The Protectors volume 2

by Hazel Gower

  Signing, she didn’t step away from Grayson, but wanted to make sure her mother knew where she stood and what she wanted. Please don’t attack Grayson. I asked him to sleep in his leopard form with me. It was the best thing, because I slept without any nightmares. I love you, Mum, and no one will ever take me away from you, but now that I’m free I want to start living. I have goals. I have things I want. I can want things, Mum, because now I can have them, or do what I want to.

  “Oh, sweetie, I want you to be happy. I just don’t want anyone to take advantage of you.” She shot a glare behind Nara to Grayson.

  Nara felt the vibration of Grayson’s chest, so she knew he must be talking. Her mother’s gaze narrowed, and Nara barely resisted the urge to read their minds to find out what he’d said and what her mother was thinking.

  Her mum’s whole body seemed to sag, and she stepped back from them, but caught her gaze. “You deserve to have what I had.” Her mother looked away from her for a moment before she turned back so Nara could read her lips. As she spoke she also signed. “I loved your father.” She shook her head and didn’t focus her gaze on Nara. “We love both you and Remy so much. It killed us to stay away from her and to keep you two apart.” Tears slid down her face. “Remy was always a daddy’s girl. He hated leaving Remy with her.” Her mum signed ‘her’ with sharp, angry movements. “She was a tough, old bird and Remy didn’t need that type of upbringing. You know your father and I didn’t argue much, but when we did it was always about leaving Remy. I loved him.” She shook her head frantically. “So much, but if I had the chance to go back and do it again, I would have done it different. You deserve a love like I had. I’m not blind. I see how these shifters treat their women, and you deserve that.”

  Not wanting to leave Grayson’s warmth, Nara reluctantly stepped forward, shivered at the loss of heat, and then hugged her mum. She kissed both her cheeks and spoke into her head. “I love you, Mum.”

  When her mother eased away Nara raised her brow in surprise; her mum was never the one to scoot back, she was. She always felt like her mum smothered her. Nara took a step back and felt the warmth flow around her and the sea breeze surround her. She leaned back against Grayson and pondered what she’d just learned. Her mother was losing her mind. She was giving her freedom. This was new.

  “I made breakfast for you, honey.” Grayson’s hand gently touched her shoulder, and she surprised herself when she didn’t move away from him. He circled her waist and she looked down and squeezed his hands before she let go. His hands dropped and then he signed as he spoke. “Irene, why don’t you join us?”

  Darting her gaze to her mother, she watched, surprised by her reply. “No. You two enjoy breakfast. I’m going to go check on your brother. Can I take him some food?”

  Grayson moved back, and she spun and watched as he made a plate for her brother Emmett, who was half-demon. He was a result of their being held captive by demons. He was one of the reasons why her mother clung so tightly to her, terrified to let her out of sight in case she got taken away. The demons had taken Emmett from her mother when he was still a baby, and it had driven her mum a little crazy. That was why Nara was surprised by her mother’s behavior now.

  Nara would take what she could get. If her mother was going to give her some freedom, she wouldn’t question it. She would willingly take it.

  * * * *

  Grayson

  He loved watching Nara. She devoured any food he put before her and smiled about everything. She embraced every new thing and never said no.

  “Can you teach me to swim today?” Nara spoke clearly into his mind. She didn’t bother signing now. He liked the intimacy.

  “Sure. If that’s what you want to do today. Anything else?”

  Nara beamed at him, her eyes lit up, shining with her happiness. “Yes, I want to start learning to swim today. Will we have time for cooking too?”

  Raising his brow, he couldn’t help the smirk that spread over his face. How long did she think she could spend in the water? Her smile vanished, and she seemed to shrink back into the seat. Fuck, had she been listening to his thoughts? When she gave a stiff nod, he knew she had.

