Page 37 of Stripe Theory (The Matchmaker’s Book Club #8)

THIRTY-SIX

R ehan watched them work, marveling at how seamlessly they coordinated. His scientist had a devious streak that his tiger thoroughly approved of.

His scientist . The thought settled comfortably in his mind.

Hours later, they’d moved operations to his private lab. Alora had commandeered his desk, surrounding herself with tablets displaying various data streams. The security feed showed periodic glitches – their trap waiting to be sprung.

“You should rest,” he told her, noting the exhaustion lining her face.

“So should you.” She smiled up at him. “But we both know that’s not happening.”

Instead of arguing, he shifted into his tiger form and padded over to her chair. She laughed softly as he nudged her leg.

“That’s cheating. You know I can’t resist the fur.”

He rumbled satisfaction as she buried her fingers in his ruff. The simple contact soothed both sides of his nature.

“I’ve been thinking,” she said quietly. “About what Maya said... about shifter bonds.”

His ear twitched. He’d wondered when this conversation would come.

“The way you react when I’m in danger. How I always seem to know where you are in a room. The fact that your tiger purrs when I do this...” She scratched behind his ear, drawing out another rumble. “It’s not just attraction, is it?”

He shifted back to human form, staying crouched beside her chair. “No.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it terrified me.” The admission came easier than expected. “The mighty Rehan Kedi, brought to his knees by a human scientist who makes tiger puns and turns party decorations into chemical weapons.”

Her laugh held a hint of tears. “To be fair, they were very effective weapons.”

“They were.” He caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “You are extraordinary, Alora Sky. And I’ve been fighting this because I thought I had to – to protect the pride, to maintain control. But watching you with my family today...”

“Your mom’s amazing,” she interjected. “Did you know she’s been documenting shifter healing techniques for decades? The applications for modern medicine are incredible.”

He smiled, something in his chest expanding with warmth. “See? That. The way you light up about science. How you see possibilities where others see barriers. You make me want to be more than just the controlled leader everyone expects.”

“Hey.” She tugged him closer. “You’ve always been more than that. I’ve seen how you are with Sierra, with your pride. You care so deeply about everyone around you.”

“You see me,” he murmured. “Both sides of me. And instead of running from the tiger, you made it a pillow.”

“Well, someone had to liven up your boring corporate life.”

The security feed flickered again, drawing their attention back to the screens. But this time felt different – a subtle wrongness that set Rehan’s instincts on edge.

“They’re here,” Hunter’s voice came through the comm. “Signal trace is active.”

Alora straightened, game face on. “Time to spring our trap?”

“Time to spring our trap,” Rehan agreed.

She started to rise, but he caught her hand. “Alora?”

“Hmm?”

“When this is over... we should talk about mate bonds.”

Her vivid smile lit up the room. “Only if you promise to let me run some experiments. For science, of course.”

“Of course.” He pressed a kiss to her temple, breathing in her scent. “Now, let’s go catch ourselves a traitor.”

As they moved into position, Rehan felt more centered than he had in weeks. His tiger paced with anticipation, but not restlessness. Whatever came next, they would face it together – the CEO and the scientist, the tiger and his mate.

And heaven help anyone who tried to stand in their way.