The Protector

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Laura Evans busied herself with putting the last minute touches on dinner. Jordan should be here any moment. When they first started going out Jordan told her the truth of who and what he was. Laura had known about her husband being a Hunter and took the information about her current love interest being a werewolf in stride. She did ask how he felt knowing that her husband had been a were hunter. Jordan had explained that while they were leery of Hunters and were completely unwelcoming of human hunters. Natural Born Hunters only stepped in when humans were being threatened. Even then Hunters were usually respectful and asked for assistance but even with good relations Hunters and supernaturals still avoided contact.

Work kept Laura busy but coming home at night was lonely even when Tracy had been around. She enjoyed Roger's company but having someone to be there for her physically and emotionally was absolutely wonderful. After Frank died, she never thought about being with anyone again. In fact she had resigned herself to it but then Jordan stepped in and suddenly part of her heart felt restored.

A light knock sounded before the front door opened. Jordan came in and greeted her as he enveloped her in a warm hug. Roger came in to the kitchen and they sat and ate. After dinner, Jordan asked Laura if she would like to take a walk.

"You two go ahead. I've got the dishes." Roger said while gathering the plates.

"Thanks Roger." Laura said as she grabbed her coat.

Holding hands they walked through woods enjoying the crisp weather. Laura sensed that something was bothering him but not wanting to pressure him into talking she asked about Tracy.

Jordan smiled briefly, "She surprised all of us. We weren't expecting her to be able to take down a wolf by herself."

"You mean Vera?" Laura asked.

Jordan stopped walking, shocked that Laura knew.

Laura chuckled, "Tracy and I talk almost every night. She told me that Carla wasn't comfortable around the rest of the pack and that they were training in secret."

Jordan sighed, another blame to lay at his door. After all, he never made the effort to introduce her to the pack a year and a half ago nor did he try to talk to her. She walked in, scared and alone after having just lost both parents and her home and all he had done was ignored her because of a grudge he held against her father. A grudge that he had no claim to.

"Are you still with me?" Laura asked gently.

Jordan smiled at his beautiful mate, "I'll always be with you as long as you let me."

Laura smiled happily, squeezing the arm she held affectionately.

"Let's go back in and get you warmed up." Jordan said as they headed back in.

Walking into the house, they saw that Roger had already gone to bed. The only light was from the small fire in the fireplace which casts deep shadows in the dark room. The quiet was broken only by the occasional pop and crack of a burning log. Jordan sat on the couch in front of the warm heat, watching the flicker and dance of the orange flames. Laura handed him a glass of warm mule wine before settling next to him.

"My father had sex with a girl at a college party before he met my mother. The girl, Melissa, got pregnant and gave my father a son. My father had planned to marry her for the sake of their child but she had found her mate and married him instead. My half brother, Jackson, was raised by my father.

My father found and married his mate, my mother. She was jealous of the fact that father hadn't waited for her to come along and that she wasn't the one to give him his first child.