Runt of the Litter Read online

  “Marshall, the alpha’s son. He’s mated to a human. A charming little thing, Scarlett.”

  “A human? Really? Wow, I guess I’m not the runt of the litter anymore.”

  “You’re still way smaller than her,” Tom said, handing her a can of soda. She took it without question, wrapping her fingers around the cool metal.

  “I can’t wait to meet her. What about his friend? I heard he made it through his transition.”

  “Yep, he did. He made it through.” Rachel stopped by the table frowning. “He came to say hello. Didn’t you see him?”

  “No, I didn’t see him.”

  She’d not seen him since that hot summer’s day when her life had changed forever. Tori believed she was more accident prone than a danger to anyone. It wasn’t his fault that he’d let go of her hand or that she got tangled in the weeds. She’d been too weak to pull herself out. Before she knew it, she’d panicked underwater, not good.

  Everything else got a little fuzzy until she had woken up a few hours later. She was shipped off to her Uncle Paul with the family visiting her. It was too much when her pack was considered too rough to hang around with.

  She couldn’t hate it too much. Moving in with Uncle Paul was the best thing that ever happened to her. She was stronger, more determined, and focused. No one was going to take that away from her, not that they’d want to.

  “I was really worried that Paul wouldn’t be able to handle you.”

  “He was fine. Kind of cool. He lives out in the middle of nowhere. We stripped naked during the full moon and called upon the good wolf spirits to guide me down the path of righteousness.”

  Silence descended on the room. She looked at each of them, smirking. “I’m kidding. God, what happened to your sense of humor while I was away? Anyone would think that you died.”

  She rolled her eyes, taking a bite of the sandwich that she picked up off the tray. Minutes later her father entered the room. Something passed between her mother and father, but she didn’t know what.

  “Welcome home, honey.” He kissed her head like he always did before going around the counter to his woman. She watched the love passing between her parents. Would she ever have that?

  Her uncle believed she would. She was stronger now than she’d ever been before. “I’m just going to head up to my room. Unpack.”

  “Okay, honey.”

  She grabbed her cases and walked out of the room.

  “Well, what did the alpha say?” her mother asked.

  “He’s going to look into it, but he doesn’t know if there’s anything we can do. There are not many runts, and if they are, they don’t survive in a pack long. It has been a miracle for Tori to have lasted.”

  She kept walking. Her sense of hearing had improved while she was away. They were talking because they didn’t know she could hear. Over the last year little senses had started to become more alert. Uncle Paul had started dropping things around her for her to catch. The action had improved her reflexes, and she barely allowed anything to drop close to her.

  “Dad, she can’t die. She’s one of us,” Rachel said.

  “We’re going to do everything we can, but we may be fighting the inevitable.” She heard the defeat in her father’s voice. Not wanting to hear how sad he was any longer, she made her escape upstairs. They were all scared for her and for good reason.

  Entering her bedroom, she closed the door quietly behind her. Staring at the pale pink room, she couldn’t help but smile. It had been so long since she’d last been here. Her parents had chosen to visit her at Uncle Paul’s rather than bringing her home.

  Moving toward the window, she opened it up to allow a little draft. Since that summer when she almost died, she no longer felt the constant chill. She’d even started sweating at times.

  Tori stayed by the window, taking her time to look out over the landscape. She got a clear view of the forest from here where all the pack ran during the height of the full-moon. On the edge of the forest she saw Luke and Marshall talking. Off to the side was a girl with brown hair. She looked worried, and Tori wondered if that was Marshall’s mate. Her stance gave her away. Most wolves would be standing straight in the presence of the alpha, but the girl simply leaned against a tree, clearly not worried.

  What would it be like to be a mate? To love someone with her whole heart and never worry about it being crushed? The love between wolves was absolute, like fairytales or the movies. There was no chance of a wolf cheating or falling for another woman. In their world, nothing could touch them.

  Just once before her transition, regardless of the outcome, she would just like to be loved, loved and cherished.

  ****

  Jack sat on his bed staring at an old photograph that was taken the summer before he almost killed Tori. She was so small, only coming to his chest, and he had his arm wrapped around her. The pack had been ordered to treat Tori with care. He’d found the young girl charming, advanced for her years. She was a ball of trouble and seemed to find accidents rather than the other way around. He’d lost count of the number of times he’d seen bruises or broken bones on her.

  If the pack hadn’t known she was a runt, as everyone liked to call her, they’d have thought the family was abusing her. No one in the Hunter house would ever dream of hurting Tori. Her condition was strange to be within the pack, but she was well loved. Not many runts were known, but he heard his father once telling his mother, Diana, that the packs probably killed the runts.

  He wasn’t a fool. A lot of wolf packs survived on cruelty. Luke, the pack alpha, didn’t see cruelty as a skill or something to be part of. Their pack was about family, united together in their love and acceptance of one another.

  There was a knock on the door. Placing the picture under his pillow he called for his mother to enter. She carried a tray of food with her.

  “Hello, Jack.”

  “Hey, Mom. Did, erm, did Dad tell you?”

  She nodded. “He told me, son.”

