Tiger Born Read online

  

  Born of Isis 4

  Tiger Born

  [Siren Classic: Paranormal; Romantic Suspense; Interracial; MF, HEA]

  Bella Tigrayan is a tiger hybrid whose life changed with the death of her father and stepmother. Once cherished now detested and scorned, her uncle believes all crossbreeds are an abomination. Her brother is the reason she stays and accepts the abuse from her Alpha.

  The Council sent Killian Shadow to help his fellow sentinels find out who was responsible for attempting to kill the Lion Pride Alpha and kidnap his daughter. He never expected to find a female tiger in the forest behind his cabin, attacked and beaten. Having taken her back to his cottage to tend to her wounds, Killian realized this was no ordinary female tiger.

  Bella is his mate, the niece of the tiger Alpha.

  Killian places her under his protection but her uncle wants her back. The Alpha will do anything to have her back, even send his enforcer. Alpha wants to take her from Killian, the sentinel sworn to keep her safe.

  Genres: Genre 1, Genre 2, Genre 3

  Length: 29,000 words

  TIGER BORN

  Born of Isis 4

  Deloris Nash

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  Tiger Born

  Copyright © 2020 by Deloris Nash

  ISBN: 978-1-64637-066-5

  First Publication: January 2020

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2020 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book or print book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  DEDICATION

  I want to thank my husband for inspiring me to follow my dreams. I couldn’t do it without you! Also, to my sisters and the rest of my family for their support and guidance. A special thanks to my local RWA chapter, without you ladies all would be lost.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  I started reading fantasy when I was twelve. At fourteen my sister gave me my first romance novel. I believe the best books are romance mixed with mystery, fantasy and sci-fi. My best imaginary world is where shifters are as common as humans. They are dedicated to their family, loyal to their friends and work in all types of jobs.

  I am a Substitute Teacher. I live in the southwest with my husband, kids and the dogs.

  I am a devoted romance reader (mystery, sci-fi, contemporary, erotic). I love to watch mystery and sci-fi shows. My normal clothes when not at work are tee shirts with Disney characters, sweatpants or shorts with sneakers. I love to garden but I have a black thumb.

  For all titles by Deloris Nash, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/Deloris-Nash

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  TIGER BORN

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  TIGER BORN

  Born of Isis 4

  DELORIS NASH

  Copyright © 2020

  Chapter One

  “Damn! Malachi is one lucky S.O.B.” Killian thought. The sentinels were a tight knit group of shifters. First Nathan, now one of his closest friends. Whodathunkit? He chuckled to himself as the slight breeze rustled the leaves on the ground as he rode his Ducati toward the path that led to Malachi’s mates’ home.

  He rode his bike for most of his assignments. Some of his fellow Sentinels thought he was crazy to ride the bike for long road trips. The long rides were therapeutic for him, considering his job. It wasn’t like he could talk to the Council psychs about what he did for the Council. To him, it was like the tour model of the BMW. The best part was that he could go full throttle on the open roads.

  The sound of a bird overhead brought him back to why he was here. He still could not believe his fellow warrior had found his true mate. He chuckled a little when he thought of his friend with a mate. It seemed that his brothers, although none were related by blood, were finding their mates. He was happy for them, but he also envied the big guy and the other enforcers who found theirs.

  In the distance, he saw the mountain’s peaks powdered with snow above the treetops as he rode his bike along the gravel road. He slowed as he approached the cottage set back away from the main road. Most of the houses or cabins were built in the same style with large bay windows. He had received the directions from the Pride Beta, Adam. He stopped by his home to introduce himself, where he also met Beth, Adam’s human mate. Malachi had mated the daughter of the Pride’s Alpha after he rescued her from human kidnappers. Not only did they kidnap her but also set fire to the Alpha’s house, almost killing him and his mate.

  Killian came to a stop in front of the house the Beta had directed him to. As he climbed the steps to the door, he noticed an old-fashioned porch bench. A long pillow cushion covered the seat, and a knitted quilt lay over the back of the bench. He raised his hand to knock just as the door opened.

  “Killian, what are you doing here?” Malachi moved to the side to allow him inside.

  “Nathan thought you could use some help. He figured you would have your hands full with finding your mate and all,” he explained to Malachi while he clasped his fellow enforcer’s wrist.

  Malachi snorted. “Since when has he cared?”

  Killian smirked. “Since he found out Kyra is carrying three babies instead of one.”

  Malachi’s mouth dropped open for a moment, and then he started laughing.

