Page 36 of Forsaking His Mate

The discomfort that ripples across her face puts me instantly on guard. “Moon sickness can turn a wolf completely feral. Abel was running when I found him, scared and ready to end his life to stop this curse.”

My heart skips several beats at the thought of Abel killing himself before I even had the chance to meet him. I rub at the pain blossoming in my chest. “And that’s why he doesn’t want to mate with me? Because he’s worried about turning feral?”

Hester looks like she doesn’t want to say anything, but she eventually speaks. “Abel left his pack because he was worried he was going to turn into his dad.”

“What happened to him?”

“That's not my story to tell; it's his. I offered him a place here. I didn’t know tau wolves could mate the same way as full-blooded wolves. I thought he would be safe from that here.”

Then I turned up and flipped that on its head.

“Every month, I tie him down and I use magic to control his wolf. It isn’t perfect, but it’s enough to hold the rage at bay.”

“I stopped him. I spoke to him through the bond.”

Hester’s gaze snaps to me. “What?”

“He was on top of me, and I used the bond to speak to him. He was getting off me when you put him out.”

She shakes her head. “It’s not possible. Moon sickness can’t be controlled, even by a mate.”

“Well, I did.”

Hester frowns. “I’ve never heard of that happening. Maybe your magic helps with your bond somehow.”

Abel thrashes suddenly and snarls, snapping his teeth together. We all jump back.

“You think you can control this?” Hester asks, curiosity in her words.

I close my eyes and reach down the bond. I speak softly to him, telling him I’m his and that he’s mine. At first, nothing happens. He tugs against his bindings, his expression terrifying.

It’s okay,I tell him.I’m here.

His thrashing slows, and his eyes soften a little.

“How are you doing this?” Hester demands.

“I don’t know,” I admit, but I can feel him calming through the bond.

His gaze remains locked on me as I continue to soothe him.

“This shouldn’t be possible, Tessa,” Hester says.

I don’t care what the reason is. I only care that I’m helping him.

“I don’t think that’s true any longer,” Roux says in a soft whisper.

I ignore everyone and focus only on Abel and our connection. I keep soothing him, reassuring him, and piece by piece, I feel and sense him coming back to me.

His pupils return to normal size and he blinks rapidly before his eyes meet mine. “Tessa.”

“I’m here,” I tell him as he lifts his restrained wrists.

“What… what happened?”

“The mating bond triggered your moon sickness,” Hester says.

His eyes flare and I see the fear in them as he snaps his attention back to me. “Did I hurt you?” He scans every inch of my naked body, looking for injuries. I have bruises, I’m sure, on my throat, but I don’t care about them. I just want him to be okay.

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