Seize the Fire

Tiger shifter Oz Thatcher of Thatcherton, loves his city. But when a murder allegedly happens in his home, he realizes that someone is after way more than him. They want the mountain.Photographer and professional life-ruiner Riella Bradot has a plan. Frame Oz Thatcher for her murder, get out of town and live her new life under an assumed identity. It all goes according to plan until the handsome young tiger reveals that she is his mate and is linked to him forever.There is no love or trust between these fated mates, but the people of Thatcherton are eager for Oz to be mated. Not to mention, neither one can keep their hands to themselves, not even when Riella’s past threatens the entire tiger streak. Will these destined lovers follow fate’s path, or will old enemies win this round?

Oz

Oz stood at the front of the church in front of nearly all of Thatcherton. Beside him, Egon pulled at his dress shirt, uncomfortable as he was with the formal wear. His big brother only grinned and relaxed when his mate and wife, Bree, started making her way down the aisle in her red bridesmaid dress. In her arms, Bree held baby Norah. 

His three-month-old niece wasn’t walking yet, but she had still been named flower girl. And, no lie, Norah was without a doubt the cutest flower girl there ever was. Bree, the maid of honor, looked happy as could be, walking down the aisle with her child in her arms on the day of her brother-in-law’s and best friend’s wedding.

The tune of the organ changed, and as one, every attendee stood to welcome the bride.

Isa made her grand entrance in a form fitting white dress. The keyhole sides bared her still-flat stomach. No one but the family knew she was expecting a little one of her own. It was early days, still, but she was with a Thatcher tiger. Fertile as fuck.

Oz watched his brother Valens closely as Isa made her way down the aisle. The man was caught between crying and desire. It was interesting, but one thing was for darn sure, those two loved each other.

That they would be getting married a week before the summer camp officially opened while expecting their first kid was brave as fuck.

Oz didn’t know how they could juggle so many things.

He sure as hell couldn’t manage that.

He had to run for Mayor again, and his campaign was basically starting as soon as the wedding was over. He put a pause on it in respect for his brother and Isa, but now was the time to get shit done.

As he watched Valens and Isa exchange vows, something scratched at his thoughts. He frowned, not knowing what the fuck was wrong with him. Egon even gave him a stern look, ordering him to keep his shit together. Oz shrugged because he couldn’t help it if his brain was all out of whack.

But one thing was certain.

Something was happening.

He scanned the church, hoping he didn’t see one of the lions or wolves, two old enemy packs and prides. 

Nothing.

No one in the audience seemed to present a threat, yet Oz couldn’t shake the feeling he was being watched.

No shit. He was standing in front of a full church, right beside the bride and groom. He wasn’t being watched. He was just in the periphery of the limelight. Whatever was happening in his brain was probably the stress he was feeling at being on the verge of a campaign.

It was always so hard to do. It didn’t matter that it would be his third since the day he turned twenty-three. He was the best Mayor this town ever had, but there was always a chance someone would run against him.

It wasn’t a good idea.

No one could win against a Thatcher. The other tigers would hardly go against one of the Alpha’s brothers. The few humans in town who knew what was up with the Thatchers were fine with letting the tigers deal with the issues. So long as they could live peaceful lives on the mountain, they didn’t really care who ran the place.

Oz focused on the ceremony as much as he could, nearly forgetting the nagging feeling that something was off.

Thankfully, he got a break from it when he got into the car with Elija and a very pregnant Tarrah. She was expecting twins over the summer, but she looked like she was about ready to pop. The couple was as adorable as Egon and Bree with baby Norah, named for her grandmother Noreen, and the newly married Valens and Isa.

He drove them to the beach where a large white tent had been set up the previous night. Under it, a wooden dance floor had been installed, but it was currently covered with tables and chairs where dinner would be taking place.

Fulfilling his best man duties, he went to speak with the DJ, letting the young woman know the newlywed couple was on their way. He took another spin around the tent to make sure everything looked right.

Isa didn’t really care about all the details, but her hard-ass dad sure did. He was the one who insisted on having a big wedding. Isa agreed, only because Valens was into it too, but Oz had a feeling his brother was only doing that to patch up things between Isa and her dad. 

A year ago, the man had flown in with his helicopter after Isa was taken not once but twice, and he hadn’t left.

Apparently, he realized that a living daughter doing her thing was better than no daughter at all.

Oz made his way to the bar and grabbed a beer, taking a long drink of it when it happened... That same weird sensation from before.

Any chance you can tell me what the fuck is happening? Aren’t you supposed to have good instincts? He berated his tiger.

His beast flicked his tail and answered, I can feel it too. I’m not an idiot. I just don’t know where it’s coming from.

Oz blew out a breath, downed the rest of his beer, and plastered on a smile to welcome the guests. He made his way over to Egon, Bree, and Norah, holding out his hands to take the baby.

“You’re the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen,” he told his niece.

She made some adorable little noises back at him, and if it wasn’t for his tiger losing his shit over wanting its own cubs, Oz would have been way too busy playing with his niece to notice her.

The woman in the bright yellow dress was walking toward him. The second he laid eyes on her, Oz understood what the strange feeling was.

Yup, his tiger said. I thought it was that. That’s our mate.