Runt of the Litter Read online

  “Our alpha was protecting everyone.”

  “I understand.” She stared down at their hands. “You can let go now.”

  Reluctantly, he pulled his hand away. Jack didn’t want to leave or make an excuse to go.

  “Would you like to go out to a movie with me?”

  “Are you asking me on a date?”

  “No.” He spoke quickly, and she laughed.

  “I was just kidding. Why is everyone so serious all the time?” She tilted her head. “I’d love to go and watch a movie. You’ll have to ask my dad, but I doubt he’ll have any objections. You’re the beta or you will be.”

  “I’ll see your father before I go.”

  “When do you want to see a movie?”

  “Tonight?”

  “Not tonight, Jack. It’s my first night back. I want to spend it with my family.” She smiled at him. “It has been great seeing you.”

  “And you.”

  He didn’t want their time to end, but he didn’t see any other choice. “I’ll, erm, I’ll leave you alone.”

  She linked her arm through his, and together they made their way toward the front of the house. “It has been great seeing you.”

  “And you.”

  Jack hated leaving her, but he didn’t see any other choice. His mate didn’t have a clue what he was going through. Not that he blamed her. She didn’t have the senses to understand what was going on.

  Chapter Three

  Tori held her cell phone up against her ear listening to her uncle. She really did miss him.

  “How was your reunion?” Uncle Paul asked.

  “It was fine. Stilted but fine. They’re all worried about me, and it’s not helping matters.” She hiked her backpack up as she headed into the forest.

  “They’re worried about you.”

  “I know. I heard them talking.”

  “While you were leaving the room?”

  “Yes. They were talking about my transition. It seems to be all they talk about.” She’d lain in bed last night listening to everything in the house. It had been surreal to be staring at her ceiling and hearing everything. Rachel had been listening to music while making notes in her book for her studies. Tom had been working out in his room. Holly was crushing over a guy at school. All of her siblings had been doing odd tasks but not keeping their noise down. She’d loved every second of it. In the past she hadn’t heard a thing. When she’d been lying in bed the house had seemed dead inside.

  Last night she’d also listened to her parents talk. Neither of them knew what to do when it came to her. It was sad, heartbreaking to her. She was doing everything she could to make herself stronger.

  “That’s excellent. Your senses are awakening.”

  “Their sense of humor has gone though. I miss you, Uncle Paul.”

  “I miss you, too, honey. We’re going to see your training. Remember to believe in yourself and to hold onto that hope.”

  “I will. I mean, I am. How’s the research going?”

  “Difficult. Either no one’s talking or you’re one of a kind.”

  “Hey, I told you I was awesome.” She came to a stop at the site where her life had changed forever. She pulled her backpack off. “I’m here.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Oddly sentimental. This is what brought me to you, and now I’m strong.”

  “Good. Get dressed into your swimming gear.”

  “It’s a costume. I’m still a girl.” She placed her phone on the nearest bolder while also changing into her swim wear. It was early morning, and none of her family had woken up yet. “So facing this fear is supposed to set me free?”

  “Don’t be sarcastic. You’re going to overcome what dragged you down.” She listened to her uncle move. “I wish I was there to help you, but this has to be something you do on your own.”

  “What if I get stuck again?”

  “We’ve talked about this. You panicked. Don’t panic. Remember you told me that you were sure you felt your wolf start to awaken when you were panicking.”

  “Yes.”

  “Don’t be frightened. Think, assess, and embrace. Don’t fear what comes naturally to you. It’s your life, your power, and you’ve got to harness it yourself.”

  What she loved most about Uncle Paul was his complete confidence in her ability.

  “I’m changed.”

  “Step to the boulder where you were. Embrace who you are, Tori.”

  She moved to the boulder, imagining Jack by her side. She even reached out as if to take his hand.

  “Are you there?”

  “I’m here.”

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m nervous. The last time I was here everything went wrong.”

  “Think of what went right. You’re stronger now. You’re senses are awakening, Tori. Don’t believe you’re weak. Know you’re strong. I’ve never heard of a wolf who sensed her other self the way you describe that day. Embrace yourself.”

  “Okay.” Staring down at the water below, Tori took several deep breaths. Her uncle went silent on the phone. “You can do this. It’s all in your head.”

  Closing her eyes, she zoned everything out that helped her fear. She focused on the scent of the forest, the togetherness of the pack. Drawing her hands together, she held them in front of her as if she was making some kind of prayer. In and out she took deep breaths, and that was when she felt her wolf once again. Her wolf, a blonde beautiful beast that was locked in the cage of her mind, and sleeping. Tori couldn’t look away.

  Jump.

  Opening her eyes, she couldn’t hear anything other than the flowing of water. Determined, fighting, she launched herself off the boulder, plunging into the water below. The cool water hit her skin. Instead of gasping or panicking, she basked in the feel of the chill. The shocking temperature let her know that she was alive. She’d fought to live another day.

  Focus.

  She wriggled a little, and that was where she saw the danger.

