Bearing Secrets by Marissa Dobson Read Free Book Online

chest. “It’s possible, I guess. All I know is that we
kept it secret because if he knew I existed, he’d kill me.”
    “Damn right he would. He wants
to see all tiger shifters dead,” Turi growled.
    “Because of the hatred my
grandmother hand-fed him morning, noon, and night, like it was candy,” she clarified,
her voice breaking.
    “My angel.” Trey waited until
she looked up at him. “Your heritage doesn’t matter.”
    “Like hell it doesn’t matter.”
Turi exploded, jumping to his feet and beginning to pace. “She’s a direct link
to Randolph. He’ll come after her if he finds out who she is.”
    “My dear brother…” Trey looked
over her head and watched Turi. “You always handle the curve balls that life
throws at you, but you’re not handling this one very well.”
    “It’s one thing after
another.” Turi shook his head. “You’re right. I’m not handling this well and
it’s not your fault, Ivy, it’s mine. I’m sorry. I know the damage Randolph has
done, and to think he could be after you—my mate—is terrifying. It’s one thing
to have to go up against him when it’s to protect someone else but when it’s
about protecting my own, it’s entirely different.”
    “What if he knew? Maybe that’s
the reason he attacked the clan…” Her legs gave out under her, if it wasn’t for
Trey’s hand on her waist she’d have collapsed into a heap on the floor.
    “What is it, angel?” Trey
tightened his grip on her waist, keeping her standing.
    “When I was hiding…someone was
there. I overheard him on the phone with Randolph. The clan’s been eliminated. We’ll
be ready to move on the next clan in a few days .” She
repeated the words as they played through her mind again. “It was an assassination,
not just for Mason but for my whole clan. They’re dead…”
    “You don’t know that. Chad and
the other guards could have gotten Mason to safety,” Turi reasoned.
    “No…” She buried her head in
Trey’s chest. “He’d have come back to find me.”
    “Only after he got Mason to
safety.” Turi’s footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor, nearing her. “He’d have
done his duty and got Mason somewhere safe. As the Captain of the Guards, he’d
have to do what was needed, especially if the other Elder guards didn’t
survive.”
    “I want to believe you, but
it’s unlikely.”
    “It’s hard to kill our kind,
so until we know for certain, just try to think positive.” Trey smoothed his
hand over her back. “Ty’s got a team out there looking for them, we should know
something soon.”
    Not soon enough…

Chapter Eight
     
    Music and laughter drifted
through the air from the party that was still in full swing when Turi wandered
out to the deck with a bottle of beer in hand. The wrap-around deck had been
one of his favorite features of the home; it was one of the special touches
none of the other cabins had. Since his place sat on a slight incline, the deck
allowed him to take advantage of all the views.
    The views …
    He cursed and took a long swig
from his beer. For the first time, he didn’t see the magnificence of the area,
the beautiful water or the snowcapped mountains. All he could see was how
dangerous their world had become. His life was about the missions, taking down
rogues, saving the innocent, eliminating abusive Alphas, helping to heal those
who needed it. That wasn’t the life he wanted a mate to be surrounded with, let
alone children. Never knowing if he’d make it back alive—what kind of life was
that for a family?
    Ty and his clan had backed the
Kodiak Bears when they needed it the most, and now, not only did the Brown
brothers feel it was their duty to help him, but it was also something they
wanted. The idea of living in a world where shifters were safe, no longer
terrified of what might happen if their secret became known, was heavenly. It
was the reason each of the brothers were ready at a moment’s notice whenever Ty
called. They were