Taze (Rise of the Pride #11) - Theresa Hissong Page 0,18

recliner.

“Mom, you don’t need to clean,” he sighed. “You’re doting, again. What’s going on?”

His mother always praised her only child, and she was forever trying to do things for him when he didn’t need it. He didn’t mind. They had a great relationship, and he loved her, but when she came over and started nervously cleaning, he knew she had something to ask him or she had bad news.

“Well,” she began, but paused to wring her hands together. She took a seat on his small love seat and rested her tiny hands on the tops of her knees. “There’s been a rumor going around, and I wanted to know if it’s true.”

“What now?” he sighed. Those Guardians were worse than old women sometimes. He knew what she was going to ask before the words even left her mouth.

“Are you and that Marshall girl mates?” she blurted, then blushed profusely. He chuckled at her embarrassment, but sat down in his recliner and leaned forward enough to take her hands into his.

“Ma, you know I’d never lie to you,” he promised. “Our mating scent has been pretty strong lately when we are near each other, but we haven’t touched.”

“And why not?” she pressed, looking at him with excitement in her eyes. All she’d ever wanted was to have grandchildren, and he was sure the thought of her only son getting mated was making the gears go haywire in her mind. “She’s a beautiful girl, but she’s been through a lot.”

“She has been through a lot,” he admitted and lowered his eyes. “Ma, she’s not ready to be mated. We haven’t even explored the mating scents other than her denying the fact that it’s laid out in front of us in black and white. As you know, I have cared for her ever since the alpha pulled my head out of my ass…sorry…but she closed in on herself around her twentieth birthday. Since then, we haven’t spoken much.”

“Oh, Taze, honey,” she cooed and brought his hands to her lips. “I only want you happy, and I know you are a patient male. It sounds like Calla needs to work through her problems before she is ready to give you a hundred percent of her attention. Give her time, but don’t ever walk away from her. She will accept you.”

“Thanks, Ma,” he replied and stood to take her into his arms for a warm hug. She was tiny like most females, and he knew his dad still loved her as if they were newly mated. “I hope one day, I can have the type of relationship you and dad have had for so long.”

“Now, I never said it was easy,” she chuckled as she pulled away. The tops of her cheeks were pink, again. “I gave your father a hard time, too.”

“What did he do to sway you in favor of mating him?” Taze wanted any and all advice he could get. With Calla, things were not going to be easy.

“Oh, well,” she hedged. “He basically chewed my ass and told me to get my shit together. Your father is…well, he’s quite the alpha male. I guess I needed a firm hand to get my head straight.”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Taze gagged a little inside at the thought of what she was saying. “I’ll take it from here.”

“Well, you take care of yourself out on the streets, and bring your female by the house after you two get your heads out of your asses and make it official.” She pulled his shirt so he would lean down for a kiss on the cheek. “I always wanted a daughter, but my pregnancy with you was too dangerous so we stopped at one. Your father and I wanted a houseful of children. Maybe, grandchildren will suffice.”

“Good lord, Ma,” he gasped. “I haven’t even touched the female yet.”

“I know…I know,” she laughed as she patted his chest. “Call your dad sometime this week. I’ll see you later.”

As soon as she left, Taze climbed in the shower and rested his head against the cool tile. Calla was going to drive him insane. His panther had done nothing but fight with his human side all through the night. The animal wanted to lay at her doorstep while Taze pushed him to hunt and burn off some of the energy they were both feeling in regards to the female and her secrecy.

The more he stayed away from Calla, the more his panther was beginning to protest. He’d fought his desire for