  Don’t panic. Stay focused. Harness your skill. Embrace.

  Glancing down, she saw her foot tangled in the weeds. In her mind, she flashed back to that day. She’d panicked, trying to tear the weeds from her. Releasing a little breath, she leaned down.

  The wolf inside her pounced at the cage within her mind. Tori froze in place. It was the first time her wolf had ever tried to escape.

  Fight.

  Live.

  Show them who we are.

  Removing the weeds she broke for the surface taking several gasps of air.

  “Tori? Tori!” Uncle Paul’s voice broke through her concentration. Breaking the water to the side of the lake, she jumped out.

  “I did it, Uncle Paul. I did it.”

  “What the fuck did you just do?”

  She gasped, turning around to find Jack leaning against a tree. He wasn’t wearing a shirt.

  The wolf inside her released a little growl that had the whole of Tori’s body vibrating.

  What was that about?

  “I’ll talk to you in a moment, Uncle Paul.” She slammed the phone closed, staring at Jack as he stepped closer. In his fisted hand, he held a shirt. He was in a pair of boxer briefs. “Shouldn’t you get dressed?” She didn’t feel comfortable with him being naked and close to her. It sent her nerves on end.

  “I’m so pissed off at you right now.”

  “How long was I under?” she asked, checking the time on her phone. Shit, she really should have checked her time.

  “You were only under a few seconds. Are you completely insane?”

  “A few seconds? Are you sure?”

  “You splashed into the water, and I was about to follow you in. As you can see I only got to my shirt and jeans.”

  She’d been under seconds, and yet to her, she’d been under minutes. When she got rid of Jack she’d call her uncle back and let him know. It was good news, great news, and her wolf was coming alive.

  “You really didn’t ne
ed to.” She made to turn away, but Jack held onto her arm.

  “Who were you talking to?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  “Again, none of your business.” She pulled out of his hold, hating how her skin seemed to heat under his touch. The last thing she wanted was to be attracted to Jack. He was the beta and would probably laugh at any attraction from the pack runt.

  “You better tell me or I’m going to be having a serious conversation with your father.”

  She picked up her shirt and glared at him. “It’s none of your business. Stay out of it. I’ve not seen you in three years, and on my second day back you’re threatening me?”

  “You almost died the last time you jumped off that boulder. I almost had a fucking heart attack, and I’m nearly nineteen years old.”

  “Then shouldn’t you be chasing after girls your own age? Why are you following me?”

  “I saw you escaping out of your house with a backpack. I happened to be looking out of my bedroom window when I saw you moving in the forest.”

  She frowned. “You do realize you sound like a creepy stalker.”

  “What would you have done if I hadn’t been here?” he asked.

  “This is not your problem, Jack. It’s mine.”

  “I’m making it my problem.”

  Growling in frustration, she yanked on her shirt, glaring at him. “You’re completely insane. Do you know that?”

  “You could have got tangled in the weeds again, Tori. You could have died, and no one would have been here.” He started to shout at her.

  Instead of cowering down, she was only getting angry. She and her uncle had done the best that they could.

  “I didn’t die and you were here, so it wasn’t like I was alone, was it?”

  She jerked her jeans up, glaring at him.

  “Do you have a death wish? It’s bad enough that you’ve got to get through you transit—”

  “That’s exactly why I’m doing what I’m doing. I’m going to go through the transition, and everyone who knows me has already invited themselves to my fucking funeral. I’m fighting here, Jack. That’s what I’m doing. I’m getting strong so that come the transition I’ve got a fighting chance to make it.”

  ****

  Jack stared at his mate. She wasn’t shrinking away but fighting her corner. He’d never seen such a beautiful sight.

  “You’re fighting?” he asked, confused.

  “You all don’t think I know what could happen in two years? I’m the runt of the litter. I know you hate hearing that, but it’s true. I’m the runt, and I’ve got less of a chance for everything. God, I’ve heard of strong wolves not getting through the transition. What chance does a fucking runt have?”

  He liked listening to her curse. Jack got a strange thrill out of her dirty mouth.

  “What’s going on? I think you need to tell me everything. I doubt your parents would be thrilled about what’s going on.” Jack looked at her before lifting his head to the sky. The pack was moving around. They could be heard and disturbed. “Come on. I’ll buy you breakfast in town.” He held his hand out hoping she’d take it.

  “You’re not going to run to my parents?”

  “I’m going to run to your parents if I think you need me to. I want to hear what you’ve got to say. Come on, I’ll even make an excuse to your parents.”

  She took his hand and he led the way out of the forest toward his car. Opening her door, he waited for her to slide inside.

  “When did you become a gentleman?”

  “You’ll be surprised.” Closing her door, he rounded to his side, climbing in.

  “Where are we going for pancakes?”

  “I think the town over from us. I don’t want to risk any of the pack overhearing what we’re talking about.” Jack had dressed quickly while she’d been talking to him.

  Neither of them spoke on the ride toward the diner. He keyed in her parents’ number and phoned them to let them know Tori was with him but that was it.

