Chapter Two #2
As soon as Taylor was free, Ben scrambled away from him, just in case.
He still didn’t think that Taylor would hurt him, but he couldn’t be sure, and he didn’t want to risk it, especially when it was obvious that Taylor was freaking out.
Ben hated that Taylor felt that way when it came to their bond, but he was too tired to do anything but press his back against the headboard and hug a pillow.
It wouldn’t protect him, but it made him feel less exposed, and for now, that was enough.
Taylor was off the bed before Ben could say anything.
He almost fell against the wall, and Ben had to resist the urge to reach for him so he could check that his mate was okay.
He didn’t think that Taylor would want Ben to touch him or even be close to him right now considering the way he was pressing his back against the wall as if he couldn’t get far enough away from Ben.
Taylor was staring at Ben, but everyone else seemed confused.
Ben wanted to ask Taylor to come back, but he felt he’d already been humiliated enough for today.
He knew that reaching for his mate would end in rejection, and he wasn’t strong enough to deal with that right now.
He was sure he never would be, but he’d have to deal with it eventually, and he hoped it was shock that was making Taylor behave this way.
“Taylor?” Jacob asked.
“You need to tell us what’s going on,” the alpha interjected.
He was visibly worried and kept glancing at Ben as if ready to stop him if he was doing anything to put Taylor or the pride in danger.
It almost made Ben laugh because he was too weak to even climb off the bed—or at least, that was what he felt like.
“Why are you reacting this way? What’s happening? ” Gal continued.
“I don’t know who he is or why he’s here,” Taylor said. He was still staring at Ben with wide eyes.
Ben wanted to reach for him. His mate’s reaction was hurtful, even though he could understand why Taylor was shocked. It wasn’t every day that someone found their mate hiding in the forest, and worse, that someone spent two days with their mate before finding out about the bond they shared.
“Can you tell us what’s happening, then?” Gal asked, sounding more gentle now. It was directed at Taylor, though, and Ben had no doubt that the alpha wouldn’t be so nice to him.
Taylor shook his head and pushed away from the wall. Tony had to quickly step out of the way to let Taylor pass as he ran out the door without looking back.
He was abandoning Ben.
Jacob went after Taylor without hesitating.
Ben would have wondered about the relationship between them if he hadn’t known that Jacob and Tony were mates.
They showed their bond when Jacob briefly paused and looked at Tony as if asking whether he should go.
Ben wasn’t surprised when Tony waved him away.
“Keep me informed,” Jacob said before following Taylor out the door.
Ben held his breath. What was about to happen to him? Would he get kicked out of the house? Would he have to go back to living in the forest in his panda form?
He couldn’t do that. He needed to convince Taylor to give him a chance. It was the only way for him to be allowed to stay.
He slid to the edge of the mattress and pressed his feet to the floor. His legs felt weak, but he pushed himself up anyway.
Only for his knees to buckle.
He caught himself on the bed, but he wasn’t done. He couldn’t be. Taylor was out there, and Ben needed to reach him.
When Tony moved toward Ben, Ben cringed away, thinking that Tony would try to stop him.
He didn’t force Ben to do anything, though.
Instead, he offered him his hand and waited.
Ben didn’t know what to do, but he did know that no matter how much he wanted to go to Taylor, he probably wouldn’t be able to do so without help unless he dragged himself there.
He was tempted, but he had some dignity left.
“Let me help you back on the bed,” Tony eventually said, his voice so gentle that it made Ben want to cry.
“I have to go after him.”
“I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere anytime soon, unfortunately. I doubt you can even walk.”
“I’ll crawl.” If he could even do that. He’d find a way if he had to.
“You’ll crawl right back into bed,” Gal ordered.
He moved closer, and Ben surrendered. What would he do against an alpha?
Gal reached down, and along with Tony, they got Ben back into bed.
He was still naked, so he was grateful when Tony grabbed the comforter and wrapped it around him.
He wasn’t cold, but he felt vulnerable and achy.
He curled up as tightly as he could, needing the comfort.
“Can you tell us your name?” Gal asked.
Ben sighed. Taylor wasn’t coming back anytime soon, was he? Ben was going to have to deal with Tony and Gal on his own. He might as well tell them his name. “Benedict.” That wasn’t quite right because only Ben’s mother called him that. “Ben.”
