Chapter Six

Slater was torn between disbelief and anguish. He couldn't wrap his head around what just happened. It felt surreal, like he was living someone else's nightmare, because this damn sure couldn't be his life right now.

How could it all go so wrong in a matter of seconds? One moment they were lost in each other's gaze, ready to share a passionate kiss, and the next...it all fell apart.

And now Alex didn't want anything to do with him.

Fuck.

Slater's blood boiled with white-hot fury, angry at himself for not being able to control his beast, especially now when it mattered most. Ever since meeting Alex, his animal had been on edge, constantly fighting for dominance.

When he felt it trying to break free during their moment on the porch, Slater fought with all his might to cage it.

But it was the pain that cut deepest into Slater's heart. Watching Alex walk away from him was the hardest thing he had ever experienced.

It had taken an iron will not to go after his mate, but he knew he couldn't. Not when his beast was still fighting at the time to get out. Because if it had…

He stood from the chair on his back porch and went inside, wanting to talk to Alex so goddamn badly right now. Slater was even willing to take a deadly knee to his nuts if it meant he could have his hummingbird back in his arms.

As he crossed through the kitchen, Slater slowed then walked to the counter. Alex's earbuds were lying by the coffeepot. Heart heavy, he picked them up and curled them in his fist as he closed his eyes.

I can't lose him.

His tiger let out a low growl, and Slater could feel it rising up in him. Not again. He was ready to battle it once more if he had to, until… He turned his head, tilted it, and listened to the car pulling into his driveway.

Whoever it was, it had Slater's tiger ready to attack.

He set the earbuds down carefully then walked to his front door. Through the glass in the door he could see Kijani getting out of his cruiser.

Slater had sent Kijani to find and check on Alex. Had something happened to his mate? Worried, Slater opened the door right as Kijani was about to knock.

With a hellish snarl, Kijani asked, "What in the fuck is wrong with you?"

But before Slater could even find out what the guy was talking about, Kijani charged at him, colliding into Slater with such force, the impact sent both Slater and the couch sliding across the room until it slammed against a wall.

"Have you lost your mind?" Slater shouted and shot to his feet, ready this time if Kijani attacked him again.

"You threatened your mate." Kijani snarled as his canines extended into deadly weapons.

"I have no clue what you're talking about, but I won't hesitate to defend myself if you come at me again." Slater growled, feeling a surge of aggression rise within him. "Don't force my hand, Kijani."

They were close friends. Slater couldn't believe the wolf shifter was attacking him. Today was turning into one big-ass shitshow. He tried to think back to his fight with Alex, but for the life of him, he couldn't figure out when he'd threatened his mate.

He would never do something so heinous. His hummingbird meant everything to him.

"You're telling me Alex is lying?" Kijani's claws slid free. "Do you know what happens to those who hurt their mate?"

Slater's canines descended, his claws sliding free as Kijani rushed him, but Slater spun out of the way, determined not to hurt his friend or let Kijani hurt him.

But Slater was also battling back his tiger as it tried to take over, ready to draw blood.

Kijani continued to attack relentlessly, their bodies colliding with enough force to cause drywall to crumble and dust to fill the air. They exchanged punches and kicks so quickly that they could barely be deflected.

"I didn't threaten him!" Slater shoved Kijani off him, grabbed him around the waist, then heaved the wolf shifter away from him. "I would never hurt my mate!"

They slowly circled each other, their eyes locked in intense gazes. "You didn't tell him that if he joked about men again, your growl wouldn't be so little?" Kijani narrowed his eyes and slowly shook his head. "Don't lie to me, Slater."

Slater caught sight of a car pulling into his driveway from the corner of his eye, nearly colliding with Kijani's cruiser, but he couldn't afford to take his gaze off the deadly wolf shifter in front of him.

Slater played back in his mind what he'd said to Alex.

"Hummingbird." He'd slowly blown out a breath. "Tease about rotating through men again and my growl won't be so soft."

Fuck. "I wasn't threatening Alex. I was warning him."

"Still sounds like a goddamn threat to me," Kijani snarled.

"I was warning him because I can't control my tiger! As soon as it sensed that Alex was our mate, I've been struggling to keep it under control."

Kijani narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he wasn't sure he should believe Slater.

