Protecting What's Hers (To Love And Defend Book 2) Read online

  Protecting What’s Hers

  To Love and Defend Book Two

  Daniella Starre

  Protecting What’s Hers © 2018 Daniella Starre

  Cover Art © 2018 Daniella Star

  Wolf stock provided by https://itsdura.deviantart.com

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Her First Wolf

  Her Lonely Howl

  Protecting What’s Hers

  Her Last Wolf

  Author’s Note

  Other Books By Daniella Starre

  About the Author

  Her First Wolf

  Mandy Griffith is dealing with her mother’s cancer. She doesn’t want to go on a blind date. Her friends, though, have never taken no for an answer.

  The date doesn’t go well, but afterward, she does meet someone tall, dark, and wolfishly handsome who just might steal her sorrowful heart after all…

  1

  Mandy Griffith sighed and ran her hand through her light brown hair. “Seriously, Alexis? You really think I would go out with him?”

  “Why not?” Alexis Luna covered her mouth, but Mandy knew she was laughing. The two twenty-five-year-olds were best friends and had been since they were five. Mandy could tell. Besides, she could hear it. Alexis was almost snorting from trying so hard not to laugh.

  “Would you date him?” Mandy demanded. She flopped onto her bed, dejected and thoroughly unamused.

  “No, but we aren’t talking about me!” Alexis swiveled in Mandy’s desk chair.

  “Why wouldn’t you?” Mandy pressed.

  “He’s… not my type.”

  “You don’t have a type!” Mandy rolled her eyes.

  Alexis grimaced and scoffed in faux-anger. “I have a type.”

  Mandy snorted. “Just because you only date males doesn’t mean you have a type. Bob was a dick. Ken was a tool. You were an idiot to ever date Michael.”

  “Then maybe Mark will be a winner,” Alexis said, “since I only date asses, apparently.”

  Mandy lifted her eyebrows and stared down her friend critically.

  Alexis sighed. “Yes, I have a tendency to date jerks. I’ll admit it. So, give Mark a chance. I wouldn’t date him, so maybe he’s a good guy.”

  “He has no manners,” Mandy said dryly. “He drove past Claire when she was pulled over with a flat and didn’t offer to help.”

  “He is a volunteer firefighter. Maybe he had to put out a fire.”

  “There was no fire that day,” Mandy said. “Why are you defending him?”

  Alexis sighed. “You’ve been so depressed since…”

  Since her mother had been diagnosed with cancer last month. Yes, Mandy was depressed. It was bullshit that her mom was sick. Werewolves tended to not get sick. Never get cold or the flu, nothing like that. But cancer was another story altogether. Cancer was a fucking disease that ripped out the heart of those you loved. Cancer didn’t care if you were young or old, what color your skin was, or if you were human or werewolf.

  “You need to get out of the house,” Alexis continued.

  “You want me out of the house? Fine. We can go out to dinner.” Mandy stood. “But you’re buying.”

  Alexis groaned. “I don’t get paid until next week. I’m broke.”

  Mandy sat back down on her bed. “We’re pathetic.”

  “I’m not,” Alexis protested.

  “You have no money. No date yourself. No excuse for those terrible jeans.”

  “What’s wrong with these jeans?”

  “Too tight. You look like you can’t breathe.”

  “You’re just jealous that I’m a smaller size than you are.”

  “I have four inches on you,” Mandy said. “If we’re the same size, you’d be huge.”

  Alexis laughed and then grimaced. “Think about going out with Mark, okay?”

  “Fine, fine,” Mandy grumbled. “You won’t let me live this down if I won’t.”

  “Nope,” Alexis said cheerfully. “Hurry up and get changed.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Mark will meet you at the restaurant.”

  “You arranged the date already? And why isn’t he picking me up?”

  “Less talking. More clothes and makeup. And wear my boots. Yours are so worn it’s insane that you still wear them.”

  Worried, anxious, not at all happy about all of this, Mandy had no choice but to let her friend dress her and prep her for a date she didn’t even want. Tonight was going to be awful. Mandy just knew it, and frankly, she was dreading it.

  2

  Alexis offered to drive Mandy over. Then Mark would be forced to drive Mandy home, but Mandy put her foot down.

  “I’m driving.”

  “You just want to duck out early,” Alexis whined.

  “I’ll stay for an hour.”

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s all I promise,” Mandy said. “Now, are you gonna let me go, or are you going to crash the date?”

  “Go, go! Have fun!”

  Alexis watched until Mandy drove away. She probably wants to make sure I actually go.

  The drive to the restaurant didn’t take long, but that hour Mandy promised felt like an eternity. Mark talked about himself the entire time. About what he can and can’t eat because of bloating. About his sick cat that had been puking everywhere this morning. About how he thought he might be getting sick and oh, did she want to try a bite of his double bacon cheeseburger?

  Mandy tried to use her meal as an excuse not to take part in the conversation, but her stomach was churning. Maybe from the topics he was discussing. Or maybe just because of the company.

