long since stopped being shocking to Grace—not that she ever forgot the scars were there, because they were an inescapable part of him—but rather it had been so long since she’d had any sort of visceral reaction beyond
that’s Dominec
when looking at him that she forgot what most people felt when they saw him.

Zoe was turning a little green—probably imagining what must have been done to someone who healed as fast as a shifter to create that level of permanent damage. She couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away from the scars or find her tongue—
thank God for small favors—
so it was Tyler who returned Dominec’s nod and murmured, “Nice to meet you.”

Zoe kept staring until Grace stepped forward, not so subtly jostling her out of her trance. “Let’s load up.”

“Right,” Zoe muttered, dropping her gaze.

Dominec said nothing, his expression utterly impassive as he rounded the back of the SUV and opened the back hatch.

Grace had always thought he liked throwing his disfigurement in people’s faces. He knew how to angle his head to make sure you couldn’t avoid looking at his scars. She’d always thought it was an extension of the fact that he liked to push people, test their boundaries. But now she wondered if it was a sort of defense mechanism. Leading with his scars to get all the horror and pity out of the way right off the bat.

Grace moved to the back of the SUV, but Dominec had already moved around to have a word with Patch. She tossed her pack in. Zoe and Tyler didn’t have much with them and Dominec and Kelly had clearly taken her admonishment to pack light to heart. There was plenty of room leftover in the back of the SUV. Room she would love to fill with a small armory so they were prepared for every eventuality.

Unfortunately, the Canadian border guards could be so fussy when you tried to bring a rolling arsenal into their country.

Grace slammed the tailgate shut.

“Grace, I’m glad I caught you.”

She turned, frowning. “Xander, what is it? Is there a problem with the prisoners?” She waved around the corner of the SUV where everyone else loitered. “Roman’s here too, if—”

“No, nothing like that,” he cut her off. “I just needed to see you before you left.”

He reached out and took her hand.

Grace looked down at his grip, frowning in confusion. “What are you talking about?” He could
not
be thinking what she was starting to suspect he was thinking.

He was.

The bulk of the SUV blocked them from the sight of the rest of the group and gave a false sense of privacy as Xander halved the distance between them with a step. “Grace, I know we’ve never spoken of it, but the way you flirt with me, it’s obvious you feel it too. I didn’t want you to go without giving you a proper goodbye.”

He leaned in and Grace recovered from her momentary shock to dodge. “Are you
kidding
me?”

First Kelly. Then Dominec. Now Xander. What the
fuck
was going on with the men in this pride?

Xander paused frowning. “What?”

“No. Just no.” She held up both hands in the universal signal for stop-right-there-you-overconfident-punk. “Me flipping you off and kicking you under the table during advisory meetings isn’t
flirting
, you ass. It’s because I find you annoying.”

“Chemistry,” he said, undeterred. “The ones who drive us crazy outside the bedroom are the same ones who drive us crazy inside.”

“Okay, first off,
no
. And secondly,
hell no
. That isn’t how it works. Not for me. And not for most women. If we don’t like you, we just don’t like you. Giving you the finger isn’t usually foreplay.”

“So you’re saying you hate me,” Xander said, in a remarkably unoffended tone.

“I’m saying I find you annoying the same way I find my little brother annoying. And I don’t want to sleep with either of you. Because
ew
.”

“Huh,” he muttered. “Guess I read that one wrong.”

“Yes.” Thank God he was taking it so well.

“Though if you change your mind—”

“
No
.”

“All right.” He nodded, so completely unmoved by her rejection she couldn’t comprehend how he could ever have actually wanted her. “Safe trip.”

“Thanks.”

She waited until he was out of sight, headed back to whatever rock he’d crawled out from under, before she sat on the back bumper of the SUV and groaned.

What the
fuck
was going on? When had she suddenly become the pride’s most eligible bachelorette?

She didn’t even like dating and she pretty much sucked at touchy feely stuff when it came to her own life, but suddenly there were sexy guys falling out of the freaking woodwork around her.

Heavy footsteps heralded Roman’s approach as he rounded the corner of the SUV. “You about ready—” He broke off, frowning, as he scanned her face. “What?”

She focused on him, coming out of her pseudo-trance. “Can I have a word in private before we go?”

“Sure,” Roman said warily.

She was already moving, having anticipated his agreement. The garage was closest, but it wouldn’t be empty at this hour of day, the pride mechanics hard at work. And it was too close. If she raised her voice—which she had a pretty damn good feeling she would—everyone waiting by the SUV would hear her clear as a bell. She charged around the corner of the building, setting a course through the compound.

Roman’s old office was closest. He had an office up at the Alpha’s mansion that he’d started using off and on when he took over from Greg, but he’d made a point to keep his office down in the main compound where he would be more accessible. All part of what Patch called his “Alpha of the People” image makeover.

