The Protectors Volume 1 Read online

  The Protectors, Volume 1

  by

  Hazel Gower

  The Protectors, Volume 1

  Copyright © 2014, Hazel Gower

  ISBN: 9781940744537

  Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.

  Electronic Publication: November 2014

  Editor: Pamela Tyner

  Cover: Jess Buffett

  eBooks are not transferable. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  Dedication

  To my fans, thanks for your loyalty and waiting eagerly for every book.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to Beachwalk Press and Pamela Tyner for accepting my work and making every book shine.

  Thank you to my family for putting up with me in the morning after I have stayed up all night writing.

  Author’s Foreword

  This book is set in Australia, where healthcare is free for every Australian citizen, it is legal to drink at eighteen, and we speak English Australian.

  Erin’s Protector

  Erin and her family are special, and because of their “gifts” they move often so people don’t notice how strange things happen when they’re around.

  Erin’s new job with a catering company takes her into a world she didn’t know existed. She learns her family isn’t so special after all when she’s “claimed” by a werewolf. Jarrod explains that he’s one of many shifters who help save the world, and she’s his mate.

  Unsure of her new situation, and if she has the strength to deal with it, Erin gives herself a week to see if she can fit in with this new life. Can Jarrod convince her that she’s the one for him and she doesn’t ever again need to move or worry about her family’s gifts being discovered?

  Chapter 1

  As they pulled in back of the big house, Erin glanced at her younger sister Amie. “Mum and Granddad believe that we can stay in this city for a while, as it’s so big. They think people won’t notice us if I keep my gloves on and you don’t go healing anyone.”

  Amie got out of the car and Erin followed. “Erin, don’t get your hopes up. I can’t not help people. That little girl I saved was six. She had a year at best. I cured her.” Amie fixed her ponytail and glared at her sister. “I feel bad that there are people out there we could be helping, and all Mother and Grandfather want us to do is hide our powers.” Amie stomped her foot. “Do you know how many people these days are trying for children? You could help them, Erin.”

  They let the conversation drop momentarily as they walked up to their boss. He told them where they could put their bags and finish getting ready before they reported to the kitchen. They needed to get the table food prepared as the guests were arriving.

  Erin put down her bag, trying not to think about the argument she’d had with her sister many times before, but something sounded different in Amie’s voice. “Amie, we’ve discussed this before—if we were found out we would become experiments and used for things we can’t even imagine.”

  Amie’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t care what you say, I’m not ever moving again. I’m going to stop running and hiding and start helping people. You can either stay with Mum and Granddad, or join me.” She sighed. “I’m twenty-five, and I still live with my family. Look, I was going to tell everyone at the same time, but…I’m moving out. I got approval on a flat, and I move in on Monday.” Without another word, she turned and walked out of the room.

  Chucking her bag next to Amie’s, Erin rushed after her, tying on her apron as she went. Right now she couldn’t focus on what Amie had said—she had other things to deal with, and to make matters worse she’d forgotten to bring her gloves. She walked slowly around the party, holding the plate of food with both hands so she didn’t touch anyone.

  Erin had a feeling she was being watched. Thinking it was her sister trying to get her attention, she searched the crowd. She paused and froze on the spot as she stared at eyes that held her in their grip. Light brown eyes filled with lust, and something else, something she couldn’t explain—it was like looking into an old, weary soul, and it slowly becoming bright again.

  Erin tore her gaze away and looked down at the person those eyes belonged to. He was tall, well over six feet, and all muscle. His jet black hair was short except for the fringe that sat over his eyes. She gulped and took a step back as he gave her a dazzling smile and walked toward her. Holy crap! He was gorgeous, and he was coming her way.

  Distracted, Erin bumped into a chair behind her and dropped the plate she held. Averting her gaze, she looked at the woman sitting in the seat she’d crashed into. “I’m so sorry, ma’am.” She reached down to help the woman get the food off her.

  “Don’t. Don’t touch Edina, she needs another child like she needs her tail cut off.”

  Startled by the sharp voice telling her not to touch the woman, Erin turned to see a small, pregnant woman with brown eyes and dark hair.

  “You can touch me. I don’t think you could get me any more pregnant.” The woman smiled and grabbed her arm. “You’re here with the catering company? I bet you don’t know what they’ve brought you into?”

  Erin frowned. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Faith. My name is Faith, not ma’am, that makes me sound old. I can see from your name tag you’re Erin.” She held out her hand and Erin looked down at it.

  * * * *

  Jarrod really didn’t want to go to the party. He knew he had to because it was the next alpha in line’s birthday party, but he was tired, and sick of celebrating birthdays. His own was coming up soon; he’d be ninety-five, and he was feeling every year. His heart and soul grew heavier with every kill he made. He hadn’t been lucky enough to find his mate. He had a year, or maybe two, before they took him off enforcers for good. He was a captain, a leader, although lately he didn’t feel like leading.

  Taking a deep breath, he walked through the front door and out the back to the party. Everyone was there laughing and being merry. Faith had hired caterers, insisting that all the other women just relax and enjoy the party.

