The Hunter’s Protector (Death Hunters Book 3)

by Bryce Evans

  “I think you are the one who needs to teach her. Maybe you teach her what you know you can do, and I will do some research in the books to see if I can find more. You did good on the control today. Maybe that’s what your magic needs. A place for you to practice. Your magic is different. Still continue working on that. I think we have done enough for today.” They watched as Jade put the shoes back on the rock. “You know, I feel for Lennox tonight. She’s going to be picking everything up and down, up and down.” Scarlett said rolling her eyes.

  As soon as Jade put the shoes back on the ground again, she broke into a huge smile jumping up and down. “Look at her, Scarlett. She has confidence now.”

  “Looks like someone else is happy too. I think you just learned that you are a good teacher. You have patience that most don’t have when it comes to teaching magic.”

  “Good job today, Greer,” Minerva said, smiling at her. “Never seen a witch who could do that. Very interesting. Can you fly?”

  “No. Of course not.” Greer laughed, but something told her that Minerva didn’t believe her. She had never heard of such a thing. Was this woman crazy?

  “Interesting,” Minerva said, walking off.

  “Wouldn’t that be a hoot,” Scarlett winked, following Minerva to leave.

  When Minerva glanced back, she focused on Jade and Greer. She didn’t like the way the witch was staring at her. Why was she feeling like this about Minerva? She was an Old One and Scarlett wouldn’t bring anyone around that wasn’t good. That’s what she kept telling herself.

  “You are the best teacher. I learned more from you in a minute than all day with Scarlett. Plus, she hits hard with that spell. I want to learn from you,” Jade said, hugging her.

  And off she went running toward her mate who stood on the back deck with the best-looking man she had ever seen. His brown hair was pushed back as if he had been running his fingers through it. He looked stressed. She waved as Jade jumped up into Lennox’s arms. Scarlett was right, she would be moving things left and right all night.

  “Hey,” Reed said. “Looks like Jade is a happy camper because of you.”

  “Just gave her some pointers that my aunt Jean showed me. She needs to relax because if she’s mad then the magic feels that and it will fight back. But she learns fast.”

  “Are you ready for your lesson?” Reed pushed his hand through his hair. He looked tired and she hated to make him teach her how to read when he had already worked a full day.

  “I think you need to get some sleep. I’m kinda tired too. We can do this another day. Just go and get some rest, Reed. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Greer didn’t give Reed any time to respond. Instead she rushed into the house and left him staring at her with his mouth open.

  Reed was a hunter and was probably only being nice by helping her learn to read. But she never wanted to be a burden to him. This way, they could stay friends, and he would get the rest he deserved.

  She waited a good hour before she ventured out the front door. She glanced around at the different cabins and how much effort Cosmo and the other hunters had given to their land. She loved it here. The land called to her and she knew this was the place. She sat in a rocking chair and tilted her head back. It was okay that she couldn’t read. She would google everything, and Quinn said Alex would help her with the business part. Everything would be okay.

  “Are you ready?” Reed stood at the bottom of the stairs. She had been daydreaming, so she was startled.

  “I never heard you.” She sighed. “This place makes me feel relaxed. I should be more careful. I don’t want any strangers walking up on me. What?”

  “Are you ready for your first lesson. I’ve taken my shower, so I don’t offend you with my stench and I’ve prepared us dinner, so we don’t have to stop. When I’m tired, we can stop and start again tomorrow. This is life, Greer. We all get tired, but we keep going. Especially when there is something we want to do. So, I’ll ask again, are you ready?”

  “Yes.” That was all she said. She couldn’t deny this man anything. He spoke to her like nobody ever had. The sight of Reed’s hand as it raised to her made her whole body feel light and gooey on the inside. She reached out for him and wondered if she would always feel this way about him. Her legs moved without even trying. She wanted to go with him. She wanted him so badly, she could barely stand it. Reed McDaniel was the sweetest, sexiest man she had ever seen. He made her body come alive. Something deep inside sparked because of him and she knew it wasn’t the magic.

