* * * *
Abby felt her heart freeze inside her as Tah hit the ground beside her.
“Tah!” His name was a scream piercing the air around her, and she couldn’t get to him fast enough. “Tah.” Her hands were shaking as she tried unsuccessfully to turn him over.
“Abby, move.” Logan was there, trying to push her out of the way.
“Tah!” Abby fought the hands pulling at her.
“Abby!” Jess’s hand connected lightly with her cheek. “Snap out of it and let his friend move him inside.”
Abby let Jess pull her out of the way as Logan first rolled Tah over. Then with some maneuvering, he managed to get Tah up and over his shoulder.
“Hurry up and lead the way,” he muttered. “He’s not exactly light.”
Abby could hear the fear in Logan’s voice.#p#分页标题#e#
“Christ he’s burning up,” Logan exclaimed. “Nice husband you got there, lady.”
“It’s not Derrick’s fault,” Jess argued.
“A fucking wolf,” Logan grunted. “I’m losing my fucking mind. I’m going to wake up and find myself tied up in some mental ward.”
Jess laughed and even Abby had to grin.
“I saw it too.” Abby felt the need to tell Logan.
“No offense, Abby, but considering you think Tah’s a lion, that’s not exactly reassuring.”
“Didn’t you say you were more of a dog person?” Abby reminded him.
Logan just looked at her.
She snickered then. God, they all sounded crazy. It was crazy. But after what she’d just seen Derrick do, she was even more convinced she was right and Tah was a descendent of the paka watu.
“There’s a couch just inside the door on the right. You can put him there. I’ll go grab my bag.” Jess took off while Logan moved to put Tah on the couch.
Abby was kneeling beside him before Logan could even step out of the way. She clung tightly to one of Tah’s hands while she pushed his hair off his forehead with her other hand.
“Tah,” she whispered at his ear as she leaned into him. “Can you hear me? I need you to wake up now. You’re scaring me. I don’t like being scared, Tah. I need you.” She lay her head on his chest and couldn’t hold back the tears that slipped free. “You promised you wouldn’t leave me alone. Wake up, Tah. Wake up.”
“Abby.”
She jerked her head up as Tah spoke her name. She planted kisses all over his face. “Oh, God, Tah. You scared me. You really scared me.”
“I’m sorry, Abby.” Tah shifted as if getting ready to stand up.
“Lie still,” she said, leaning in to press against him. “You hit pretty hard when you fell. Jess went to get her bag.”
“I’m okay,” he scoffed and rose up to sit on the couch, tugging Abby into his lap and hugging her close. “I’ll always be okay as long as you’re with me.”
Abby heard the throat clearing behind them and looked back to see Jess glancing at her strangely.
“You were going to show us to a room,” Tah prompted huskily. His chest rumbled, and she felt the throbbing of his erection under her buttocks where she sat.
“Yes.” Jess nodded. “It’s just down the hall this way.”
Tah shifted and helped Abby stand before taking her hand and leading them in the direction Jess was pointing.
“Abby, can I talk to you for a minute?”
Tah rumbled and his fingers tightened on hers.
Abby was torn. She had so much to talk to Jess about, none quite so important as whether or not she’d heard the news about her father. But Tah was hot and though he wouldn’t admit it, wobbly on his feet. She glanced at Tah and saw the surge of yellow in his brown eyes.
“Can we talk later? I just want to get Tah settled first.”
It showed how much he needed her by the fact he let her comment go without argument.
Jess slowly nodded. “Would you mind if I took a couple vials of blood first? Just to go ahead and get started on some of the tests we’ll need.”
“We?” Tah asked.
“I’m more up to date on wolves as I’m sure you understand from seeing my husband. But my dad called in a biologist who’s worked with several zoos with large cats. Her expertise is lions. She should be arriving today as well. Her name is Diane. I think you’ll like her.”#p#分页标题#e#
“We have another one coming as well. I should have spoken to your husband, Derrick.” Tah shook his head. “We may have been followed. I should go out there. Check on Reno.”
Jess shook her head. “Abby’s right. You hit hard when you fell. You need to rest. I’m afraid we’re going to poke and prod you over the next few days as we try to figure out what’s going on and how to help. I can see how concerned Abby is. Derrick can deal with whatever comes this way. He’s not alone. He has one from his alpha pack with him. Someone is always on guard here.”