Page 1 of Elusive Mate

CHAPTER 1

LUCIAN

Ice Storm Stronghold

Otter Cove, Alaska

Eleven Years Ago

“Zion Hale, I challenge you for the right to lead the Baihu Clan,” intoned Lucian Hendrix as the sun began its descent beyond the horizon.

“Bastard. I banished you from the clan years ago,” snarled Zion.

“You may have banished me, but your thugs failed to kill me. I stayed away, learned, and grew stronger. I’ll say it again. I challenge you for the position of alpha.”

“And if we fight and you win, will you banish me and my family as well?”

“No. Your wife had the good sense to die giving birth to Zenya. Both Zenya and Zaiden are welcome to stay, but you will not live to be banished.” Lucian tossed the ceremonial knife down so that it landed between Zion’s feet. “This will be a fight to the death. Prepare to defend yourself or I will slit your throat, and you will die like the coward you are.”

Zion looked around. It occurred to Lucian that it was only now that Zion realized he stood alone. There was no one in the clan that would fight for him. The aging tiger looked past Lucian to his own son, Zaiden. “You too?”

Zaiden nodded. “I stand with the man who was always destined to be alpha.” Zaiden drove torches into the ground, lighting them, making a circle around the two opponents while the remainder of the clan stood outside the circle—witnesses to what was about to happen.

Zaiden’s answer didn’t come as a surprise to Lucian. Zaiden had followed his father’s men and he and Lucian had fought back-to-back and killed those who had thought to murder Lucian. It would be Zaiden whom Lucian would name as his beta. But first he had a score to settle.

Zion snatched the knife from the rich earth into which Lucian had sent it. Standing, Zion pulled his arm back, charging and making an ineffective swipe at Lucian. As Zion’s blade swept toward Lucian, Lucian stepped into his opponent’s strike zone, catching Zion off guard. Lucian hit Zion in the solar plexus hard, knocking the wind out of him. Lucian used the momentum and twisted his upper body to hit Zion in the breastbone, using the contact to stun Zion so Lucian could draw his own blade—a SOG SEAL Strike, the combat knife he’d used during his time in the Navy. It wasn’t pretty or graceful, but it was deadly and effective.

The two white tiger-shifters engaged in a deadly dance, nothing but grunts and heavy breathing emerging as metal struck metal. Lucian could see the moment Zion realized he’d lost—that he’d never had a chance against his younger, stronger, better trained opponent. Like a housecat with a mouse, Lucian was merely toying with the aging alpha, inflicting superficial, painful cuts.

Their knives glinted menacingly in the dying light. Lucian’s movements were fluid and precise, each strike calculated to cause just the right amount of damage. Zion’s movements were less graceful and began to hint of desperation. The sharp blades cut through the air as the fighters clashed in a lopsided combat—Lucian’s strikes leaving behind trails of blood that trickled to the ground. The metallic scent of copper filled the air, mingling with the pungent aroma of sweat and fear. Every move was fueled by adrenaline in a fight for not only leadership of the clan, but for survival.

The stench of fear and sweat rolled off Zion, overpowering every other smell. The sound of steel meeting steel echoed through the compound. The lethal tango was decidedly one-sided in Lucian’s favor. He meant to make an example of Zion and to leave any who thought to avenge the old alpha second-guessing their choice. Each of the rivals’ muscles tensed as they prepared to unleash a final attack. Tension filled the air as Zion continued to battle for his life.

Zion made a mad dash at Lucian, which Lucian easily deflected, disarming Zion in a smooth, graceful move. As the aging tiger stumbled, he hissed and called forth his tiger. Lucian waited as the mist surrounded his opponent—icy shards swirled around accompanied by localized thunder and lightning. The clan growled their disapproval, but Lucian waited. He could have called forth his own tiger, but he’d anticipated Zion’s last, desperate move. As Zion’s white tiger leaped from the mist, Lucian grabbed it by the throat, hauling it up and ripping its midsection open. The beast roared in pain. Before Zion had a chance to shift back, Lucian spun it around and slashed its throat, silencing its scream as death claimed it.

Present Day

Lucian Hendrix raised his coffee mug to his lips, took a sip and looked over the wide expanse of land he could see beyond the French doors in his study. It was good to be alpha of the Baihu Clan. This was the view he’d enjoyed since becoming alpha over a decade ago. He’d returned from a stint in the Navy SEALs to challenge the clan’s alpha for the right to leadership. It hadn’t been much of a fight.

“I’m never sure what you’re thinking when you look out there,” said Zaiden, who had come up behind him quietly.

“And you think you know what I’m thinking other times?”

“Sometimes. But mostly I’m clueless. So, tell me, ol’ exalted leader, what is it you see?”

Lucian chuckled. “Sometimes I see things from my past; others I try to imagine the future children your sister will give me.”

“I hate to remind you of this, but Zenya does not see a future shared with you.”

“Zenya is wrong,” snorted Lucian dismissively. “She is my fated mate, and she will submit to my authority.”

“It never ceases to amaze me, the delusions you continue to keep where my sweet sister is concerned.”

“Do you doubt she is my fated mate?” Lucian snarled, then visibly calmed himself. “Apologies.” Zenya tended to be a sore subject with him.

Ignoring him, Zaiden shook his head. “No, Alpha. I don’t think there’s anyone who doubts that, including Zenya herself. She simply has no desire to make a life with you—here or anywhere else. The last time I brought the subject up, she punched me in the nose. Be advised; my little sister throws one hell of a punch.”

Lucian regarded him coolly. “She will learn to comport herself properly as my mate and first lady of the clan, and she will do so happily.”

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