  “He clucks worse than a mother hen. Thinks we all should get mates and have babies.” Killian scowled when Malachi laughed harder. “Not funny. You lucked out, but the rest of us are stuck with his meddling. I swear he is worse than my mom.”

  Malachi’s retracted clawed hand barely missed Killian’s head as he fell in one of the chairs, holding his stomach. He wiped his eyes just as the ding for the microwave sounded. Killian moved just in time to not get hit by Malachi as he took another swing at him. He growled at the other enforcer as he walked into the kitchen to retrieve the food from the warmer.

  Killian grabbed one of the plates from his hand as he walked back into the room.

  “H
ey, who invited you to breakfast?” Malachi said as he stood.

  “You did when you opened the door,” Killian answered as he munched on some bacon. Instead of sitting in one of the chairs at the table, he went around and sat on the cushioned bench beneath the picture window.

  He saw Malachi shake his head before he went back into the kitchen. By the time he returned, Killian’s plate was clean, his eyes closed, and his head rested against the glass pane. He heard a chair scrape the floor as the enforcer spoke again.

  “So why are you here?”

  “Shouldn’t you be getting back to your mate? Ah, she is in the bath.” Killian didn’t even open his eyes as he made the comment.

  “You don’t worry about my mate, you mongrel.” Killian's eyebrows arched at his insult. “Just spill and then get out. We don’t need an audience.”

  He chuckled before he opened his eyes and lifted his head. He clasped his hands together when he started to speak. “Daniel and Nathan agreed I should come and be your backup.” Killian raised his hand before Malachi could utter a word. Killian leaned in and stared at him.

  “Daniel told us about Shauna. She is like you. I know you can do certain things.”

  He saw his friend’s eyes close, and a sigh released.

  “No, not like me.” He paused. “Or like you.” Killian’s eyes widened before he could control his surprise. Malachi continued. “She’s a hybrid, but I sensed more than one being inside her.”

  Killian gave a slight nod as he rubbed the back of his neck.

  “How did you find out?” he asked, not looking at Malachi.

  His friend just shrugged.

  “Your mom is a lion,” Malachi answered him.

  Killian frowned at him “How the hell do you know that? You only met her once, and you were gone the other times my parents visited. My mom doesn’t shift much anymore and not in another territory.”

  The other enforcer leaned back and shrugged again. “The first time I met her, I knew. I can sense things like that,” he explained.

  “Why didn’t you say something before?” Killian asked.

  “It was your business. Figured you would tell me in your own time,” he answered. He watched as Malachi leaned in and put his arms on the table.

  “Why didn’t you ever mention anything to me?”

  His shoulders went up and then down. “Your business. I knew you would tell me sometime. Besides, you always had my back. Good enough for me.” Killian smirked as he answered.

  He saw his friend nod in response. For now, the subject was closed.

  “So are you here for me or for them?”

  Killian grinned at the question before he replied. “Them, of course. We both know you could destroy the whole damn streak.”

  For the first time, he saw surprise on Malachi’s face before the enforcer’s eyes narrowed. “Why would I destroy them once I found her?”

  “Because sooner or later, you would find out that some of the Tigers were involved with Seth.” Killian noticed the enforcer’s incisors lengthen when he mentioned the other shifter. The air seemed to shimmer with heat as Malachi exploded from the chair.

  “Son of a bitch!”

  Killian stared at his friend as he prowled back and forth.

  “What are you doing?”

  Malachi moved his hand through his hair for the umpteenth time as he stopped his pacing to stand in front of him.

  “Releasing some of the rage you feel now.”

  “Well, stop. I can deal.” Malachi growled back at him.

  Killian snorted as he released him. “Of course you can. Don’t look now, but your fangs are showing.”

  Malachi pointed his middle finger at him before he inhaled a deep breath, to rein in his fury. Killian could sense when his friend had control of the rage that simmered beneath his skin. When he glanced at Malachi again, his incisors were normal—well, as normal as they were for a shifter.

  “They sent me to help,” Killian restated as he rose from his chair to clasp his friend’s shoulder.

  Malachi stared at him for a few moments. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” He paused and cocked his head to the side. “Your mate is finished. You should go feed her.”

  Malachi’s eyes narrowed before he gave a salute to him, retrieved the tray, and made his way up the stairs.

  Chapter Two

  “Thank you for supplying what I needed,” the lioness, Tia smiled at him.

  “No problem, anything else you need let me know.” She gave him a finger salute before she turned and seemed to skip down the steps. He shook his head.

