“I guess.I’m sorry if you don’t want to talk about it.I’m just curious.”
That and he wanted to protect Ben.His tiger wanted to protect their mate even more, and it was ready to go out there and tear down anyone who’d hurt him.
Because it was clear that someone had.Ben wasn’t here, shaking like a leaf, still too thin from having lived in the woods on his own, because he wanted to be.He was on the run from someone, and the only reason for him to be was that someone wanted to hurt him.It was unacceptable for Taylor’s tiger, and Taylor agreed.No one should fear for their lives.No one should be on the run and forced to live in the forest, hiding in holes.
“I’m not ready to talk about it,” Ben said softly.
“Then forget I asked anything.We’ll focus on Jacobs’s boxes for today, all right?”
Ben nodded and moved closer.Taylor continued walking, feeling a bit awkward because he could feel the way Ben was holding onto his t-shirt.It was as if he was afraid that Taylor would vanish if he wasn’t touching him one way or another.Taylor could understand, considering that was precisely what he’d done yesterday.
Never again.Taylor didn’t want to run.Even though he was confused and had no idea what to do, Ben didn’t deserve to be abandoned.
Ben pressed closer when someone appeared at the end of the hallway.Taylor wanted to tell him that he had nothing to fear from Monica, but he didn’t.Ben would realize that he was safe here eventually, and if he felt more comfortable not talking to anyone in the meantime, Taylor wasn’t going to force him.He didn’t hesitate to nod at Monica, though, and she smiled at them.He could see from her expression that she was curious about Ben, but she didn’t ask anything or stop walking.
What had Gal told the pride about Ben?Taylor was sure that he hadn’t mentioned that Ben was his mate.Gal would never do that.He had to have given people an explanation, though.It wasn’t every day that a panda shifter became a guest of the pride.Taylor was surprised that no one had come knocking on his door to demand to talk to Ben, but maybe Gal had explained that Ben was traumatized and overwhelmed.
Everyone here understood.Their old alpha hadn’t been violent, but he’d been paranoid and an asshole.They’d all been afraid of him and had walked around on eggshells so they wouldn’t provoke him into a reaction.It had made life really hard for several years.Taylor remembered always watching his back and being hypervigilant every time he left his bedroom.
He wondered if that was how Ben felt.Did he expect everyone they crossed paths with to jump him?Maybe to yell at him or demand to know what he was doing there?If that was the case, Taylor understood why he was clinging to him as hard as he was.Even though he didn’t know Taylor, Taylor was his mate.That was probably enough for him to feel comfortable with him and like he was safe.
Hewassafe.Taylor would make sure that no one bothered him, or worse.It didn’t matter how he felt about Ben being a man and his mate.Taylor was a protector, so he’d protect Ben.
It was a relief when they reached Jacob’s bedroom.Taylor hadn’t made the bed since he’d slept there last night because he wanted to wash the sheets.As soon as they were in the room, he started taking them off the bed.He could feel Ben watching him, and he wasn’t surprised when a few minutes later, Ben stepped closer to help.
“You can dump everything in the corner,” Taylor said as he tilted his chin in that direction.“I’ll take everything downstairs to the laundry room before we leave.Jacob should be coming around soon, too.”Taylor had texted him earlier, mostly to tell his best friend that he still had no idea what he wanted from Ben.That wouldn’t stop him from being there for Ben, though.He’d also texted Tony to tell him he was planning on getting back to work soon.He didn’t think that staying here with Ben, hiding in his bedroom, would help either of them.As much as he wanted to help Ben, coddling him wouldn’t do that.Taylor had to show him that he was safe here, even when he wasn’t around.
Ben glanced around the room.“This is a nice room.”
“It is.Jacob wouldn’t be moving out if he hadn’t met Tony.”
“He wants to be with his mate.”
“He does.”Taylor wondered if Ben was talking about himself, too.He’d taken Taylor’s explanation for yesterday easily, but how did he really feel about it?It was hard to believe that he was fine with it and that he didn’t have questions.Maybe needing to feel safe was more important to him.
This was only the beginning.Taylor wanted Ben to feel safe so he could be honest about what was happening to him.Once they knew, they could take care of the danger, and Ben would be able to decide what to do next.He had to have a family out there, right?
Unless his family was who he was running from.
Taylor couldn’t assume.He didn’t know what was going on, and he wouldn’t know until Ben was comfortable enough to tell him.As much as he wanted to go back to work, Taylor understood that this was more important.He hoped that Ben would relax, but there was no way to know how long it would take.Taylor didn’t want to be away from work for too long, but he could take a few more days to ensure that Ben was settling in okay.
He blinked at the pillow in his hands.Ben was already important to him, wasn’t he?As confused as Taylor was about his sexuality and what having a male mate meant for him, part of him also didn’t care about any of that.Ben was his mate.Taylor hadn’t chosen him, but there was no changing it.Ben was Taylor’s to protect and care for.What was between his legs didn’t matter, no matter how much it confused Taylor.
They worked in silence.Taylor was grateful.He needed a little time, and he suspected that Ben felt the same.
Everyone seemed to know to stay away, which was good.He noticed several people hanging around watching them when they stepped out of Jacob’s bedroom, but no one came close.Taylor noticed Ben was less tense by the time they were done in the laundry room.
Maybe they could do this, after all.Maybe Taylor could make Ben feel safe.
* * * *
BEN FOLLOWED TAYLORdown the stairs.He should probably be carrying boxes, too, but Taylor had waved him away when he’d tried.Ben was glad because he was pretty sure he’d topple over if he tried carrying anything too heavy.
Ben wasn’t surprised to see Jacob just outside the front door.Taylor had mentioned that he’d be coming around this morning, and he’d told Ben that he’d smelled him in the hallway when they were on their way upstairs after putting the sheets in the washing machine.He hadn’t been in his bedroom when they’d gotten back, and now Ben knew why.
Jacob turned, possibly to go back upstairs, but stopped when he saw Taylor and Ben.Ben reached out and grabbed the bottom of Taylor’s t-shirt, even though he didn’t think he was in danger.Jacob had been there when Taylor had found Ben, and yesterday when Ben had told Taylor that they were mates.
“Hey,” Taylor said as he put down the box he’d carried downstairs.There was a stack of them on the porch already.“I thought I’d help.”
