Protection (To Love And Defend Book 5)

by Daniella Starre

  Protection

  To Love and Defend Book Five

  Daniella Starre

  Copyright © 2018 by Daniella Starre

  Cover Artist: Daniella Starre

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  His Complicated Howl

  His Discouraged Howl

  Protection

  His Satisfied Soul

  Author’s Note

  Other Books By Daniella Starre

  About the Author

  His Complicated Howl

  Adrian Hawkins' life has been filled with ups and downs. Whose hasn't? With his close friend Alexis Luna by his side, he thinks he can survive just about anything. When she disappears, though, Adrian's life becomes a lot more complicated and just might stay that way for the foreseeable future.

  Chapter 1

  The house down the street had a huge moving truck parked out front. Eight-year-old Adrian Hawkins watched it carefully. Any kids? There were several on this street already, but more would always be welcome.

  Well, more boys. There were already more girls on the block than Adrian cared for.

  So many boxes that could contain anything: books, clothes, pots and pans. Some furniture. The movers were quick and efficient. It wasn’t until the moving truck drove away that Adrian saw that the new family did have a kid.

  A girl.

  Alexis Luna.

  Now, Adrian knew of her. She was seven, in the grade below him, and was a fellow werewolf.

  Ugh.

  A hand clamped down on his shoulder, and he jerked, startled.

  His mother smiled down at him. “Come. Let’s go say hi to our new neighbors.”

  “Ah, Mom, do I have to?”

  “You do.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I said so.”

  “If I ever have kids,” he declared, “I’m never telling them that.”

  His mother shifted the casserole to one hand so she could ruffle his hair. “I said that when I was your age. Guess what? I guarantee you will one day.”

  “Maybe I won’t have kids.”

  “Then you’ll say it while babysitter.”

  “I won’t—”

  “Adrian, let’s go.”

  Sheepishly, he trailed after his mom. His father was off at work yet. He owned a bank.

  The Lunas were about to head inside when they walked up. The parents began to talk, and Adrian shrugged at Alexis.

  “You want to play a game?” Alexis asked.

  “Not into board games.”

  “I meant tag.”

  He grinned. “How about hide and seek?”

  She shook her head, eyes narrowing. “No way. Not until I learn the area. You’ve already sniffed out the best hiding spots.”

  He shrugged again. “You just know I’m the faster runner,” he teased.

  “You aren’t that much taller than I am. My stride is probably as wide as yours.”

  “Wanna see?”

  Adrian was faster, but Alexis was swift too, and she could duck under his outstretched arm. By the time their parents called them for dinner, they were both panting and out of breath.

  And fast friends.

  Chapter 2

  Two years later, Adrian and Alexis remained close. His friend, Ryan Grayson, sat next to him at lunch.

  “Where’s your girlfriend?” Ryan asked.

  Confused, Adrian furrowed his brow. “I don’t have one.”

  “Come on. You know you do.”

  Adrian shoved a potato chip into his mouth. “I really don’t. Not even sure who you’re talking about.”

  “Duh. Alexis Luna. Where is she anyway?”

  “She has a dentist appointment.”

  “See? You know everything about her.”

  “Yeah,” Adrian said, “because we’re friends.”

  “Right. ‘Friends.’”

  “Exactly.”

  Over the next several years and into high school, several friends continued to tease both Adrian and Alexis about each other, but the two agreed. They were friends. Strictly friends. Adrian never once had romantic feelings toward her, and he had no reason to think that Alexis was lying. Contrary to popular belief, a guy and a girl could be just friends.

  Chapter 3

  Now a junior in high school, Adrian was over at the Lunas’ house for lunch on a Saturday. The window was open, and a brisk breeze blew in. The early October air gave a hint that the colder temperatures were coming and soon.

  “I can’t believe you’re dating Celia,” Alexis said, shaking her head. “You could do so much better.”

  “What’s wrong with Celia? She’s hot.” He grinned and took a huge bite out of his ham-and-cheese sandwich.

  “There are a lot more important qualities than looks.”

  “You know, that’s usually a line from an ugly girl. You aren’t ugly.”

  “Adrian!”

  “I’m teasing!”

  “You’re sounding like a jerk.”

  “I’m sorry. It was in poor taste. I won’t say anything like that ever again. You aren’t…”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Watch it.”

  “Bossy,” he supplied. “You aren’t bossy at all.”

  “I’m not,” she protested.

  “See? You’re agreeing with me!”

  She giggled and then sighed. “You’re impossible.”

  “I just want you to know that I’m happy with her.”

  “Why? I don’t understand what you see in her.”

  “She makes me laugh.”

  “So do I.”

  “Yes, but when I’m around her, my heart does flips.”

  “Might be indigestion.”

  He grimaced. “Really?”

  “Maybe. You do fart a lot.”

  “Can’t help it. When you gotta toot—”

  “You aren’t eight anymore.”

