Runt of the Litter Read online

“Stop, stop, stop.”

  Instantly, he wrapped his arms around her.

  “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

  “It’s not working, Jack.” She sobbed each word out, torn up. “I’m going to die. I’m going to die in one month. I can’t do this.”

  “You’re not going to die.”

  She stared up into his eyes.

  The amber of his wolf eyes glowed down at her.

  “You’re so beautiful,” she said. “Have I ever told you that before? I love the way your wolf looks. I watch you when you run, wishing I could join you. I’d love to join you.”

  He cupped her face harshly. “You’re going to run with me, Tori. You’re going to be with me every step of the way. No one is going to take that from us.”

  She watched as he glanced at Paul, and he nodded.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked.

  “Do you trust me, Tori?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then close your eyes and don’t question what I’m about to do.”

  “I’m confused.”

  “I wasn’t going to tell you and I told your uncle that I wouldn’t tell you, but you need to know the truth.”

  “Jack, you can’t,” Uncle Paul said.

  “I can’t not tell her. She needs to know the truth. She needs to know what she’s fighting for.”

  She stared up at him in confusion. “What is it?”

  “I’m your mate, baby.” He caressed over her cheek.

  “What?”

  “You’re my mate, and I’ve known it for a long time now. I love you with my whole heart, but what I’m about to do, it could get me banished, or killed.”

  She couldn’t believe it. Well, she thought he might have been her mate, but she didn’t actually think it was true. “We’re mates? We’re mates, and you’ve been going through hell.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t want you to lose focus. You need to be strong. You need to be strong for me, baby.”

  Gritting her teeth, she nodded. “I will. I will be strong.”

  “I’m going to give you the mating mark, and you can’t tell your parents about it, at least not until after the transition.”

  “Do you think it will help?” she asked.

  “It’s our only option. I’ve exhausted everything else.”

  Jack leaned in close, and his lips brushed her cheek. Her head was moved to the side, and suddenly she felt something hurt her neck.

  Her wolf howled inside her mind, but she wasn’t afraid. This was … right. They were mates, and Jack’s teeth turned her on. Tori couldn’t explain it as Jack bit into her neck, sucking some of her blood. Warmth spread throughout her body, awakening her senses.

  Moaning, she arched up for more.

  Suddenly, he pulled away. Paul handed him a knife.

  “There’s no turning back, Jack.”

  “I’ve not got a choice.” He sliced the blade down his palm. “Drink, Tori. It’ll help you.”

  Without question she drank from his wrist not really understanding what was happening. She didn’t know what the mating ritual was. Over the years she’d been more interested in the transition than mating. The moment his blood hit the back of her throat, the pain vanished. The warmth turned into a fire shooting across all of her senses.

  “That’s it, baby, drink it down.”

  Before she could stop herself she bit into his wrist taking more.

  He chuckled. “That’s it, mark me as yours, baby.”

  She didn’t question his words, loving the taste of him. They were mates, and she felt the overwhelming urge to mark him for herself. Tori was too exhausted to think more in that moment.

  Something opened in her mind, and she saw herself from his gaze, drinking from his wrist.

  Pulling away, she stared up at him.

  “What just happened?” she asked.

  “We’re mated, and I helped you to heal. It’s a mate thing.”

  “I didn’t know it could be that powerful.”

  Jack dropped a kiss to her lips. “You don’t need to understand it. It worked. You’re already looking better.” His thumb stroked over her cheek.

  “I can’t believe we’re mates, Jack. You must have been so hurt over the last couple of years.”

  “I handled it as best as I could.” He stroked her cheek, holding her close.

  “I can’t keep doing this, Jack. It’s hurting too much.”

  “It’s why I’ve mated you. Paul and I, we’re hoping it will work. We’re not calling on your wolf anymore. Your parents called, and they’re wanting you to visit them in a couple of weeks before the transition.”

  “I won’t tell them. I won’t let them take you away from me.”

  She’d been putting off seeing them for a long time. Getting to her feet, she brushed herself down. “We can’t do anything else with us being mates, can we?”

  He shook his head. “I love you, Tori. That will never change, but nothing is going to change.” He cupped her cheek once again. “We’ll see what happens after the transition.”

  Jack looked so sad that it tore at her heart to witness.

  Mate.

  Turning toward Jack, she couldn’t help the pulse of arousal that struck her body once again.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, seeing the pain cross his face.

  “Don’t worry about it, baby.”

  Jack moved toward the door. “I’m going to go and clean up.”

  She didn’t stop him, looking at Paul.

  “He cares about you a lot. This is hard on him,” Paul said.

  “I know. It’s hard. We’re mates, but I don’t really feel it.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Alive. It’s strange. I don’t even feel weak right now, but I also don’t feel that connection with Jack.” She wasn’t a wolf yet, and as such, she couldn’t feel that connected to him.

  “That’s good about how you’re feeling, not about Jack.”

  “Yes, but I’m hurting him.”

  “He knows you don’t mean it. Your wolf isn’t completely active yet. The moment you transition, you’ll know him, and sense him. Don’t let your parents see the bite mark on your neck.”