  She stared out of the window. “I didn’t bring any money with me.”

  “This is my treat.” He parked outside of the diner. Climbing out, he held her out of the car before he locked it up.

  “You’re scaring me with helping me in and out.” She chuckled.

  He took her hand, leading her into the diner. Jack found a secluded table and the scent in the air let him know no wolves were close.

  “We’re safe.”

  “I know. I can’t smell any packs either.” She slapped a hand against her mouth.

  “You better be ready to talk to me.” He took the seat opposite her, lifting up the menu. “Order whatever you want.”

  “Okay.” She took a menu for herself. Jack couldn’t look away from her. He quickly scanned the menu before the waitress came to take their order. Waiting for Tori to order first, he was actually surprised by how much she did order, two lots of pancakes with sausage and eggs on the side.

  He ordered three times what she did. He was starving and wasn’t about to go without. The waitress didn’t say anything as she left the table.

  “I hope you can afford all that.”

  “I’ve got it covered.”

  “When we go back home I’ll get you some money.”

  “Don’t. It’s not necessary.” Was this what Marshall went through with Scarlett? His mate was fighting him at every turn, but then she didn’t know they were mates to begin with. This was going to be hard. His father wanted him to sit with her parents to discuss the fact he was her mate. “So, tell me what’s going on?”

  “Can’t we eat first?”

  “No. You’re going to spill it now.”

  She blew out a breath. “When did you become such a stick in the mud?”

  “When you began to piss me off.”

  Jack laughed as she blew him a raspberry. “You’re being unfair.”

  “Am I? The last time you were in that water, Tori, you almost died. Do I have to remind you of that? You were alone.”

  “I wasn’t alone.”

  “Your uncle on your cell phone is not a presence.”

  “How did you know it was him?”

  “You called his name when you came out of the water.”

  “He’s been helping me, Jack. You’re never going to be able to understand because you don’t know what it’s like to be me.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked, sitting back as the waitress placed their meal in front of them. When she tried to flirt he shot her down with a look. His mate was sitting opposite him. There wasn’t any way he was going to ever want to flirt with another woman.

  “Wow, that was mean,” Tori said.

  “What was?”

  “She was being nice, and you went all serious on her ass. If you gave her another smile she’d give you her number.”

  “You’re crazy. I don’t want anything to do with her.”

  He picked up his fork, piercing a slice of pancake. This completely sucked. He was sitting with his mate, the one woman or girl, that was supposed to be his for the rest of his life, and she was trying to set him up with someone else.

  She doesn’t know.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “You didn’t upset me.” Gritting his teeth, he chewed on the pancake.

  “Well, I’m sorry either way.”

  “Get back to the subject,” he said, taking a swallow of his coffee. “How are we different? We’re both part of the same pack.”

  “And yet we’re nothing alike, not really. You’re training to become the pack beta, Jack. Me, I’m struggling to get through every day. How many packs have you heard that send away one of their own because it’s too damned rough for them?”

  “I’ve not.” He hated to admit the truth.

  “Exactly. The reason being, they don’t do it. I’m the runt. You hate for me to say it, but it’s true. I can see the fear in all of their faces. I’ve got t
wo years.” He gripped the edge of the table, hating the reminder of what she had to go through. “In two years I could live or I could die. My chances are far less for surviving. I see the fear in my family’s eyes. They’re scared for me. My days are limited.”

  “What was with your jumping? That I don’t get.”

  She licked her lips before taking a bite of pancake.

  “You’ve got to tell me otherwise I’ll put a stop to Uncle Paul.”

  “You won’t. He’s been helping me in ways people do not understand.”

  “Then make me understand, Tori. Make me understand why you would put yourself at risk like that.”

  “I sense my wolf, Jack. She’s woken up.”

  “That’s not possible. We can never sense our wolves before the transition.”

  “What I was doing was getting stronger. I was caught in the weeds like last time. Only, I didn’t panic. I wasn’t scared. I untangled myself, and my wolf has woken up. She’s in a cage right now locked inside my head, but she’s there.”

  He’d never heard of a pack member knowing their wolf. They all could sense their other half, their beast half, but it only came through during the transition.

  “Uncle Paul is training me. He’s teaching me how to fight, how to be stronger, what to do where I once panicked. My reflexes are better.” She glanced around the diner. “My hearing has improved. I didn’t hear you, but I was focused on something else. I blanked everything out, including you.”

  “Do your parents know?”

  “They don’t even know that I know their fear, Jack.” She twirled her fork on her plate. “This is so messed up.”

  “What else is your uncle doing?”

  “He’s trying to find any record of a runt surviving the change. When I go back to him after the summer, I’m going into more intense training. Please, Jack, don’t tell my parents.”

  “I don’t like how you’re referring yourself as a runt.”

  “It’s the truth. Look at me, and look at everyone in our pack.”

  “You’re small.”

  “I’m like a damned hobbit compared to them.”

  Jack chuckled even though it wasn’t a laughing matter. “You’re determined to do this.”