Runt of the Litter Read Online Free PDF Page B

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 two
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.”
    “Do you see any other choice for me?”