  Nobody had ever shown her this much kindness. She couldn’t let this man down. It didn’t matter what it took. If she had to stay up all night going over and over what he taught her, she would learn to read and fast. Because she wanted him to be proud of her. What was happening to her? All these emotions were busting, waiting for this man. She wanted to please him.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “You’re catching on fast. I knew you would be a quick learner.” Reed smiled as he showed her a small piece of paper. “Put the word with the object. For instance, what is this?”

  “An apple,” Greer stated.

  “Yep, now let’s go over each letter in that word. What is that first letter?”

  “A,” Greer said, studying each of the letters. She hoped she got them right.

  Reed pulled his bag open and pulled out an apple and handed it to her. “Excellent, the student gets a prize.”

  “Shouldn’t that be the other way around? I should have brought you an apple. You know, for the teacher.”

  “No worries. I have one for me too. This is a snack before dinner,” Reed held the apple up then took a huge bite out of it. “We planted a whole orchard of these beauties on the east side of the property. We also planted plums and peaches. We put up a fence and planted blackberries and raspberries on it. It will take a few years for them to grow. Eventually, we won’t need to buy them at the store. Our plan is to be self-sufficient out here.”

  “That’s what I like about this land. It’s plush with rich dirt and anything can grow here. I was sold the moment I got here. If I had to leave…” Greer looked around her home. The walls were built, and the roof was on. They were sitting where the expandable doors would go. “I don’t think I would want to live anymore. I’m tired of running. I want a home of my own and a place that accepts me. That’s what makes you and the Death Hunters so special. Really, everyone in New Hope has been great to me.”

  “You’re not going anywhere, Greer. I won’t let you.” Reed put his hand up and softly touched her cheek. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  She couldn’t stop herself from moving her head so she could feel more of his touch. His fingers were callused from working, but to her, they felt like soft silk rubbing against her skin. “I want to kiss you.”

  His blue eyes lit up and changed to a liquid gold color. Fire was all she could see in those wonderful eyes, and she knew right then she would never be able to deny him of anything he asked. She had dreamed of what it would be like to just let go and allow him to kiss her like the girls described. She leaned forward and closed her eyes just before his lips touched hers. Her heart was beating so fast, she thought it was going to burst out of her chest. It was just a light kiss, but her legs felt like Jell-O.

  When he pulled away, he glanced into the woods. She followed the direction he was staring intently but she didn’t see anything. Then the hairs on the back of her neck tingled and she got up.

  “Did you see someone?” Greer whispered.

  “I thought I heard someone, but I don’t see anyone. Do you?”

  “No, but the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up. Almost like magic was being used.” The last word they said in unison. Both scanned the woods. This time, she let her bear come forward. Still she didn’t see anything.

  “Maybe it was just my imagination,” Reed said, but she could tell he didn’t mean it and was only trying to make her feel better. “Let’s take this inside. That way nobod
y can see us.”

  “Okay.” Greer took another look into the woods, but still all she could see were the trees and fireflies lighting up the night. Reed wasn’t wrong; she felt the presence too. Whoever it was didn’t want to be seen. It could be Scarlett or even Quinn, but both would know how much that freaked her out and wouldn’t do it. Who was in the woods and what did they want?

  “You okay?” Reed asked, putting their dinner on the floor.

  “To be honest, I felt something too. The energy of magic lurking around. I know that feeling, and at first, I thought about taking off, but I’m not running anymore.”

  Reed reached out and pulled her to his chest. “I will protect you.”

  She snuggled up against him. Even his shirt felt soft as she pressed her face closer to his chest. The scent she knew as his lingered up her nose. She closed her eyes as she breathed him in. It was her new favorite scent. Clean, fresh, with the wild side of Reed coming through.

  But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was out there. Why else would her bear act like this and even her magic was brewing inside. “Do you think someone is out there?”