  Kids.

  Killian opened the door to the house, or rather cottage, the pride had given to him. It reminded him of one from one of the children’s stories his mother used to read to him. This must have been here when the pride settled in the area. Beth mentioned when she brought him over to it that it was mostly used for the single visiting guests. They had gutted the inside and tore down some of the inner walls to make one large open room. He had shrugged and pretended to be interested while she told him about how the house was before they renovated it.

  He smiled at the memory of the small human’s enthusiasm about the cottage. She went on and on about the open floor space and the flower garden in the front of the house. Must be a female thing to think a male cared about things like that. Just so long as he could eat and sleep, a hut would be fine with him. Killian walked straight to the kitchen where someone had brought food to him. He inhaled deeply, the aroma of the food making his stomach grumble. He had some breakfast when he went over to talk with Malachi, but his appetite had yet to be satisfied.

  The corners of his mouth slid up when he about thought about how surly his friend was with him, which he could understand. If he happened to be lucky enough to find his mate, he would not want one of the others interrupting his mating. He was happy that his friend had found his true mate. Maybe he would find his. He snorted to himself.

  Killian opened three of the six cabinets before he found a plate. He grimaced. Maybe he should have paid more attention when the Beta’s mate was showing him around the place. The silverware was easier to find. Killian removed the containers from the bag, sniffing each dish. There was a wide variety of different food for breakfast and dinner, and either could be eaten as lunch. He even pulled out some different desserts: chocolate cake, sweet potato pie, an assortment of cookies, and even cherry cheesecake. He snagged one of the oatmeal cookies and popped it in his mouth as he cut a big slice of lasagna. Most of it was gone by the time he brought his food to the dining table.

  Killian reclined in the chair and sighed. As he finished the second piece of cheesecake, he heard a noise from outside. He shrugged it off. Some of the teenage cubs had passed by, and he assumed it was them returning. The sun had sunk lower in the sky as he opened the back door and walked out to the small patio. The deck and the minor wall surrounding it were made of some type of flagstone. He was listening when Beth told him about it earlier.

  The light of the day had faded, and the darkness covered the woods. He sighed, his head tilted as he gazed at the stars in the night sky. Killian turned to go into the house when he heard a moan or whimper from somewhere in the forest. He leaped over the patio wall and jogged to the edge of the woods. He paused to listen and moved in the direction of the sound. He sent his senses out, searching to find who or what was making those noises. He could hear the leaves as they swayed in the light breeze, smell the dirt on the ground, but he could not hear the whimpers anymore. Killian continued making his way in the woods when he found a recent path through the thick foliage. He tracked through until he came upon what seemed like a bundle of clothes off to the side of a tree.

  He stepped on a twig as he moved with caution closer to the tree. The bundle jerked around, and a face of a young girl with wild eyes was staring at him. She scrambled backward away from him.

  Killian raised his hands. “It’s all right. I’m not going to hurt you.” He stood as s
till as a statue, his body in nonthreatening pose.

  The blood drained from her face as she tried to stand. His gaze narrowed on her, and he moved closer. She shook her head, hands up in a defensive posture.

  Killian again tried to calm her as he took cautious steps toward her. She let out a painful cry as she tried again to stand but fell back down. She reached her hands out so her face wouldn’t hit the ground. A growl was emitted from him. Her body went rigid like a board. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. The girl’s cape had opened when she collapsed, and his eyes focused on her body.

  Her ponytail was ragged, loose hair falling over her features. There was a bump on her forehead, and dark purple bruises lined her neck. His gaze moved down to reddish welts that were scattered across her stomach under her tattered shirt. Hand marks littered her arms, her legs had bruises going down to her feet, and one of her ankles was swollen. No wonder she had fallen when she tried to rise.

  She gripped the tree trunk, so she had support as she tried to stand up again. Her knee was bent so her injured foot did not touch the ground. Killian hesitated for a moment before he rushed over when he saw her hand go to her head as she tumbled over. His arms shot out to catch her. He swore as he lifted her into his arms. He felt her shiver although the night was warm. The girl’s head rested on his shoulder as he tracked through the forest back to the cottage. She was one of his kind, a tigress. A silent growled emitted from his throat. Who would do such a thing to female?

  He went to the couch and laid her down. She had not wakened all the while as he made his way to the house. He snagged the blanket from the back of the sofa and covered her with it. He rose from his position by the couch and marched over to the house phone. He punched the number that went to the Beta’s house. It rang twice before it was answered.