  “I won’t. I promise. I don’t want him to get in trouble.”

  “I really hope everything works out for you.”

  “I do as well.”

  “I’m coming with you to the pack,” Paul said, surprising her.

  “What?”

  “I need to know what happens, honey. I’m so proud of you.”

  “Really?”

  “You know I am.”

  “What about Jack?” she asked. Would he be able to see her during the transition?

  “That boy loves you, Tori. You’re fated mates.”

  “I know. I just wished I could give him what he wants.”

  “All he wants is for you to get through the transition alive. He’s been here for you, holding you, comforting you. I see the way he looks at you. Jack’s in love with you, and he’s going to be there throughout it all.” Paul turned away. “I’m going to head up to the house.”

  Jack loved her?

  It seemed so surreal to her that they were mates. She could only imagine the kind of agony he was in.

  Leaving the barn, she made her way up to the house. She walked up the stairs as Jack walked out of the bathroom. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, and he stopped when he saw her.

  “Hello,” she said.

  “Hello.”

  She opened her mouth then closed it.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I’m really sorry about us being mates. I’m hoping after the transition, I’ll be able to give you what you want.” All of her life she’d been the runt of the litter, but she’d never felt so damn out of place as she did right then.

  He reached out, touching her cheek. “When we get through this transition, you’re going to know exactly how I feel about you, and
you’re going to be the same.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

  She couldn’t look away as he made his way to his bedroom. Tori didn’t want him to go but knew deep in her heart that it was for the best. Entering the bathroom, she stared at the bite mark on her neck. The mating marks. There really wasn’t anything to it, but she’d cover it up so her parents didn’t see it. Stroking her fingers over the point, the wolf inside her yearned for him, but Tori didn’t know what to do.

  I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do.

  Pulling the band from her hair, she pushed all of her thoughts aside and settled on getting washed. She didn’t have time to dwell on whatever was happening between her and Jack.

  ****

  This was it. Jack drove in the back of his father’s car toward the pack. He’d been surprised to see Tori’s parents waiting for her at the airport.

  “Are you okay, son?” David asked.

  “No.”

  He wasn’t in a talking mood. His mate was traveling in front of him. The connection between them was stronger than ever. She was scared, but she’d covered up his mating mark on her neck with a scarf. Her parents hadn’t asked any questions, but he didn’t know how long that was going to be.

  “You’ve got a couple of weeks until her birthday.”

  “I know.”

  “You’ve got to trust them. They’re going to help her.”

  “I know, Dad.”

  “And you’ve had the last two years with her.”

  He’d loved being with her, but they hadn’t been the best two years. When they’d been training, forcing her wolf out, they’d been the very worst of his life. He hated what he’d done to her.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m trying here.”

  “I know, Dad. It’s just hard.” He was going home to the pack that in a couple of weeks was going to throw him out.

  Staring at the car in front of him, he rubbed at his chest. Something bad was about to happen, but he didn’t know what it was.

  His wolf started to pace in his mind. The car in front veered left, then right.

  “What the fuck?” his father said.

  Jack’s mind was slammed open as the connection ran between them. Tori’s transition was coming, only it was coming too early.

  David’s cell phone went off.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he watched him accept the call. Tori’s screams came across the line.

  “What’s going on?”

  “She’s going through the transition. We’re going as fast as we can, David. Something is wrong.”

  “Jack?” Tori said, calling to him in his mind.

  “I’m here, baby.”

  “Stop the cars,” Jack said. He needed to be in the car with her.

  “Jack?” David said.

  “Stop the fucking car.” He didn’t care that he was being disrespectful. The only thing that mattered was Tori.

  The cars came to a sudden stop. Opening the door, he ran toward the car. He pulled Tori into his lap. “Go, go now.” She looked up at him. Sweat covered her brow.

  “It’s started.”

  He held her tightly as she arched up. The distinctive sounds of bones breaking filled her car. Tears filled his eyes with Tori’s screams of pain. Paul moved far away. Jack held her tight against him, consoling her as best as he could.

  Opening up the connection in his mind, he tried to take the pain away from her. She wouldn’t let him.

  “Fuck, Tori, look at me.” He cupped her cheek. “Look at me, baby.”

  She stared at him with her pretty blue eyes. The pain was clear to see in her depths.

  “I love you,” he said. “You’ve got to trust me.”

  “I trust you, and I love you. No matter what happens I love you.”

  “Good, relax, open your mind to—”

  She jerked in his hold as her body bent at an odd angle.

  “She’s not even eighteen yet. What’s happening?” her mother said, crying out.

  “Everything about Tori has been premature,” Paul said. “We should have seen this coming.”

  Jack didn’t have time to listen to them.

  The car sped toward their home.

  Hold on, Tori, baby. Hold on and fight this. You can’t leave me. I won’t let you leave me.

  “It hurts, Jack. It hurts.” Tori took great gulps of breath as her body started to fight against itself.

  The car raced toward Tori’s home. Her father pulled open the door, and Jack ran toward her home. Each of their homes had a special basement for the change. Rachel was already waiting with the door open.

  “How’s she doing?”

  “Is she going to be okay?”