  “Fuck, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound rude, ahh…” Getting off the chair, he went to her and swiveled her seat to face him. “I don’t want to ever tell you not to read my thoughts, you’re welcome to do it, but just be cautious. Some thoughts you might not like, and you may be unhappy with what you hear. I promise I don’t mean any harm, and if you hear something that you don’t like, please don’t take offense. I’m not use to someone hearing everything I think.” Reaching up, he gently tucked thick, strawberry blonde strands of hair behind her ear. “You are a miracle to me. I’d given up all hope of finding my mate. For you, I would do anything. If you want to stay in the water and learn to swim all day, then that’s what we’ll do. You need to start learning in a pool. It’s the safest. Okay?”

  Nara smiled again, and his heart that he hadn’t realized had slowed seemed to pick up at the sight of it. “Okay. I trust you.”

  At those three words their relationship took a giant leap forward.

  * * * *

  Nara

  Grayson was taking her for her first swimming lesson. “We’re going to a pool first, not the beach.” He’d said that to her a couple of times.

  She was bummed, because she loved the beach, but she understood that she needed to learn in calmer waters. She loved the ocean, but it wasn’t calm. That was another thing she loved about the sea, that it never settled. It was always moving. She wanted to move forward.

  “Where’s your mind at?” This time he didn’t sign, he said it in her head.

  They were parked in front of a huge house that sat facing a cliff that looked over the ocean. “I’m excited. Even though I can’t learn at the beach, I can’t wait to get started. Where are we?” She gazed around. The mansion in front of her was massive; a big, three-story brick and sandstone home with verandas on all three levels. Beautiful, lush green and colorful gardens surrounded it. They sat in a car on a pebble circle driveway.

  “This is the pack house. Your sister Remy, her mate Arden’s parents live here. They have a pool, a large kid’s play gym, and a sandpit among other things. I would take you to my house—er, our house—it has a pool, but I don’t know the people that I’m letting stay there. I think going here will be best.” He didn’t wait for her reply, just got out of the car and walked around to her door and opened it. He leaned over and undid her seatbelt and eased out of the car and held a hand out for her. “Come on, let’s go teach you how to swim.”

  Reaching out, she gripped his hand and slid out of the car. She was ready to start learning to swim.

  * * * *

  The pool was Olympic size. There was a huge spa on the side with a gazebo over it. The sandstone tiles that covered the pathway and patio fit perfectly with the beach background and the view of the ocean.

  “Have you ever been in a pool before?” Grayson’s voice in her head had her turning her focus on him.

  Her eyes widened, and she took a step back as he stripped off his shirt. His chest was muscular, all hard. Before Grayson, she’d never noticed a man’s body before. When she’d been held captive there wasn’t much choice in the way of men and there was no way she would be or think of demons in any sexual way, not after what they did to her mother. She loved her brother Emmett, but what they’d done to her mother so she could have him, Nara wouldn’t wish on anyone. The screams of them taking away her and the other women haunted her nights. Closing her eyes, she shook her head to repel the images that were some of the many that tormented her.

  “Yes, but I only went in the shallow end. I’ve gone up to my knees on the beach.” Nara turned toward the sea breeze. She tilted her head back and took a deep breath. A calm set over her, and she opened her eyes and turned back to Grayson. “Come on. Teach me, master.” She bowed down.

  Grayson’s laugh echoed in her head. “Oh, you can call me
master anytime, honey.” He came to her and wrapped his arms around her and brought her against him. Her hands instinctively raised to touch his bare chest. He lifted her chin up so her gaze focused on his. “But ‘mate’ would be better. That’s all I ever want to be to you.” He let her go, but held her hand. “Let’s start your lesson.”

  Letting go of his hand, she pulled her top off and slipped out of her shorts. Remy had lent her a bathing suit. She’d tried to get Nara to wear a bikini, but she hadn’t been comfortable showing that much skin willingly, so she wore a black and blue one piece. Nara was barefoot. She wasn’t a fan of shoes; she didn’t like the restrictive feeling. Reaching for his hand, Nara threaded her fingers in his, and he brought their joined fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

  She beamed at him. “Start my lesson, mate.”

  The smile he sent to her as he backed down the pool steps had her happily following him. Nara was looking forward to her first lesson and reaching a goal…learning to swim.

