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