Jared (The Protectors #2)(52)

“Sid you are my hero!” Adam came into the large kitchen grabbing a plate and making a beeline to where Sid was frying bacon.

“You got that right boy.” Sid dished him up some pancakes along with bacon, sausage and eggs.

Tessa rolled her eyes when Adam sat down next to her with food hanging off the edges of his plate. “You suck.” She grumbled before stealing a piece of bacon.

“Hey, keep your paws off my food human.” He bared his fangs at her.

Snorting Tessa took a bite of stolen bacon. “I hope you gain thirty pounds eating all that.”

“I don’t gain weight anymore.” He forked in a mound of eggs, chewed, then smiled at her. “I could eat fifty plates like this and not gain an ounce.”

“Yeah, you definitely suck.” Tessa glanced at the pancakes she had taken five bites out of and pushed it away even though she wanted to face plant into the damn things then lick the plate after she was done.

“You hear her Gramps?” Adam pointed at Tessa with his empty fork.

Tessa gasped in surprise. “You can read him? You never told me that.”

“Ah yeah.” Adam shrugged his shoulder. “And he says you need to be nice to me.”

Her eyes shooting to her grandfather back to Adam. “No he didn’t.” She frowned knowing her grandfather better than that. “And why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I just figured it out last night.” Adam sighed.

“So if I became a half-breed like you I could talk to him.” Hope filled her eyes as she stared back at her grandfather.

“No!” Both Adam and Jared answered with a firm, not on your life, answer.

“Why not?” Tessa frowned looking between both Adam and Jared.

“You don’t want this Tessa.” Adam replied between piling food into his mouth.

“What’s so bad about it?” She snorted tossing her hand toward his plate. “You can eat a freakin cow and not gain an ounce, you have superhuman strength, you don’t have to sleep and you get to hold a conversation with Gramps.”

“I never gained an ounce before, having superhuman strength is not a big deal and you can have a conversation with Gramps.” Adam pushed his half empty plate away. “Having people look at me like I’m a freak isn’t something I would wish on anybody.”

“Who’s looking at you like a freak?” Tessa demanded her red head temper bubbling to the surface.

“What? You gonna kick their asses?” Adam grinned winking at Jared who chuckled.

“Just give me names.” Tessa frowned at Jared who was grinning at his plate.

“It would be easier to tell you who don’t.” Adam snorted. “It’s the whole town. I can’t go anywhere without someone I’ve known all my life side stepping out of my way or completely turning around to avoid me.”

“The little blonde seems to be pretty into you.” Sid sat down with a full plate of food.

Adam grinned, shrugging his shoulders. “Yeah.”

“Well, you got friends here now and Angelina has always had a crush on you.” Tessa nudged him. “Those other people aren’t even worth your time.”

“You knew she liked me?” Adam looked surprised.

“Everyone in the county knew it.” Tessa laughed shaking her head. “Never knew why you didn’t ask her out?”

Looking at his phone he frowned. “Well, I wish someone would have told me. I had no clue she had feelings for me.”

Tessa glanced at Gramps who started getting fidgety. “You ready to go to your room Gramps?” When he didn’t respond she glanced at Jared who was also looking at her grandfather.

“Yeah, he’s ready.” Jared started to stand to help Tessa take him to his room, but Adam stopped him.

“I got it.” Adam took his plate to the sink then headed toward his grandfather. “Come on Gramps. Let’s go take a nap.”

“Adam, I need you to unblock Tessa.” Jared looked away from Adam to Tessa.

“Why?” Adam asked cautiously.

Jared was not one to have to explain himself, but he knew how protective Adam was of his sister. “Last night the half-breed claimed to be her mate. I need to see if I can read her.”

“He’s not her mate.” Adam stated firmly.

Tessa frowned. She vaguely remembered the mate thing, but with the fear for her grandfather and the chaos she had totally forgotten about that.  “What exactly does that mean?” When no one answered she looked at Jared. “I don’t even know this guy so how can I be his mate.”

Jared’s gaze didn’t waver. “In our world it is thought that all vampires have mates. The feelings for our mates are unlike anything imaginable, very intense.” His eyes darkened slightly. “We cannot read our mates.”

“Doesn’t the other person need to have these feelings also.” Tessa was really not liking where this was going. “Because the only thing I feel for this person is anger for putting my grandfather and friends in danger.”

“It usually works that way.” Sid spoke up. “Jared here doesn’t have much faith in the mate thing, never has. But it’s the way of our world whether he likes it or not.”

Tessa stared at Jared while listening to Sid. “Do you have a mate?” She was proud that her voice held strong, not a single crack.