Read Online Tiger Tracks (Alaskan Tigers Book 9) by Marissa Dobson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Marissa Dobson
Ads: Link
failed.
Styx cleared his throat and brought the attention back to them. “Before everyone gets some sleep, Mira started to tell us more about what was happening in Connecticut before she left. It might give us some insight on what Frank is preparing. So, Mira, if you would continue?”
“Umm…” No longer could you put off the whole story, but nervousness had her stuttering.
“It’s okay, just take your time.” Styx took her hand into his and gave it a light squeeze. The electricity passing through them grew stronger with each touch, and would continue to until they finalized their mating.
“My sister got caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to, and instead of just handling things she thought if she told our Alpha something worse, he’d forget about what she did and go after the other person. But she didn’t have dirt on anyone other than me. Some say that blood is thicker than water, but not with my family. She betrayed my trust to save herself from punishment, even when she knew my cost would be higher and that he’d demand my death.”
“What did she do?” Jackson asked, and when she glared at him he added, “You implied he wouldn’t kill her for it, and since we’re trying to get into his mindset it might be helpful to know the full story.”
“She wouldn’t have been killed for sneaking out of the compound that night because his son was with her. If he killed her, one of the clan could demand that he kill the other. He’d never jeopardize his own son.” She paused for a moment and took a deep breath, the memories making her body shake as if she was cold. “He had planned to dish out punishment to her for leading his precious son astray, so the clan was gathered together to watch as she met her fate.”
“And that fate would have been…?” Styx pushed when she went silent again.
“It was set up for a beating. He’d have flogged her until there wasn’t any skin left on her back or her ass. I realize that’s painful because I’ve had it done to me, but to get out of it by betraying me and therefore calling for my death was unexpected. She knew what the consequences of her actions would be if she got caught, but still she left the compound without permission.” Her chest shook as she tried to keep the tears from falling. “I guess the same could be said about me, because I knew what would happen if he ever found out I supported Tabitha.”
“Okay, to get out of her punishment, she told Frank about you. What happened?” Jinx asked.
“I was near the back of the crowd, with David, my brother, beside me, and he shoved me toward the door with the order to run. That’s when all hell broke out. Frank declared that not only would I be killed for my betrayal, but my whole family would be. I could hear my sister scream, begging for her life, but instead of going back to offer myself up in exchange for my family’s lives, I ran.” No longer able to hold back the tears, she sobbed. Her body shook, her chest tightening, and her breath was stolen from her lungs with the power of guilt. “How could I have let my family die for my beliefs? What kind of person does that?”
“You don’t know they’re dead,” Summer stated, and until then Mira hadn’t even realized she had joined them.
“I do.” She took a deep breath, forcing the air into her lungs and letting it out again. “I see things. I knew it was coming, but I refused to believe my sister would betray me in such a way.”
Styx pulled her into his lap. “Catnip, this isn’t your fault. We’ll see that Frank pays for what he did, but don’t go writing off your whole family until we know for certain.”
“The gunfire and the screams…” She shook her head, sending her hair flying into her face, but she didn’t bat it away. “I’ve no doubt that more than just my family was killed because of me. I confided in her because we’re sisters and she was my best friend.”
“I know it’s no consolation, but I’m
Styx cleared his throat and brought the attention back to them. “Before everyone gets some sleep, Mira started to tell us more about what was happening in Connecticut before she left. It might give us some insight on what Frank is preparing. So, Mira, if you would continue?”
“Umm…” No longer could you put off the whole story, but nervousness had her stuttering.
“It’s okay, just take your time.” Styx took her hand into his and gave it a light squeeze. The electricity passing through them grew stronger with each touch, and would continue to until they finalized their mating.
“My sister got caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to, and instead of just handling things she thought if she told our Alpha something worse, he’d forget about what she did and go after the other person. But she didn’t have dirt on anyone other than me. Some say that blood is thicker than water, but not with my family. She betrayed my trust to save herself from punishment, even when she knew my cost would be higher and that he’d demand my death.”
“What did she do?” Jackson asked, and when she glared at him he added, “You implied he wouldn’t kill her for it, and since we’re trying to get into his mindset it might be helpful to know the full story.”
“She wouldn’t have been killed for sneaking out of the compound that night because his son was with her. If he killed her, one of the clan could demand that he kill the other. He’d never jeopardize his own son.” She paused for a moment and took a deep breath, the memories making her body shake as if she was cold. “He had planned to dish out punishment to her for leading his precious son astray, so the clan was gathered together to watch as she met her fate.”
“And that fate would have been…?” Styx pushed when she went silent again.
“It was set up for a beating. He’d have flogged her until there wasn’t any skin left on her back or her ass. I realize that’s painful because I’ve had it done to me, but to get out of it by betraying me and therefore calling for my death was unexpected. She knew what the consequences of her actions would be if she got caught, but still she left the compound without permission.” Her chest shook as she tried to keep the tears from falling. “I guess the same could be said about me, because I knew what would happen if he ever found out I supported Tabitha.”
“Okay, to get out of her punishment, she told Frank about you. What happened?” Jinx asked.
“I was near the back of the crowd, with David, my brother, beside me, and he shoved me toward the door with the order to run. That’s when all hell broke out. Frank declared that not only would I be killed for my betrayal, but my whole family would be. I could hear my sister scream, begging for her life, but instead of going back to offer myself up in exchange for my family’s lives, I ran.” No longer able to hold back the tears, she sobbed. Her body shook, her chest tightening, and her breath was stolen from her lungs with the power of guilt. “How could I have let my family die for my beliefs? What kind of person does that?”
“You don’t know they’re dead,” Summer stated, and until then Mira hadn’t even realized she had joined them.
“I do.” She took a deep breath, forcing the air into her lungs and letting it out again. “I see things. I knew it was coming, but I refused to believe my sister would betray me in such a way.”
Styx pulled her into his lap. “Catnip, this isn’t your fault. We’ll see that Frank pays for what he did, but don’t go writing off your whole family until we know for certain.”
“The gunfire and the screams…” She shook her head, sending her hair flying into her face, but she didn’t bat it away. “I’ve no doubt that more than just my family was killed because of me. I confided in her because we’re sisters and she was my best friend.”
“I know it’s no consolation, but I’m
Similar Books
