Taze (Rise of the Pride #11) - Theresa Hissong Page 0,13

took a seat at her two-person kitchen table. Taze didn’t sit, and even if he did, she wasn’t sure the tiny seat would hold him.

Her panther prowled in her mind as his mating scent filled the room. His nostrils flared when she caught her own scent and nervously drained the glass of wine.

“We need to talk about it,” he finally blurted.

“No, we don’t.” Needing an excuse to move away from him, she stood quickly and took her glass to the kitchen. When she turned around, he was standing there, blocking her way out of the little alcove. “Taze, please don’t do this now.”

“Why not, Calla?” he asked.

“We can’t…I can’t,” she stammered. “Not right now.”

The anxiety made her heart flutter, but she clamped down on her feelings to dislodge the stress. It didn’t work. She took in a deep breath, praying she could get him out of her house before she fell apart.

“We are mates,” he stated as he moved closer. “We both know it.”

“Don’t come any closer, Taze!” She threw her hand up, begging him with her eyes to not touch her. She couldn’t touch him.

“Are you worried about what your brother will say?” he growled, taking a hesitant step back. “Who gives a fuck what he wants, Calla?”

“I do,” she snarled, feeling tears prick at the back of her eyes. “I already told you that we couldn’t be together after I turned twenty. Since the meeting in Talon’s office, Malaki has been…difficult.”

“What has he said to you?” Taze bellowed as his eyes glowed with the presence of his beast. The mating scent surrounded her and caused an ache in her belly. Gods, she couldn’t do this.

“It’s none of your business, Taze,” she said through her gritted teeth. She felt the first tear fall from her eye, and she swiped it away. “It’s complicated, and I need you to leave.”

“You’re upset,” he noted. “I’m not leaving you alone when you are upset. Tell me what the fuck is going on.”

She closed her eyes and swiped at the betraying tears. The stress she’d suppressed in the woods earlier came rushing back, punching her right in the chest.

Calla bent over at the waist and placed her hands on her knees as she sucked in much needed air. She felt like she was going to pass out as her heart began to race. Taze said her name, but it sounded like he was in a tunnel. She was afraid to look up for fear she would fall over.

Gods, why did it have to be so difficult to keep the two males in her life separate? Why did they fight over her so much? Why was she even letting them do this to her?

“Calla? Calla? Talk to me,” Luna, the healer’s mate, said as she patted Calla’s cheeks.

“What happened?” she mumbled as she noticed the ceiling was above her. As her eyes cleared, she saw Taze and Harold standing behind the female.

“You had a panic attack and blacked out,” Luna whispered. “Can you sit up for me?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Calla promised as she tried to get up.

“Let Luna help you,” Harold called out. “Go slow.”

“I’m really fine,” Calla said, waving off any help. “I think I hyperventilated.”

“You were having a fucking anxiety attack,” Taze blurted. He was angry, and Calla flinched from the harshness of his words.

“Maybe you should leave,” Harold said as the healer took a stance in front of Taze.

Calla flinched at the predatory growl coming from his body. He was right in believing they were mates, but since they hadn’t touched, he had no right to act feral when separated from her.

“Taze, please,” she begged and pointed toward the door. “I can’t do this right now. Just go.”

The look of disappointment on his face turned to anger, and that anger turned into disgust at himself. He didn’t even need to say the words for her to know how he was feeling. Calla cursed as he bolted out the door, slamming it as he left.

“Fuck,” she mumbled and covered her face. “I can’t deal with them anymore.”

“Come to the office,” Harold ordered. “We need to talk and check you over. Taze said you took a hard fall.”

Calla touched the back of her head and felt a small knot forming. “No. I’m fine, really.”

“This isn’t a suggestion,” Harold replied with his doctor voice. “If I need to get Talon involved, then I will.”

“Shit,” she sighed and let Luna pull her to her feet. The three of them waited several seconds as Calla regained her