“I…I don’t want to go without Taze,” Calla whispered.
“We need to move both of you to my office,” Harold announced. “Calla’s heart rate is a little high, and I’d like to monitor her for an hour.”
Taze broke his gaze, jerking his head around to look at the healer, “Why? What’s going on?”
“Just precaution.” Harold cleared his throat and looked at the female. When she nodded her approval, the healer continued. “She’s showing signs of a panic attack, and her breathing is also erratic.”
“Let Harold give her a checkup,” Talon ordered.
“Are you okay to walk over?” Harold turned toward Calla.
“Yes,” she shivered.
Talon moved over and took a blanket off the couch and wrapped it over her shoulders. He helped her up and out the door while the healer and Taze followed them across the road. As they walked, he gave her a gentle squeeze, bleeding some warmth and healing into his touch. She sighed and relaxed in his hold. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
“I hope so,” she whispered and glanced over her shoulder at the Guardian.
Taze had lost his shit when Calla admitted everything. She knew it would happen, but she needed to tell him. He would probably move on and not want to touch her anymore. Since they were only granted one mate in their lifetime, she knew she would be alone for the rest of her life now. There was no way he would want her after she’d admitted everything to him.
“What’s going on?” her brother bellowed as he came running down the road. Calla flinched as he went right to Taze, slamming his forearm into his chest. “What did you do?”
“If you touch me again, I will go against every Guardian oath I vowed myself to and make you regret ever touching me.” Taze’s voice was thick with anger.
“Again?” Harold growled, coming to the alpha’s side. She cried out when Talon released her into the healer’s care and turned for the males.
“Harold, take Calla inside,” he ordered.
“No!” she panicked. “No! Don’t fight! Gods, please?” Her words ended in another breakdown. She was so tired of them fighting. “I can’t take it anymore.”
“It’s okay, Calla,” Taze called out a promise. “I’ll be inside in just a moment. Let me talk to your brother and the alpha. There will be no fighting today.”
Today, he had said. That didn’t mean they were going to become best friends at any second. She gave up, walking up the steps to Harold’s porch. Luna rushed out of the house and took her inside. Harold rambled off a bunch of things he wanted checked to his mate and left the two of them alone.
“I think they’re going to be the death of me,” Calla cried.
“They need their asses beat by the alpha,” Luna snarled. “I swear, men are so stubborn. Every single one of them needs to be taken out behind the barn and beaten within an inch of their lives when they start acting like that.”
Calla had to chuckle at the disgust in the female’s voice. It was the first time since she’d arrived home that morning that she was able to finally breathe. Luna took her mind off of her own problems for just a moment, and she would cherish the female for the distraction.
“Let’s get you hooked up,” she said as they entered the first exam room. “Just hang out here and let this machine record what’s going on. I’m going to give you some oxygen, too. Let’s appease the males.”
Luna gave her a smirk, and Calla knew the white wolf was trying to lighten the mood. The only thing keeping Calla in the bed was the lowered voices of the males outside the house. If they were fighting, she would’ve heard their growls and snarls. Talon was there, and she knew he wouldn’t let them get out of hand.
She listened to the machine making its beeping sound and watched as her erratic heartbeat registered on the screen. The oxygen going into the mask on her face kept a steady hissing sound that eventually drowned out the males’ voices. Within a matter of minutes, she closed her eyes, drifting in and out of sleep.
The next time she opened her eyes, Harold was there, sitting on his rolling stool, marking something in her chart. He glanced up when she rolled on her side. “How was the nap?”
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” she said, embarrassed.
Harold came over and removed the mask, reaching over her head to turn off the oxygen on the wall. “So, everyone has gone home except for Taze.”
“He’s here?” she asked, confused. Calla was sure he would’ve been sent home or he would’ve left on his own accord once the truth bomb she’d dropped finally registered.
“He doesn’t want to be anywhere else,” Harold replied with a smile, but it was quickly replaced with a sadness she could feel deep in her bones. “He can come in to see you later, but first, we need to talk about you.”
“There’s a lot, healer,” she replied. “I’ve spent so many years trying to heal myself, and I guess it’s all come to light now that Taze and I have realized we are mates. I had to tell him things that I have kept a secret. My brother knows everything, and that’s why I’ve protected him by keeping to myself so he could have a life with the Guardians. He deserves so much more than he allows himself.”
“I understand the love you have for Malaki, but your panic attacks are based on your experiences, not his, and you need to help yourself before you can help him. Malaki is a grown male. He can seek his own treatments, and you need to start thinking about yourself for once.”
“I have tried to take care of myself for so long,” she replied. “At first, I used my anger over my situation to learn to fight at the urging of the other females. While it lasted, I was in a good place. Granted, I still had my days, but they were few and far between. My need to attend law school stopped that, and even though I love school and what I will eventually be able to do for my pride, it’s dragging me back into that dark place.”
