Jared (The Protectors #2)(40)

Standing she took a few practice swings before leaning against the tree to wait….wait for what was the scary question. Hearing motion a few yards away from her, Tessa held her breath, closed her eyes in fear as she clutched her weapon with a white knuckle grip praying she lived to see another day.

********

The fight between warriors and half-breeds lasted a whole ten minutes before they started running away in different directions. He hadn’t even been able to get his hands on Sparkles. Before he could even get close three half-breeds had come at him at the same time. Now looking around warriors were all that was left.

“Shit!” Jared stomped over to make sure everyone was in one piece.

“Where’s your grandfather?” He asked Adam who was holding his bleeding arm.

“Over there.” Adam nodded where Jill was standing guard in front of the older man.

“I can’t get a read on Nicole.” Damon came over his eyes black as midnight, strain evident on his face.

“Go.” Duncan told them before ordering warriors to help humans who had been hurt or were still stuck on the Ferris Wheel. “I got it covered and I’ve sent some of the guys out to follow the half-breeds.”

“Where’s Tessa?” Adam had been walking toward his grandfather when he heard Damon. “Wasn’t she with Nicole?”

“Take care of your grandfather.” Jared jogged past him. “I’ll find her.”

Adam nodded, looking older than his eighteen years at that moment. “Okay.”

“At least someone trusts me.” Jared smirked.

“Don’t be too hard on her dude.” Adam called out. “She hasn’t been able to trust many people. Trust is kind of hard to come by for both of us.”

Jared didn’t respond as he fell into a dead run beside Damon. He knew to follow Damon because a mated male could find his mate anywhere at any time, even if he couldn’t read her. They made their way far into the woods when the scent of honeysuckle filled Jared’s senses. Damon had stopped looking around. Nicole dropped out of a tree in front of them wearing the hoodie Tessa had worn.

“Are you okay?” Damon lifted her face to his.

“I’m fine. Someone was tracking us so I wore Tessa’s hoodie to draw them away. I was getting ready to back track to find her.” Nicole looked proud of herself.

“She’s not here. You left her alone?” Jared frowned, an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“No.” Nicole pointed toward the direction she left Tessa. “I hurt my leg jumping with her off the Ferris Wheel. I knew I couldn’t carry her and get away so we split up.”

“Fuck!” Jared took off in the direction Nicole pointed.

********

Tessa had never prayed like she prayed now. She just hoped the big guy was listening and not too busy. She was no challenge to a vampire, half-breed or pure blood and she knew it. The log she held may or may not do damage, but she wasn’t going to just lie down. She was a red head with attitude. Heavy footsteps crunched through the fallen leaves and brush that littered the wooded area. They were coming closer at a slow pace before stopping and then starting again. It was starting to drive her a little crazy. She knew it wasn’t Nicole because she hadn’t heard a whistle, not even a damn bird, just the crunch of brush.

Knowing whoever the footsteps belonged to was just behind her hiding place, she slowly lifted the log. Moving only her eyes she glanced at the ground beside her tree knowing that a foot was the first thing she was going to see. Sure enough the tip of a foot came into view and without thought she swung the log with everything she had.

The loud crack of the log hitting a solid form filled the woods along with splinters and broken pieces of bark as the dead log exploded. Tessa turned to run, but stopped at the cursing of a very familiar voice.

“Son of a bitch!” Jared grabbed his stomach, bending over in pain. He may be immortal, but that didn’t mean he was immune to pain.

Tessa turned, her hand flying to her mouth in horror. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.” She rushed to his side. “Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay.” Jared growled at her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Why didn’t you tell me it was you?” Tessa shot back not liking his tone. “I was trying to save my ass. I thought you were whoever was following me and Nicole.

“That wasn’t going to stop them Tessa.” His glaring was as angry as his tone.

“It stopped you.” Tessa snorted.

“This isn’t a game Tessa.” Jared hissed.

“I didn’t say it was…Jared.” She mocked. “What’s your problem?”

“What’s my problem?” Jared stalked toward her making her take a step back. “What’s my problem?”

Opening her mouth she closed it really quick deciding that maybe a nod would be in her best interest since her mouth seemed to get her in trouble most times. She had never seen this side of him before, didn’t like it.

“My problem, Red, is that you don’t trust me.” Jared’s breath tickled her face he was so close. “And it pisses me off. Is that plain enough for you?”

No, not really, she thought, but kept that to herself. “I trust you Jared. I don’t understand why you’re so angry.”