  “Guys are never too old for fart jokes.”

  She facepalmed. “I just can’t with you.”

  “You know you love me.”

  “Only sometimes.”

  “Ouch.”

  Alexis laughed, and he joined in.

  “Do I think she’s the one?” Adrian asked, turning more serious. “Probably not. I’ll admit it. Not many high school relationships do. But I am happy.”

  “Then I hope it works out for you because if it doesn’t, I am going to rip that wolf a new one.”

  “Remind me to never get on your bad side.”

  Alexis blinked innocently. “I don’t have a bad side.”

  He roared with laughter. Alexis had become one of his closest friends, and he had to admit that her opinion about Celia mattered. Was he blinded by her hotness? Was she no good for him?

  He knew Ryan would say that Alexis was showing signs of jealousy, but Adrian knew better. They weren’t the wolves for each other.

  But maybe neither was Celia.

  <<<>>>

  That night, Adrian drove over to Celia’s house. They were supposed to go out to see a movie together. She wasn’t ready yet, and it was almost time that they would miss the previews and be late for the actual film if they didn’t leave soon.

  Mrs. Douglas gave him a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure she won’t be that long,” she said demurely before yelling up the staircase, “Celia, move your ass! Your date’s been waiting. Not fair to him.”

  Celia snapped back,
“I’ll come down when I’m ready.”

  Adrian rubbed the back of his neck. This wasn’t the first time Celia had taken super long to get ready. She had for their first date too. She had been nervous, but they had been dating for three months now. She had been ready on time every date after the first one. What was different now?

  When she came downstairs, wearing a tight dress and heavier than normal makeup, Adrian didn’t care. She was smokin’, and this look was worth the wait.

  He brought her out of the house and to his car. Before she climbed in, he tried to steal a few kisses, but she only pecked him a few times.

  The ride over, they talked about school and mutual friends. Thankfully, traffic was light, and they got to the movie theater in decent time. They missed a fair amount of the previews, and only had to sit through one before the rom-com she had picked started.

  He draped his arm across her shoulders. Normally, she snuggled against him. Today, not so much.

  “Are you all right, babe?” he whispered in her ear.

  She nodded. “I’m fine. Just going to go to the bathroom real quick.”

  He pushed back to give her space to walk around him. All too quickly, five minutes passed, and she hadn’t returned. When another ten minutes had gone by, Adrian became worried. Concerned, he left the theater and headed toward the bathrooms.

  There, tucked into the alcove of the bathrooms was Celia, sucking Erik Franklin’s face off.

  Adrian was so upset and angry that he wanted to march over there and punch Erik in the face. He had never liked the jock. Thought himself a god of a werewolf.

  But it was Celia’s betrayal that hurt the most.

  Celia pulled away from their locked lips and noticed Adrian watching. He didn’t say anything, and she just smirked at him before pulling Erik close for another kiss.

  Unreal.

  Alexis is right. I can do better.

  Chapter 4

  Four months had passed since Adrian and Celia split, and he hadn’t started to date anyone else yet, a fact that Alexis kept bringing up.

  Another Saturday lunch together, this time at Adrian’s. His mom had made chili, and it was piping hot and amazing. At least, he assumed it was. He hadn’t taken a bite yet, too depressed. None of his friends, including Alexis, understood why Celia cheating on him was such a big deal.

  “She’s a whore,” Alexis was saying.”

  “Can we not talk about her?” he grumbled.

  “Fine. Let’s talk about Gloria Hanes instead.”

  “Gloria?” Adrian frowned. “What about her?”

  “I think she’s perfect for you,” Alexis said eagerly. “She’s beautiful, don’t you think?”

  “I guess so.” He hadn’t really thought about her much, honestly.

  “She’s smart and kind. She would never cheat on you.”

  “She’s a mouse of a werewolf,” he said.

  “Not every werewolf can dominate,” she protested.

  “Yeah, but there’s a difference between being able to stand up for yourself and being a doormat.”

  “She is not a doormat!”

  “She allowed another student to copy off her during a final.”

  “And you’ve never made a mistake.”

  “We’re not talking about me,” he protested.

  “Just give her a chance, okay? For me?”

  “Fine.”

  <<<>>>

  On Monday, Adrian found Gloria at lunch.

  “Hi,” he said, wishing he hadn’t allowed Alexis to talk him into this.

  Gloria glanced up from the book she was reading and didn’t say anything.

  “Do you want to go out sometime?” he asked.

  Gloria shrugged, nodded, and returned to her book.

  It took him five minutes to work out the details of where and when and what time he should pick her up, but the date was set for Friday.

  When Friday rolled around, he drove over to her house. Gloria was ready. She was beautiful. Alexis wasn’t wrong about that. She had long brown hair and light blue eyes hidden behind small glasses. She wore jeans, a sweater, and an unzipped heavy coat.

