Kiesha and Mark took turns explaining true mates, the mating fever, and how it all culminates into the mate bond.
Tameka slanted a sideways glance at NeeCee to see how she was taking all of this.
“Don’t look at me. I don’t have nothing to do with this, but you better ask your questions quick before I forget this is about you. I have tons more.”
On that note of warning, Tameka asked the first question that came to mind. “Alex said that normally, the change from human to shifter happens gradually over time. What was the first difference you noticed?”
“Oh, God, I’ll never forget. My sense of smell. Alex and I were entering Moe’s Diner for lunch when suddenly, all these scents overwhelmed me. I thought I was going to pass out. If there’d been anything in my stomach, I’m sure I would have puked. It was horrible,” Kiesha stated, a look of remembered distaste on her face.
Mark crossed his arms over his chest, a faraway look on his.
“The thing I remember most is how aggressive I was. I’m normally very laid back. I was challenging everyone about everything. Short-tempered and very territorial. I thought the stress of finals and graduation was getting to me.”
“What about you, Meka? Feeling any different?” NeeCee questioned.
She brought her knee up and rested her chin on it as she thought about it. “No, I feel the same. Nothing’s changed.” In a tone of pure disbelief, Kiesha asked, “You have not noticed any difference?”
“Nada.”
Mark straightened and came over to stand behind Kiesha’s chair, placing his hands on the top. “I have an idea. Let’s try a little experiment.”
“What kind?” she asked suspiciously.
“Nothing major. I just want you to focus and tell me what you hear.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
She flicked another glance at NeeCee before saying,
“Okay.”
“Remember, concentrate and tell us everything that you hear.”
At first, all she heard were the normal hospital sounds she’d gotten used to. She called them out as she recognized each sound: the woosh and beeps of machinery, carts being pushed down the hall, phones ringing. But as she concentrated, she could hear more—the soft fall of footsteps in the clinic hallways, conversations of clinic staff a good distance away sounding as clear as if they stood right outside the door, and Chad and Bull talking as they entered the automatic doors of the clinic.
“Oh.” The last startled her so bad she returned to herself with a thump, feeling like she’d just had an out-of-body experience. “I don’t understand. Why couldn’t I hear all of that before?”
Mark smiled, seemingly pleased. “You’re automatically tuning it out—turning down the volume, if you prefer. That’s good. Most shifters have to be taught. You’re probably doing the same thing with your sense of smell.”
Tameka decided to test it out. Closing her eyes, she tried to identify the scents around her. She immediately began to gag.
Tameka slapped a hand over her nose as her eyes watered and choked out, “How do I shut it off?”
“First, open your eyes,” Kiesha commanded dryly.
Her eyes popped open to see Kiesha and Mark gazing at her with barely suppressed amusement.
“Loss of sight magnifies your other senses,” Mark added with a chuckle.
“I knew that,” she muttered around her hand as Chad came through the door.
He made a beeline for Tameka, gazing at her in concern as he stopped by her side. “What’s wrong?”
“Meka’s testing her Spidey senses,” NeeCee stated.
“Her what?” Bull asked as he closed the door.
“Still gagging here?” Meka reminded them. The combined scents of antiseptic, hospital waste, and who knew what else were overwhelming. Even the smell of her favorite body lotion on her hand was making her sick.
“Tameka, focus on Chad until all the other scents fade,” Kiesha instructed.
She immediately turned and buried her nose in Chad’s chest. He palmed the back of her head and stroked her back.
“Someone want to tell me what this is all about?”
“We were doing a little experiment to see…” Mark’s voice and the rest of her surroundings faded as Tameka immersed herself in Chad’s heavenly scent. Her hands came up to grasp his butt as she rubbed her nose against him, pushing past his shirt to his skin.
Mmm, good. Mate. Want.
Her nails dug into him, pulling him closer as she crept forward to the edge of the bed. Her nose drifted lower, headed for his crotch where the scent was strongest.
“Meka.” Chad’s hand twisted in her hair, pulling her head up and back.
She growled at him . “Mate. Want. Now.” He got in her face, a concerned look in his eyes. “Control your wolf, babe.”
She lunged up, aiming for his mouth but he jerked away. At the same time, he tightened his grip, restraining her movements.
She snarled and tried to snatch loose. When she came back to herself, Chad had her pinned to the bed, his teeth holding her by the throat and she smelled blood.
“Chad,” she tried to call out, but it emerged as little more than a hoarse whisper.
He must have heard because he licked her neck and then rose until they were face-to-face. His eyes were glowing; his shirt ripped to shreds. Blood dripped from where her nails dug into his shoulders. She lifted her hands and gazed in horror at the red coating her fingertips. “What did I do?”
“Welcome back,” he whispered and gently stroked her cheek with his thumb.
“Chad, answer me. What happened?” The borderline hysteria in her voice caused the glow to dim.
“Your beast came out to play.”
She gazed again at his blood splattered and tattered clothing, not understanding how he could be so calm. She’d attacked him.
NeeCee’s face came into her field of vision. “Yo, Meka.
You okay? Holy shit, her eyes are glowing.”
“NeeCee, stay back. I don’t want to hurt you, too.” What if she lost control again? NeeCee wasn’t a shifter like Chad.
“Baby, I’m fine.”
“How can you say that? I attacked you.” As she spoke, something stirred, deep in her belly. The skin on her body seemed to ripple and she immediately froze. “Did you feel that?
What the hell is it?” she whispered, afraid to speak to loudly as though it might hear her and respond.
Plastered as he was to her from chest to knee, she had no doubt that he’d felt what she did.
“That’s your wolf. It’s responding to your fear. You need to calm down.”
“Calm down? You look like a wild animal clawed you.”
“Here, let me help.” He kissed her, spearing his tongue deep in her mouth.
His taste hit her and she moaned, arching into him as the fear disappeared. Her legs came up to wrap around his waist.
“That’s enough, Chad. If your lust triggers hers, we’ll be right back where we started,” Mark cautioned.
It was then she realized Chad was fiercely aroused. She could smell it rolling off of him, although how she identified the scent was a mystery.
“Chad,” Kiesha growled warningly.
He heeded the alpha’s call, slowly disentangling their mouths. He backed off of the bed and stood, pulling her up with him. Meka’s feet dropped to the floor and she swayed, still unbalanced from the emotional roller coaster she’d ridden. Chad pushed the pillows to the side and sat at the head of the bed, then settled her into the space between his legs, her back against his chest, hips snug against his erection. His arms wrapped around her as he rested his chin on the top of her head, breathing heavy.
Meka felt protected and comforted.