The Protector Read Online Free PDF Page A

words. What was she afraid of? Was she
really just angry, and wanting to punish Cole? She winced at the truth. She had
thought herself above petty revenge. Perhaps after doing the hunt she would
give Cole a chance.
    She
walked into the kitchen and picked up a bowl that had rising bread dough in it.
She pulled the tea towel off and walked over to her kneading table. Kneading
bread always helped her to think clearly. She thought about all the times she
and Cole had spoken in the last few weeks. She admitted that she really wanted
to try. She just needed to gain some courage. Just close your eyes and take that step. She opened her eyes. I’m scared.
    Blair
wanted to make a cucumber salad, but needed her grandma’s recipe. She picked up
her grandmother’s old hand painted recipe box and pulled out a few of her
handwritten recipe cards she had written down. The ink was faded, but Blair could
still make out the words in grandmother’s beautiful script. She flipped through
them and found a folded piece of paper and opened it.
    My
dearest granddaughter, Blair,
    I miss you so, and I hope you
are enjoying your time with your parents. When your heart heals, I hope you
will consider coming home. I am certain Cole still loves you, and he would make a good mate for you. I always liked him, and beneath all that
bluster of his, he is a good man. I know you can be stubborn and prideful like
your mother though. If you never listen to another word I say, then listen to
this. Don’t let happiness slip away because of fear or pride. I love you so
much, and I am proud of you.
    Grandma Blair
    Blair
reread the note several times and wiped away tears after each reread. She had
no idea when her grandma had written this, but for some reason she’d put in her
recipe box instead of mailing it. She smiled. Her grandmother made mistakes
like that sometimes. Like a last request from her grandma, Blair could feel her
resolve building again. “I can try once more, Grandma,” she whispered.
    ****
    It
was well after midnight. The hunt was long over, and it had turned to a
nightmare for everyone. Blair was pacing the hardwood floor of her home,
desperate for some information about Cassie. She was in so much trouble, not
only with Michael, but with Cole, too.
    A
soft knock at the door made Blair gasp, then run to the door, her heart
hammering in her chest. Was that someone delivering terrible news about Cassie
in person? Please Goddess, please, let
her survive, please. If anything happens to her, it will be all
my fault. What have I done?
    Blair
pulled the door open without looking through the window, and Myra stood on her
porch. A young cholan was standing slightly behind
her. Myra smiled slightly. “Don’t mind him. Warren insisted Cole assign a
guard.”
    “I
don’t blame him.” Blair pulled her door open wider. “Come in.”
    Myra
walked in, leaving her guard out on the porch, within earshot of any emergency,
but far enough away that they could have their privacy.
    Myra
walked into the living room. She turned as soon as the front door closed and
grabbed Blair in a hug. She held her close without saying a word. Blair stood
stiff for a second before melting into Myra and crying. She was so scared for
Cassie and the cholan trying to save her. The fear
and guilt had eaten at Blair until she was sick. It was all her fault. If
Cassie was not ok, the guilt would kill her. I should have tried harder to get a hold of Michael and not broken
shifter rules. They were there for a reason. My stubbornness got the better of me
and made me think I knew better. Cassie is paying the price for that.   Blair had been through hell and back today,
and it was the first time she had allowed herself to grieve, and now that she
was, she couldn’t stop.
    Myra unwrapped her arms when Blair started to calm down.
“What happened today? Nobody knows much except you took off with Cassie.”
    Blair
wiped her eyes and pulled Myra into the kitchen. Myra walked over to