Grace took the steps to his office in a single bound and threw open the door, stalking a quick circle around the room as Roman followed at a more measured pace and closed the door behind himself. He moved automatically to take the chair behind his desk as Grace stalked restlessly back toward the front of the room, spinning when she reached the window.

“Am I in heat?”

Roman froze in the process of sitting, an expression of utter confusion flashing across his face before he schooled his features to blankness. “What?”

“Am I giving off some kind of crazy ass pheromones I’m not aware of?” she demanded. “I’m asking seriously because if my cycle has suddenly gone all wonky and I don’t know it, you need to fucking tell me now because I cannot be going on a diplomatic mission with a bunch of shifters when I’m about to become a sex maniac.” She stormed closer to him, waving an arm toward his face. “Smell me.”

Roman took a deep breath, scenting the air and sank down the rest of the way onto his chair. “You smell normal. No trace of the heat.”

“Then what the fuck is going on?” She spun away flinging up her arms and prowled back to the window, bracing her hands on the sill. “I know I’m not suddenly irresistible, so I ask you. What the fuck?”

She turned in time to see a momentary expression of masculine panic flicker in the Alpha’s eyes. “I’m not really sure what’s going on, but are you sure you wouldn’t be more comfortable talking about this with Patch?” He started to rise. “I could get her.”

“Oh, sit down, you wuss,” Grace snapped, for once not talking to him as the Alpha, but as Roman—who had trained beside her for years and knew her better than just about anyone in the pride. “You’re pretty much the best friend I have and I know we don’t talk about our feelings and all that emo crap, but I’m dealing with some seriously bazaar shit, so suck it up.”

Roman rocked back in his chair, his lips curving. “You know, you and Patch seem so different, but then you go calling me a pussy and I start to see the similarities.”

“Yeah, she’s a keeper, but we’re talking about me now.” Grace leaned back against the window sill. “In the last week or so, three different guys have tried to…you know…” She waved a hand at her face. When Roman looked blank, she grimaced. This really was unbelievably awkward with him. She needed some freaking girlfriends. “
Make advances
,” she said finally, settling on a euphemism that didn’t sound too ridiculous. “I’m not in heat and I know I’m no Lila. I’m no Rachel. I’m not even in the running for the hottest piece of ass in the pride, so what gives? What the fuck is up?”

Roman’s chair creaked as he shifted uncomfortably. “You’re a very attractive lioness in your own way.”

She rolled her eyes. “You sound like my mother.”

“Some men are drawn to powerful women.”

“Great. And suddenly all at once they’ve decided to profess their feelings for me?” Though with Dominec there hadn’t been much professing of feelings. More the
feeling
of things as she rubbed up against him.

“It’s a stressful time in the pride. A lot of shifters are realizing that life is short and we have to go after what we want. I guess several of the males have decided they want you.”

“Yeah, well,
neat
, but what am I supposed to do with that?”

“Pick one?” Roman suggested, with a slight edge of male desperation.

“Right.”
Pick
one. Like that was so easy. Grace levered herself away from the windowsill. “I’d better go. Canada waits for no woman.”

“Grace.” Roman came to his feet. “Are you going to be able to focus on the mission? This won’t distract you, will it?”

“Don’t insult me, Roman. I’d hate to have to kick your ass before we leave.”

Apparently satisfied that she was still herself after the uncharacteristically girly outburst, Roman nodded. Together they exited his office and moved quickly along the path back to where the others waited.

Pick one
.

Xander was out of the question because…
ew.
It really would be like making out with a bratty younger brother.

Kelly was the obvious choice, but she couldn’t escape the feeling that he didn’t really know her. And that he wanted things of her she didn’t even begin to know how to give.

But Dominec…well, Dominec was crazy. Complete with the occasional psychotic-break-inspired killing spree. No rational woman would tie herself to Dominec.

They rounded a corner in the path and the group ahead came into sight, gathered around the SUV.

The Three Rocks male with his head bent close to his mate, probably trying to talk her out of her latest temper tantrum. Patch kicking back next to Kelly, laughing at something he said as he lolled against the wheel well, cowboy hat tipped back so his grinning face was in full view. Hugo hovering with his brawny arms folded, frowning nervously over the whole mission.

And there was Dominec, slightly apart, against the back bumper, the lethal cat somehow finding shadows in the middle of the sunny day.

Pick one.

It wasn’t a bad idea. It might stop her feeling like she was being tugged in multiple directions. Just pick one and be done with it. Simple.

Grace walked faster, a seething agitation rushing her steps. Her brain had gone quiet, but her instincts were filling the void. Something urgent drove her, spurring her on.

Pick one.
The words seemed to echo, gong-like, in the silence of her brain.

It wasn’t even a choice, was it? Obvious. So obvious.

She made a beeline for him. He straightened away from the car as she approached, a question entering his eyes that she didn’t take time to answer. At least not with words.