The Year of the Tiger (Book 3 of The Almair Series) (Completed)

Chapter 12

I finished the meal that Mrs. Vanessa had cooked for us. I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when I saw that all three adults had their eyes at me and cleared my throat, feeling a blush start to form on my face. "Sorry," I said, taking a napkin and wiping my face. "I was hungry."

Mrs. Vanessa took a sip of her water, and I could tell that she was trying not to smile. She cleared her throat, and I looked at her. "Would you like some more?" she asked.

"No, I want to show her my room," Bethany whined. She clutched my hand and pouted up at me. "It's fit for a princess, or that is what daddy tells me."

I cleared my throat and shifted in my seat. I did not know if Marcus's hatred extended to his children, and I did not want to lose my top if it did. I would rather be in the backyard than at the house if I wanted to get into an argument with him. "Maybe later, ya?" I asked, smiling at her. "I still have to talk to your parents. Why don't you show Brody how it looks? Ya?" I asked. I glanced at Marcus, daring for him to say anything different.

"Can I, Mama?" Bethany asked, smiling. "And, I get to show you tomorrow, right?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at me.

I smiled and nodded. "I'll see if I can."

"Take her dog, and go see your room," Mrs. Vanessa said. She did not look at her husband but tensed. Her whole face was a mask, and I knew that she was trying to make it seem that she wasn't afraid of him.

"Ok," Bethany said. She jumped out of her chair and raced to her room, followed by my brother.

I watched as they left before turning to look at the three adults. "The first thing that I would like to say is to thank you for dinner, Mrs. Vanessa," I said. "It was delicious." I smiled when she nodded her head. "The next thing is that I am tired of seeing a lack of communication between the three clans. We all have the same enemy, so we should be working together and not apart." I raised an eyebrow when Marcus snorted. "Care to explain?" I asked.

Marcus shrugged his shoulder, keeping his face blank. "There is nothing that I need to say, Almaire," he said, taking a sip of his drink.

I bit back a snort and hid an eye roll before turning to look at Shardul. "I have come up with a plan that... forces the clans to be nice to each other."

"And, what is this plan, Almair?" Shardul asked. He folded his hands in front of him and stared at me. Respect filled his eyes, and I was curious as to why he respected me so much because clearly, his second didn't.

"If you, or anyone, harasses another clan member, just because they are of a different clan, then you are kicked out of the designated area. You will still be able to talk to your family, but you can't be in the area."

"And why can't they be in the area?" Shardul asked. He raised an eyebrow and studied me as if he was looking for an ulterior motive. "Will you do that for yourself?"

I nodded my head. "I will be doing it for myself, also. I have to be an example for all the clans, and I hope that you two can be an example as well." I glanced at Marcus when I said that before I looked back at Shardul to see a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"Do you think that others would listen?" he asked.

"Other clans?" I asked. "I hope so. I know what it is like to have urges to go into the backyard but not being able to." I placed my hands underneath the table to make sure that they could not see them shaking. My screams still haunted me, and I did not want them to see how much it had affected me. I was loyal to my pack and family, and I knew that that could be used as a weakness. "I am sure that you have heard about me having to leave to become the next part of my journey?"

He nodded. "And you want to work with this family. Why? Don't you have other things to do?"

"If it is a right you three, I'd be more than happy to help out with this family," I replied. "And, I was wondering if it would be alright if I worked before I started training to become the Tiger Form. I need to get this stuff done. I'm afraid I do not have much time until I am supposed to meet the "Master.""

Shardul glanced at his second before looking at me. "I do not know if you will survive if you will work with this family," he said, honestly, and I shrugged. "But, if Marcus does give you a hard time, then you do have my permission to hit him."

I kept my face neutral and nodded my head. I wanted to smirk and gloat at the older male, but I decided against it. "Yes, Sir," I said.

"Now, I do agree with you on them having respect with other clans. But, do you think taking away their designated spot is the right thing to do? You know of the urges, of course."

I nodded my head in conformation, even though I had already said that I did. "I know," I said, "but I think hanging out with family will help with that." I dug my nails into my skin, and I knew that I was creating half-moons in my skin. "It's better than being ignored by your family when all you want is their love."

Shardul nodded his head. "I will talk with my second and then get back to you on that," he said. He glanced at Vanessa and then looked at me. "I think that it would be best if you did work for your family, but you do realize the dangers of it." He nodded when he saw me nod. "You will be working here from three to eight. At eight, you will go to a different house and enter the gated community behind it to start your training. You will be training til midnight. Will that work for you." He glared at Marcus, and he shut up.

I nodded my head, relief flooding my system. I could tell that Shardul had another motive for setting me up with this house, and I was sure that he knew about Vanessa getting abuse. "Ye-" My phone rang, interrupting me from speaking. "Excuse me for a sec," I apologized before going into the front room and pulling my phone out of my pocket. "This is Martha."

"Martha," John said, urgency filling his voice. "We are being attacked again. Dark Forces are everywhere. They are trying to get to some pups."