  * * * *

  Swimming lessons were going well. Grayson was patient with her. She already could doggy paddle, and was coming along on learning how to freestyle.

  The pool was crowded today with the younger kids who didn’t go to school enjoying the sun. Nara loved it though. She sat and watched the children. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen so many children playing together, laughing, happy, and safe. They could all swim, and she was a little jealous. She sat on the step, unsure if she wanted to have a lesson in front of them.

  Grayson stood in front of her with his hands out. “Are you okay? Do you want to go?”

  Shaking her head, she darted her gaze from the children and focused on Grayson. “I don’t want them to laugh at me.”

  She closed her eyes, unable to look at him or the happy faces of the kids. She might not be able to hear them, but their happy thoughts screamed at her. She could hear everything they were thinking. Children this young didn’t know how to shield their minds, and they tended to shout their thoughts when they loved something or found it fun.

  “They’re all so good. They’re so young and they’re better than me.”

  “Open your eyes, honey.” Grayson caressed her cheek, and she nestled into his touch. “I promise they won’t laugh at you.”

  In the last couple of days, Grayson had slept in leopard form with her every night. He stopped her nightmares. He’d spent the last three days teaching her how to swim. She spent her mornings with Grayson, and when she got home from swimming and had showered, she had some time with her mother and brother, and then spent as much time as she could with Remy. She adored her sister and lapped up any time she could with her. She’d had nineteen years without Remy and didn’t want to live without her any more. She enjoyed her time with Grayson.

  Opening her eyes, she smiled. “I trust you.”

  Easing into the water, she walked with him until her feet couldn’t touch the bottom. He kept a hold of her hands and she did what he’d told her the other day to do, to kick. When she didn’t hear any laughter, she let go of one of his hands.

  “Let’s go to the side of the pool.” Grayson moved to the edge. “I’ll step away and you can swim to me. Remember big arms, and kick those legs.”

  Nara gave a sharp nod to Grayson, but still said in his head, “Yes.”

  He settled her on the side of the pool and swam away from her, not far, about a quarter of the pool. His arms spread. “Okay, now swim to me. I’m watching. I won’t let anything happen.”

  Nara loved how Grayson always reassured her. Reaching out, she moved her arms and kicked her legs. When she made it to Grayson, he was beaming.

  “You’re doing so well. You’re picking this up quickly. Soon you’ll be a pro.”

  “Mummy says she was held by the bad monster’s half her life, poor lady.” An image of a demon flashed and two little girls hiding behind large crates. The little girl Nara had heard in her mind was the youngest of the two, Sophie.

  Nara gripped Grayson’s biceps, using them to help her rest. Since she’d lived half her life locked in a small room with a bunch of other women, she’d learned how to keep up a shield in her head to keep out others’ thoughts, but when she was tired from all the swimming she’d done, the wall crumbled and she heard everyone’s thoughts.

  Nara gazed around and spotted Sophie. As soon as their eyes locked Sophie made her way to them. Nara watched the little girl’s lips, not wanting to miss anything, even if Sophie’s mind shouted what she said.

  “Hi, lady. Mummy said I need to be nice ’cause you were with the monsters. Wes you?” Sophie held onto Grayson’s shoulder.

  Nara let go of Grayson only to realize she couldn’t sign and swim at the same time, so she grabbed at him, wrapping her legs around his waist. “Tell her yes.” She didn’t send it to Sophie as she didn’t want to give her a fright. She continued to watch Sophie and not Grayson, but he must have said what she wanted him to because the little girl’s eyes grew wide and her lips trembled.

  “Sorry, Nara.” She clung to Nara in a tight hug. Grayson must have told Sophie her name and a little bit about her.

  Closing her eyes, Nara basked in the little girl who willingly gave her love so freely. Tightening her thighs around Grayson, she wrapped her arms around Sophie and gave her a gentle squeeze.

  “I’ll have to make sure I hug Nara lots, she needs it.” The thoughts Nara caught had her kissing Sophie.

  “Sweetheart, you’re an angel.”

  Sophie jumped in their embrace as she heard Nara in her head. She eased back. “You can talk in my mind.” She tapped her head.

