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He gives a quick turn as the helicopter takes off behind us, kicking my legs, pointing them in the direction of one building that stands off from the rest. "That is the infirmary. That's where Aleksej is."

I wiggle to get down. "I'm okay," I tell him, thankful that the night hides my embarrassment.

"Shush, little one. Be still. Relax." His alpha voice is a drug, dampening my agitation. "That building is where you'll find your patient."

"Are we going there now?"

"Not yet. I'm going to take you to our room and get you settled. You'll go in the morning."

"In the morning? I thought you wanted this done as quickly as possible."

"I do. But Dr. Roger says Alex is stable. He's resting, and you've been traveling for almost a day. I need you thinking clearly when you examine him."

Well, damn. I was prepared for another argument, not for the overbearing Russian to make a perfectly sensible medical decision.

"The morning is soon enough," he adds. He swings me in a circle. "Those buildings to the east," he points, "are where our humans are housed. Do not go there."

"Why? Are they dangerous?"

"Most of them are Russian military, ex-military, or mercenaries. Men who have risen to the top levels of a tiger Bratva. They are not gentle creatures. But that is not why you should be afraid. They will not be able to sense that you are my mate. I will let them know. All of the tigers on the compound will know."

"How will they know?" I ask.

"I will scent you tonight."

My heart thunders. My slick drips. I swallow hard. "We're going to mate tonight?" I look up into his eyes. He's so close. His face is so, so close to mine. The rumble of his words brushes like velvet against my skin. His hands dig into my thighs where he's carrying me, squeezing me against him tighter than ever.

Then his face hardens. A muscle in his jaw ticks, and he looks off into the distance. "Not tonight," he says, but the words are a growl.

He swings me again. "These buildings to the right are where the men of our tiger brotherhood live. They are all shifters. They will know to avoid you, unless you need something. Then they will be at your service." He points out two other buildings where Konstantin and Georgy live, and the main hall, which he tells me is where the dining area, common rooms, game rooms, and clan meetings are held.

Right now, his brothers and the other men traveling with us have left us alone as we continue walking. Over his shoulder, I see what seems like a platoon of workers gathering my supplies and equipment from the helicopter's cargo hold. They're taking extra care with everything, and I hope that will be enough. I worry about my supplies as his steps pick up, taking us to the last remaining building. It is the largest building on the compound.

We approach the door, and I wait for him to set me down, but he doesn't. He reaches for the doorknob and opens it.

"It's not locked?"

"Nothing is locked around here."

Only when we step inside his domain does he release my legs, so I have no choice but to slide down. Knees still shaky, I'm still going to blame it on that ride. Yep, definitely the ride and not his nearness.

My feet plant on the floor, but I'm still held by his eyes. Beautiful reddish-brown eyes that are turning burnt coppery orange, fine golden threads spreading through them as his tiger pushes closer. My cougar rises to meet him, curious. He growls, sensing his mate.

"Ivan," I say, stepping back.

"Go ahead and run, Omega. I already told you, my tiger and I love to chase."

I don't move. I don't dare. "Ivan," I say again.

He takes a deep breath and swallows it down; his eyes stalk me. He advances on me. I don't want to run. I totally believe him when he says he likes to chase, but I back up anyway. He's so freaking big.

"Here, kitty, kitty," he says. "You're such a pretty kitty, aren't you? My pretty kitty."

His words are like a pat on the head. Which I resent, of course I do. But I also melt a little at the ridiculous praise.

I'm not going to run. I'm not going to run, I repeat to myself. But I hit the wall, and when I do, he wraps his hand around the back of my neck, sliding his lips along my cheekbone to my ear.

"Caught you," he whispers. And it's so freaking sexy that I wonder why the hell I didn't run.