“That’s just it,” Tah said softly, and she could tell he was trying not to hurt her feelings. “With mates, there’s no slow about it. Logan knew as soon as he saw Clara. And she did, too. There was no keeping them away from each other. Zane doesn’t even come to the house. Hell, he seems to avoid it unless absolutely necessary. He wouldn’t be able to do that if you were his mate.”
“Why not?” Diane asked. “If anyone has the control, it would be Zane.”
Tah shook his head. “I’m not buying it, Diane. I’m sorry.”
She sighed and turned away, not wanting to face them as she finally confessed her insecurities. “I was intimidated and a little afraid of him,” she whispered. She’d finally admitted it this morning and wondered if that was what he’d picked up on.
“Why?” Abby asked. “I understand that he’s a bit scary with his size and brawn. The man’s even bigger than Tah. But he wouldn’t hurt any of us. I know that.”
“I know that, too. I think it had more to do with the way he looked at me. His gaze made me feel devoured. I… Men don’t look at me like that. I didn’t know how to deal with it. So I avoided him.”
“And he avoided you,” Abby added.
“Which he wouldn’t have been able to do if you were his mate,” Tah countered. “No matter what vibe he was picking up from you.”
“Really?” Abby asked, turning to her mate. “I seem to recall you holding back until I said yes.”
Tah’s chest rumbled. “Held back but still couldn’t keep myself from touching you.”
“You were just learning though, just starting to integrate with your animal,” Diane said. “You wouldn’t have the same control.”
Tah glared at her then blew out a breath and began to nod in agreement. “True but look at Clara. She couldn’t stay away from Logan.”
“She was locked up as a prisoner with only Logan to see,” Diane said. “I don’t think their mating is a valid argument.”
Abby laughed. “She’s got you there.”
“So you think Zane would have picked up on your nerves and tried to stay away from you, the woman who is potentially his mate?” Tah questioned and the doubt was still thick in his voice.
“Orsai told me that a fully trained shifter is taught to protect those around him, especially a mate. When we were down in the lab and I was removing the tracker from Amia, you all burst in. Reno shifted into his tiger. You went to your lion. You put yourself between him and Abby.”
“I did, but I also challenged him to try and calm him down,” Tah stated.
“Reno was focused on one thing. Amia, his mate. Clara immediately went to Logan, stepping in front of him. Then he pushed her behind him. There were others in that room, but you all went to your mates.”
He nodded, but she could see he was thinking, remembering that time in the lab.
“And Zane stepped in front of you,” Abby said. “I remember him baring his teeth at Reno when his tiger looked at you. It was when I realized Zane was a shifter, as well.”
“Did anything change after that? Or did he still avoid you?” Tah asked, and Diane knew he still wasn’t buying that she could be Zane’s mate.
“The night Murphy and Zane brought Finn back,” Abby spoke up again. “While everyone raced out to see Finn, you went to Zane.”
Diane nodded. “I needed to make sure he was all right.”
“I was slower getting outside than everyone else,” Abby said, pointing to her belly. “I watched you go to him. I saw the look you two shared. And when I walked in with him, I noticed something. I don’t think I even realized what it was until just now.”
“What?” Diane asked.
“I think he was purring. Softly, very softly, but I heard it,” Abby said.
Abby’s words hardened Diane’s resolve. She was going after Zane.
“I want to go after him,” she said.
“No,” Tah answered immediately.
“Tah!” Abby admonished while Diane just blinked.
“Unless we know beyond a shadow of a doubt she’s his mate, we can’t risk it,” Tah told his mate.
“I think that’s my choice,” Diane argued and saw surprise register on Tah’s face. “I want to go after him.”
“Diane,” Tah said. “I can’t let you do that.”
“Then you’ll have to lock me up and keep me prisoner here,” Diane told him and realized she meant it. “But consider yourself warned, I’ll try every chance I get to leave.”
Tah looked shocked, then thoughtful. “You feel that strongly about it?”