  He watched as she put the tray on his lap. Fried chicken and two burgers were on his plate. There wasn’t any sign of a vegetable. Wow. Getting a mate must provide some leeway with his mother. She was always nagging him to eat more fruit and vegetables. He worked out and trained over five hours a day and was always starving. The role of the beta was to be prepared. With Marshall taking a human mate, his father had started to be a little more forceful in his training. When the time came, Jack would be responsible for it all.

  “She’s a wonderful girl,” Diana said, cupping his cheek.

  Jack gritted his teeth and tried to think of anything that would stop him losing control in front of his mother. He’d not cried since his transition, and he wouldn’t shed a tear now.

  “I don’t know what to do. She’s only around for the summer.” The thought of her leaving was tearing him up inside, twisting his stomach in knots. He’d never once known the pleasure of what a mate could give him.

  “Then spend some time with her. Go and see her.”

  Picking up a piece of fried chicken he took a bite, relishing the taste of the spices as it slid down his throat. “What would I say?”

  “Anything. You know, your father and I, we didn’t exactly get along when we were younger.”

  “You didn’t?”

  “No, he was a hothead and arrogant. He’d strut around the pack as if being there was his very right. I mean, it was, but I hated him for it. I wasn’t anything special. For the most part I tried to steer clear of him. When he was around he’d try to show off. At the time I just thought he was being egotistical, showing off to the girls because he was the future beta. I was wrong.”

  “Mom, did Dad fancy you?”

  “That he did. I didn’t know about it until we both transitioned.”

  His parents were the same age.

  “He came looking for me straight away. I was by the lake, and when I saw him, I just knew he was going to be my mate.” She chuckled. “I didn’t know what to say to him, and so I
just treated him like I always did. It didn’t stop David from coming back for me. I think in a weird way, he fell in love with me during the time I made him wait. Whenever he tried to bring up the mating, I’d stop him from spoiling our fun. The mating is not an obligation, and some women don’t like it.”

  “Did you?”

  “I didn’t like the thought that he was only around because the fates demanded it. Your father has been tough on you over the years, but he loves you.”

  “He needs me to be strong when the time comes.”

  “That he does. I can’t argue with him there.”

  “I’ll finish this food and then go and see her.”

  “You do that.” She kissed his cheek.

  “Mom?”

  “Yes.”

  “What if she doesn’t survive it?”

  “You don’t think about that. You’ve got two years, son. Make her strong. Make her want to fight for something that is greater than simply turning into a wolf.”

  Okay, he was going to sound totally stupid. “What?”

  “Honey, make her see a side to you that no one is ever going to see. Show her how much you love her.”

  She closed his door behind him. Grabbing one of the burgers, he took a large bite, relishing the taste of the meat.

  Find her.

  See her.

  Take her.

  There was not going to be any kind of taking from Tori. She was two years his junior, and even though that didn’t sound like a lot, there wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to put that kind of pressure on her.

  He finished his food and took his plate downstairs. His father was in his study with the alpha. Jack had heard him enter five minutes ago. Smiling at his mom, he headed out the door, toward Tori.

  Rachel was throwing out the trash as he made his way up the long path toward their house.

  “Where did you go?” she asked.

  “I needed to be somewhere.” He saw she’d been crying. “I thought I’d come and visit the adventure girl.”

  “She’s up in her room. I’ll give her a call.”

  “Hello, Jack,” Carl said, moving toward the door.

  “Hello, Mr. Hunter.” He needed to be respectful to the father of his intended mate. The last thing he needed was to be chased off by Carl when he wanted to get closer to his daughter. “Sorry for rushing off like that.”

  “No problem. It’s good to have her back here you know.”

  “I’m really sorry about what happened. I just wanted her to have fun. I didn’t even think of—”

  “Stop, Jack. Everyone told me that you were having fun. I don’t blame you. Well, in part I do blame you, but it’s in the past. Tori lived.” Carl stopped talking.

  Tori lived to fight another day. How many more days will she be fighting?

  Jack froze as her scent grew heavy, and then she appeared in the doorway. She was still small, but she’d filled out a little. Compared to everyone else she was still tiny, fragile in comparison. She just seemed that little bit stronger.

  Was it all hope on his side?

  “Rachel said you were here to see me,” she said.

  She was utterly beautiful. Her long blonde hair was tied at the back in a single ponytail, and her blue eyes smiled at him.

  “Hello.” He stopped and had to clear his throat as he sounded squeaky. “Hello, squirt.”

  Be natural.

  Keep it cool.

  “Squirt? Seriously, after all this time. I should kick your ass. You almost killed me, and I’ve not seen you.”

  Heat filled his cheeks. For the first time he was embarrassed around a girl.

  “Tori!” Carl said.

  “What? I’m joking around. I didn’t die, and if I did I wouldn’t be standing here. Unless you’re all seeing a ghost.” She placed a hand to her head. “I’m dead. What has happened to the world?”

  He couldn’t help but laugh. “I see your sense of humor hasn’t left.”

  “Please. My sense of humor is my strongest point. If you put me in a ring with the whole of the pack and it was about humor you’d all be begging me to be alpha. I rock that world.”