  As soon as that magic hour was up, Mandy got her food packed up and pretended that her mom texted with an emergency.

  “I have to go.”

  “Can I call you?” Mark asked eagerly.

  “Uh… no.”

  “No? Why not?”

  The poor guy seemed genuinely confused, and Mandy grimaced. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she definitely wasn’t going to lead him on.

  “I just don’t know how a werewolf can be a cat person,” she said honestly.

  “So, you don’t want to date me because I have a cat?”

  “And because I’m not looking to date right now. I thought maybe but no. It’s me. All me. Bye.”

  She rushed out of there and hightailed it back toward her place. Along the way, she spied a truck pulling off into the shoulder and parking there. Strange.

  Slowly, she drove past and checked her rearview mirror. The driver looked to be young, about her age. Maybe he was tired.

  Or maybe something was wrong.

  Thinking back to Mark not helping her friend Claire, Mandy pulled over. She wasn’t frightened at all. Sure, it was dark out, and she was going to approach a strange man all alone, but she was a werewolf. She was strong and powerful. She could handle herself.

  She reached up and knocked on the door.

  The driver rolled down the window.

  “Is everything all right?” she asked.

  “I’m fine. A little tired is all.” The man smiled at her. A strange gurgling sound came from the truck, and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

  “A little hungry too, huh?” Mandy asked. She laughed.

  The driver rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll be all right. A short sn
ooze and I’ll be on my way.”

  “I don’t know about you, but I can’t sleep when I’m hungry.” Mandy hesitated. “Do you like buffalo chicken tenders?”

  “Love it. Why?” he asked, confused. “I don’t need you to buy me food.”

  Mandy waved away his concern and rushed back to her car to retrieve her leftovers. She trotted back and handed him the box.

  “My dinner. Leftovers. Enjoy,” she said in a rush, suddenly feeling a little anxious and nervous. Why? So, the driver was a hunk. He had deep blue eyes and blond hair like he belonged on a surfboard. A chiseled nose and jawline and his lips were full. She licked her ones just staring at him.

  “Do you want to climb in and have some?” the driver asked. “Looks like you couldn’t have eaten much.”

  Mandy hesitated and then accepted the invite. She walked around the truck and climbed inside, shutting the door behind her.

  “I wasn’t hungry then,” Mandy explained.

  “Why not?”

  “Date from Hell.”

  “That bad? I’m sorry.”

  She leaned over and grabbed a tender. “I hadn’t even wanted to go out.”

  “A sweet, kind girl like you aren’t interested in dating?”

  Mandy grinned and shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. I’m Mandy. Mandy Griffith.”

  “Hello, Mandy. I’m Brent Davis. I’d shake your hand but…” He held up his buffalo-sauced fingers.

  She reached over to shake his hand anyhow. “My hands are dirty too.”

  Was it her imagination, or had he held onto her hand a little longer than was necessary? She wasn’t going to complain.

  Who knew? Maybe tonight wasn’t going to be the worst night after all.

  3

  Tonight sure wasn’t the worst night. Not by a long shot.

  Mandy and Brent talked for hours. He was a truck driver heading on down to Detroit and then onward to Toledo, where he lived. Brent had no cat but a dog.

  It was perfectly acceptable in Mandy’s book for a werewolf to own a dog. Yes, Brent was a werewolf too.

  He had an older sister. His parents still lived, but a younger brother had died in a car crash.

  Hearing about his loss had Mandy explaining about her mother’s health, which shocked her. They bonded over their sadness, their sorrow, their grief. Talking to Brent was just so easy. He was kind and sweet and sensitive.

  Once the sun began to peek over the horizon, Mandy winced.

  “I’m sorry. I should let you go. You were supposed to be sleeping.”

  “I’d much rather talk to you,” Brent said.

  “Don’t you have a deadline?”

  “Yes, and it’s not due until noon. It won’t be too bad for me. I’m not tired anymore.”

  “You aren’t? Must be the food.”

  “Or maybe the wonderful conversation.”

  Mandy smiled. Earlier, when talking about her mom, she’d cried. Of course, she had wiped her eyes. The hot buffalo sauce had stung, and that whole incident had them both laughing. It completely put her at ease, and she hadn’t even felt guilty for enjoying herself.

  “I’m sorry you had a crappy date,” Brent said.

  “I don’t know,” Mandy said softly. “I think I had a really nice one.”

  Brent grinned. “Is that so?”

  “Maybe. Just maybe.”

  “Do you kiss on a first date?”

  Mandy giggled and shook her head. “No.”

  But then she surprised herself by leaning over and kissing him. Just a quick kiss, a soft one, but a shock went straight through her. There was something about Brent that drew her to him like he was honey and she was a bear.

  Brent chuckled as she pulled back. “So, if you don’t kiss on the first date, can I take you out on a first date then?”

  “Yes,” she said. “When?”

  “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I’ll have to check with my routes, my schedule, but I’ll call you.”

  He handed her his phone, and she programmed in her number. Surprisingly or maybe not surprisingly, she didn’t want to leave just yet.