  Searching through the crowd, he intended to find Faith and Kane so he could wish him a happy birthday and get the hell out of there. Not finding them, he groaned and moved to a corner to watch and wait for the birthday boy. Kane was never far behind Faith and if he couldn’t find one he knew he wouldn’t find the other.

  As Jarrod looked over the crowd, he could see members from other packs had come to pay their respects, and he suspected, get the chance to talk to Faith and see if she could help them.

  Jarrod nodded to his friends Rory and Angus as they walked over to join him. He knew they were probably feeling the same as him as they were in the same situation—close to a hundred and no mate to save their weary soul.

  Angus patted him on the back and grumbled, “I feel your pain. I don’t want to be here either. I wonder if the young pup knows how lucky he is to have a mate.” Angus shook his head. “Thirty-five and mated. Lucky bastard.”

  Rory, always the positive one, smiled. “We still have some time. Faith said that fate was turning to help us and many of us will find our mates.”

  Jarrod didn’t want to bring down the mood by telling them he wouldn’t get a mate as he was too old to go searching for one. So, he avoided answering by doing another sweep of the party. His gaze landed on a girl who held a plate full of food with both her hands. She was average height, around five-six, w
ith shiny golden hair that was bunched on top of her head in a messy ponytail. Her body was all curves—a full figured woman. She turned and his wolf sat up and howled. Bright green eyes stared at him. He looked her over again to see milky white skin and red rose lips parted in an “O” shape.

  He was in motion before he even knew what was going on. Her eyes got wider and she gasped, dropping her plate on Edina. The girl went to help Edina clean the food off herself when Faith came out of nowhere, putting a stop to his woman helping Edina. He paused at that thought and breathed in the air around him, growling as honey and strawberry wafted to him. Jarrod’s wolf panted, Take her. Mate her. Mate. Mate. We have to have her.

  Stalking the woman, he heard Faith say, “I think it’s best if we leave. You forgot your gloves and we can’t have you touching guests.”

  Jarrod snarled as he came upon Faith and his mate. Faith had never been so rude. Clenching his fists and gritting his teeth, he took a deep breath of the strawberry and honey scent and told his wolf to calm down, to settle. They would have their mate now.

  “No. She’s not leaving, Faith.” He glanced at the girl. Her nametag read Erin. He shot what he hoped was a smile at Erin. “She is mine. Erin’s not leaving.” He couldn’t help the snarl in his voice and knew it would get him in trouble. His instincts told him he should step away from Faith and not tower over her, but his wolf was out of control and urging him into action.

  A werewolf arm came around him, and a scream left Erin as Kane growled, “Apologize to my mate now. No one speaks to Faith like that.”

  Jarrod fought his alpha’s hold as Erin’s screaming got louder and she fought Faith’s hold. Faith struggled until Jamie came and took Erin from her.

  Jarrod knew he wasn’t being rational, but as soon as Jamie touched Erin his strength seemed to triple—he didn’t like another male touching his mate.

  Faith came up to him and let out a long sigh as a couple of werewolves held him back. “You were further gone than I thought. You still have five years until you’re a hundred, but we should have seen the signs. Why didn’t you say you were getting weary?”

  He could barely focus on what Faith was saying; his mind and wolf were focused on the woman cowering in terror in Jamie’s arms.

  Faith shook her head. “I don’t know why I’m talking to you. You’re not going to hear a word I say until you’ve mated that girl. Look, I wasn’t kicking her out of town. Just out of the party. Your mate is quite special, and God forbid the demons get a hold of her. She’s a fertility deity. The deity part is weak, but the fertility is very strong. Anyone she’s touched tonight will be warned to stay away from their mates, and any single woman will be told to have no liaisons tonight unless they want a baby.” Faith stroked her own tiny stomach and grinned. “You need to calm down. You’re scaring your mate.” She glanced behind him. “Kane, turn back to human and let him go. Jamie, let go of Erin and move as far away from her as you can.”

  As soon as Jarrod was free, he went straight to his mate, who sat shaking on the ground. He picked her up and cradled her in his arms.

  She shrieked and bashed at his chest. “Let me go. I promise I won’t tell anyone about you. Please don’t hurt me. I’ll wear my gloves. Just let me go. Please, I won’t say a word.”

  Stroking her hair with one hand, he murmured soothing words to her. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry I scared you. You’re safe. No one will ever hurt you. You’re precious to me. My mate. Everything’s fine now, Erin. I’ll protect you.”

  He walked out of his alpha’s party, not looking back at anyone, and went straight to his house. Opening his front door, he walked directly to his room, carefully placing his mate in the middle of his bed before he stepped back and let himself take her in.

  * * * *

  Oh God, she’d been kidnapped by a gorgeous stranger. A possible werewolf, if she hadn’t been having some weird hallucination, or a crazy episode. No human would be able to fight against the massive creatures he had to get to her and not get hurt. Erin didn’t know what to think about what she had just seen, but she was terrified and intrigued at the same time. Her mind was going over everything that she thought was normal.