  Jack just chuckled. It was great to finally see her but to also listen to her voice.

  “I’m going to leave you two alone. Don’t take her too far.”

  “Dad, I bet Jack has plenty of girls to do the hanky-panky with. He wouldn’t try to ravish me.” Tori rolled her eyes, stepping down the steps toward him.

  Carl muttered something under his breath before leaving them alone.

  “Everyone is so serious now.” She shrugged, moving toward him. “Come on, we’ll go into the garden. He won’t complain so long as he can keep an eye on me.”

  “They worry about you.”

  “I know, but they don’t always worry about everyone. I’m special.” She snorted. The garden was huge, and he followed her down toward the shaded area in the back.

  Be normal around her.

  She smelled amazing.

  “I wanted to apologize.”

  “What for?”

  “I shouldn’t have let go of your hand, and you almost died on me.” The very thought that he had been the one to almost kill his mate, scared him. He wouldn’t ever put her at risk.

  “Please. Will everyone stop going on about that? I’m tired of hearing about how I almost died and lost everything. I’m perfectly okay right now. Shouldn’t that matter?”

  He wrapped his arm around her shoulders pulling her against him.

  “It’s important to me. You could have died.”

  “And money grows on trees. Believe it or not, almost dying was a good thing.”

  “How?”

  “I got to go and visit my Uncle Paul.”

  “He’s not a wolf.”

  “I know, but he’s been amazing to me.” He watched as bit her lip, glancing down at the ground. “He’s taught me to accept myself.” She shrugged. “I know it’s crazy and I’ll never be a queen at fighting or anything, but I’m stronger now.”

  She looked stronger and happier within herself.

  “I’m happy for you.”

  “Aw, Jack, did you miss me?” She laughed, pulling out of his arms. “Man, I’ve missed being home. Everything here smells and feels amazing. This is home to me.”

  He related, boy did he relate. The thought of not being here scared him. This was where he belonged.

  “I hear Marshall mated.”

  “Yes.” He sat down on the bench, and she came to sit next to him.

  “Tell me about her and him.”

  “Well, believe it not, she was one of the girls we used to, erm, bully.”

  She gasped.

  “No, you didn’t bully her? Really? Jack, I have to say I’m surprised at you.”

  Shame filled him. He didn’t like his mate being disappointed in him.

  She doesn’t know.

  “Well, he had to get her to fall in love with him. After all the crap they’ve been through together, she did, but it was a long way to get to that point.”

  “I think I saw her. Brown hair, doesn’t know pack rules?”

  “If she was standing a little behind Marshall while he was talking to the alpha, then yes, that’s Scarlett.”

  “Is she nice?”

  “Very. I, myself, have been embarrassed by the hell I put her through.” The urge to reach out and touch Tori was strong. He didn’t, keeping his hands to himself.

  “And you’ve not mated?”

  “No.”

  “How was the transition?”

  “Fucking hard.”

  She chuckled. “Holly made it through her transition, too. I’m happy for them.”

  He saw her frown before looking away from him. “It shouldn’t be long until you transition.”

  “Yeah, it shouldn’t.”

  Fuck, what do I say now? I don’t want her to transition. I don’t want her to fucking change.

  “Did you meet your mate while you were away?”

>   You’re her mate, asshole.

  “No. You know we don’t know for sure who our mates are until we turn.” Her hands were locked together, and he scented her nervousness and fear. The transition scared her.

  Placing his hand over hers, he gripped her hand, firmly. “I’m going to be here for you, Tori.”

  “Is this because you still feel guilty? You don’t have to.”

  “No! I need to be here for you, and I’ll help you, Tori.”

  “My transition isn’t for a couple of years. I think I’m going back to live with my uncle after the summer. My parents are nervous about me being here.”

  No, she can’t go. She has to stay here where we can protect and care for her.

  “Have you thought about staying here? Going to the school?”

  “No. I’ll do what my parents think is best. Tell me about yourself. What are you doing now? You’ve graduated, so there has to be college.”

  “I’ve got a job at the hardware store after college. My dad thinks it’ll be good for me to mingle with the humans, get a natural scent for them all.”

  “The hardware store?”

  “Yeah, in town, next to the diner.” He hadn’t released her hand. Staring at his hand over hers, Jack felt his wolf calm. Since discovering she was his mate a couple of hours ago he’d been restless.

  “I’ll have to come and visit. Tell me, have many gone to the lake since it happened?”

  “We visit the lake, but the alpha made sure it was out of bounds to everyone who’s not part of the pack.”

  “Was that because of me? I put that boundary up?”

  “Yes and no. You’re, erm …”

  “The runt?”

  “Don’t call yourself that, Tori.”

  “Why? It’s what I am.”

  “I don’t like it. I don’t want to hear that word from your lips again.” He cupped her cheek, running his thumb over the bottom of her lip. “You’re worth more than that.”

  She gasped, pulling out of his touch. “You’re right. My, erm, non-special talents are similar to humans who don’t carry the wolf gene. If I could be easily hurt then others could.”