Taze (Rise of the Pride #11) - Theresa Hissong Page 0,42

out of his eyes as he leaned his head back and his beast roared at the top of his lungs.

Chapter Twelve

Talon grabbed the back of the kitchen chair when he felt the pain from his Guardian, Taze. Liberty shot up from her seat, gasping when he fell to his knees. “Who is it?”

“Taze,” he choked out. His mate knew what was happening, because she’d seen it many times before. The pain of his people was felt through the magic he’d been given at his conception. It was a gift from his father and his father before him, but he was never ready for each time it struck. “Call the healer…I have to go.”

Liberty put her phone to her ear, and Talon stumbled to the back door, using his beast to help him recover from the blast of pain he felt coming from the male. When he made it to the road leading to Taze’s home, Harold rushed out and pointed across the road. “He’s at his house with Calla.”

If the pain could’ve doubled at hearing the cause of the male’s distress, then it did. Calla had been masking her pain for years, but he didn’t know why. With her training, she’d gotten better…a lot better, but since she’d hit her twentieth birthday, she’d changed, forgoing the training program and enrolling herself into the human’s college. She’d even taken a job away from the pride, but Talon allowed it due to her desire to give back to her people by learning, and possibly changing, their laws.

The moment he and the healer burst through the door to his cabin, Talon found Taze on his knees with his face covered by his hands. Calla was on her knees as well, but they were a foot apart. They were both curled in on themselves, and she was openly weeping.

“Calla? Taze?” the alpha called out, hearing Harold rushing to put on his gloves.

When Taze jumped up at the mention of their names, the male’s eyes were glowing and his nose had recessed enough to show his panther was present. He immediately moved his body in front of Calla and let out a low warning growl.

“Easy, Taze,” Talon ordered softly, holding his hands up as a show of peace. He gave a little push of his power to calm them, but when Taze didn’t relax, he narrowed his eyes. “Don’t make me give you a full order.”

A full order would’ve been mind control, and Talon refused to do that, even for a male who’d gone feral due to the pain of his mate. As far as he knew, Calla and Taze hadn’t touched yet, and since she was still distanced from him, he was certain they hadn’t officially mated. Having the knowledge of your mate, and not taking the steps to seal the mating by touch and bite, could be just as dangerous as if they’d already completed their union when the mate was hurt or in distress. Males were protective the moment their panthers acknowledged their companions.

“Please, alpha,” he begged through gritted teeth. “Leave us.”

“No,” Talon replied. There was no way he would be backing out of that cabin.

“Don’t do this to her,” Taze pleaded. “Not now…please?”

Talon frowned at the male, casting his eyes toward the female. She was still on her knees with her face covered. Her weeping had quieted, but she was frozen to her spot.

Harold made a move to get closer, and Taze roared in his direction. The healer held his gloved hands in the air to calm him. “I know she has panic attacks, Taze. Please let me give her aide.”

“No,” he snarled, again. “She is mine, and I will care for her.”

“She is not yours,” Talon reminded the male, pushing out his power as Taze made a move to defend. He didn’t think the male would attack, but you never knew with a distressed Guardian. “Stand down and let the healer check on Calla.”

Taze froze in his spot even after the alpha had given his order. The distress Talon felt coming from the male was slowly easing. They needed to wait it out for Taze to finally come to his senses and allow the healer to assist her.

“I promise that you can be at her side the entire time,” Harold added. “She’s in shock, and I need to check on her. Please, Taze. She needs medical assistance.”

At the healer’s words, Taze’s eyes finally cleared. He shook his head and backed away enough for the healer to pass. He never took