  Nara nodded. “Yes. Is that okay?”

  She jerked her head. “Yeahs. This is soos cool.”

  Nara giggled and knew she was smiling like a loon. Happiness flowed through her. She leaned against Grayson, enjoying life.

  Chapter 3

  Grayson

  He was taking Nara to a baking class and Remy was coming along too. It was a private class with a mother-and-daughter duo, who made the best cakes, cupcakes, and pastries he’d ever tasted. They’d just pulled up to the bakery. It was on the outskirts of the closest big city about half an hour away from where they lived. He and Nara had had their hour swimming lesson this morning, and were now on their way to his first baking lesson he’d organized.

  “When did you find this place, pussy cat?” Remy didn’t call him by his name anymore. He didn’t mind. Since the first time he’d met Remy, he knew she was special and like the sister he never had, and he treated her like one, and she was the same with him, case in point the name pussy cat.

  “It was one of the first places I found when I moved here. I was driving around one night, and it was open at three in the morning.”

  “What the fuck were people willingly doing awake at that time?” Remy opened the car door as she said this, got out, and went to open the passenger door for Nara.

  Grayson got out too, shutting the door to face Remy. “Wait for me, I’ll open your sister’s door, and I was awake, so why wouldn’t others be?”

  Grayson came around to the women. Remy didn’t wait for him though. She already had her arms around her sister’s waist and Nara did the same with Remy.

  “I thought pussy cats slept a lot, or do you live off naps?” The sparkle in Remy’s eyes told Grayson how much she enjoyed their banter.

  “I do like my naps, but I’m not a bear.” One, two, three…he waited for her response. She was so eager to learn about different shifters.

  “What!” she screeched. “Do the bear shifters hibernate?”

  The giggle that echoed in his head was his favorite sound. “The two of you always make me laugh.” Nara spoke in his head, but she must have said the same or something similar to Remy because she dramatically winked at her sister and then placed her hands on her hips.

  “Come on, pussy cat, don’t keep me waiting. Tell me.” Remy tapped her foot on the cement.

  Raising one of his brows, he l
ooked at Nara who darted her gaze back and forth between Remy and him. “Bears don’t hibernate, but they do like their sleep, and I wouldn’t wake one.” When he finished signing, he grabbed Nara’s hand and threaded his fingers through hers and headed toward the bakery entrance. Remy held Nara’s other hand.

  Layla opened the door when they were close enough. She was Roslin’s, the bakery owner’s, daughter. They entered and were guided to where Roslin was in the back kitchen.

  She smiled at them. “Hi. I’m Roslin, and this is my daughter Layla. We own Devour Bakery.”

  “Did you get that, honey?” Grayson asked Nara.

  “I read her lips, and Roslin’s mind is easy to read. Layla, not so much.”

  The last bit about Layla was said to him like a question in his mind. He didn’t know if he should ask her about Layla, but he didn’t, he was ready to start the lessons.

  “I have all the ingredients out ready for you. I’ve printed up sheets of recipes for you all to follow.” Roslin pointed to everything laid out on the counter.

  Nara practically bounced with her excitement. She let go of Remy’s hand and hugged him. “Thank you so much for this. This is another thing on my list.” She squeezed him tight. “You get better and better every day, and I realize how lucky I am. Teaching me to swim and now cooking classes.”

  She rose on her tiptoes, and Grayson was surprised when she brushed her lips over his in a quick kiss. His heat soared and he knew that he’d taken another step forward in making their relationship a strong one.

  Wrapping his arms around Nara, he held her tight for a moment before kissing her forehead. “I want you happy. You deserve it. Come on, let’s start your lessons.” Grayson watched as her whole face lit up, and it remained that way for the entire lesson.

  * * * *

  Nara

  She was having a ball, covered in flour, butter, sugar, and other cooking ingredients. Roslin was so easy to read that Nara didn’t need to read the recipe, she just followed the images of her making the cakes, slices, and other pastry dishes. Layla, her daughter, stayed back and watched, she came and helped Nara some, but more Remy as she wasn’t very good at baking.