Waking the Beast (17 page)

“God help me, I need you, Abby, and I’m scared this need might just kill us both.”

There was so much Abby wanted to say to reassure Tah, but all thought left as the pleasure increased with every thrust. He had her flying into another orgasm within minutes. She knew his cock had locked inside her again when he came.

She had meant to discuss this new development with Jess after Abby and Tah took a shower. They were both so exhausted, but Tah surprised her by taking her again under the warm spray of water. Her legs were weak when he lifted her over the rim of the tub. He grabbed towels and dried the two of them off. She was barely awake when he carried her to the bed, and she was out as soon as her head hit the pillow.

He reached for her three more times during the night, and her body was always ready for him. There was no possible way they should be able to make love as many times as they had in the last twenty-four hours and not be incredibly sore. But they had, and each time seemed better than the last.

It was the heat that woke her late the next morning. Tah was burning up. No matter how she shook him, he didn’t wake up. Not this time. He mumbled. He growled. But his eyes never opened. She pulled his shirt on and ran out the door. And her new prayer ran through her head the whole time.

Please don’t take him from me. Please don’t take him from me.

Chapter Twelve

From the journal of Abby Lane

I had another dream tonight. I was in the woods again, but the lion wasn’t with me. I was running and the fear I felt stayed with me even after I awoke. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might burst. I don’t remember much, except the terror that still has my hands shaking as I write this.

All I know is the lion was gone…and somehow it was my fault…

* * * *

“Whoa, Abby? What’s going on?” Reno caught her as soon as she turned down the hall. He must have been waiting outside.

“It’s Tah. He’s hot, Reno. Burning up. And I can’t get him to wake up. He won’t wake up.”

Reno nodded and for the first time it dawned on Abby that though his hands gripped her arms, they weren’t causing her any discomfort.

“I’ll go grab Derrick and the doc. You go back to Tah. You should be with him.”

She nodded and turned to follow his advice. She wanted to be with Tah. Obviously Reno had arrived at some point, and things must be okay, since no one had come in to tell them otherwise. Right now, all she could focus on was Tah.

She moved back onto the bed with him and made sure the sheet was up around his waist. He wouldn’t care, but she did. How silly was that? But she didn’t want anyone coming in and seeing him naked. At least his cock was finally flaccid. She’d been wondering if it would ever rest. Come to think of it, she wasn’t as horny this morning either. She’d met him every time he turned to her last night and matched him lust for lust, need for need. This morning? She was content and energized, which was really bizarre. She should be exhausted.

“Tah. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” She stroked her hand up and down his chest while she used the other to play with his hair. “Reno went to get Jess and Derrick. We’re going to figure out what’s going on and make you better. I promise. We’re going to figure this out and you’ll be good as new.”

“He’s fighting it.”

Abby glanced up at the new voice and met the emerald eyes of a man she’d never seen before.

“I’m Cody.”

“You’re part of Derrick’s alpha pack?” Abby remembered Jess saying he had someone here with him.

Cody nodded as he moved toward the bed. “He’s running a fever. How long has the beast been awake inside him?”

Abby thought back. “Not long. It hasn’t even been a full week yet.” Funny, it felt like it had been months, years, a lifetime. She’d known him for a year, watched and wanted him. But it had only been a week since Harlan had taken them and shot Tah with a straight dose of adrenaline.

Cody leaned in and inhaled. “Not a great week for this to happen. But it’s all worked out. He just had a little too much to deal with at once. Doesn’t help he’s still fighting.”

“What do you mean?”

He sighed and shook his head. “I should probably wait and let Jess or Diane talk to you.”

“Just tell me.”

“You were ovulating.” Jess’s voice carried to Abby from the open door as she and Derrick entered the room followed by Reno, Logan, and a woman that must be Diane.

“I was what?”

“Cody noticed it as soon as he smelled you,” Jess stated with a shrug. “It’s one of his many talents.”

Cody turned and grinned at Jess as she came to stand beside him. He reached up and rubbed her cheek, making Abby’s mind explode with questions she’d get to as soon as she knew Tah was okay.

“So I was ovulating. I’m not now?”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve conceived. Your scent’s changed.” Cody laid his hand on Tah’s brow as he spoke. “Jess told me you’re all new to this. I’ve read up a little on cats, thanks to Diane.” He nodded toward the woman, confirming Abby’s suspicion that she was Diane.