"Twice it's gotten so close that my mate saw it in my eyes," Slater gritted out. "Once on my back porch and then this morning, right outside the diner." The fight drained out of him. "I couldn't even try to stop Alex from leaving me because I had to keep my tiger from getting free. It wanted to claim my mate right then and there, not giving a shit about who was watching."

Slowly, Kijani stood up straight. "Until you bind your souls together, your tiger will only become more dominant."

Slater scrubbed his hands over his face. "How do you know this? I don't even know why it's acting this way."

"I witnessed it happen over a hundred years ago," Kijani said. "He couldn't control his wolf and almost attacked a group of humans. But after he claimed his mate, his wolf was at peace."

"Who was it?"

"My brother," Kijani replied. "There are some animals that can't resist their instinct when they sense their mate. It triggers something primal in them."

Slater tilted his head back and inhaled deeply, filling his senses with the enticing scent of dark chocolate and desire. "You need to leave, Kijani. My tiger is too close, and my mate is right outside the open door."

"Sort this out with him." Kijani walked out.

Slater lowered his head and glanced at the doorway. His tiger had almost gone feral when Alex made that joke. Honestly, Slater found it was amusing, especially with the way Becky's eyes had widened. He adored his mate's sharp wit, but his tiger had become furious at the thought of Alex being with anyone else.

Alex stepped closer to the open door, looking uncertain. "I heard what you said to him." He avoided Slater's gaze. "It's because of me that your animal is acting this way."

"It's not your fault, hummingbird." Slater approached Alex and stopped in front of him. "I would never threaten or harm you. And I would never try to control you either."

Alex groaned and rolled his eyes. "I should have never made that joke. It was the worst attempt at humor."

"I actually found it quite amusing." Slater grinned.

Alex gave him a skeptical look. "Really?"

"Absolutely," Slater replied, still grinning. "Your quick wit is only surpassed by your deadly knees."

That earned a raised eyebrow from Alex. "Was that your worst attempt at humor?"

Slater huffed, pretending to be offended. "Are you saying it wasn't funny?"

A small smile tugged at the corners of his mate's lips. "It was decent, I suppose."

"Are we okay, hummingbird?" Slater's smile faded. He wanted to hold his mate in his arms, but he wasn't touching Alex until he knew things were settled between them.

"I guess it depends. Am I going to be standing at this door all night?"

Slater moved aside to let his mate enter and then closed the door behind him. He watched as Alex's eyes widened in shock at the destruction.

"Kijani and I just had a disagreement." It was more than just a man-sized hole that needed repaired. When the couch had crashed into the opposite wall, it had caused even more damage. There were deep marks on the floor from its legs, and things were knocked over or broken.

" This is what you call a disagreement?" Alex gestured toward the damaged wall in disbelief.

The adrenaline from the fight had faded, and Slater was now feeling the physical toll of his injuries.

He needed to shift.

The living room wasn't the only thing damaged during their fight. Kijani's powerful punches had caused internal damage, evidenced by the intense pain radiating from Slater's midsection.

He also knew Kijani had sustained some pretty serious injuries as well, although Slater had been trying his hardest not to hurt his friend.

But he didn't want to let his tiger out so he could heal while Alex was there. His animal was already hard to control around his mate, and he didn't know how it would react when meeting Alex in person for the first time.

Though Slater knew his tiger wouldn't harm Alex, it was too aggressive at the moment, and it might terrify their mate. Alex had already run from him once, and fuck if Slater wanted to take any chances of it happening again.

Alex's expression turned concerned as he glanced at Slater. "I can see you're in pain. How badly did he hurt you?" Anger flashed in his eyes as he waited for an answer.

Instead of answering, Slater moved the couch away from the wall and sat down with a grunt of pain.

"How bad are you hurt?" Alex demanded as he walked over to him, clearly worried.

"I'm not going to lie to you." Slater gritted his teeth as he clutched his side. "Pretty bad. I can heal on my own, but…" He felt his tiger pacing restlessly within him, frustrated that Slater was holding it back.

"But what?" Alex sat down beside him.

"In order for me to heal, I have to let my tiger out."

"What…" Fear filled Alex's eyes. "You told Kijani you were having trouble controlling your tiger around me. That it wanted to get to me." His voice faltered. "Is that why I can feel it pulling at me? Is that normal?"

"Yes." Slater grimaced. "It's called the pull for a reason. But with us, it seems to be even stronger."

Alex chewed on his bottom lip, his gaze steady on Slater's stomach. "I can't let you suffer like this. I'll leave so you can heal. How long will it take?"

