The Protectors: New Generation Book 1

39 - Cookout - Dominic POV

The morning sunshine fills the energy within me. I'm enjoying the air duel happening before my eyes, and Tally is giving Hunter an ass whooping. Damn. Suddenly, Tally looks pale. Double Damn. She collapses.

The girls rush to her side, and I find myself facing a confused Hunter.

"What did you do to her?" I accuse pointing at a crumpled Tally.

"Nothing. I didn't do anything," Hunter replies.

"As much as I want to disagree, I actually believe you. You don't have the skills to cause this type of damage. You don't have it in you?" I say as I turn my back on him. He's not worth my time.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn. Pow. Damn. My hand rubs my jaw. Double Damn. That is going to leave a mark.

"You little prick. What did you do that for? I ought to..." I feel another hand—on my arm this time, I turn with my fist up, but I am met by a hand of fire.

"Calm down, bärchen. It's just me," EJ says.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out.

"Yes," I say in a low voice.

"You're getting worked up. Look," he says pointing at a stick I must have picked up, and there is smoke moving around my hand. Damn. I'm really that mad? Double Damn. This stick is going to catch on fire. My hand twitches.

"Don't drop it!" he pleads. "Just calm down. Like you were doing. Breathe in. Breathe out." He starts breathing more deeply than I am. I find myself calming after matching his breathing pattern.

"Thank the Universe," EJ says while holding his hand out. "Now you can give me the stick."

Once I hand the stick over, EJ yells at a retreating Hunter. "You, come here!"

As soon as Hunter joins us, EJ erupts. "This tension and animosity has gone on long enough! I think it's time for a weekend getaway—just the Guardians and I. We will leave in two days," he says before stomping off.

I sneer at Hunter and walk off to find Jonah or Tanner or Ande—anyone but being around this guy.

When I catch up with Jonah and Tanner, Tanner stops and looks at me.

"What was that about?" Tanner questions.

"He's just being a jackass, as usual."

"He's not so bad." Tanner argues.

Why is he trying to defend him?

After a silent moment, curiosity gets the best of me. "Why are you defending him? He's been negative since day one. He picks on Tally and sneers at most of us. He doesn't pay attention and is sometimes disrespectful of the Elders. You'd think he doesn't really want to be here."

"I've seen other people act similarly as he is. I think I might have an idea of what's wrong. I just have to figure a way for him to open up and tell me," Tanner answers.

"And you think you can help that?" I ask pointing behind my shoulder.

"When did you become so cynical? No one is without hope."

A scowl marks my face. "You need to meet my adoptive father then."

Tanner's eyebrow shoots up.

I hold my hands up. "Another day. I don't think my temper can handle another reminder." I huff and walk off ahead of them.

I push the thoughts of my adoptive father out of my head. I walk to the clearing to calm myself before the cookout and bonfire the Elders are having tonight to celebrate Mick's twentieth birthday.