  “Don’t look so sad,” he whispered, lifting her chin. “Everything will work out. With your mom. With everything.”

  She forced a smile. “You should get to driving. I’m sorry I’ve kept you so long.”

  “Don’t be. I have no regrets.”

  Brent winked at her, and she climbed out of the truck. She stood by her car and waited for his truck lights to fade in the distance before getting behind her wheel. All the rest of the drive home, she found herself hoping he was right. She desperately wanted everything to work out with her mom, but she also was hoping things would work out between herself and Brent. Which was ridiculous. She had only just met the guy. And he lived in Toledo, well over an hour away. Honestly, she should probably just let him live on in her memory. One wonderful night was better than nothing, even if that night only included conversation and some laughs.

  4

  Alexis called first thing in the morning before Mandy wanted to wake up. Twenty minutes later, someone one was pounding on the front door.

  Mandy waited for her dad to answer it before realizing he was at work. Quickly, before the person could disturb her mom, Mandy rushed to the door.

  Alexis and Claire Drake rushed inside.

  “Tell us what happened,” Alexis said.

  Claire crossed over to the couch and sat down. “I can’t believe you went out on a date with him. Mark’s a jerk!”

  “I know you can’t stand him because he didn’t bother to help you when you had a flat. I only went because someone forced me to.” Mandy glowered at Alexis but couldn’t keep that angry, frustrated expression for long before smiling.

  “What happened?” Alexis asked. “Something good clearly.”

  Mandy shrugged and yawned. “I need some coffee.”

  “Come on,” Alexis whined. “I have to leave for work in ten minutes.” She glanced at her watch and groaned. “I have to leave now. Damn it. Text me the details, okay? Claire? Promise me.”

  “You don’t trust me to tell you?” Mandy called from the kitchen. She wasn’t kidding. She really could use some coffee.

  “I’ll tell you,” Claire said.

  “Wow,” Mandy said. “I feel like no one respects me.”

  “We just know you.” Alexis rushed into the kitchen, hugged Mandy, and sped away.

  Claire entered the kitchen as Alexis shut the front door. “So…”

  Mandy’s cell rang. A number she didn’t recognize.

  Brent?

  She answered, “Hello?”

  “Mandy Griffith? We’ve been trying to get ahold of you. It’s your mother.”

  Just like that, all of Mandy’s hopes and eagerness disappeared. Worry and fear seized her. Forget coffee. Forget Brent. She needed to be by her mother’s side.

  5

  As it turned out, Mandy’s friends couldn’t have been loud enough to disturb Mandy’s mom considering her mom had checked herself into the hospital earlier that morning without alerting anyone about it. Mandy hadn’t realized she had missed calls, having slept through it.

  Claire was able to tag along. Mandy was working at a restaurant, and today was her day off. Claire was a kindergarten teacher, and it was the middle of summer.

  It was just as well Claire was here. Mandy’s hands were shaking so much she knew she wouldn’t be able to drive.

  Technically, Claire shouldn’t have been allowed access to the room, but Mandy’s mom called her family, so she came in too. Mandy’s mom was pale, drawn, far too thin, but she smiled anyhow when Mandy entered the room.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Mandy whispered as she hugged her tight.

  “I didn’t want you to worry about me.”

  Mandy’s swallowed hard, trying to ignore her fear and worry. Was this it? Was the cancer worsening?

  “We need to start a more aggressive treatment course,” the doctor was saying.

  Mand
y did her best to listen, but all she really caught was that the next month would be critical. If her mom lived until July, there was a chance she could recover completely.

  Shortly after the doctor left, her mom fell asleep. Mandy was pacing the room.

  “Do you want me to go?” Claire asked. “Pack your clothes? Pack your mom clothes? Get you food?”

  “I don’t know.” Mandy rubbed the back of her neck. She didn’t want to be alone right now. She needed a friend. She needed company.

  But a quick glance revealed her mom hadn’t brought any clothes. Claire did end up leaving after all.

  Mandy sat in the chair beside her mom and grabbed her hand. “Get better. Please. I need you.”

  Her phone vibrated. Another unrecognized number.

  After a slight hesitation, she answered in a whisper, “Hello?”

  “Mandy? It’s Brent. I wanted to thank you for such a fun night last night.”

  Mandy flushed with embarrassment. If her mother was only pretending to sleep and heard that, she’d get the wrong impression.

  “I did too,” she murmured, standing and crossing over to the window.

  “I was hoping you might come out to Toledo to visit me next month,” he was saying. “There’s a fun event all throughout July. The Music Under the Stars concert series. It’s at the Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre. It would be great if you could come. I know it’s a bit of a drive for you, and—”

  “I’ll let you know,” she said softly.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, sounding genuinely worried.

  “My mom’s health. I just don’t know what will be going on in a month. It’s a long time away and—”

  “Say no more. I understand.” He hesitated. “If you need someone to talk to ever, just call me. I won’t press you about coming out.”