  She’d thought that she and her family were the only supernatural people around. They’d moved from town to town, city to city, to avoid people noticing the unusual things that happened when they were around. Erin had the worst of it. If she touched someone without gloves on, and they had sex within the next couple of days, they became pregnant. The more time she touched that person, the higher the certainty. Anyone she touched for a long time usually ended up with twins or triplets. So she wore gloves all the time.

  Her mother and sister Amie had the power to heal people. Their granddad was a walking lie detector. She had always thought her family was alone.

  Erin eyed the werewolf before her. He had short, dark black hair, a nice tan to his olive skin, a sharp nose, and full lips. But it was his eyes that captured her, they were like warm light chocolate, making her melt inside. Shaking her head to stop herself from falling under his spell, she looked around at the white walls and sparsely decorated room. “Where am I?”

  “You’re at my house in my…our room.”

  She sat herself back against the wall. “I guessed that I was at your house. I mean what is this town? Are you all werewolves? Did I just see what I think I did? Because I’ve never been so terrified in my life. I just saw werewolves. Wow, I thought my family was unusual.”

  “Yes, you did see werewolves. You’re looking at one right now.” He moved closer to the bed. She plastered herself against the wall and he halted. “Erin, I would never hurt you. I’d gladly give up my life for you.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  He raked his fingers through his hair. “This is a werewolf town. Well, we were, but lately a lot of other supernaturals have decided to live here in order to stay safe, but they’re on the other side of town. There’s also a military base just before you hit town which has some humans.”

  Erin couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “How many werewolves and other supernaturals are there?”

  He sat on the end of the bed. “There are thousands of werewolves and other shifters, and we don’t know the number of supernatural people. But if you talk to Faith she’ll tell you that everyone has some supernatural sense.”

  Erin’s whole world was changing. She pulled her legs up and hugged them to her stomach. She studied the werewolf who stared at her like he could eat her up. His brown eyes were alight with lust and passion. His hands were fisted in the bedsheets and she could hear his heavy breathing.

  “Why am I at your house? Why did you take me? I don’t know you. I don’t even know your name.”

  He inched closer to her and brushed away some hair that had fallen out of her ponytail and into her eyes. “My name’s Jarrod, and you are my mate. My wolf and I knew as soon as we laid eyes on you that you are ours. And as we got closer, your honey and strawberry scent surrounded me and helped confirm what you are to me.” His lips brushed over hers, and he moved her away from the wall and further down the bed. “You, gorgeous, will get to know me well. I have waited years for you. I have dreamed of finding you. I’ve fantasized about everything I would do to you.”

  Erin lay on the bed and tried to calm her heart as it beat faster and her breaths came out in pants. Jarrod was so close to her now that his fresh, woodsy smell drugged her senses, and her skin prickled as his body came to rest over hers.

  He tilted her chin up to meet his eyes. “You, Erin, are mine. Tonight I’m going to show you why we were made for each other. Why you are the other half of my soul.”

  Jarrod slid off the bed and stood up, pulling his shirt off and throwing it to the ground. Her eyes widened at his muscular chest, and she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment as heat stole her body. Opening her eyes, she groaned as he wiggled his pants down and they pooled at his feet. Wow, he went commando, and oh my, he was hard everywhere. She scrambled b
ack as she looked down at his long, thick erection.

  Jarrod winked when she gasped at the size of him, and he got back onto the bed and pulled her into his arms. He captured her mouth and his tongue sought entry as his hands ripped her white uniform shirt and black pants off. Her body came alive and she grabbed at him, needing what he had to offer.

  In the back of her mind Erin knew something wasn’t right. She’d never reacted to anyone like this. She wasn’t the type of girl who had sex with a man she’d only just met. But as Jarrod’s mouth left hers and he trailed kisses and little nips down her neck, she told herself that just this once it wouldn’t hurt. She didn’t even want to think about the fact that he was a werewolf and he thought she was his mate. Live in the crazy moment.

  Jarrod’s hands brushed over her nipples before he leaned down and took one into his mouth. His hands snaked down her stomach, leaving tingling heat in their wake, coming to rest at the juncture between her thighs. When she arched up, his fingers slid further down and he rubbed her clit.

  Jarrod growled against her skin, and she closed her eyes as delicious shivers ran through her body. “You taste so good. I’m going to eat you all up.”

  Erin’s eyes snapped open, and she stared into his greedy, hunger filled eyes as he looked up at her from between her legs.

  Jarrod licked her until she begged for release and still he didn’t stop. A finger eased into her and pumped in and out. Erin gripped his hair and pushed down on his face, needing to come. He added an extra finger and gave a gentle nip to her clit, and she yelled as bliss washed over her.

  He crawled up her body with a huge grin on his face. “You’re gorgeous. This time when you come I want to see the ecstasy I give you.”

  Jarrod’s cock slowly, achingly, eased into her, and she wrapped her legs around him and slipped her arms around him. He was bigger than she’d had before, and she took deep breaths as she felt herself stretching. Jarrod nibbled at her neck, and his hands glided up and down her body, leaving trails of burning need. He nipped at her ear, which sent shivering thrills coursing through her.