  Reed took another look in the woods and shook his head. “I don’t feel it anymore. Maybe another shifter from the Dixon pack was near. I’m sure he or she turned around and went back home. I’m not worried. Are you?”

  “Not if you’re not. Thank you for today. I enjoyed my lesson. I will study everything you taught me tonight. I won’t let you down.” Greer bit the bottom of her lip.

  Slowly, he ran his finger against her lip until she released it. He closed his eyes and his nostrils flared taking in her scent. “You could never let me down.”

  “Are you okay, Reed?”

  Opening his eyes, he leaned in and sucked her bottom lip in his mouth and bit down. Not hard enough to draw blood, but everything inside her went crazy. “I’ve wanted to do that from the first time I saw you. I...you just don’t know what you do to me.”

  Slowly, she leaned back. His body slid next to her, but she didn’t try to move him. She wanted to kiss him so badly, it hurt. His hand moved up the side of her stomach and each small touch made everything inside heat like she was burning from the inside.

  “Is this okay?” Reed asked. She nodded begging with her eyes not to stop. Her breath caught when his fingertips moved up her neck. His fingers brushed over her pulse as her heart beat feverishly. He hadn’t kissed her yet, but each touch brought on new sensations as they traveled throughout her body. She bit down on her lip, trying not to move when their eyes met.

  This time, it wasn’t soft but so much better as he pressed his lips to hers. His tongue eagerly entered her mouth. It was as if he couldn’t get enough of her. If only he knew how much she wanted him too.

  Pulling away, he searched her eyes. His whole body went still. “Every time I’m around you, I want to kiss you. But I want to take it slow. How do you feel about that?”

  She couldn’t talk because she was still feeling that bite to her bottom lip. She released the breath she was holding and was about to answer him, but her magic started moving inside her. It shook her to her core. What if it just struck him. No. Pushing him off, Greer jumped up, “I really like you a lot, but I can’t, Reed. I just can’t.” Her hand fell over her mouth. She hated every word she said. “Please, don’t hate me? Please?”

  The hurt look on his face tore her up inside, but she had to protect Reed, even from herself.

  He turned and walked to the edge of the deck. “I don’t hate you, Greer. I don’t think I could ever hate you. I need to go run. I will see you tomorrow for the next lesson.” She watched as Reed jumped down. He didn’t even use the stairs. She knew he would eventually hate her because she hated herself inside. She was always hurting people. Just like her aunt Jean. She depended on her, but she let her down by not protecting her.

  She walked down the stairs and watched as Reed’s bear ran through the woods. Her bear wanted her to go after him, make him feel better, but she couldn’t. “Sorry, girl. We have to protect Reed.” If she allowed herself to try with him, she knew what would happen.

  “No. I won’t hurt him,” Greer muttered to herself.

  “Who are you talking to?” Raven stood against the tree watching her.

  Greer could feel the magic surrounding her. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”

  “Who’s sneaking, Greer. I’ve been standing here since you dumped my friend up there. I’m sure you just tore his heart out.”

  “I didn’t mean to. But...the magic would hurt him. I can’t let that happen. He means too much to me.”

  “Thought you liked him.”

  “I do. He’s the most unbelievable man I’ve ever met. He deserves better than me.”

  Raven walked up to her and grabbed her arm. “Then fight for him. Take control of the magic. If Reed is who you want, then find the control, dig deep inside, and go get your man.”

  Bowing her head, Greer rubbed the side of her arm. It was itching again. Raven didn’t understand. Nobody understood what it was like to have this inside. Never able to mate or be around anyone too much. Afraid all the time of hurting someone or to be hunted. All of it made her sick to her stomach. She almost wished it would be taken from her. If only nobody knew about her, maybe just maybe, she could be with Reed.

  “What? You think I don’t understand?” Raven stuck her tongue out and blew a raspberry at her. “Hey, Reed is a good guy and he deserves someone who understands him and likes to read and build stuff. Well, I think that’s you. In fact, I’m a hundred percent sure that it’s you. So, if it were me, I would call Scarlett and start training harder. Because--” Raven looked in the direction that Reed ran, “that man is worth it.”