“Do you know what’s going on?” Reno asked the question, and Abby was thankful he was there. He’d moved to her side of the bed as if offering her his strength. She needed it. Her mind was spinning. Tah was fighting, and she was pregnant. Her hand fell to rest over her belly. She was pregnant?

“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?”

“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.”

“There are so many things I’ll share with you,” Abby promised. “Once he’s awake.”

“I’d appreciate it. Especially if others show up.”

“Others?” Logan asked.

“I’ll explain it all later,” Jess answered. “Nothing is certain right now. And there’ll be plenty of time to go over it all later, once your mate is better.”

Abby nodded. “Why don’t you stay in here with me? I think maybe it will help Tah if he hears everything you have to say.”

Jess looked at Cody, and Abby found herself doing the same.

He shrugged his shoulders. “It wouldn’t hurt.” He turned to the rest of the room. “I need one of you to take guard outside, since Derrick and I will be trying to reach your friend.”

“I’ll go,” Logan said.

“I’ll go with him,” Derrick offered. “You’ll have a better chance of reaching him on your own, one-to-one. He felt challenged by me yesterday. I’m not sure he’d let me in again. I’ll take Logan and show him around, show him the things to watch for. Adrian and Michael should arrive today with Jess’s dad.”

“We’ve got some people coming in as well,” Reno said, and Logan turned to look at him. “I made some calls. People we can trust. They’ll be trickling in.”

Logan grinned. “Be good to see the gang together again.”

Reno nodded in agreement.

“Sounds like we’re going to have a cabin full,” Jess said with a smile. “I’ll make sure there’s something good for dinner. And plenty of it.”

Derrick turned to Jess before he left the room with Logan. His fingers brushed her hair as he leaned in to softly kiss her on the lips. “I’ll be back. Call if you need me.”

“I will,” she whispered.

Diane was still checking Tah’s vitals and taking more blood.

“At least it shouldn’t be uncomfortable now,” Abby whispered.

“Uncomfortable?” Jess asked.

“Before this morning, it was uncomfortable to have someone else touch me. He felt the same. It took a lot to let you get the blood from us last night.”

“And the hug?”

“Uncomfortable.”

“You should have said something, Abby.”

“I missed you. I wanted to hug you.”

“And now it’s okay?”

Abby nodded.

“Probably has to do with the ovulation and the fact she’s conceived,” Cody offered.

Abby shuddered. “I’m a little freaked out about that.”

“Being pregnant?” Jess asked.

“No. The fact Cody knows I’m pregnant. I feel like that’s something Tah and I should have known first, discovered together. I don’t even know if he wants kids.”

“I’m sorry,” Cody said.

“Tah will be a great dad,” Reno stated. “He’ll love any child you give him and count himself the luckiest man alive.”

Abby looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “You really think so?” It meant a lot to her to hear what Reno thought. She knew how close the two men were, like brothers.

“I know so,” he assured her before turning to Diane. “Whenever you’re ready, I’ll head to the lab with you, Doc.”

Diane nodded, but her concentration was completely on Tah. She patted Tah’s arm as she stood. “I’m going to save you,” she muttered, as she grabbed her bag and turned to leave. And in that moment, she made a friend for life in Abby.

“Let’s go. I want to check a few things. A lion’s body temperature runs higher, between 100.5 to 102.5. But his temperature is over that, about 104. His heart rate is fifty beats a minute, but that’s okay. A lion’s is only forty beats normally, while a human’s is closer to seventy. So I’m going to guess he’s within a normal range there.” She shook her head in frustration. “There’s just so much I don’t know.”

“It’s okay,” Abby assured her. “I’m glad we have you.”

Diane focused on her and Abby saw the other woman’s eyes drop briefly to her stomach.

“There’s a lot I need to learn, and quickly,” Diane told her before turning and leaving the room with Reno following.

Abby wasn’t sure why Reno was going with the doctor. She had no idea what he did outside of the bar. She just hadn’t paid very close attention to him. She hoped it wasn’t that he didn’t trust Diane.

“I’m going to our room to undress and shift. I’ll stay outside the door, so I don’t spook him,” Cody told Jess as he hugged her close. His lips met hers, and Abby hoped she wasn’t gaping as badly as she thought she was when he turned and left her and Jess alone with Tah. Jess obviously had some pretty big secrets of her own to share.