“Well, Benedict Ben, welcome to the Green Hill pride.”
“I—it’s Ben, please. Only my mother called me Benedict.
Thank you for taking me in. You didn’t have to, and I could have been dangerous to you and your people, but you still did.
” Ben swallowed. If Taylor didn’t want him, he’d need a plan B.
Maybe the pride would agree to help him contact his family.
There was a chance Jimmy was watching them, but Ben would have to risk it.
“I’ll be out of your hair as soon as I can walk for longer than thirty seconds without falling. ”
“You’re not going anywhere until you can stand on your own two feet for far longer than that. It’s going to take a while, so you’d better get used to being here.”
Ben frowned. “You can’t keep me here against my will.” Not that he’d be able to do much if they tried, but still.
“I won’t if you want to leave once you’re feeling better, but I also can’t drop you back in the forest in the state you’re in. You need food and rest, and possibly, a doctor. I’d also like to know your story if you want to tell me about it.”
“No.” Ben wasn’t planning on telling anyone about Jimmy. He wished he’d never had to think about him ever again, but unfortunately for him, he kept seeing his ex in his nightmares.
Thankfully, Gal didn’t push. Ben wasn’t sure what he’d have done if the alpha had. He wouldn’t have to find out just yet, but he had no doubts that eventually, he would have to give these people an explanation.
He wasn’t looking forward to it.
* * * *
TAYLOR DIDN’T GO FAR. He wasn’t sure his legs would take him far, but even more than that, he realized that part of him didn’t want to leave his mate behind.
His mate. What the fuck was happening? Taylor was straight. His mate was supposed to be a woman, and the man in Taylor’s bed very much wasn’t.
Taylor paced the hallway, but it wasn’t long before Jacob almost collided with him.
Taylor didn’t want his best friend to get hurt, so he steadied him and resumed his pacing.
He had too much energy, and he needed to get rid of some of it before he started screaming.
He could feel Jacob watching him, but he was almost afraid to look at him.
He didn’t know what to say. Jacob had to be worried, but how was Taylor supposed to tell him that his mate was a man?
Thankfully for Taylor, Jacob got distracted by his phone. He slid it out of his pocket and checked the screen, but unfortunately, it didn’t take nearly long enough for him to take care of whatever was there.
“Taylor?” Jacob asked after putting his phone back in his pocket. He spoke as if he was afraid to spook Taylor. It made Taylor want to laugh because he was already spooked.
Taylor continued pacing. “I’m straight,” he said. “I’ve only ever dated women.”
Jacob frowned. Taylor could only imagine how confused he was. “I know.”
Taylor reached up to run his hand through his hair, but his fingers got stuck. He grimaced. He really needed a shower.
He pulled out his fingers and turned toward the other end of the hallway.
“I mean, I’m not homophobic,” he explained.
“I can admit when a guy looks good. I might even have looked at a few of them, but I never felt the need to ask them out or anything like that. I would know if I wasn’t straight, right?
” Jacob would know. He was gay. He could tell Taylor that this was all a mistake.
It wasn’t. There was no denying that the panda shifter smelled like Taylor’s mate. It didn’t make sense, but it didn’t have to.
“Some people don’t realize they’re not straight until later in life,” Jacob said. “Maybe you just hadn’t found the right man yet. Maybe there was more to it than you just watching hot guys, but you didn’t know.”
Taylor stopped in front of his best friend. That wasn’t the answer he’d wanted, dammit. He needed Jacob to tell him that he was straight and that all of this was a mistake. If it wasn’t, Taylor didn’t know who he was anymore. “You’ve known you were gay for a long time, though.”
“Yeah, but I think that’s because I’ve never been into women.
There was no choice for me but to realize that at one point.
If you feel attraction for men, it could mean that you’re bisexual.
You like women, too, and it would’ve been easier for you to focus on that.
You might not have noticed you like guys, too, until something happened. ”
“That doesn’t feel possible. There’s no way I wouldn’t know. I haven’t been repressing part of myself for most of my life. I wouldn’t do that.” Taylor was sure he would have seen the signs.
“Sexuality isn’t binary. Maybe you’re mostly attracted to women, but a few guys do it for you. If being with guys freaks you out so badly, you can ignore it.”
Taylor snorted. “I wish I could ignore it.”
“What are you talking about? What’s going on?”