Waking the Beast(50)

“I’ll do my best to explain what’s going on with your mate. I’ve seen it happen many times.” Cody’s voice was a beacon of calm to Abby.

“Cody’s a doctor. He works exclusively within the wolf packs, though. I asked him to stay with Derrick and me, instead of going to get my dad, because I thought we might need his help. I’m glad I did,” Jess told her.

“Not every man or woman gifted with a spirit from the wild is aware of it. I’ve seen those born with the knowledge, and I’ve seen those too afraid to accept it. I’ve watched some flourish, and I’ve watched some die.”

“Oh, God,” Abby moaned.

“Tah’s not going to die,” Reno stated.

“Fuck no, he’s not,” Logan agreed.

“Right now, your friend is fighting a battle within himself. He and the animal both want control and neither knows how to merge and share. This is what’s tearing him apart. The battle. The man’s had little time to learn of the beast and even less to understand him. The beast has awakened and claimed a mate. Abby. For some reason, he’s claimed you, and the fact that you were ovulating increased his demand for dominance over the man.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re his. How did your mate’s spirit awaken?”

“We were taken. They chained him to a wall and beat him. Oh, God, they beat the hell out of him then used a knife to cut him. Then they plunged a needle filled with adrenaline into his chest.”

“Jesus!” Jess exclaimed. “He could have died.”

“He should have died,” Diane countered, joining the conversation.

“The beast was already awake,” Cody stated. “What happened before they chained him?”

“I woke up locked in a cell with him. I tried to wake him up. I’d heard two men talking and knew we needed to get out of there. I begged Tah to wake up. I said…I said if there was ever a time I needed him to be the Tau of the paka watu, it was now.”

Cody nodded. “You called forth the beast. He sensed your fear and your need of him. You awoke him when no one else even knew he was there. The lion claimed you that day. He fights to keep you. I’m guessing you had sex multiple times yesterday.”

Abby blushed and nodded. Reno and Logan knew, and she was pretty sure Jess knew why Tah wanted to be led to the room last night.

“He wanted to plant his seed in you, to bind you to him,” Cody said.

“So it’s not Tah who wants me, who needs me?” Abby whispered the question as she felt her heart breaking. “It’s the lion?”

Cody shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way. The lion can’t mate without the man agreeing. Just as the man can’t mate without the lion agreeing. I’m betting he’s turned to you many times since this started. Probably told you, you’re the only thing keeping him sane.”

She looked up at him startled. “Yes.”

“That’s because you’re the only thing they both agree on.”

“So what do we do, Cody? How do I help him?”

“I’m going to let the doc here take a look at him,” Cody said as he moved aside and Diane stepped closer with a bag in her hand. “Derrick, you were able to reach him after the shift?”#p#分页标题#e#

“Yeah, I know he heard me in his mind. I didn’t realize how it would affect him though. Jess said he passed out cold after I left. I knew his animal was strong. I didn’t realize the battle waging inside him.”

“I’m so confused,” Abby murmured.

“Yeah, right there with you, Abs.” Logan sighed as he agreed. She felt a jolt at the way he shortened her name. It made her feel accepted, like part of the family he, Reno, and Tah obviously were.

“What do we do?” Reno asked.

“We watch and wait. Let Diane make sure he’s okay physically. Have Abby stay with him and talk to him, both the lion and the man. Derrick and I will shift and see if we can get inside his mind. Talk to him. The rest is up to him.”

“I can’t lose him,” Abby whispered the words as she glanced down at Tah. He was her whole world now.

“Tell him that,” Cody encouraged her.

“Okay.” Diane’s voice was soft as she eased down beside Tah on the bed. “I’m going to apologize in advance for my lack of knowledge here. I’ve learned a lot from Jess and Cody on how all this works, or at least how it does for them. I’m most familiar with the physiology of big cats, mostly lions. But I’m not sure how that translates to this type of situation.”