  “This isn’t normal.”

  All of her siblings were firing questions, but he didn’t have time for them. Once she was on the floor, he rushed to wet a cloth to press against her forehead.

  “I’m here, baby. I’m here.” He dabbed her head as her parents and his father rushed downstairs.

  Emma rushed to his side. “Honey, is there anything we can do?”

  “I don’t know,” Tori said, crying out. “It hurts so much.”

  Jack wiped the sweat away, and slowly in his mind he opened the door that connected them as mates. “It’s okay, Tori. I’m here.”

  She turned to look at him with her eyes wide. “It’s real, Jack. It’s so real.”

  “What’s going on?” Emma asked, growling.

  Neither of them spoke, and Jack was so caught up in Tori’s amazed smile that he didn’t have time to stop Emma from ripping the scarf off her neck. Paul entered the room just as Emma turned on Jack.

  “You fucking bastard,” Emma said. “We trusted you, and you broke pack law.”

  “Emma,” Paul said.

  “No, I’m not listening to you. For the last two years you’ve left him alone with my daughter and convinced me she was safe.”

  “She is safe with me,” Jack said. He’d hoped that their secret would have remained a little longer than the start of her transition.

  “Jack, is this true?” David asked.

  “I gave her the mating mark, but I’ve not broken pack rules. I swear I haven’t touched her sexually.”

  Emma snorted.

  “The need was never there,” Jack said. “I never wanted her for sex. I only ever wanted her to be strong enough to get through this. She has to get through this.”

  “Call the alpha. I want him here.”

  “Jack?” Tori asked.

  “I’m here.”

  “I feel you. This is so amazing.”

  “We’re mates, Tori. You finally feel it to. We’ll talk more after we get through this together.” He kissed her temple, holding her tight in his arms.

  “Carl, get him out of here,” Emma said. “I can’t believe you let this happen.” Her glare was pointed at Paul.

  “No!” Tori’s scream stopped everyone in their tracks as Carl wrapped his fingers around Jack’s neck. “I want him here. Jack stays.”

  She held onto his hand with as much strength as she could. He held her hand tightly in his.

  “I’m not going anywhere, baby.” He glared at Carl. “I’m her mate. You can’t deny me the right to be with her.”

  “Why did you do it?” David asked.

  He looked toward his father. “Mates are connected. I gave her the mating mark in the hope that I could take her pain.”

  Emma stared at him. “You’re trying to take her pain away?”

  “Yes. I haven’t practiced this before. She’s got her walls up and won’t let me in.” Staring down at Tori, he stroked the hair back from her face. “You’ve got to let me in. I can’t help you if you don’t let me in.”

  “I don’t know how.” She arched, filling the room with her agonized cries. Jack couldn’t do anything but call on his wolf.

  “Open, Tori. Let me in. Let me help you.”

  Time passed as he repeated his demands, trying to get her to open to him. He couldn
’t handle her keeping him out.

  The power of the pack alpha flowed into the room. Jack looked up to see Luke in the room. Marshall was upstairs with Scarlett. He scented his friend close.

  Ignoring the alpha, he focused on Tori.

  Her bones broke, crashing together. She was lasting longer than he imagined, and suddenly she took one deep shattering cry then nothing. The wolf inside him howled as Tori collapsed to the floor, her heart taking a final beat.

  He didn’t wait around going to her side. Turning her onto her back, he pressed on her chest, pumping her heart.

  “Move out of the way,” Luke said. Jack was pushed out of the way, but his wolf slammed forward, opening his mind. He found Tori’s wolf, and he was amazed. The cage within her mind was open.

  “Come out. Fight for her.”

  Her wolf howled, and suddenly Tori gasped as her heart started to beat. Tori needed to die in order to release her wolf.

  Before his very eyes he watched as the slender, weak girl transformed. She got bigger, filled out, and suddenly she was on all fours as her new body started to break, snap. Her wolf was fighting for release. All this time she’d been a shadow of her own self waiting for the transition.

  “Mate?”

  “I’m here, Tori.”

  “Don’t leave me.”

  He stepped closer, and Tori moved forward inhaling the scent of his neck.

  “Mate!”

  Before he could stop, she grabbed him tightly, biting into his neck. In the background of the room he heard their parents arguing. He didn’t care. The connection that bound them together opened up, and he felt her. They were now bound together as a true mated pair.

  “I love you, Tori.”

  “I love you, Jack.”

  She pulled away, and he watched in amazement as her final transition took over. With tears in his eyes, Jack saw his mate change and live. Minutes passed before she collapsed on the floor turning back into her human flesh.

  He moved toward her, kissing her cheek. She was alive but passed out cold. “I’d do it all over again for you.”

  “Come on, Jack. I’ve got to take you in,” Luke said.

  “I know.” Jack stared at her one final time before turning to face his alpha. “I’m ready to go.”

  His hands were bound behind his back as he was taken out of Tori’s home.

  “Son, why did you do it?” David asked.

  He was moved away from Tori’s house toward the alpha’s place. Only the alpha could keep him locked away. Jack hadn’t known of anyone who’d been placed in the alpha’s keeping.