"It all depends on the severity of the injury." Slater didn't want Alex to go, especially while he was in pain. He wanted to find comfort in his mate, but his tiger was too unpredictable, and that wasn't a chance he was willing to take.

"I'll come back tonight." Alex hesitated. "I feel terrible leaving while you're hurt."

"I don't want you to meet my tiger until after…" Until after he'd claimed his mate. Once their bond was sealed, it would be safe to let it out.

"Until after our souls are bound together." Alex's eyes held a hint of caution as he looked at Slater. "I heard what Kijani said. Until then, your animal will become more dominant." He started to get up but stopped. "I remember you mentioning something about being mates when we were arguing, but I was too angry to fully understand it."

"We'll talk when you come back." Slater wasn't sure how much longer he could hold back his tiger. His grip on it was slipping as the pain intensified.

"I'll come back," Alex promised before standing up.

His tiger was rising to the surface too quickly. "Go, Alex!" he urged with alarm. "I can't hold it back any longer!"

Slater slipped into unconsciousness as his tiger finally broke free from its restraints.

* * * *

Alex hit the floor as the huge tiger emerged. He crawled backward, trying to put as much distance between himself and the mammoth cat bearing down on him.

It was like facing a force of nature—four hundred pounds of pure muscle and fur, eight feet long and bristling with power. Its coat was a shining orange hue, almost luminous in the dim light of the room.

"Slater said you didn't want to hurt me," Alex said, barely managing to choke out the words. He was surprised he could even talk with so much fear coursing through him. "Please don't prove him wrong."

But as much as he wanted to believe Slater's reassurance, the strength rippling through the tiger was impossible to ignore.

This was undoubtedly the most insane and terrifying situation he had ever found himself in—faced with a beast that was both deadly and beautiful in equal measure.

Every fiber of Alex's being screamed at him to run, to save himself from whatever fate awaited him at the hands of this predator.

As the cat stalked closer with slow, calculated steps, its muscles rippling and fur bristling against its skin, Alex's breath hitched in his throat. The air was thick with the musky scent of the tiger's fur, a mix of earth, sweat, and adrenaline.

This was not a creature that could be controlled or reasoned with. It was pure instinct and power.

As Alex stared at it, those eyes glowed like amber jewels, fixated on him and pulling at him with an irresistible force, despite his fear.

"Please," he gasped out, his heart pounding in his chest as the tiger drew even closer, now only a foot away. "Don't...don't make me regret trusting you."

A deep, rumbling purr vibrated through the tiger.

"I keep telling myself that this situation is crazy, insane, unreal, and I'm scared out of my mind that it isn't," Alex said to himself.

He froze, barely able to breathe when the tiger rubbed its head over his chest. Its rough tongue grazed against Alex's skin, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake.

Alex couldn't believe what was happening. He had been so sure the tiger would attack him, but instead, it seemed to be trying to comfort him.

Alex watched in amazement as it closed its eyes and let out another deep purr.

"You just wanted to meet me," Alex guessed, but in his gut, he knew he was right. "That's what all the fuss was about." Still extremely wary, Alex ran his hand over the soft and thick fur of the tiger, feeling the warmth of its body against his fingertips. He could feel the tense muscles under the fur and the faint vibrations of the tiger's purring.

"This is what you've been after." The tiger rubbed against Alex's hand, purring even louder in response.

He smiled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. He had been so scared, so unsure of what would happen when the tiger broke free, but now he felt a strange sense of calm. It was as if the cat had somehow sensed his fear and had done everything in its power to put him at ease.

A wave of relief washed over him, followed by a surge of affection for this fearsome creature who had shown him such gentleness.

Trying to find the right words, Alex took a deep breath. "I think I'm starting to really understand what it means to be Slater's mate," he said as he continued to pet the cat.

Alex felt a thrill at that thought—that this powerful beast trusted him enough to let down its guard.

But as quickly as it had come, the moment passed. The tiger pulled away, its amber eyes still locked on Alex's as it stepped back, swayed, then closed its eyes and slammed to the floor.

Panicked, Alex didn't know what to do. Slater said he needed to let his tiger out to heal, but he never said anything about sleeping, so Alex wasn't sure if something was wrong.

He yanked out his phone then stopped. Who in the hell could he call? A vet?

He dialed the only person who might be able to help.