“Are you ready to talk about your time with the wolves?” he asked. “Because, from what I overheard between your brother and Taze, you haven’t been completely honest with me or the alpha.”
“I haven’t,” she answered, folding her hands in her lap. “You might as well get comfortable, because what I have to say is going to take some time.”
She trusted Harold, and she knew he would find her the right person to talk to if he couldn’t provide her with what she needed. PTSD was different for everyone, and if left untreated, it could build and tear a person apart. She didn’t want to be like that, and after a lot of thinking while she was going through her heat, Calla realized it was time she seek help or she’d slowly go feral.
The moment the door to Calla’s room opened, Taze jumped to his feet. The healer softly closed the door and approached Taze with caution. “We need to have a talk in my office before you see her.”
“Sure,” Taze replied, following the male to his office in the back of the house. They passed the kitchen where Luna was standing in front of the stove. She gave him a sad nod, but otherwise didn’t say anything to him.
“Calla needs to see a therapist,” Harold began the moment they took their seats around his desk.
“I agree.” Taze knew she was going to need to talk to someone. Hell, both her and Malaki needed to go into some sort of therapy, but right now, things were neutral between them. Talon had put a stop to Malaki’s attitude when he’d shown up earlier, demanding information.
Talon took Malaki to his office while Taze was allowed to stay at the healer’s home. He still hadn’t seen her, but Harold had kept him updated. She’d fallen asleep shortly after arriving and being hooked up to the monitors. He vowed to stay until it was time for her to leave, getting permission from the alpha to take the night off. He had to be there for her, and thankfully, the alpha respected him as a mate to the female, allowing his request.
“I have someone I’d like Calla to see,” he informed him, reaching into his shirt pocket for a pen. He wrote down a number and handed it over. “Dr. Lyons is human, but I’ve known her for a very long time. She is supportive
of the species, and she has offered her services should anyone need them.”
“You trust this human?” Taze asked, narrowing his eyes on the paper.
“I do,” Harold answered. “Her office is closed today, but they will be open first thing Monday morning for scheduling.”
“I’ll make sure the appointment is made,” Taze promised and began to stand, but the healer halted him.
“Take care with her, Taze,” he sighed, wiping his hand over his face. “She going to need your support.”
“And she will have it,” he vowed, shaking the healer’s hand. “Can I see her now?”
“Yes,” he said with a smile. “She’s asking for you, actually.”
Taze felt his panther push against his skin, hurrying him out of the office. A sense of pride washed over him that the female had asked specifically for him. It’d been a long road to get to that point, and from everything he’d learned today, the road to their mating was going to be a hard journey in itself.
She called out when he knocked on the door. As he entered, she was sitting up on the side of the bed while Luna turned off the machines. She was straightening her shirt as she stood.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” she replied. “I can go home now.”
“Good,” he said, getting an idea. “Would you like to come to my house for dinner?”
“That would be nice.”
They spent a few minutes saying their goodbyes to the healer and his mate. He stood close to her as they made their way up the road to his house. The night was colder than it had been over the last few days, but neither one of them complained.
“I need to add wood to the fire,” he announced as they entered.
“You didn’t have to take off work tonight,” she blurted.
“No, Calla,” he shook his head, “I did need to take off. We have a lot to talk about.” He let his statement hang as he left her to go into his kitchen. She followed him and leaned her hip against the counter.
“Can I help you with anything?” she asked, eyeing the two steaks he removed from the refrigerator. He’d planned on cooking them the next afternoon during his regular day off, but knowing he would be providing for her made his panther purr inside his mind.
Was that what being mated was like? Always wanting to provide for your female? A bit of the weight he’d had on his chest eased when he caught her scent. If that was what it was like, he was ready to sign up.
“No, I’ve got it. Why don’t you find something to watch on the television?” he suggested. “I have plenty to drink. Would you like some wine?” He wanted her relaxed.
“I’ll take some wine,” she began, but stopped him when he turned for the cabinet. “Just show me where everything is, and I’ll pour my own.”
He searched her face for a moment, and got lost for a second in her icy blue eyes. They were relaxed, and the fear and panic that had been there a few hours ago was now gone. “Okay.”
He fired up the grill on his back porch and hurried inside to start the corn. There was enough for the both of them, and if she was still hungry, he would go out in the woods and kill her a deer to provide more meat.
By the time dinner was done, he grabbed himself a beer and set it on the table. She’d opted to sit by the fire instead of the television, and he caught glimpses of her every time he’d step out back to check on the food. She was deep in thought, but not once did she break down.
“Let’s eat,” he announced as he set the platter down in the center of the table. He’d cooked two large steaks, and he wanted to offer her both. Gods, he was a sucker. His beast was salivating at knowing their mate was at their home.
“I can’t eat all of this,” she gasped once she got a look at the meal. “That’s a lot of meat.”
“You eat what you can,” he offered. “I can always save the rest for another day.”
