Runt of the Litter (Halfbreed Chronicles Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

like
lilies.”

 
    I’ve never been a flower kind of a girl, but I could learn
to appreciate it, if he insists on keeping these gestures up.  I take a
whiff, the familiarity surprising me, until he
explains that he thinks I smell like them.  
    So he had managed to get a whiff of me after all - and I
smelled like flowers?  Not fur, or dog, or even sweat - but flowers?
 

I can barely contain the smile hiding behind the bouquet, “I love them, thank you.”

 
    The next hour passes so quickly, I didn’t even realize how
thirsty I was.  The bar in town is the kind of place where you order with
the bartender, ain’t nobody
coming out to serve you.  The glass of water Avery had in the beginning
had already been emptied a while ago, and I really don’t want to end the
natural flow of conversation we’ve had.  I got to find out, amongst other
things: that Avery is the youngest of triplets, and his older brothers tease
him just like all older siblings do.  His mother didn’t stick around, and
his Dad died about eight years ago.  He’s got a college degree, and I’m
envious.  He’s actually traveled outside the state for his schooling,
while I’ve only gotten to roam the local woods.

 
    On my end, I shared about being one of two, and how dear
Savannah is to me - even if she can’t drive well (which makes him smile so big,
I want to do whatever it takes to keep that smile on him).  I mention how
my mother died young, and I don’t really remember her well, and Savannah, not
at all.  I talk about how much of a leader my father is among his pack of
friends (careful how I word things in case humans are listening).  He
listens to it all, and chimes in with questions here and there, but otherwise,
our conversation is so fluid, that I can’t believe it’s our first time really
talking.  

 
    But my thirst is strong, and my throat a little sore, and
I promise to return quickly, just needing a quick top off with whatever beer is
ready now, behind the bar.  Avery being as kind as can be, offers to pay
for me, and begins to stand up, but I stop him by waving my hand - determined to
keep some sort of independence, “A girl
can buy her own drink nowadays, but thanks hun .”
  He looks a little unsure, as if maybe I’m just testing him, and
really do want him to take charge, but I leave him to his thoughts, as I head
to the bar nearby.

 
    Of course, because I only had eyes for Avery, I hadn’t
really noticed the other menfolk crowding the place,
and as I sneak by for the drink, one of these brutes figures it’s fair game to
hit one me - on a date with somebody else.  Classic.  He tries to get
close, saying all the cheesy one liners he can think
of, and at first I ignore him, but then he actually has the gall to put an arm
around my shoulder, as if my ignorance wasn’t enough of a hint.  I don’t
even bother looking at him, instead a low growl deep from within my chest
resonates between us, and without a moment’s hesitation, the stranger backs
off, unsure of what the Hell he just heard.  I smile to myself, fully
appreciative that I can handle whoever tries to invade my personal space, and
grab the beer a minute later.  I figured that maybe Avery would want one,
too, so I ask for a second one, before turning around to head back to the
table.

 
    But suddenly I realize he’s not there anymore, in fact,
the flowers still sit in the chair beside mine - and though I had hoped he had
just snuck off to the bathroom, I spot the 5 dollar bill under the ketchup bottle.  I got ditched, and I’m so angry, that one
bottle breaks right there in my hand.  However, because of the earlier
growl, no one comes near me, and I stomp out of the bar, snatching the flowers
along the way, as I go looking for Avery.  If anything, he owes me a ride
home.

 
    I shove the door open so hard, it slams into the wall
outside, before swinging closed again - but not before I hear someone behind me
insisting I be