"I'm still at work, sweetie," his mom said.

"Do not let anyone see you panic," Alex said as he crawled over to the cat. "I need you to come to Slater's. It's an emergency. I'll text you the address."

"I'm smiling so widely my face hurts." She sounded as if she was talking with her jaw barely moving. "Can I know that this is about, sweetie? Is it your father?"

"You don't have to smile that wide." Alex groaned. His mom had never been able to fake her way through anything. "Please, just get here. Tell your boss…hell, I don't know. I'll text you the address."

Alex hung up and set his phone down, moving to the tiger's side. Its breathing was deep and steady, overshadowing the sound of Alex's own panicked breaths.

"I just called someone who might be able to help." He rubbed the tiger's fur, still feeling like none of this was real. He'd convinced himself earlier that what he had with Slater was simply a physical attraction, a fleeting moment of pleasure.

Until he'd come to the door and overheard the conversation, realizing then that nothing could have been further from the truth. But it was the look in Slater's eyes when he saw Alex standing at the door. Pure heartache.

It was the same torment that had consumed Alex when he'd called it quits with Slater—an anguish he could never forget.

In that moment, everything had become clear for him. Slater truly cared about him, and this was where Alex belonged.

The minutes ticked by slowly, but eventually, Alex heard the sound of his mom's car pulling up outside. He quickly got up and ran to the door, opening it just as she was about to knock.

He flung open the door, barely giving his mom enough time to knock before dragging her inside.

"Quick, get in here!" Alex urged, before slamming the door shut.

"What is going on, Alex?" She turned, and her gaze landed on the tiger, then she shrieked. Her jaw dropped, her eyes wide in shock. She pressed her back against the door as if trying to escape through the wood. "Why is there an oversized feline sleeping on your boyfriend's floor?" Her gaze slid to the wall before focusing on the tiger again. "Did that tiger put that hole in the wall?"

"It just passed out, and I need you to...do something," Alex pleaded. "And Slater's doing some renovating."

"What do you want me to do, Alex?" She stared at him like he'd lost his mind. "I don't know anything about tigers."

"But you have two cats!" Alex argued.

"Housecats!" she retorted, turning to face the majestic tiger sprawled on the floor. " That does not qualify as a housecat, Alex! And I only brush and feed my cats. You act like I'm a veterinarian."

So much for hoping his mom could help. Now they were both standing there clueless.

"Why isn't he taking care of his own pet?" she asked. "Where is Slater?"

On the floor right in front of you.

"He's…not here," Alex said.

His mom stared shockingly at him. "He left you alone with a dangerous exotic animal? What if it attacks you? You haven't known Slater that long! Why would he leave you with ten-thousand-pound tiger?"

"I'm safe with it." Something Alex didn't think he would ever say. Not when the cat had first come out. He thought for sure his life was over.

"Safe?" She pressed her hand against her forehead. "When did my son lose his mind?"

"Can we focus?" Alex asked. "What should I do?"

She clutched her purse strap tightly. "Call for a flatbed truck and tow it to the vet."

The tiger let out a strange noise that sounded like a mix between a purr and a growl, causing both Alex and his mom to jump in surprise.

"Alex, honey," she began. Alex's shoulder felt the firm pressure of his mom's hand as she tightly gripped it, her nails digging into his skin. "Please tell me your boyfriend has a tranquilizer gun somewhere in this house. I don't care how safe you think you are, if this thing wakes up and attack us, we're done for."

He was not tranquilizing Slater. Alex had already racked up too many embarrassing moments, and Dreamboat would not thank him for being drugged.

"Are you sure you can't examine it and figure out why it passed out?"

She stared incredulously at him. "With what, my blow dryer and shears?"

Alex started toward the tiger but was yanked back by his mom's surprisingly strong grip. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm checking on the tiger to make sure I don't see any wounds." Alex knew it didn't have any wounds, but if he didn't give her an excuse, she wouldn't let go of her grip. "It's passed out. It's not going wake up and eat me."

Reluctantly, she let him go. Alex knelt beside the tiger, pretending to examine it, then leaned in and whispered into its ear, "I didn't know what else to do, so I called my mom. Don't become a human again while she's here. I hope you feel better."

Alex leaned back, unsure if Slater even heard him. Since the tiger was breathing and didn't seem in distress, he would assume this was just how Slater healed. If not, Alex wasn't sure what he would do.