He waited until she dug into her food before starting on his own. Just like the other mated Guardians, he watched her every move. She caught him looking at her a few times, and she blushed a little each time.
“So, about today,” she sighed. “I’m sorry I dumped all of that on you. It wasn’t fair to keep it from you.”
“Why now?” he asked. “Why haven’t you told anyone before?”
She explained how she was afraid at first, and how she was more concerned for her brother’s well-being. It kept the peace to deal with it on her own. Taze’s panther snarled out loud, and Calla frowned in his direction.
“You were the one hurt, Calla,” Taze blurted. “Why were you worried about Malaki and his temper?”
“I don’t know,” she cursed. “Harold said the same thing to me. I guess I redirected my experience into a caring role for Mal. It kept my mind off of what happened.”
“Harold gave me a number to a therapist he trusts,” he remembered, pulling the piece of paper out of his back pocket. He sat it on the old oak table and slid it halfway across. Calla picked it up and stared at it for a minute.
“He said she’s human.”
“She is,” he nodded, “but Harold assured me that she was supportive of our kind.”
“I don’t want to go alone,” she whispered, and it broke his heart. Calla wasn’t the strong fighter she’d once been. Taze vowed from that moment on to bring her back to the days when she held her head high.
“I won’t let you go alone,” he promised. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
Chapter Thirteen
Calla spent the next week catching up on school work. She’d found it easier to study during her downtime at the office. Then after dinner, she could do her actual assignments. She was just starting her law classes, and she wanted to get into learning.
As she powered down her computer, her phone pinged with a text. It was from Taze saying he’d just woken up and asked if she wanted to have dinner.
If you don’t mind me doing homework while you cook.
She loved going to his place when he had the night off. He’d taken off a few nights to go with her to the therapy sessions, and afterward, they’d grabbed something to eat while they were out.
I don’t mind. Let me know when you are on the way.
A schoolgirl type thrill rolled through her. Taze had been nothing but kind, and maybe a little flirty over the past week. She didn’t mind his attention. It felt weird, but she was learning to understand that it didn’t feel wrong. Even though he went with her to the therapy sessions, he didn’t come inside. He’d taken up sentry by the office doors, always in Guardian mode.
The lawyers were already gone for the night, and she set the alarm, locking the main door on her way out of the building. She’d parked close to the door and under a street light when she’d returned from lunch that day so she could stay after and dig around on the Amburo family. Unfortunately, she found nothing more than a power of attorney form in the files.
She’d texted the information to Talon and called it a night. Traffic was light as she made her way back to the pride. When she arrived, Kraven was working the gate. “Hey, Calla.”
“Hey, Kraven,” she beamed. Hope’s brother had always been good to her, especially after he came to the pride. The male waved her through and she parked in front of her house, grabbing her backpack out of the backseat.
The gravel crunched under her feet as she made her way up the road to Taze’s house. When his cabin came into view, he was already outside, sitting on the porch while nursing a beer. His eyes sparked amber as she approached.
“Set your bag down and let me take it inside. It looks heavy,” he said, waiting for her to drop the bag on the first step. It wasn’t that he thought she was unable. No, Taze was a gentleman, and Calla wanted to thank his mother and father for raising him that way. She hadn’t seen his parents in a while, and she frowned at the thought.
“How are your parents? I haven’t seen them in a few weeks,” she asked as he poured her a glass of wine.
“They’re fine,” he replied.
“They like to stay at home a lot during the winter. It’s been cold, and my father gets grumpy when he has to be outside for any length of time between the end of the year and spring solstice.”
“I love your mom,” she gushed. “Can we go by there one day?”
“I’d love to take you by to see them,” he offered. Calla saw the pride in his eyes when she mentioned seeing his parents. Taze’s mother had always greeted her with a warm smile and had shown general interest in her life since she had come to the pride.
“I’d like that, too,” she agreed with a smile as she dug through her bag.
Taze left her to work as he prepared their meal. She felt at ease for once, and having the male care for her was quickly becoming her personal addiction. The thought of touching him still gave her pause, but she was trying her hardest.
The therapy appointments were only beginning, but she was starting to feel the weight of her secret lifting. It helped knowing Taze was there to have her back. He hadn’t pushed her about their mating even though she still caught his mating scent whenever he was near.
The homework was tedious, but she was loving it. It wasn’t until he sat a bowl of stew in front of her that she finally looked up. “Sorry,” she cringed.
“Eat, then study,” he replied. “Don’t even worry about me. I can read a book or something while you finish up.”
“Thanks,” she said, pulling the bowl over so she could continue her homework.
Silence fell around her as she worked, checking and rechecking her answers to make sure they were right. There was a lot of information she needed to remember for an upcoming test. Even though she’d taken those ten days off from the pride during her heat, she’d kept up with most of her work when she was able. The assignment she was working on that night would get her back on track.
Taze (Rise of the Pride, Book 11) Page 11
