Page 35 of Jacob

“I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere anytime soon, unfortunately.I doubt you can even walk.”

The panda shifter scowled.“I’ll crawl.”

“You’ll crawl right back into bed,” Gal said.

He moved closer, and when the panda shifter didn’t shy away from him, he reached down.Tony quickly moved to help, and between the two of them, they got the man back into bed.He definitely needed a shower, but it would have to wait.

Tony grabbed the comforter and wrapped it around the man’s trembling body.The man curled as tightly as he could, but he accepted the blanket with a nod.Tony didn’t think the man was cold.He had to feel exposed and vulnerable, though, and while a blanket wouldn’t help much, it was better than nothing.

“Can you tell us your name?”Gal asked.

The panda shifter was still staring at the open door.Tony wouldn’t be surprised if he tried sneaking out, but as long as Tony was there, he wouldn’t be going anywhere.The panda shifter seemed to realize that because he sighed and his shoulders slumped.

“Benedict.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 heavily.“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 better get used to being here.”

Ben frowned.“You can’t keep me here against my will.”

“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.”

Ben’s expression shuttered, and he pulled the comforter tighter around his shoulders.“No.”

Gal didn’t push, but Tony hadn’t expected him to.They could see the same thing.Whatever had happened to Ben, it had to have been painful, and this Taylor situation wasn’t making it any easier.Tony wanted answers as much as Gal did, but they would have to wait to get them.Maybe Ben would explain once he trusted the pride’s people.Maybe he never would.Either way, for right now, Ben wasn’t going anywhere.

* * * *

JACOB HAD NO IDEA WHATwas going on, but he could tell that his best friend was shocked and confused, and he wanted to be there for him.As curious as he was about the panda shifter and what was happening with him, Taylor was more important.

Luckily, Jacob didn’t have to go far to find Taylor.He turned the corner and almost slammed against his best friend.Taylor was pacing the hallway, and after making sure that Jacob wouldn’t fall on his face, he let go of him and resumed walking.

Jacob watched him for a moment.He wanted to know what was happening, and he hoped that Taylor would tell him without him having to ask questions because he wasn’t sure where to start.Taylor seemed shocked, though, so Jacob wouldn’t bet on it.

His phone vibrated in his pocket.He quickly took it out in case something had happened.He wasn’t surprised to see that Tony had texted him, but hewassurprised when he opened the text to find a name.

Ben.That had to be the panda’s name.Tony hadn’t written anything else.It was just a name, but it gave the panda shifter a bit more dignity.He wasn’t just a panda shifter anymore.

“Taylor?”Jacob asked after putting his phone back in his pocket.

Taylor didn’t stop pacing.He was wearing sweats and a t-shirt, and his feet were bare.His hair was all over the place, and he smelled like he needed a shower.Both he and Ben did, but something told Jacob that bringing it up wouldn’t help.

“I’m straight,” Taylor said.“I’ve only ever dated women.”

Jacob frowned.He had no idea what was happening or why Taylor was bringing this up.“I know.”

Taylor made to run his hand through his hair, but his fingers got stuck, and he grimaced.He carefully extracted his fingers from his messy hair, then turned to face the other way.“I mean, I’m not homophobic.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 had no idea where this sexuality crisis was coming from, but he didn’t want to dismiss it.No matter how curious he was about everything, Taylor needed him, and he wanted to be there for him.This was clearly serious for Taylor.

“Some people don’t realize they’re not straight until later in life,” he gently 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 Jacob.“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 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.”And apparently, that something was a panda shifter named Ben.

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