  Dinner was up first, at a chain place. Adrian had a part-time job at the bank where his father worked so he could afford to pay for her. She insisted, though, so he let her.

  They hardly spoke. Adrian wracked his brain to come up with stuff to talk about, but they didn’t have many classes together and few mutual friends. Any question that he came up with, she answered with as few words as possible.

  By the time they settled the bill, Adrian wasn’t looking forward to the movie. At least they wouldn’t have to talk during it.

  But when they got in his car, Gloria turned to him. “I don’t think this is going to work out.”

  “Oh.” He wasn’t shocked to hear this. He didn’t feel a spark at all with her. “Do you want me to take you home?”

  “Please. You’re cute and all, but you don’t seem to be that well read or artistically inclined.”

  “Hey, I read,” he protested.

  “I don’t mean sports articles.”

  “I’ll have you know that my favorite books are Lord of the Rings. Well, it’s technically one book but—”

  “But not Dante’s Inferno. Or the Odyssey. Or War and Peace. You know, the classics.”

  “I read what I have to for class. You read those for fun?”

  “Yes.” She sounded more excited than she had all night. “But that’s not who you are. That’s fine. I’ll find someone else who shares my tastes.”

  “Good luck.”

  “You too.”

  When they arrived at her place, Gloria hesitated.

  “If you need help with English class ever, you can ask me for help.”

  He grimaced. “Thanks for assuming I’ll need it.”

  “Did you get an A last semester?”

  “A B+ and I’m fine with that.”

  Gloria shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  He waved, waited until she was safely inside, and drove off. Oh, well. At least he could tell Alexis he’d tried.

  Chapter 5

  Years passed, and now, Adrian was home for the summer between sophomore and junior year of college. After eating lunch with his parents, he headed across the street to the Lunas’ house and knocked on the door.

  No answer.

  He grimaced, returned to the sidewalk, and kicked a rock. Ever since they had graduated high school, he had fallen out of touch with Alexis. She was off busy doing her thing, and he was busy too. He had gotten a baseball scholarship, and he was studying business management. His father was grooming him to take over the bank when he would eventually retire.

  How was she doing? Had she found anyone yet? She had dated a few guys in high school, but nothing serious. Just like him in college. In fact, yesterday, he had broken up with his girlfriend. They never should’ve started dating, and he hoped that he and Opal could remain friends.

  All summer long, Adrian hoped to reconnect with Alexis, but it never happened. He missed her, had left her some phone calls and texts, but she never responded.

  Sometimes, friendships didn’t last forever, a realization that saddened him greatly.

  Chapter 6

  Now twenty-seven and high up in the ranks at his father’s bank, Adrian was doing his best to keep his life on track. He had taken up golf since his stint with the minor leagues hadn’t panned out. He still hadn’t found the right girl. Love was complicated, he was realizing, and he wasn’t going to waste time looking for it when he still had other matters to worry about.

  One day, while eating lunch at his apartment, his cell rang. The alpha of the werewolf pack in Hazel Park was calling.

  “Melvin Hayes,” Adrian said. “What can I do for you?”

  “Alexis. Do you know where she is?”

  Adrian’s eyebrows shot up in shock. He hadn’t thought about her much over the past few years. They truly had lost touch.

  “No. Why?”

&n
bsp; “I think she’s been kidnapped. I need your help.” Melvin gave directions for a place for him to meet the others and hung up.

  Adrian’s heart raced. How could this have happened? Alexis was amazing. She didn’t deserve to be stripped away from her life. Who would kidnap her? Someone powerful. Alexis was not a wimp of a werewolf. She would have put up a fight. That he knew.

  <<<>>>

  It didn’t take long for Melvin to round up several strong and capable werewolves. Together, they rushed to Detroit, to the house where Alexis was. Something didn’t seem right, though. Melvin seemed like this was personal. Did he have feelings for Alexis? Adrian hadn’t interacted with the alpha much, but during their few meetings, honestly, Adrian thought the werewolf an arrogant asshole who thought that he deserved anything and everything he wanted.

  In short, Adrian thought him capable of kidnapping a werewolf against her will.

  Which was a terrible thought to even contemplate about one’s alpha, but something seemed so very off about the whole thing.

  Melvin led the charge into the house and instructed them to wait five minutes before coming up. Adrian listened carefully. He overheard some murmurings, and he did recognize Alexis’ voice. Also one of her friends, Mandy Griffith. Adrian had met her a few times years ago. Wait. If Mandy was here, was Alexis truly here against her will?

  Adrian was so very confused, but the time was up. The other werewolves were going upstairs, and he had to follow.

  Melvin and another man dashed down the stairs, but Adrian and the other werewolves stayed here with Alexis. An extremely angry Alexis wearing a soaking wet dress. He sniffed and was startled anew. She had just given birth. He was certain of it.