  “I know. That’s why I won’t hurt him. I—”

  “Stop your whining. I’m so sick of you girls using your problems as an excuse. Poor pitiful me. There are lots of people in New Hope who had a rough life including that man. He raised himself. I don’t want to see him get hurt. Look, I like you, Greer, and that is saying a lot because I don’t like many people, but for some reason I like you. But I’m telling you now that if you don’t get your shit straight, I’m going to kick your ass. Get me?”

  “Yeah, Raven, I got you.” Greer got in Raven’s face. She didn’t like being bullied. “But watch who you threaten.”

  Raven smiled and pointed at her. “Now that’s the girl I want for my friend. Someone who sees what she wants and goes for it. Get it together and talk to Scarlett tomorrow. You know Minerva can help you too. I’ve heard lots of stories about how she has helped others. But that’s up to you. Now let’s go watch a movie and make popcorn. You know, that girl stuff that I’ve heard so much about.”

  Greer narrowed her eyes at her apparent new friend. “You are so strange. I think you’re weirder than me and that’s saying a lot. But let’s go do the girl stuff.”

  As they started to walk off, she got that strange feeling again. Turning she let her bear come forward again to scan the woods.

  “What is it?’ Raven asked, looking behind her.

  Putting her hand against the back of her neck, she rubbed it hoping the tingling would go away. “I guess it’s nothing.” Greer turned back and they walked to the house. Maybe it was just her magic making her paranoid. She would talk to Scarlett tomorrow. Everything was making her nervous.

  Reed felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. He circled back around after he left

  Greer. He could feel electrical currents but knew it was magic of some kind, but who and what did they want? He had the sick feeling it was Greer they were watching. But whoever it was knew how to mask their scent and stay hidden. Not even his bear could spot the witch. This bothered him. They wanted his mate and that wasn’t going to happen.

  He smiled to himself. It was the first time he admitted that Greer was his mate. She would know soon enough. Oh, he would give her time right now. The woman needed to feel safe and loved. He would give her more than she
could possibly need, and he would wait for her. Because she was worth waiting for.

  There it was again. The magic was moving. He followed slowly in stealth mode not making a sound. Was he crazy? Nobody was there. Not a branch bent, or the grass moved. This was impossible. He needed help on this. This witch was incredibly smart and very dangerous. They were on death hunters’ land and nobody saw them. The danger the witch could cause without being seen was enormous. The information they could find out just by listening to conversations. He couldn’t believe that he was even picking it up. Maybe he was just paranoid and hurt that Greer turned him down.

  Wolves howled farther in the woods. Several of them were moving toward him, chasing something. He waited until he saw the first wolf. It was Arden Dixon the alpha and his beta Bane. Several of his guards were following.

  Shifting, he waited until the alpha finished sniffing the ground. “Do you scent something?”

  Arden shifted and met him. “No, but something was out here. We all felt it. Magic.”

  “I’m glad I’m not the only one. I thought I was crazy. I can’t find anything, but I know it’s magic of some kind and it’s not the good kind. Not even a blade of grass moved, but I followed something all the way to your border.”

  “Tell Lennox that we need to meet tomorrow. Whatever it is needs to be caught. I will put extra guards out tonight. I would suggest you do the same,” Arden said before he shifted and ran toward his home.

  “I heard him,” Lennox said, walking up to stand beside him. “Did Greer feel it?”

  “Yes, but she couldn’t see it either. That’s what's worrying me. I only feel it when I’m with her.”

  “Have you felt it before?”

  “Yes, Alpha. But only when I was with Greer in the treehouse. I know something is out there. Not even a movement, but I know whatever it is...it’s after Greer and if they know

  about—”

  Lennox held his hand up to him and pointed to his ear. “Say nothing. Right now, it seems to be just watching and listening, but why? I will talk to Scarlett tomorrow and ask her what kind of witch could do that. I want to know when you feel it again.”