That sobered her appreciation. She reached out to caress Tiger’s cheek. His nose twitched when her fingertips traced his jawline and his mouth tightened. Excitement made her heart race as she leaned in closer to him.

“Tiger? Can you hear me?” She didn’t look away but spoke to Bestial. “He moved.”

The chair squeaked and the New Species rounded the other side of the bed. “Talk to him,” he encouraged. “I’m right here in case he wakes violently. If he does, get back and I’ll handle him.”

“Tiger? Please open your eyes. It’s Zandy. I’m right here. Come back to me. Come on and open those beautiful blues for me.”

His hand moved and she grabbed it with her free one, squeezing it gently. His chin lifted a little as his head turned in her direction, seeming to seek her out.

“Wake up for me,” she urged. “Tiger?”

His eyelids parted and he stared at her, looking confused. His tongue darted out to lick his lips. “Zandy?”

“Yes!” Joy hit her hard. He was awake and knew who she was. She had to blink back happy tears that he had come out of his coma-like sleep. “I’m right here. You’re going to be fine.”

His expression changed, hardened. He tore his hand out of hers and a deep, mean snarl came from his parted lips. “Get away from me.” He turned his face away as if her touch burned him. “Go! I can’t have a mate. Stay away from me. You aren’t safe.”

Her horrified and hurt gaze lifted to Bestial’s. He appeared just as stunned as she was by Tiger’s reaction to her. He glanced down.

“Tiger, you’re in a hospital. Zandy is fine. You—”

“Get her out of here.” Tiger reached up and grabbed his friend by the shirt and snarled again. “Get her away from me. I won’t ever see her again. I won’t take her for a mate. Never!”

“Tiger,” Bestial snarled.

His heart rate was so fast the alarm he was hooked to started beeping in warning. He turned his head and roared. “Humans are the enemy. They attack for no reason and there’s no safety. Get away from me!” he roared and tried to get out of bed.

“Stay down!” Bestial threw his body forward to hold his injured friend down. “Get help, Zandy.”

She stumbled back, horrified that Tiger blamed her for what had been done to him. He fought Bestial and turned his head to glare at her. Another roar tore from him and pure rage showed on his face. The door behind her burst open as Jaded and two human task team members rushed inside.

“Get Dr. Allison,” Bestial shouted. “Tell her we need to sedate him.”

“Get her away from me,” Tiger snarled. “She’s not safe. The enemy is everywhere. I will never take you for a mate. I never should have touched you. Get away from me!”

She spun and rushed for the other door. Seeing her made him fight harder. Her bags were still in the other room and she grabbed them. Her shoes were near Tiger’s bed but she wasn’t going to go back in his room to retrieve them. Another roar sounded as she stepped out into the main hallway barefoot. Nurses and doctors rushed toward Tiger’s room.

She ended up in the elevator alone, crying. Tiger and she were over. He regretted ever touching her. Those words still rang in her ears. It devastated her. So much for hoping he loved her and wanted something serious. He’d demanded his friend throw her out of the room.

She completely broke down in a fit of tears when she reached her car. Tiger would live but he wouldn’t be part of her life anymore. It tore her heart apart. She finally pulled herself together, paid for parking and began the long journey to her house. She might need her job at the NSO but she wasn’t ready to return to work until she had some time to harden her heart.

* * * * *

Bestial glared at Tiger. “Why did you say all that bullshit to Zandy?”

Tiger snarled. “Mind your own business.”

Bestial growled back. “You were very wrong to do that.”

The door opened and Dr. Allison Baker rushed in with her medical bag. “What is it? Is he having a violent reaction?”

“He’s having a something,” Jaded snarled. “Sedate him.”

She shoved her bag at one of the human task team members who held it and she withdrew a syringe. Tiger wildly fought at her approach.

“Get that human away from me. They aren’t safe.”

“Knock it off,” Jaded hissed. “Give him the shot. He’s strong for someone so injured. Do it before he reopens his wounds.”

The doctor jabbed Tiger in the hip and jumped back as he fought the two males holding him down. “It’s going to take a minute. I didn’t want to risk over-sedating him.”

Tiger panted but his thrashing lessoned. “What happened to the others? We were in a helicopter crash.”

Bestial answered. “You were hurt the worst. The others lived but one of the pilots suffered severe burns. He’s being treated in the burn unit.”

“Tell me what two plus two is,” Allison demanded. “I need to know if you’ve suffered any brain damage.”

Tiger growled. “Four. Did they catch whoever shot us down?”

“Yes,” Jaded said, nodding. “There were six human males trespassing in the woods. We’ve changed the flight patterns to prevent them from trying to shoot at more of us. The helicopter was a total loss. We’re going to be down one for a few weeks. We’ve ordered another but the company said that is the quickest they can do the modifications we need.”