Page 31 of Jacob

“We’re not here to attack you,” Gal tried to reassure the panda.“I won’t shift, and Dennis and Christopher will stay away from you.”

Jacob glanced at the two.They’d stayed in their animal form, but they hadn’t come too close.They were ready to act if something happened, but otherwise, they would keep their distance.

There was no way to know if the panda believed that.They didn’t uncurl from their defensive position.They kept glancing from Taylor to Gal as if sizing them up, and Jacob prayed they wouldn’t do something stupid like attacking them.His duty was to defend Gal, but Taylor was one of his best friends.He wouldn’t allow anything to happen to him.

“We’re just worried,” Gal continued.“We know you’ve been stealing food and other things to help you survive in the wild, but it’s clear that you need help.I realize you don’t know us, but we’re willing to help you if you allow us to.”

The panda still didn’t shift.Their focus was almost entirely on Taylor now.Jacob told himself to stay where he was and that Taylor was more than capable of defending himself, but it was hard.As a guard, he was supposed to protect all pride members.As a friend, he never wanted anything to happen to Taylor.He might be annoying, but Jacob loved him.

Taylor seemed to realize that the panda was focused on him.He raised a hand and wiggled his fingers, looking harmless, especially with the way he was smiling.“Hi.My name’s Taylor, and as you can see, I’m a tiger shifter.Gal is my alpha, and he’s right.We’ve been worried about you.”

The panda stepped toward Taylor.Taylor sucked in a breath, but he stayed where he was, even though his body tensed.The panda continued moving until they were standing in front of Taylor.They leaned forward.Jacob was ready to jump in and do something if they attacked Taylor, but he really hoped he wouldn’t have to.He didn’t want to hurt this person, whoever they were.He’d never been in a similar position, but it would’ve been easy for him to be.

If he’d stood up against Alpha Carter or if he’d done anything to displease the alpha, he would’ve been kicked out of the pride.Many people had been, especially toward the end, when Alpha Carter had become paranoid and had closed off the pride to the world.He hadn’t allowed anyone to leave except the shifters he trusted most.He’d been afraid that he was losing the pride, and in a way, he’d been right.

In the end, hehadlost them, and they’d gained a new alpha.Gal had been the best thing that could have happened to the pride and the tigers who lived there.He could also be the best thing that could happen to the panda shifter.

They just needed to convince the shifter of that.

They had to convince them that it would be safe for them to follow Gal and Taylor back to the pride.Jacob was curious about the panda’s story, but he also didn’t want anyone to have to sleep in the forest like this.It might be summer, but it wasn’t comfortable.Everyone deserved a roof over their head and enough food not to go hungry, and it was clear that the panda shifter didn’t have either of those things.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t be for much longer.

* * * *

FOR A MOMENT, WHENthe panda finally moved forward, Tony thought they were attacking.His brain froze.He knew how to react, and his instinct was to move forward and defend Taylor, but another instinct was telling him to stay where he was.He would lose a fight against a panda.He only had his gun and the skills he learned in the military, and he didn’t want to hurt or kill the panda.Even if they were attacking, it was clear that they were doing so because they were panicking and terrified, not for a malicious reason.Still, Tony would have to intervene if the panda came anywhere near his mate.

The problem was that Jacob was moving forward, too.It was frustrating, even though it was understandable.They both felt the need to protect each other.They both had the capacity to do so.They also both had the capacity to defend themselves, but even though Tony had scolded Jacob and reminded him that he could do so himself, it obviously wouldn’t be enough.

He shouldn’t have worried.The panda did move forward, but he stopped in front of Taylor.Tony held his breath for a moment, hoping he wasn’t about to watch the mauling of his deputy.More than that, Taylor was Jacob’s best friend.Tony liked Taylor, but Jacob would be destroyed if anything were to happen to him.

To everyone’s surprise, the panda flopped at Taylor’s feet and leaned against his legs.Taylor’s eyes widened and he glanced up, clearly looking for guidance.Tony had no idea what was happening, so he stayed out of the conversation.He only cared that the panda wasn’t attacking anyone and seemed docile.

“Uh, hi,” Taylor said as he looked back down.He didn’t have to look far.The panda was massive next to Taylor’s human form.They might be thin, but they were still a panda shifter.

“My name’s Taylor,” Taylor continued, even though he’d already said his name.“Gal is my alpha, and I promise that we’re here to help you.”

The only reaction the panda had was to press themselves harder against Taylor’s legs.Taylor still looked stunned, but he didn’t move or try pushing them away.Tony thought it was a good thing.They had no idea what the panda was thinking.

“It would be great if you could shift,” Taylor said.“That way, we can talk and find out what happened to you.We can help you better if we know that.”

They all waited, but the panda stubbornly stayed in their animal form.Tony grinned when he saw that the panda had wrapped their arms around one of Taylor’s legs.It looked like they were using Taylor like a massive teddy bear.

Taylor attempted to step away, but the panda wasn’t having any of it.They clung to him and rubbed their face against Taylor’s naked stomach.Taylor squeaked, but he stopped moving when Gal cleared his throat.

“Do you know them?”he asked Taylor.

Taylor shook his head.“I’ve never met a panda shifter in my life.You know I’ve never even left Green Hill, Gal.”

“What’s happening?”Tony asked in a whisper.

Jacob leaned back against him, and Tony had to work hard not to react to his mate’s nudity.Jacob didn’t seem to think anything of it, and Tony had to feel the same.Jacob wasn’t naked because he wanted Tony.He was naked because he was working.

“I don’t know,” Jacob whispered.“For some reason, the panda decided that they liked Taylor.Honestly, I can’t think of a good reason why, but maybe it’ll help.”

“I can hear you,” Taylor said with a scowl.

“I wasn’t trying to hide anything from you,” Jacob answered.“But I really don’t understand.You don’t know them.Why would they latch onto you like this?”

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